Friends & Fireplace

Our weekly Bible Study group got together Wednesday evening for our annual Christmas dinner party.

I am so blessed by each person in this photo!  What a wealth of Godly wisdom and character each person brings to the group.  We love each other dearly as we encourage and pray for one another on our journey through this world toward our Heavenly home

Between Dinner and Dessert, we gathered in the family room for a photo in front of the fireplace

When we moved into our home 27 years ago, this fireplace had a fake brick front and a small, rough-hewn board for the mantle.  John and I designed and built the new mantle and added marble to the front and the hearth.  The wood-burning stove insert is what keeps us toasty warm through the winter.

We also added the windows to bring light into the room.

The metal screen belonged to my mom.  She used it in front of a decorative fireplace.

The counted cross-stitch Silent Night was made and framed many years ago and comes out each Christmas.

The Scherenschnitte (German for paper cutting) were made several years ago from patterns I found in a book and patterns shared by Cindy.

  At Abbey's request, we brought the tree back to the family room.  The last few years it has been in the living room but she wanted a change this year.

 I wish the room was as large as it appears in this photo!
It gets pretty crowded when all the kids are here.

The coffee table that holds our Christmas Eve hearty appetizer dinner.
One of the only times I allow food in the family room...
after Candlelight Service and the kids are snugly in their jammies while Pop-Pop reads
The Night Before Christmas.
I think at least two of the little ones actually pay attention through the whole story    ;)
It is just too hard to be still with cousins visiting and Christmas Day just one more sleep away.

The quaint village waits in anticipation for Jill and family to arrive and join their cousins to watch the trains go round and round the tracks with horn tooting and tiny puffs of smoke billowing from the engine. 

Linking to:

Show & Tell Friday @My Romantic Home

Another finished Christmas Gift

For our oldest

A set of cotton washcloths and facial scrubbers

So she'll feel pampered

Crochet Circular Facial Scrubbie

slightly adapted from Kristy Ashmore pattern

Worsted weight cotton yarn

G hook

Row 1

ch 3, 12 dc in first ch, join with sl stitch in first dc.

Row 2

ch 2, 2 dc in each stitch around.  Join with sl stitch in first dc

Row 3

ch 2 (1 dc in next stitch, 2 dc in the next stitch) around.  Join with sl stitch in first dc.

Row 4

ch 1, sl stitch in each stitch around, join, fasted off.  (I like to secure ends with a square knot)

Crochet Cotton Washcloth

pattern by Priscilla Hewitt

Worsted weight cotton yarn
Crochet Hook size H (I use a G to keep stitches tight when wet)

Ch 28

Row 1
Hdc in the 2nd ch from hook, (sc in the next ch, dc in the next ch)
12 times, sc in the next ch, hdc in the last ch; ch 1, turn.

Row 2
Hdc in the first hdc, (dc in the next sc, sc in the next dc) 12 times, dc in the next sc, hdc in the last hdc; ch 1, turn.

Row 3
Hdc in the first hdc, (sc in the next dc, dc in the next sc) 12 times, sc in the next dc, hdc in the last hdc; ch 1, turn.

Rows 4-25
(Repeat rows 2 and 3) 11 times; do not ch 1 at the end of row 25.

Row 26: Sl st in each st across. Fasten off.

linking to:

Frugalicious Friday @Finding Fabulous

Think Pink Sundays @ Flamingo Toes

Homemade in December Link Carnival @Blissful and Domestic

A Greeting from Raider and a Sweet Video

 Looking merry as ever

I think I hear him mumbling, 'bah, Humbug'!

An old curmudgeon on the outside but a sweet pup on the inside.

I love my Raider

♥
Joining Bunny Jeans Christmas Pet Parade

~And, a very sweet video that warmed my heart:~

Finished Crochet Boutique Bags

for the little girls on our list

 
 

  I lined these little bags so none of the treasures little girls keep would fall through the holes.

 
 

Pattern generously shared by Sara @Tangled Happy

Thank you, Sara, for your  wonderful blog and  being so sweet!

Linking to The Sunday Showcase Party @Under the Table Dreaming
Get Your Craft on Tuesday @Today's Creative Blog
Home Decor and Organizing Party @Organize and Decorate  Everything
Whatever You Want Wednesday @Free Pretty Things for You
Wow Us Wednesday @Savvy Southern  Style
Crazy Cute Thursdays @ Between U & Me