Sunday Funday ~How Does Your Amaryllis Grow?

What’s a perfect Christmas Gift for Empty Nesters

that are trying to downsize their possessions?

The answer...a flowering plant.

It has been fun to nurture and watch this beauty grow

in this frigid winter weather in the Dakotas.

The Fed Ex delivery arrived in early December.

There were two pots, like this, in a basket, in the box.

I watered it and kept an eye on it for days.

This is how they started at White Flower Farms on the East Coast.

And then, there were sprouts, and then stalks, and then buds.

The tallest was all of a sudden

almost two feet tall!

I started getting little hints as to what color was inside.

Oh, the anticipation...

Now, there’s another bud ready to burst open to share its beauty.

...along with another baby sprout peeking out of the moss.

I’ve never had a green thumb,

so I am pretty proud of myself and

how our Amaryllis is thriving.

The Amaryllis symbolizes a strong, confident, beautiful woman.

The star shaped blossom also symbolizes pride.

Thank you, Bob and Becky, for this bright spot of color

to cheer us up during these cold weeks of January.

Take care,

~Natalie

Was Santa Good to You? My Family and Friends, They Spoil Me

It is time to pack away the last of our Christmas Decor

and find the perfect spot for our Gifts.

I so appreciate that my family and friends

spent time and effort to select something just for me.

This new Santa came all the way from a

Bedford Fields Boutique in New Hampshire to join the

Santa Smoker that traveled from the Christmas Markets in Germany,

and the Santa that traveled from Okinawa.

They do make a good looking trio.

The first package that arrived at our door was a box,

with two pots of soil, covered with the Spanish Moss.

With water, sunshine, and some tender loving care,

Amaryllis leaves and buds started to appear.

Now a month later, there are three buds

with the tallest being 20 inches!

I’ll for sure show you when the Amaryllis starts to bloom.

For the Kitchen, these items are a great addition.

You all know how much I love to cook.

In that fancyflours package...this adorable gnome cookie cutter.

This box of rubs and spices was under the tree for hubby,

but I know I’ll also enjoy some delicious dinners

when hubby can get out to the grill.

More favorites...the coffee flavored candies from Okinawa,

and a coffee scented candle.

The Soy Candle is in a coffee mug...cute idea, right?

And I love this pillow to lighten up the couch in the living room.

Also for our home, a welcome mat,

with interchangeable inserts for different seasons.

It will be great to catch the sawdust when

hubby comes into the house from the wood shop.

And now for a little pampering...

a gift certificate to treat myself to a spring pedicure. 

A cozy sweater to get me through

the remaining chilly months of winter.

And this sweet top...comfy cotton adorned with such pretty lace.

To complete the ensemble, this bracelet ties the look all together.

You can see I am a very lucky woman.

However, the best gift of all was being able to spend time

with our family and friends during the holiday season.

Thank you, everyone, for making me feel so special.

Take care,

~Natalie

A Family Tradition ~Tastes Like Christmas

It is a family tradition to make lefsa every Christmas.

Our daughters wanted to make a batch while they were here...

But you remember...this happened.

They had to pack up and leave early.

And it’s a good thing, otherwise they

would have been snowed in here for days!

Hubby went out several times a day

to clear snow off our front steps and driveway.

While he was busy outside,

I stayed busy inside preparing the potatoes.

They must be peeled, boiled, and riced...

Then mixed with cream, butter, a little salt, and a little sugar.

That mixture needs to chill before shaping it into little patties.

That gave me time to set up all the equipment.

When hubby came in, we worked as a team.

I rolled the little patties into rounds.

Hubby turned them on the griddle until golden brown.

We made only a single batch...plenty for us empty nesters.

We had to eat a piece with butter and sugar

right away, while it was fresh.

Meanwhile, the snow was falling outside,

but we were warm and cozy inside,

enjoying the taste of Christmas.

Take care,

~Natalie

The Most Wonderful Time of Year ~Christmas 2019 ~Now a Memory ~Here’s the Rest of the Story

My digital album is filled with random photos

of the time we all spent together this past Christmas.

It was short...but oh, so sweet.

Remember the photo of great grandma sitting

in her living room while the younger generation prepared dinner?

She was actually watching Jack play with my hubby’s old toy cars.

And what was happening on the home front

when Jack was napping?

Jake wanted to try his hand at wood turning.

Hubby was pleased to take on the role of instructor.

In fact, the guys spent quite a bit of time in the man cave...

This was probably the best $20 Hubby spent at Menards

when we were prepping for the holidays.

The family bundled up to enjoy time outside.

I’m not sure who had more fun...little Jack or the “big kids”?!

And then, there was this.

When you live in the Midwest you take the

Winter Storm Warnings seriously.

They had no choice but to pack up

a day early and get on the road.

Just like that, the house was quiet again.

However, we are still loving the memories

we created during Christmas Break 2019.

Take care,

~Natalie

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year ~Christmas 2019 ~Now a Memory ~How We Spent Our Mornings

Like most families, after breakfast,

we all just hung out together...in our pajamas.

Our time together was short,

so we made the most of every minute.

A family friend let us borrow this tub of Legos for the week.

I’m not sure who had the most fun...

Was it Little Jack?

Or was it Uncle Jake??

Or perhaps it was Lizzie? Do you see how

she’d like to get in there to play, too?

So they constructed a Cat Mobile.

Her inverted hut provided a seat for her to ride.

A good time was had by all...

Take care,

~Natalie