Sunday, December 6, 2009

It's Beginning to Look a Little Like Christmas...

Jessica came home from school around 10am on Thursday. She has had a cold and woke up that morning saying her throat hurt, but I thought maybe it was because she was breathing with her mouth open and it was dry. She didn't have a fever and wanted to try go to class. Apparently the throat was still hurting (or hurting again) and she went to the school nurse, who had her gargle with salt water. It seemed to help. But 10 minutes later, Jessica apparently had a little upset tummy (from the salt water, I think) and she threw up a little. By then her temp started to climb. So I dropped what I was doing and went to pick her up.

She's had a low grade fever ever since, but the throat and tummy are feeling much better. She's been eating and drinking fine so I suspect it's just a doozy of a cold, poor thing. Maybe a little sinus issue. Behaviorally, she is acting fine today. I hope she can go to school tomorrow as they are scheduled to have their mid-year assessment and she'll only be there for an hour and a half. That is, if the snow we've been getting all day doesn't create a snow day.

Wave one of the snow has come, but they are talking about another storm due to come in sometime tonight, I think. Time will tell.

So, I've lost two school days of work time for me in terms of holiday gifts. This coming week I'll lose two more, with the assessment day tomorrow and a day off scheduled for Friday. Sigh...hopefully I can get what I want to done! Time will tell.

In the meantime I have a couple of things to show that I have been able to work on.
*Ü*
I started changing out the decorations for the winter season. Here's one of my new snowmen that I got at the thrift store for $1! Isn't he just adorable?? I love his feet! I filled the basket with some cinnamon scented pinecones and a few cinnamon sticks. The pine stuff is a cut up garland I got at the dollar store.

And I've filled the pots on the porch, too.
I found the greenery at the dollar store (I still can't believe it) and the rest are from Joann's, 50% off!
Here's what I did in the hanging pots. I have three of these snowmen and they all have a different looking scarf/earmuffs. You can see I cut up another dollar store garland to wrap around the base. The garland was 15 feet long and pretty full. I'm pleased at how it looks.

And, since I'm not really able to work on Jessica or Amy's gifts with Jessica being home, I decided to try my hand at crocheting some ornament covers. It took a few attempts, changing the hook size to make the cover bigger since it wouldn't fit the ornaments I picked up at the thrift store. When I checked the pattern again, I realized the ornaments I was using were too large. (**slaps self on the forehead**) Another trip to the thrift store resulted in finding the correct size (for $1) among other things (like another snowman, an OshKosh coat for Jess, a dress for Amy, a couple of books, the placement on my table on the porch and a few other things almost all at 50% off the ticketed price!)

Once I got the correct size ornament, I was successful in creating a couple of covers and thought you might like to see them.
The dark gold one is for Jessica and the red one is for Amy.
Front view close up

Side view
Front view

Side view

I'm not sure I would make a ton of these, but these few attempts were fun (once I got the correct ornament size, that is). The girls are excited to have some new "special" ornaments.

Thanks for stopping by! I sure appreciate the visit.
Hope your week is a good one!

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10 comments:

Alanna said...

Great projects Jeanne. You are so talented. Stay warm and safe with all this crazy snow.

Kathi Carlson said...

I've been wondering all day what you're up to, if Jessica is better, etc. Now I know. LOL.

Your decorations look great. I'm amazed by the thrift store "finds." Big town thrift stores, I believe, are very different from what you find in a small town. Love the snowmen that you can leave up long past Christmas.

The ornament covers are exquisite - treasures for a lifetime.

The blogosphere has been like a ghost town this weekend. Everyone is busy. 'Tis the season!

Hope you can accomplish all you're hoping for during your alone time. Have a good week, sweet friend!

Sarah said...

OK you NEED to come to IOWA and find ME these deals!!! Your decorations are just daring. I agree with Kathi that no thrift store I have even been in has had deals like these.
BUT my absolute favorite things are those ornament covers...I LOVE them.
Jeanne you are SO creative.
I am so sorry Jessica is ill and I hope she recovers quickly..poor little thing.

Sparkplug17 said...

These are just darling! I love your snowmen and your covers!

Sharli Schaitberger said...

I've sent you an e-mail Jeanne. I love your decorating - the ornaments are amazing! I wish (once again) that I could crochet! You are so multi-talented!

Jena said...

I hope Jessica is feeling better! Good luck working on your holiday projects with the girls home. I love your darling holiday decorations - and those ornament covers are beautiful, I've never seen those before! I hope you have a great week - stay warm! We haven't got much snow here but it's sure been cold!

Kim Burmeister said...

Jeanne, I love, love, love your decorations. The ornaments are fabulous!

We got a little snow here too. The boys went sledding down our street last night with Dad.

Hope Jessica feels better soon!

gloria in Utah :) said...

Hope Jessica is feeling much better. As for snow...I'm afraid you are in for a long, deep snowstorm. We woke up this morning to at least 4" and it's still coming down. Bill had to get the boots and gloves out, then went to shovel the driveway. I had hot wassail waiting for him when he got done. ( He LOVES this stuff!! and I have a great recipe for anyone interested) It's not just for Christmas!!
Love the ornaments too. I wish I crocheted too. (sigh)

Enjoy your snow!! I'm sure you are getting alot more than we are.

gloria in Utah :)

Carolyn said...

Sooo adorable!!
Hope Jessica is feeling better. Sam is being treated for a sinus infection right now. It sometimes hangs on after the cold leaves. It amazes me how much better they feel when the meds kick in.
Love your decorations! and what a great find at the TS.
They are predicting a foot of snow for us now by tomorrow. Yikes Stay warm my friend!!

Laurel said...

Wow, love it all!