Walking A Non Winter Wonderland

Texas is full blown into  spring/fall combo so to say. All week is 82 degrees across the board. Our garden is filled with pollinators first food such as dandelions, henbit, and other hodgepodge of edible lawn. I wore shorts and a tank top today and its the very end of December! In California I would never, but were not there Toto ... Apparently winter will officially arrive on my birthday in the New Year. I received some amazing outdoor work boots that are fur lined and rubber bottomed from my Renaissance Man that I cant wait to wear. A quick greenhouse amazon purchase was made so I won't lose my plants to overnight freeze points. It doesn't stay cold here to long unless the snow fluke happens again like last year....yikes! Here's some garden photos taken after fresh rain on our 80 degree days.

The last whispers of 2021 are breezing through, please 2022 be good to the world.

From The Land of Sweets

" I thought maybe

 we could make gingerbread houses

 and eat cookie dough...." 

~ ELF ~

~ MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE ~

 From All of Us at Casa Sol Y Luna

Solstice Salutations

Another turn of the wheel has brought us to light overcoming the dark. The rain did not permit us to celebrate outside with a fire, but we did stay cozy inside with music and laughter. Earlier in the week I made Solstice crafts Yule love.....pardon the pun. I know that everyone celebrates different wintertime holidays and I wish you all many blessings of love and light in your sacred ceremonies. I appreciate each and everyone of you in our blogging community and may this New Year bring about our wildest dreams. May it be a "Sweet 16 "indeed.

So onto those earthy goodies to celebrate the Solstice.

~ Pine Smudge Sticks ~

~ Citrus Pomander ~

And the countdown to Christmas continues 3-2-1 it's almost here!

Spicing Up Christmas

I love drying out remnant's of my teas in the kitchen's mini bay window. Cuttings and petals from the outdoors are often added to dry out. It looks like an open apothecary and smells lovely when I wash the dishes. Having a Christmas tree and access to pine put my ingredients to a holiday use. I combined an equal ratio of all dried goods in mason jars. there is no secret quantity or formula to potpourri, use what you have and scents that please you. Just boil low on the stove in a pot of water and enjoy the smell of a Christmas home.

December Reflections 2015

Homespun Gift Giving

Now that almost everyone received their gifts from me, I can reveal them to you all. When I get around to it I will post tutorials. We are all a little under the weather right now at the house.

These candy sleighs were a hit. I made these for our stockings, in place of just throwing in chocolates. All you need is candy and that handy dandy glue gun.

 

My nieces and nephews got a homemade ornament on their gift to adorn their tree. I purchased a roll of 12 ball ornaments at the dollar store. Mini jingle bells were added and the hot glue gun was used to make the initials. Epsom salt added quickly gives a pretty sparkle.

Who doesn't love a bucket of snow! Our part of California is sunny and green so faux snow for a White Christmas is a must. Add shaving cream to baking soda and voila you have cold powder snow.

I made these sensory play kits for all my nieces and nephews. Check out my 

 Moon Sand  post on how to make sand.

The aroma while making these was delectable. I included instructions on a Christmas card on how to use this Gingerbread scrub so everybody knows it's not to eat. Mommy Musings blog has the recipe and printables.

These lavender heat pillows were all hand sewn with love. Me and my sewing machine have a love /hate relationship. The dried lavender flowers were cultivated from my own plants. Fill with rice and any aromatic flower of your choice, and pop into the microwave for up to two minutes. Your sore muscles will thank you.

The adults received my "Comfort & Joy Baskets".  The time and effort that went into making  these gifts was a true labor of love that I look forward to doing again when the holidays roll around . 

Happy New Year's Eve Eve!

Simple Days

These past days we have been holed in with rain. It's too wet and damp to do anything outside but take the kids to and from school. The husband and I have been doing house chores together and hoping for brighter days literally and figuratively. It has been a month since he was laid off and it's hard to get a landscape job in this season and weather. Fingers crossed our situation will soon have a positive turn around. 

So this brings us yet again to a very humble Christmas, but this is not my first ride on this rodeo. I kept the decor at a minimum this year. The tree is trimmed and the stockings are hung. Now I must get crafty to make the kids eyes sparkle on Christmas Day.

Last year we didn't gift to anyone but our kids. I really do love to give a gift at Christmas to our family members so I'm going to be like a frantic little elf crafting at my kitchen table. 10 days left till Christmas! Let's see what homemade goods I can create before Christmas day arrives.

 In between the hustle & bustle I will post my projects, and try to keep up with the blogosphere. The kids will be on winter break after this week. "Good grief Charlie Brown, I'm so not ready for all of this"! I hope this holiday season is treating you well and blissful moments are to come. Now I'm off to grab the glue gun.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

I'm glad to report that the storm clouds around my mind and heart have lifted. As for hometown weather well that's a different story, rain off and on with wind and and occasional flooding, but I can't complain were still in severe drought conditions. 

Maybe it continues to rain because my children can't help dancing when the opportunity arises. The joy and endless smiles they display while doing the simplest littlest things in life warms my heart and reminds me that it's the little moments that make memories.

 On December first I did wake up with a new perspective as I had hoped for on my previous post. The magic of words can be so profound. Words and goals flowed out of me at 5:00 a.m. and I jotted them down on paper to be a constant reminder. So far so good.

 A lot of baking and making sweet treats has been going on around here. The oven baking keeps the humble homestead warm & cozy. My youngest children are the best sous chefs.

We've been crafting too. These set of Reindeer ornaments are $2.88 for a 12 pack at Walmart. A few odds and ends and a glue gun and we made some awesome ornaments for the tree. I'll have to post the after pic later.

The tree is up but is yet to be decorated. Tonight while be our little tree trimming ceremony. Oh did I mention we have been snuggling up on the couch and watching a copious amount of Christmas shows and movies? I hope all of you are having a great kick off to December and all it has in store.

Beautiful Blessings to you this weekend and upcoming week.