Laugh the New Year in...

Let's bring in the New Year with some laughs!!  Brian Regan is hilarious....(and clean)

Tonight.........there's sparkling (non-alcoholic) wine, snacks, cookies, and lots and lots of games and music with the kids........just us........just the way we want it this year....

Happy New Year!!

Cheers to a GREAT 2011!!!!!

Wishing you all a beautiful White Wednesday and a peaceful 2011...

the front and rear entrances to my potager (kitchen garden)

and no, none of these pictures were altered...this was a gift one morning...

and this is why I chose that spot for the Cake:

I turned the bend, and saw footsteps (of whose I don't know, because they stopped where I wanted the table set up)

and in case you didn't get to see my cake and setting, you can just scroll down my blog to the previous post and see more of what I did in our woods for Christmas... 

xo+Cheers,

see you in a few days!

Birthday Cake...for Him

When you think of celebrating the birth of your own child, preperations are sometimes extensive.....

invitations sent out...

fun and games planned...

and of course, the cake

SO I  ASKED MYSELF THIS:

"what if I was to prepare a birthday party for Jesus...God's only son"

first off the pressure would be insurmountable...but knowing only He is perfect sure helps me...

I had this whole photo shoot set out in  my mind to have a white cake in the barn...with the animals around...and sort of "re-create" the manger idea

but then I awoke this morning to this:

It was as if God Himself whispered His sweetness on the farm

a dense fog surrounded our property, and beyond the woods you couldn't see...

beyond the prairie was mystery

beyond anything any one of us could ever do

I quickly baked the cake, but had an idea to put it in the winter-storybook-like woods

with silver...crystals...white...and the cake

for Him

How did I set about doing this? 

I thought for a moment...and came up with this:

Jesus is filled with awe and wonder

(like the woods that surrounded this)...

He is masculine and bold

 (like the heavy metal table and strong branches)

He is sweet

(like the cake)

and pure

(as the snow that inspired this photo shoot)

Happy Birthday Sweet Jesus

and

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!!!

xo+Christmas Blessings,

how fun!

I'm sure you are familiar with Jennifer at the Painted Cottage ...........

but she posted this today and I love! this picture!!  how creative and fun

(not to mention the rest of her house looks gorgeous)

She's got great style and always has unique DIY ideas.......thanks for the inspiration Jennifer!! 

I'm even going to post again today - a little later - our Christmas card we sent out......

xo+Christmas Blessings, 

Quiet reflections and peaceful prayer

Warming hearts and preparation

*It might be bitter cold outside here on the farm...

but there is still a lot of work to do to both spiritually and otherwise*

Hoping you all are finding peace right now...and if not, I hope you find it...

xo+Christmas Blessings,

GIVEAWAY at the farm!

The new Spring 2011 issue (the one on stands now) of Romantic Country Magazine, features the Na-Da Farm Barn Sale from this past October!!!

 Actually, this issue is really great!  So much so, I'd like to giveaway a copy to you!

(along with a few other surprise goodies)

Just leave me a comment on this post.

DEADLINE WAS DECEMBER 22nd, midnight

* GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED*

WINNER!!!  from Random.org is.....
comment #34:

Laurie said...
Congratulations! I'll have to get a copy if I don't win :)
12/19/2010


CONGRATS LAURIE!!  email me your address!!

Merry Christmas!!

Na-Da Farm Kitchen...

my Na-Da Farm Kitchen is now open!

come by for a visit anytime you'd like a "homemade from the heart" recipe

this week I'm featuring the Spritz cookie.......a classic cookie here at the farm

Have a great weekend!

And oh, by the way.....

if you have a loved one in the hospital......nursing home......care facility.........

go visit them

love them

they need it!!

so badly!

Christmas Bloggers' Inspiration....

I am constantly impressed with the inspiration out there for this farm girl

stuck on the frozen tundra (but lovin' it), and able to access so many people from all across the world for Christmas decorating ideas is just like a Christmas present to me!!!

All of you guys are awesome.......

these are just some of the women who impressed me with staying true to their style this holiday season......

Enjoy!

(most pictures here are labeled on the photographs by the blog they are from)

o

a fantastic idea with leftover fabrics for the perfect gift bag........



office type




manon21




paige at simple thoughts



By the way.......I opened up a new journal, called Na-Da Farm Kitchen......for some recipes and farm goodness :)

click on the image to visit.....

peace and blessings,

xo



shop update...

Thank you to those who have liked my little burlap stockings and misc. items in the shop recently....it's been fun wrapping them all and sending them off....most of them gift for others......I hope you, who have bought them, were pleased with the packaging........

My little Etsy shop will be closed tomorrow until after the New Year

there are a few burlap stocking for sale, in case you were interested....

xo+blessings,

Bearing light against the darkness....

another year with my beautiful daughter serving us the traditional Santa Lucia buns she made herself....

my little saint

 

 we all were told to get back into bed...we used the bed in the sunroom......and she served us in bed with fresh coffee...homemade apple jelly, butter, and the biggest heart....

she has the kindest heart to anyone I have ever met.......I love her so very much words cannot describe the joy I feel when I am with her.........like an angel on earth.........

she always takes care of others, and this tradition on this feast day of Saint Lucy (santa lucia)

is a blessed way for any daughter to express their love towards their family

Whatever the fact to the legends surrounding Lucy, the truth is that her courage to stand up and be counted a Christian in spite of torture and death is the light that should lead us on our own journeys through life.

whether you believe in His Saints or not, one thing is for certain, we could all learn

a valuable lesson from Santa Lucia:

bear light against the darkness, as Lucia did

find the strength within you this Advent Season to become the very best person you can possibly become

peace and blessings,

if you are interested in seeing last year's Santa Lucia Day here at the farm, you can go HERE

there's a paper doll  you can print out for your little ones

THANK YOU FOR YOUR IQUIRIES: NO, I did't purchase the dress, but I made it for her a few years ago....but thank you for those who inquiried if it's a "Santa Lucia Dress"...you are all so nice...but it will be passed down to her little sister, who is anxiously waiting to wear it