Great Weekend!

I had a wonderful weekend visiting my sisters near Reading, PA.  We had such a great time.  The area is very woodsy with lots of forest and rail trails.  My sisters live in front of a railroad that travels three or four times a day and even at night.  At night it sounded like the Polar Express coming getting ready to take the children to the North Pole.  We visited the Nolde National Forest and saw the amazing Nolde Mansion!  It was built in the 1900's with an English Tudor design. The back of the house had the feel of a castle and the front of the house was very grand but normal looking.

 

We loved looking at all the detail that was put into this house.

 

 

Jacob Nolte planted 500,000 evergreen trees by 1916.  This is now the Nolde Forest.

 

 

We went to lots of Antique shops.  I found the cutest Hubley Bulldog doorstop.

Before I even walked into the shop (it was actually an antique mall) I said I want a bulldog.

My sister was with me and she knows when I want something  I usually find it because I'm focused on that one thing. We saw some ceramic dogs but not what I wanted.  We kept going looking through everything and suddenly as I turn the corner there is my bulldog. I look at my sister and said that's it! It was 20% off which made it even better!

Where my sisters live it's very backwoods.  The neighbor had an old red Volkswagen bug sitting in their driveway.  I loved the rust and the vintageness of it.  I took lots of pictures and plan on painting it.  I love these old treasures.  What about you?

 

 

I loved all the rail trails and beautiful scenery God created.  What a calming relaxing walk (except for the hunters I saw come out of the woods) that freaked me out but other than that it was beautiful!

 

Now on to getting ready for New Year's. Wishing You a very exciting new year in 2014!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

I've been busy decorating the house and getting ready for Christmas.  I usually decorate the house with a theme.  This year I decided to go with a natural, woodsy theme.  I had fun making some new projects.

 

This year I used things around the house and things I found in my neighborhood to make my projects.

I love being creative and finding ways to make things I see on Pinterest.

 

 

 

I made this Joy to the World sign out of reclaimed wood I saw in the trash.

Since it was already grey and peeling I sanded it in some spots and then free handed  Joy to the World on it.

 

 

My deer head I made out of paper mache and cardboard.

 

 

The nativity is decorated with some Pom Pom fringe.

 

 

This tree was made from a pizza box.  I will do a tutorial on how to make this.

 

 

 

My tree decorated with tags from Target and deer from the dollar store.

I made little pom poms and paper cones from old sheet music.

I also found some cute woodsy animal ornaments from Target.

 

Wishing You A Blessed Christmas!

 

Leslie