Rudolph Day at The Old Parsonage

Happy Rudolph Day everyone! Rudolph Day is celebrated on the 25th of each month. It's a day that we do something to prepare, plan or just do something Christmas-y. I've got out my Christmas Magic Holiday planner and I'm updating pages and lists today.



I try to buy the "kids" their Christmas ornaments this month. We like to buy one that is significant to a particular event that happens during the year. This year I'm looking for a cool airplane for Flyboy and a ring for LBB. We got our Fireman some cowboy boots since he moved to TX and for My Jade, I'm looking for something that represents a teacher. Sounds pretty easy since they make all kinds of "themed" ornament now-a-days, but I like to buy German Glass ornaments - so it takes some time.


I've got a few Christmas DVD's out to watch - White Christmas and A Christmas Story are ready to roll. Pair them with a a big bowl of pop corn and I'm all set! No hot cocoa for me today, it's to stinking hot - I guess that I'll have to drink diet coke outta' Mrs. Claus.


I'm also ready to start designing our Christmas Cards this month. Not sure what I want to do yet. Kelli said StampinUp! has some great Christmas things coming out, so I want to wait until I see what they have up their sleeve before I commit to a design.

Is anyone else doing something Christmas-y today? Let me know!

Well...to all a good night!

Likes

I started blogging as a holiday blogger. What I mean to say is that I had holiday related blogs - Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween. Keeping up three blogs is a lot of work, and I wanted to share my daily musings as well as holiday plans and preparations. So I decided to create one blog - The Old Parsonage.



I like to read blogs that are written as if the blogger and I are old friends or sisters who are catching-up. These are my favorite kinds of blogs - not necessarily a"certain kind" of blog like a craft blog or a decorating blog, but a blog that makes the writer "real" in a sense.


I hope that's how you feel when you come here dear readers, like we are just old friends catching-up. I also like to use my own photos as much as possible. This way I know where they came from and I don't have to "note the source." Did you know that you are supposed to note the source when you are using photos other than your own?



It took me some time to start commenting on blogs, I was afraid to take the plunge, but once I did that's when blogging really became more fun. And getting comments? Well, it still tickles me when someone is kind enough to leave a note of encouragement or a kind word. You are all terrific and I am so thankful for your friendship! If you would like me to add your blog to my list of friends on my side bar, just let me know.

Enjoy your week!

Crystal Clear Vintage Treasures

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I'm linking this post to Beverly's Pink Saturday, pop on by to see what she and others are sharing. For those of you following along, my cousin Kristine had Miss Audrey Rose by C-section tonight. She was in labor for over 12hrs and was only 3 cm dilated. She weighed in at 8lbs 120z and 22 inches tall. Both are doing well. I can't wait to meet her!



I have two pink depression glass pieces that are extra special to me. They were a gift from my Gram. The tiny pink basket was actually hers from her childhood.



The creamer was used everyday at her house. She always liked to use her "pretties." "If you can't use it, then why bother having something," was one of her sayings. I agree.



We have a lot of antiques/vintage treasures here at The Old Parsonage (not that they are really worth anything), but everything that we have - we use. Dishes. Quilts. Pitchers. If it's here it's gonna be used.


The coffee pot in the photo was my Nan's. I don't have all the parts, and we don't use it for coffee, but I do like to use it to showcase plants or it even makes a great vase for cut flowers.

Do you use your antiques or vintage things?

I'm going to be really busy next week, so I may not be by to visit too often. But I promise to visit all of you and catch-up soon. Enjoy your weekend and stay cool my friends

Wishes and Dishes

Years ago we inherited my MIL's china cupboard. She got her mother's twin corner cupboards and gave us her cupboard. I was so excited because my Aunt Cathy had just given me a set of dishes.




She collected them weekly from the local A&P. Each week you could get a place setting and then the serving dishes, etc. The pattern is called Alyce and I have a service for 8.




Anyway back to my story... When I first put the dishes in the cupboard my MIL told me that in the olden days it was customary to put paper doilies as "shelf paper" and hang the doilies off the edge so that they were decorative. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I do like how the doilies look when the cupboard door is closed.




Not to keep you in suspense any longer about our flying ants ...The bug man came out and confirmed that they were indeed flying ants and not termites. He sprayed around the window and put some gel bait down so that if there are any stragglers left they will take it back to the nest and kill all of them. Then he sprayed outside the window too.



They finally induced my cousin Kristine tonight. She's been so uncomfortable with the heat and humidity, I'm just wishing her an easy delivery. So you know what I'll be doing tomorrow - going to see little Miss Audrey Rose. Can't wait!

Hope that you are all enjoying your week! Just think tomorrow is Thursday already.

A Handmade Birthday Card or Two or Three

With the weather being as nice as it's been I thought that I'd get in a little studio time and make a few handmade cards. Because, once it hits the 90+ degree mark and the humidity comes back it's brutal in the studio. I have a fan in there but after about 5 minutes I'm a puddle.


We've taken down the entire pool and have started to take down the deck. But we're moving at a slower rate with the decking. Taking a bit down every week so as not to have a huge pile of wood that we have to get rid of. It seems more tidy to take it down in stages and put it out for the garbage man a little at a time.


The bug man never made it to the house on Wednesday - his truck broke down. So I've rescheduled. I haven't seen any more of the winged ants so I'm not fretting too much. I'm also in the process of trying to get an electrician to come out to the house.

