Days of December at the Home Place

Good evening friends.  Hope you are all doing well, and are getting back to normal now that the holidays are behind us.  We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas and hope you all were as well. It has been extremely warm for the month of December here in Georgia.  Actually we could be sitting out on the deck visiting tonight but more rain is on its way for tomorrow, and then hopefully we will have some cold days.  I am a winter girl and I want cold weather.   So come on inside and let's visit for awhile.

If you don't know already, I plan, make lists, and plan to plan during the holiday season. But as hard as I try, the holidays always seem to find us in a rush to get here and there and to get things done.  Maybe that is why I am so late inviting you into our home for the holidays.  But here we are and I hope you will enjoy chatting with me for a few minutes.  I have some cake , candy, and coffee ready for our visit.

Our first activity for December was the Ladies Christmas Party at our church.  Since we are at a new congregation, I was a tad nervous to attend . But it went really well and we had lots of fun with the ladies. 

Next was the Girl's Party here at the home place.  We were a few short this year as one had moved away and one had gone to work.  But we had a great time .  For the first time the party had a theme.  We did a Tacky Sock Party, and it was so much fun.  The gifts were stuffed into socks.

After we opened our gifts we had to wear our socks. 

 

This is a great group of family and friends.  We have been through a lot together and have so much fun when we meet. 

 

Also this month, Darbee Rae and her Daddy ran in a charity race for Bridging the Gap here in town.  Darbee had been training with her Dad to run for quite a while.  Stacy has entered many races but this was a first for Darbee Rae.  It was a mile race and run at night. It was a Glow Run.  We were so proud of  them.  Darbee  ran the whole mile and finished in record time for her.  Way to go Darbee Rae.

 

 

I also got to get away for a bit with my gambling friends.  We went to Ala. to try our luck at the Casino.  We had a great time but no jack pots for me.  Was a fun trip and we got to stay in a wonderful suite.  Making memories with some great friends.

 

 

And of course in between these fun times there had to be some baking going on. I was so excited when Jane shared some fresh eggs with me.  Just love those big brown ones when I am baking.

 

 

I was so thankful I made my divinity a little early.  If you make this candy you know it has to be a dry not rainy day, and NO humidity.  As much rain as we have had so close to the holidays, it would have been impossible to make.

 

 

I had lots of help baking this Christmas season.  Darbee came home with us after church one Sunday and we baked all afternoon. Move over Martha Stewart.

 

 

On December 13, Stacy and Holly celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary.  We were sitting in church in between Sunday School and the morning worship service and Holly mentioned going to Pigeon Forge for the night and to do some shopping for their anniversary.  What did we do?  Just that. As soon as service was over we did a quick packing and we were all on our way. It was a quick trip, but we had a great time. Mr.P. and I came home early but the kids got in a little more shopping.

 

 

Monday morning after that quick trip I had decided to stay home and chill out in my p.j.'s. But I got an exciting text from our local jewelry store.  I had won their Christmas give away.  I was so excited.  I won this gold Power of Prayer bracelet.  I didn't waste time getting dressed and going to pick it up.  Merry Christmas to me.

 

 

And of course there have been family gatherings and gift exchanges and this Nana is wore out!!  It is a tradition to spend the night with Darbee Rae and be there when she wakes on Christmas morning to see what Santa has left.  Well this year was a little different.  My little granddaughter is growing up and there will be no more visits from Santa.  But we still stayed over and Christmas morning was an exciting time for her anyway.  

 

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit.  Hope you had not been bored, but wanted to catch you up on life at the home place.  I will leave you with a few photos of Christmas here at home.  Wishing all of you a very Happy New Year