Monday, December 01, 2008

It turns out that I'm a little bit country.

For the first time in my blogging career, I was really too busy/sick to blog.
But I'm back, and I have a few things to show you.

a. We didn't quite finish our backyard, even though I nearly killed myself hauling wheelbarrow-fulls of dirt, gravel, and rocks, but we are really close. We just need a bit more gravel (if you had seen the huge pile of it on our driveway, I don't think you could believe that we need more) and some plants. Here is a sneak peek, and also Mike's turkey frying setup. Thanksgiving was a rainy and beautiful day. We hosted it at our house for the first time and I think it turned out lovely. We had good food and good family and that's really all you need for a good Thanksgiving.


b. Here's where I show you just how country I can be. I made my ideal advent calendar and I think it definitely classifies as country decor, but I love it.


I mod podged those numbers I blogged about here onto little paper mache boxes. I could have painted them, but I really liked the brown paper bag color. I stuck them on the wall with poster tack and will fill them with nativity figurines as soon as I make them out of felt. Because I love felt. And I really wanted a nativity advent calendar.


I made the background for the nativity scene from an old frame that I spray painted red, of course, and roughed up a bit. I mod podged paper onto a metal backing (metal shingles- whatever those are- I picked up at the Home Depot) so the whole scene would be magnetic. The figurines will have magnets stuck to the back so they can be placed anywhere in the scene. My kids seem to like it. So that's good.


c. Mabel is a girl after my own heart. She saw me making one of my never ending to-do lists last night and wanted in on the fun. I had to take a picture of her list for posterity. (Just don't tell her I posted it. I don't want to embarrass her.)


The end for now.

15 comments:

  1. I LOVE your nativity/advent idea!! That is one of the most creative I have seen. I am putting you in my "ideas" folder on my desktop for future projects. And I think it's darling how much "alone" time Mabel has on her list. That was so me at her age. "Take time alone" is my favorite. :)

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  2. the yard looks great, the list is so cute, and i LOVE your advent calendar. what a great idea!

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  3. I'm with Lynds and Jenny--I adore that advent calendar! I've been wanting to make/buy a cute one. You should start an Etsy--or do you have one and I'm out of the loop?
    Also, the yard look awesome. Good work kids. Good work.

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  4. I don't think your advent is country. But is is very cute! Maybe you should start making them for profit... I would be your first customer.

    I love all of Mabel's alone time on her to do list. That is really cute!
    That reminds me, I need to go update my list. :-)

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  5. The backyard looks great!

    I loooove that advent calendar. I really love the idea of a nativity one. I might just have to copy you.

    That list is amazing. So cute :)

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  6. really really love the advent calendar!

    especially can't wait to see your tiny felt pieces. and i'm totally adding this to my advent ideas for next year.

    i love that mabel has so much alone time on her list. she's so stinking cute!

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  7. the yard looks great. when we were working on our yard we hated that we had to buy dirt.. its like we paid someone to built our house and then they charge us for the dirt they made our home sit on... shee. love the little boxes, that is really cute.

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  8. please, you would need a few roosters in that nativity to really go country, but it is quaint (and yet modern). you're so effortlessly creative.

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  9. Steph, I love the calendar. It isn't country! If you have nothing else to do (right) this would be a good Christmas present for for your brother and sisters. Or maybe you could make them and sell them on esty.
    Mabels list is precious. I hope you save it. She is so special.
    Love and Hugs
    Grammy
    PS-The year look GREAT!

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  10. Great yard, great advent calendar, great kids! My favorite item on the list is "smell perfume."

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  11. I wish I had "sing" and "smell perfume" on my to-do list! Childhood is the best!

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  12. i'm going to go smell perfume alone :)

    i love mabel.

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  13. I love her list!! It is the perfect list for any little girl!!

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  14. What a cute nativity/advent idea! I can't wait to see your little felt figures. Mabel's list is great, I love that she wants to do things "alone".

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  15. Stephanie, I am dying at how creative you are...and loving Mabel's awesome list.

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