We have knob and tube wiring that needs to be replaced. Or, I should said the house needs to be re-wired - that's more like it. Again, the old gal is reaching 100years so she always needs work. But I wouldn't trade her for the world. Although, I do wish that we could add all the upgrades and things that make life easier (like central air) at one time.

Our Fireman is in heaven - Jade got back from Wales late Wednesday. She, her Mom and Sis all went over for three weeks for a family visit. They had a wonderful time and I'm soo glad that they are all home safe and sound.


I have to head off to work (yes, I'm going to schedule this post for Sunday) but I think that I'll leave the windows open. It's still really beautiful out. And if it gets warmer, then I'll shut them when I pop home for lunch.

Enjoy!

Multiplying Flies in the Dining Room

No, not the real kind thank goodness. Not after the winged ants! More on that story later. Mr OP's newest hobby is fly fishing and fly tying. The dining room has become his work space since it's too hot most days to be out in the barn.




Some of them are really cool and there's even a little pink mixed in for Pink Saturday.
But, I do miss my neat and tidy dining room table and the cute vignettes.



We're still waiting on little Miss Audrey to make her appearance. My cousin Kristine was due on Sunday and still no baby. It's actually pretty cool here tonight and all the windows are open - yeah beautiful summer breezes! I wish that all summer days and nights were like this.

Not your Aunt Edna!

Well if you've been with me for awhile you know that The Old Parsonage will soon be 100yrs old. In 5 years to be exact. I grew up in this neighborhood watching her change over the years. The people that we bought her from really put some work into her. Every project that we start seems to grow into another project - it's never easy.

With any older home there are always projects, but this one may be a doozey. Can you see the winged ant? I found about 8 of them in the dining room on our small window. There was also some wood like dust - which I kept for the bug guy to see. They are ants not termites - that I know (I looked up the difference on the web). Termites have one thickness for a body. Winged ants sort of have a "waist." We have a bug guy coming out tomorrow night to give us the prognosis.

Fingers Crossed!

Frozen Charlotte's and Pink Saturday

With not too much sun this week, I had to snap a few photos on the back porch. Aren't these frozen Charlotte's darling? I just love them in my new birds nest!!!



Linda told me about a birds nest that she had in one of her bushes and asked me if I wanted it. The former residents had already vacated it, so why not. I actually got two this week. One from Linda, and one from Tom (I've worked with both Tom and Linda for more than 15years).



We haven't had any nests in our yard this year. Probably because of all the prowling cats in the neighborhood. But, last weekend I did see a humming bird right next to me trying to get at my bee balm. It was soo cool.



Can you believe that these roses are from my shopping trip to the supermarket last Friday? They still look wonderful as they are starting to fully open up.



I didn't really have anything to cut and bring in from the flower garden this week past, so I did the next best things and bought them at the supermarket. They are fairly inexpensive and as you can see they really last.



In case you're wondering, I got my frozen Charlotte's from Karla. These are my second set. The first ones that I bought were much smaller. She also tucked in the wonderful handmade tags that are in the birds nest photo above. What an unexpected and kind thing to do.

Speaking of kindness, Beverly our hostess for Pink Saturday is another kind soul. Every week she hosts Pink Saturday for all of us to enjoy. Thanks Beverly!

Bird Song Tag Swap

I finally finished all my tags for Karla's Bird Song Tag Swap. We were to create 7 tags (they could all be the same or different). I chose to make 7 different ones, it seemed more fun to me!



I just peeked over at Karla's this morning - she is such an inspiration. All of her creativity just sparks something in me. I always feel like tackling a project after my visits with her.



In case any of you are wondering how round 2 of my root canal went... I need to go back one more time! Can you believe it?!!! Apparently my roots don't grow straight down so that was one of the issues.



And, I had pulp stones in 2 of the roots. They are hard calcification like stones in the root. She bent and broke several of her tools trying to get them and the roots cleaned out.



So after 2.5 hrs in the chair with my jaw starting to quiver and me feeling pain she decided to stop for the day. I'm telling you, I seem to have the oddest things. She said that the tooth had too much stress that day so we were going to have to stop. The tooth?! What about me?!!!



One more trip and she promised it would be done. We just have to fill the roots. I sure hope that she's not kidding.



Well, this is the last of my tags. I just have to package them up and ship them to Karla. If you've never been to her blog, just take a quick peek, you'll love it. Enjoy your day!

Round Two

I'm headed to the endodontist again today for round two of the root canal saga. Should be a breeze this time...right? Remember the poison ivy I told you I had? Well did you know that it can become infected?


I'll tell you what, I'm a walking time bomb. First the infected root, now infected poison ivy? I haven't been scratching it, but it got pretty bad. I think it had to do with me putting my hands in and out of the oven while baking. Any way, my hand started swelling and looked like a huge bruise - boy did that hurt like heck! I've been keeping it elevated, with compresses and a mega-antibiotic (I hate taking these like I have been , but the Dr said it's really infected).


At least all of my drama happened after the wedding. Top Photo: Steve and April - beautiful couple (Flyboy and Steve have been friends since 3rd grade) Middle Photo: 2 groomsmen Robbie and Flyboy Bottom Photo: Flyboy and Little Bride to Be (LBB). You all know what going to this wedding made me think about:)