Thanksgiving - Day 8

Today, I'm thankful that I live in the U.S.. Folks here enjoy basic freedoms that in other countries would be luxuries! Freedom to believe the way you want, freedom to choose your mate, freedom to express your views and opinions. We have the right to live where we choose, dress as we wish, defend ourselves. ALL of us can vote, be educated, be free. Some of us even excercise our right to speak against this nation. If only Americans knew how good they have it, they'd be thankful too!

Thanksgiving - Day 7

I'm so very thankful for the roof over my head. It's not the Biltmore Estate, but it's our own little corner of the world and I'm working on making it a little haven.

I've seen little wooden shacks literally built from discarded wood. I've seen houses the size of my kitchen. I'm not describing the tiny house movement. I'm talking about folks who would look at my house and consider me rich. My blessings are not lost on me.

Thanksgiving - Day 6

The McD clan. Salt of the earth, heartlanders with big hearts. I don't just love them...I really really like them! I'm thankful to marry into a family of warm people who are caring and generous. They made my kids and me feel at home right from the start. It's too bad that we live far away. But you know what they say; absence makes the heart grow fonder!

Some people can barely get along with their own family, much less the in-laws. I'm thankful that I have a family I enjoy being in and being with!

Thanksgiving - Day 5

We are Family! Yes oh yes. I'm thankful for ALL of my family foreign and domestic. Today however, I want to focus on the four ladies who make up the "inner-sanctum". That's my mom and three sisters.

 

It's been a long hard road. Together we've faced poverty, abuse, abandonment and fear. But we've also shared our joys, accomplishments, dreams and our futures. Yes, trust me we've got enough drama for yo' mama...and her llama. But each one of us will always find four hands stretched out when the going gets tough.

Thanksgiving - Day 4

You always have your health. I'm thankful for it. So many people are suffering from pain, disease, deformity. What can I complain about? Back pain? Puh-leeez.

Yeah, the wrinkles are showin and it's not as easy to lose those pounds anymore but, c'mon. I have all my limbs, and MOST of my original parts (sorry, appendix and baby teeth, you just didn't make the cut...). my eyes still see and everybody knows this loud mouth of mine works just fine. So yeah, I'm thankful.

Thanksgiving - Day 3

This Guy

his little sis is the the background going "yeah, right"

 

He's mine...all mine. He's my best friend, my hero. My own personal caveman and bringer of flowers. Warns me when my Cuckoo light is coming on. Sees me at my worst, pushes me to my best. Encourager, teacher, hand holder. Watcher of movies over and over...and over.

 

This guy filled the empty space in me that was wandering around in the universe wondering what was missing. It was him. He's the best hubby a wife could ask for and the embodiment of

 

1Corinthians 13:4-8

 

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails.

"Barbed wired" wreath...or Howdy, Y'all!

Yes, a barbed wire wreath, but not really. While rummaging through the picked over Halloween remnants at the store, I found some fake barbed wire. It looks pretty cool  and I knew just what I wanted to do with it!

 

I've been longing for a Texan themed wreath for our not-so-grand entry to the casa. I think the barbed wire is perfect! I started with a hanger that I simply pulled into a round shape. I wrapped the wire around it only adding dabs of hot glue to hold in certain places. (I might add right now that this could also be a "crown of thorns" for a religious themed project.)

 

I left the two end strands loose for later in the project.

 

Next, I wanted our initial in the center of the wreath. To go with the country/Texan/rustic theme, I wanted it to look like hay. I got some raffia and a large chipboard "M" at the craft store and began wrapping..

 

 I covered the short edges first so they would'nt be exposed later

 

 

 

Then just wrapped the raffia around the letter.

 

With my M wrapped up, I attached it to the barbed circle and put the two loose ends in front of it.

The end result was my country initial wreath. that looks rustic and cool!

 

 

McD mansion welcomes you!