Christmas is over and I made it through without too many worries. With budgets tighter this year, we decided not to exchange gifts, but I did make lots of white and chocolate fudge and peppermint bark for giving.

I am now spending my evenings doing a bit of crocheting again. I finished this nice, warm scarf which works quite nicely at keeping my face and neck warm. The hat is made by knitting. I thought I would give that a try. I missed one stitch, but to be expected I guess with it being my first time. I hope I get much better at that too.

Did you notice my new manequin? I finally found one that I could put pins into. She will be really fun to decorate and show off some of my creations, don't you think?

We finally got some rain through the night, no snow yet, and I got just the right boots for mucking around in it. These are called Bogs and they are so comfy and easy to slip into. I am a barefoot kinda gal so comfy and easy on and off are for me.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas and may everyone have a New Year of good health, happiness and the love of family and friends.

While still trying to get in the spirit of Christmas, I happened to try my hand at ribbon trees. I did the green one by hot glue but burned myself so much I did the pink one the way it was suppose to be done, which is by pinning each ribbon in place.
I think they turned out pretty cute.

I also decided not to put up a big tree this year, but instead I put up a small one with little kitchen stuff for the counter top instead.

I just can't seem to find the energy I need to get myself going with all the usual decorations that I put out. So my many containers full of Christmas decor will stay in the shed until next year. I did help put some lights up around my new deck roof so will at least enjoy them in the evenings.

This is not like me, as I am usually totally into Christmas. It has always been my favorite time of the year. I love all the smells and homeyness it all brings. I just may have to bring home some Christmas swags to put out so I can smell the pine in the air. It might be what I'm missing.

I keep thinking I should be making some of my peppermint bark and fudge and peanut brittle that I love to give as presents, but everyone is on a diet and would rather not have them right now.

So I focused on the charity family for the Salvation Army again this year. We managed to get them the gifts they asked for and enough for a nice Christmas dinner for them as well. I also helped to finish a project we 'chicks' started months ago. We adopted a room for the Women's Shelter where we painted, put down new flooring and furnished it so that one of the gals could transition into their own home. I feel lucky and blessed to be able to help others in ways that they are unable to right now.

For myself, I will keep looking for that spunk that I am lacking in hopes of finding my spirit of Christmas that I know is in me. Until then I will watch my Christmas love stories on tv, play around with a new craft and maybe bake some cookies for my hubby when I'm not busy playing hidden object games on the computer. For him, retirement is easy. For me, I have to reinvent myself. It just takes time.

I need Inspiration

As I sit here going through so many beautiful blog backgrounds, I keep telling myself I need to get more into the Christmas spirit. I've made a few ornaments and a couple of ribbon trees I found in one of my many crafting books, but I'm still struggling to get more accomplished. I even went to our local Christmas craft bazaar Saturday and tried to become more inspired. I'm still not feeling it.

So I will wonder on over to see what everone else has been doing to help me get in the spirit for the upcoming holidays as you always inspire me to keep on trying new recipes and wonderful ideas. What would I do without all you creative bloggers?

Wish me luck.