Happy New Year,, Catching Up, Giveaway Goodies

Happy New Year to all of you my friends.  I know, you don't have to tell me that I am a day late.  But it's only day 2 of the new year so there is plenty of time for well wishes. I wish for all of you days of contentment, happiness, good health,  and prosperity in the year 2012.  Look at my calander for January.  NOTHING is  written in.  For that I am so blessed.  No doctors's appointments which means the Mister and I are in fairly good health,  no obligations that I have to fulfill, it's a clean slate and for that I am so thankful.  I have no list of to do's to nag at me until they are done, and I made no resolutions because I never follow through with them.  Now mind you I could write a to do list a mile long of things I really need to do and the same goes for resolutions, however I am so going to try this year to be carefree and happy and live one day at a time.  We will see how long this last.  You my friends may have to remind me to go back and read this post before the month is over. (smile)

I was so blessed during the holidays to recieve so many gifts from friends and blogger friends.  My long time friend Dimple in TN sent me a very sweet package.  We have been friends since before our kids started kindergarten many, many moons ago.  When the kids were in junior high school they moved back to TN to be closer to their parents but our friendship has remained strong.  It has been almost a year since I have seen her but am hoping that will change sometime later this month.  Miss you Dimple.

She sent me a really cute icicle ornament.  She knows we decorate after Christmas with snowmen and snowmen related ornaments.  I enjoyed it during Christmas and it is now on the snowman tree.

She also sent me two really cute ink pens.  The Santa Claus pen I used during Christmas and have already put it away but look at this neat snowman pen.  Looks so cute on table where I sit next to the computer.  Fits right in with the snowman decor in the great room.  There was also bath and body lotion  I already am using. It's in my purse.  She always remembers Darbee Rae and Holly.  Darbee was so excited to get a big book with lots of stories in it.  Thank you Dimple.  We all love you.

Earlier in December I was so excited to find I had won Angie's 300th post giveaway. http://lilraggedyangie.blogspot.com/

The package was misplaced by the usps. and Angie was so worried until it finally arrived on Dec 30th.  I knew I had won this cute snowman head on a wooden spindle.  Here is a picture.

This is the box I saw when it arrived on my doorsteps.

Those of you who know Angie know it was  NOT just  full of paper to protect the giveaway.  This is what I saw.

These next pictures will speak for themselves.

My heart overflowed at the generosity of  Lil Raggedy Angie.  If you haven't visited her blog please go over and pay her a visit.  She also sells her crafts and she makes so awesome things.  Angie you know how I loved each and every item you sent.  But that's not all .. she sent Darbee Rae some goodies as well.  Darbee so wants to meet Princess and have a play date.  We will never say never.  You just don't know..

Don't you just love the way she is dressed?  She was playing dress up. Our weather has been so warm, under that princess skirt she had on shorts.   There was a beautiful tiara on her head , but the picture don't show it too well. I bet Princess picked that one out.

A really cute Raggedy doll for her room

 

And one of her favorite  books to read.  How did you  know Angie?  Just look at that smile.  You made my little princes such a happy little girl.  Thank you.

Whew!! I am finally caught up with my blessings from such special friends.  Today I spent the day decorating the great room with my snowmen items.  Do any of you leave out your snowmen to decorate for winter??  It's such a let down after Christmas so this year I decided to leave up the German Twig Tree and decorate it with snowmen, and related items.  The big Santa tree is gone and I moved the twig tree from beside the fireplace to where the Santa tree was.  I am really pleased with how it looks.  Hanging on just a little bit longer.  And at such a good time.  We are getting into the teens tonight and the wind is howling here at the homeplace.  No snow,, but a girl can wish can't she?

If you look close you will see some of the ornaments I have won in giveaways or was gifted from so many of you , my friends. 

So there you have it, my snowman tree all decked out for the winter season. 

I don't know about you, but I love all my trees I decorate with for the holidays.  Years, and I mean years ago when the skinny trees were a "new" trend, I bought a set of 3 trees.  The largest I kept up all year and decorated it according to the season.  Holly was in grammer school.  One of  the most fun times decorating was the "Back to School " theme.  She would get so excited to see pencils, boxes of crayons, rulers, etc. on the tree.  No surprise that she became a teacher.  I should have seen it coming way back then.  That same tree was part of the floral decorations when she was married in a Christmas setting 8 years ago.  Needless to say that little tree has held so many memories throughout the years.  To trash one of my old trees is so hard to do.  I was always taught from an early age to never throw away a Bible.  My Daddy lived to be in his 80's and was a Baptist Preacher.  You can guess just how many Bibles he wore out over the years, but we just couldn't throw them out.  Well, I have a love of my trees similar to that.  But today,, that beloved tree is being put to rest.  It's branches are tired and are now to weak to hold up the ornaments to adorn it.  It has served our family well and has stood proudly in our home over many, many years.  It looks so tired this evening.

Rest in peace my dear old tree.  Your memories will stay in my heart for years to come.   I will be on the look for another tree to decorate with as Darbee will be expecting it as seasons come and seasons go.  The tradition will continue.

I have so enjoyed your visit this evening.  Mr. P. goes back to work tomorrow and thus the holiday season here at the homeplace will come to a close. 

I want to thank each one of you who have stopped by to visit this past year. I so cherish each and every comment. I so treasure all the friendships I have made since I began blogging almost a year ago. You are so talented, caring, and giving. I am so blessed to be part of this blogging community.

Until next time....