December 16: December + Fur = A Huge Must

To be honest I'm not wearing a huge amount fur these days, but I really like the way the Little can pull of this furry Monsoon poncho. Thanks Grandma!




Be cozy and bright!
xxx

December 15: Duck and Cover

When we moved into this house last year we put up minimal Christmas paraphernalia, we didn't have what we needed really. Mr. Jones knowing my desire for a house that sparkled, braved the dangers of Walmart the day after Christmas to ensure that this year our house would be warm with the glow of Christmas lights.
We have two pretty reindeer standing in the garden, the bushes covered, and pre-lit garland around the porch and over the door. It looks lovely. I love pulling down our little lane at night and seeing our house all aglow at the end of the road.
You can imagine my surprise that it would appear that my pretty decorations have turned a bit hazardous. Upon leaving the house for a cookie exchange Friday night, I was forced to the ground by a kamikaze sparrow that decided to nest in our garland. It would be an understatement to say I was surprised, however after having a fun time with girlfriends at the cookie exchange I forgot about the incident. That is, I forgot until I arrived home only to have that little stinker dart at my head again.
Interestingly enough the bird only flies at my head (basically every time I leave) it conveniently is not there when Kev or Trev exits or enters. They both look at me a little weird when I exit in front of them and duck or wave my arms like a mad woman. Kev was standing in the yard (taking a picture for me) and saw it fly off though, so I have a witness that I am not imagining things!
I do feel a little bit bad that come January, the little bird will surely loose it's resting spot, on the other hand I will feel a bit safer...

Anywho, for all of you who skip my creative efforts at writing and go straight to the pictures, here is a shot that Uncle Trev took of the Little and I wrapping presents today. Have you ever tried to wrap presents with a one year old? It is basically impossible. She looks pretty innocent in this picture but if you receive a present from us that it slightly wrinkled or soggy you will surely know why.
Grace and Peace my friends...
10 days till the big day, the day that changed history for us all.
Exciting isn't it!
xxx

December 14: Economic Downfall

I love getting Christmas cards! Especially ones with pictures of you and your family in them. So where are they all this year?
Sure, we have received a few, but I would have to say that the wall where we hang them for display is a bit scarce in comparison to years past.
What's the deal?
Is it the hard economic times?
Are we on people's naughty list?
Has the price of postage reached such extortionate levels that the good people of America are boycotting the USPS?
Or is that everyone has read this blog and realizes that posting Christmas cards would required a trip to the post office to purchase stamps?
Whatever the reason, I am feeling a bit neglected at that lack of Christmas cards delivered to the Jones's...
Who am I to judge really, I haven't mailed a single card yet. I am happy to report however, the envelops are addressed, minus the stamps (still not ready to go back to the post office just yet).
So as soon as those blessed, warm wished, greetings arrive you can expect one to arrive in your post.
That is, of course, if you're on our list and if you're not, there certainly must be a good explanation why you're not...I can't think of one person on our naughty list...except for maybe that lady at the grocery store that called the Little a husky boy...
So to you dear ones, tonight I am wishing you mail boxes over flowing with Christmas greetings from the ones you that you love!
(If you're one of those really organized people I know who have already sent out your Christmas cards, just disregard this post. I was just kidding and not really complaining at all!)

December 13: Great News

Well, besides Libby finally fitting into this beautiful dress from Grandma.
And sitting by the tree, so that I could snap a couple of blurry pictures after her nap,
Uncle Trevor is coming here tonight to stay with us for a whole week.
Libs calls him something like Trthppppt. I hope you can pronounce that. Regardless of whether or not she can say his name right, we are so excited to spend some time with Uncle Trthppppt!
Happy Sunday!

December 12: Where Do You Nestle Your Head

We are resting our sleepy heads on these cool pillows I stitched the other day!
Okay, not really, but they are making our nuetral green couches a sight more colorful thanks to my friend Mel . She gave me a birthday gift that was sure to inspire creativity, which included the colorful fabric I used on the pillows, a iron on transfer pencil, and "Found Art" my new favorite book.
Thanks for the inspiration Mel!

And to you my faithful few, I'm hoping you have a Mel in your life that inspires you to do something creative today!
Be blessed.

P.S. I'm off to a Christmas party with the Brit. Last year at this very same WORK Christmas party I got sick in his co-worker's front yard, I'm hoping tonight goes better!

December 11: How Did I Get Here

Today's post was going to be about the pillows I made yesterday. However, an interesting turn of events has led me to change my thoughts.
Every now and then in life things happen to remind me of just all the places I have been and cause me to be amazed at how very small our world is. My bff Laura (if you link to her blog and she hasn't updated you can leave her nasty comments for me) sent me a text message this evening and asked me if I new Chad Reed. I read the name, sure that it sounded it familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. So I asked her how he claimed he new me...
Ahem, he said that he dated me.
Well that doesn't really clear up the mystery, or maybe it is embarrassing because it is a mystery.
Anywho, to make a long story short, he saw me with Laura the other week on church parking lot, that we just stopped at briefly so Libby and I could meet one of Laura's friends. After we left he asked Laura's friend if my name was Carly and claimed he new me.
Well, after a phone call to my mother to help straiten out the time line, I did go out on a few dates with him, nearly 15 years ago. Get this part though, he was from Kentucky and I was from Maryland, back when he knew me and now I live in Virginia and he just happened to see me in the brief 2 seconds I was in Florida, where he now lives. How small is our world and how weird is that?
The sad part for me is that it makes me have to dig up a time in my life that I'm sure I have buried for a good reason. I was lost in a broken hearted haze back then and despite the kindness of anyone who tried to find there way through that haze to the true me, I am certain it didn't work. I have a strong feeling that I wasn't very nice to him. I'm sure that most people could look back at their teenage years and not feel very proud, but I was really struggling and it was the start t of a long and hard rebellion for me.
So, thanks to modern technology I looked him up tonight on facebook. I have hopes of sending him a message and letting him know that I was a crazy teenage girl back then and that through God's grace he has made something lovely out of this crazy life.

Some how I got here with him and now we have her and it is like a breath of fresh air when I think about where I used to be.

Alright...now that's off my chest.
Tomorrow I'll write about pillows.

It's 11:54...December 11 post in time.
These pics of for you Grandma and cousin Jill!
Sleep tight friends.
xx

December 10: Gift Granted

You simply must go back and read this post from 2 years ago.
It would seem to me, that no stuff sheep is needed for our sheep dog anymore. Our little Gus has found a sheep to herd. I know that I have mentioned it before, but they love each other. Actually, I think I wrote this same post about a month ago.
My mom babysat for us the other day and she said that the Little sat on the landing with Gus for the longest time just giving him cuddles, and in turn he would lick her back...which to be honest is a little gross, yet somehow, heart warming!
These pictures are from playing outside this morning (I'll have you know we were dressed and ready to face the day head on by 7:45!) When Libs is walking around outside, Gus can't handle it. He just runs circles around her, and if he can't circle her, he just barks at her until he can.

I think that he may have mistaken her tassel for a squeaky toy!

I think I took this picture b/c they were both barking

She looks so small when she is with him

Happy herding!
By the way...15 days and counting!