On Christmas Day I was cleaning out my closet.  No, I’m not a neat freak, it just so happened on Christmas Day I felt a little more energetic than usual and thought I would spend a little time organizing the shelves that Mr. A put in our bedroom last weekend.  I was organizing my [CLICK TO CONTINUE...]

Last Friday was our staff Christmas party and the ladies at my table got to talking about what Christmas was like in years past, as children and later on as parents.   We got around to the topic of the cost of Christmas and most of us grew up in rather poor households.  We all [CLICK TO CONTINUE...]

When you’re making homemade gifts, obviously you need to know the person fairly well or you might end up annoying them.   I would say typically frugal or older people would be more inclined to appreciate homemade gifts.  Moms especially tend to love homemade gifts, at least in our family.    My mom is always [CLICK TO CONTINUE...]

Every year, our son AJ likes to remind us of the year we raised our own turkeys. Before I tell you the story, let me remind you to make turkey soup from your leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass.

Over the years in addition to turkeys we’ve raised steer, geese, pigs, lambs, ducks and guinea fowl.  [CLICK TO CONTINUE...]

Are you starting to feel the Christmas spirit yet?

Of course the stores are all decked out, and certain radio stations are beginning to play Christmas songs on the radio.  But before Christmas comes the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday.  The day the retailers expect to break even, go “into [CLICK TO CONTINUE...]

I know I shouldn’t even think about it, since we’re really not doing well financially, but when your mom says to you on the phone that she just saw a flower delivery truck go by, and wishes they were stopping for her, because she’s never had that happen before… well, it makes you [CLICK TO CONTINUE...]

For many years I didn’t care much for Valentine’s Day.  It’s just another day of the year, and Hallmark has blown it out of proportion with five dollars cards and flowers everywhere.

Anyway, since my hubby and I reconciled and remarried three years ago, I have found that I want to celebrate the holiday [CLICK TO CONTINUE...]

I don’t even know how I came across this site, but you have to go to the Inspired Room and check out the Jingle Bell Jars, I just love these! In fact I love them so much I decided to make one of my own.

Melissa used a canning jar, but I decided why [CLICK TO CONTINUE...]