Fathers Day Blessings ~Love These Three Special Dads

My Hubby, Father our our Daughters.

Our family has always enjoyed spending a weekend

in the cities and a visit to Target Field for a Twins game.

This photo is from years ago, but still one of my favorites.

Of course, I miss my own Daddy a little more on Father’s Day.

This was my mother’s favorite photo of us.

She carried it in her wallet for years.

Our Son-in-Law

and Father of our Grandson...

Sending love and hugs to this special guy

across the miles on Father’s Day

and everyday!

Hug your Daddy a little tighter today.

Take care,

~Natalie

Flag Day 2020 ~Remembering my Grandmother on her Birthday ~Happy Birthday to my Blog ~My Annual Birthday Give Away

The Origins of the first American Flag Day

go back to the Revolutionary War, and involve

the nation’s founding father, George Washington.

He tasked seamstress Betsy Ross with the making of

a flag for the American cause. On June 14, 1777,

the Congress approved the design of the official American Flag.

Centuries later, in 1949, President Harry Truman

proclaimed June 14 to be Flag Day.

I found this quote by Senator John Thune of South Dakota,

“I believe our flag is more that just cloth and ink.

It is a universally recognized symbol that

stands for liberty and freedom. It is the history of our nation,

and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it.”

June 14 was a day when we celebrated my Grandmother’s birthday.

If you have ever scrolled to the bottom of my blog,

you have seen this photo. She is there in the center.

Today, she would have been 127 years old.

This photo was taken on Thanksgiving Day in our old Farmhouse.

That is me sitting on my Grandpa’s lap.

Then Grandma Rhuda and Grandma Hilda seated next to him.

Standing behind us is my Daddy and my Uncle Milford.

My Grandparents lived nearby and we saw them often.

I started this blog on Flag Day in 2008,

with a tribute to my grandmother.

A woman who taught in a one room schoolhouse,

got married, and raised a family of nine children.

She milked the cows, baked all their bread,

and grew all their produce in her garden.

How she found time to sew quilts

and crochet bedspreads is amazing.

Today, on my blog’s 12th Birthday,

I am hosting my traditional Birthday Give-Away.

Anyone who comments on this post, will be considered.

I will draw a name on my birthday, which is June 23rd.

I have done this every June and it is fun to see

where all the packages have traveled to.

I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Stay Safe and Well.

Take care,

~Natalie

 

Honoring Those Who Serve and Have Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for our Country

"As we express our gratitude, we must never

forget that the highest appreciation

is not to utter words but to live by them."

John F. Kennedy

Take care,

~Natalie

What’cha Workin’ on Wednesday ~So Long, Santa ~Helllo Snowmen

It was about time for Helper Cat and I to pack up

the Christmas Decorations.

I love the glow of the lights in the evening...

and since we don’t decorate until after Thanksgiving,

it’s nice to leave them up until mid-January.

Santa and Friends gathered for storage.

And then, there’s this...

Helper Cat wasn’t sure if I could get that mess

straightened out and into the storage tub.

In fact...she decided to take a little break.

With the Christmas Decor put away, the house seems so bare.

Having a few snowmen to fill in the void helps.

Remember, these were new for Winterfest this year.

These have always been a another favorite of mine,

made with all Upcycled Vintage Materials.

Bundle up...there’s plenty of Winter left on the calendar.

With our temperatures in the deep freeze...

...Comfort Food hits the spot.

After Pot Roast Sunday,

we enjoyed Hot Beef Combo Monday.

Stay safe and warm, my friends.

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

New Years Blessings to our Family and Friends

Image courtesy of Vintage Holiday Crafts

Best wishes for a New Year of

Happiness, Health, and Prosperity.

We celebrated with seafood.

Our supermarket was holding their Seafood Roadshow

for the holiday. The store was crazy busy.

I got the last parking spot and the second to the last cart!

Hubby and I toasted in the

New Year with a little bubbly.

Lizzie looked on with envy.

I brought out this box of fun.

It doesn’t take much to entertain these empty nesters.

We even stayed up past midnight!

I hope you all had a great evening

with someone you love!

Happy New Year

Take care,

~Natalie

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year ~Christmas 2019 ~Now a Memory ~My Christmas Day Report

Christmas Morning...

The first time we had all been together for a year and a half.

We had a wonderful time catching up.

When Hubby went out to the airport

to meet the late flight on Christmas Eve,

Amy kept me company as

I prepared an overnight coffee cake.

When it was baking, we all checked

our stockings to see what Santa brought,

and then had a light breakfast.

We needed to save room for our traditional family

Christmas meal at Great Grandma’s House.

When someone is 90 years old,

it is okay to relax and just be the hostess

while your family does all the work!

My sister-in-law was there early

to take charge of the preparations.

And then, when we arrived, I made the gravy,

Emily and Jake mashed the potatoes,

and Hubby carved the Roast.

Great Grandma really enjoyed her company.

Her table was lovely...She used her best China.

Our family gifted her with this Winter Centerpiece.

Great Grandma lives a short walk from

one of the only sledding hills in town.

We all had fun being outside and working off

some of those extra holiday calories,

and breathing in some of that cool, crisp air!

I hope you all enjoyed plenty of good food

and some outdoor activities with your family and friends.

Take care,

~Natalie