One Fine Blessing - Senior Birthdays January

Oh Dear! I have not forgotten our January Senior Birthdays!! I have just been super busy with working out some new things that will be taking place for 2012 here at The Coloradolady.....I am going to continue with the One Fine Blessing each month for our Senior Birthdays.

I have not decided on posting each month here on the blog or just utilizing the email mailing list for 2012. I am still thinking about this one.....your input would be great on this. Let me know if you would like the reminder here on the blog or just email. If you'd like to join, email me at the email address on my sidebar, it is under the button there. I also have a new button with the code for you to grab for your blog, it is on the right sidebar. As always, if you have a senior you'd like to include on the list, please email me before the birthday month. I won't be sending out notices after a birthday has past.

I am not going to be posting anymore for the "First, Fifth, Forever". That was my project for 2011 and I am going to retire that project. Not the Birthday cards, just First, Fifth, Forever.

Several new things will be coming.....I hope you find them encouraging, uplifting and thought provoking. Tuesday will be the kickoff for "Tell Me Tuesday"
There is a button on the left sidebar.....I hope you will think about joining me.....you just might learn something new about yourself you never realized! At least, I am planning on it helping me out a little bit in that department.

Happy New Year Everyone......check your emails for the Birthday list a little later this evening. I hope you are excited about 2012. I know I am in more ways than one!!

Secret Santa Soiree: Tell All

I have to admit, this was my very first swap to host and for the most part, I was pleased with how it turned out. I certainly learned a lot along the way that will hopefully make it a lot easier should I host this next season. I certainly learned much more than the logistics of how a swap operates. I have been inspired, encouraged and truly amazed at the generosity of others. I have enjoyed all the emails, and conversations throughout the swap.


I'd like to clear up how I paired each of the bloggers with one another. I debated on how to do this, and wanted it to be fair for all involved. I did not want to pick and choose, as I was afraid the idea would be lost if I picked a blogger for you. I hoped you would have someone you had never met before, and a new friendship would be formed. So....very technically.....I drew from a bowl. Yeppers.....I put all the numbers in a bowl, stared from the bottom of the list and picked and assigned that way, ending lastly with my own name. High Tech I tell you!!!

I hope you enjoyed yourselves this season. The real joy is in the giving, and that seems to be conveyed in most everyone who participated. I was amazed at all the lovely gifts being sent to new friends. I am still in hopes that the rest of the bloggers who have not blogged about their gifts will take the time to do so very soon. Please know, I have done all I can to get that message out there. Please know I have tried so no one's feelings would be hurt. As soon as I am notified, I will update the list to show the * * * beside the blogs.

Below is the list of your Secret Santa Person. Please refer to the original list HERE to match the number up with their blog. I know many of you are so excited to see who to thank personally!

Blog Number - Blog they sent to:

1 - 67
2 - 28
3 - 5
4 - 34
5 - 31
6 - 20
7 - 27
8 - 64
9 - 54
10 - 25
11 - 21
12 - 29
13 - 53
14 - 12
15 - 1
16 - 51
17 - 41
18 - 56
19 - 59
20 - 61
21 - 49
22 - 42
23 - 55
24 - 39
25 - 22
26 - 38
27 - 32
28 - 46
29 - 60
30 - 36
31 - 52
32 - 30
33 - 7
34 - 15
35 - 57
36 - 43
37 - 58
38 - 48
39 - 65
40 - 45
41 - 16
42 - 14
43 - 9
44 - 66
45 - 10
46 - 23
47 - 13
48 - 3
49 - 33
50 - 11
51 - 40
52 - 17
53 - 35
54 - 8
55 - 63
56 - 18
57 - 6
58 - 62
59 - 50
60 - 24
61 - 44
62 - 37
63 - 19
64 - 4
65 - 2
66 - 47
67 - 26
Elf  (thank you again)
47 - 3

I'd also like to thank some of our swap participants who sent cards and other surprises to me as well. I can tell you that this was certainly not expected, but oh, what fun I have had. Precious gifts from precious friends.....thank you so much! Between my SSS partner and you ladies, I felt very spoiled!  (click photo to enlarge)

Please notice the framed stitched dachshunds. This was a card, and the felt embroidery was quickly removed and framed.....this will stay out all year long....did you notice that it is Sophie, Dora and Bailey! Very precious to me!! And that sweet bag....Bailey wanted inside the minute I sat it down!! She thinks it is her personal carrier!! I am going to put the dachshund ornament in my curio cabinet with my other doxie treasures....can not bear the thought of packing these goodies away for a whole year.

My final thoughts, as we start into the new year, try and keep the spirit of the holiday in our hearts. Random acts of kindness go a long way, and you just never know how one small thing will make a huge difference for someone in a big way. Wishing you the very best for 2012! Thanks for taking part this year in the Secret Santa Soiree and putting up with my persistence in keeping things on track!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Happy New Year

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a "dog-gone" good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies being showed that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

This is the last Vintage Thingie Thursday for 2011.I thought it fitting for a couple of cute vintage postcards to ring in the new year! Wishing you a wonderful New Year for 2012 and hope it is the best year yet!

As we travel the roads of the new year...may lots of vintage goodies find their way to our hearts and homes!!

Thanks for a wonderful Vintage filled 2011!! I am thinking about changing a few things for VTT for 2012.....small changes.....I will decide by next week!! Have a safe and Happy New Year!!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Holiday Decor

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a "dog-gone" good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies being showed that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

Since I totally forgot what day it was...I am posting a rerun from a couple of years ago......sorry about the slip up.....so much to do.....so little time!! 

I'd like to show you my tree that I have in my sewing room, it is surrounded with lots of vintage goodies. It makes it so fun to go into this room and look at all my vintage Christmas treasures.

 The vintage suitcases make a great table for the tree and its goodies underneath.

 Here is a close up of vintage tablecloths, napkins, aprons and hankies.

 That sweet little box was a gift from my Secret Santa, Deborah a couple of years ago.....I just love it!

A vintage quilt flimsy serves as the tree skirt, with a few vintage treasures that mean a lot to me.

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!! Have a great week.

Secret Santa Soiree: Update

Most of all the participants have received their packages according to the delivery confirmation numbers. There are still several that have not done their post about receiving their gifts. Please take the time to do that and let your Secret Santa know that their box arrived OK. Please be aware that some of these bloggers went missing in action and I could not contact them or get them to respond to me in any way. If they don't blog about their package, I am so sorry.....I have blown up their email accounts so if they have not responded by now, I am taking that as they will not be doing the post.

Please note: There are still a few packages in transit, due to illnesses, emergencies and unplanned things that came up....they should be there soon.

Thank you to the elves that stepped in and took charge on a couple.....much appreciated!!

Thank you once again for a great Secret Santa Swap!! It has been a lot of fun seeing what everyone received!!

Click the Secret Santa button on the left sidebar of my blog to take you to the original link.
 Next week, I will do one last post and reveal who had who....and who were the elves!! Stay tuned.....

Cinnamon Honey Butter: Gift Idea

Super easy, fast and makes a great gift!! I would have used the 4 oz. jars, but I could not fine them, so I used the 8 oz. jars instead. One recipe makes about five 8 oz. jars. Very easy and oh. so. good.

Cinnamon Honey Butter

4 sticks salted butter ( softened at room temp )
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups honey

Whip butter until fluffy in a kitchen-aid mixer using whisk. Add sugar, mix well. Add honey and cinnamon and whip until mixed well. Spoon in jars or other containers. Decorate with fabric, tag and twine and you are all set. Easy, Cute, and this is super on rolls, biscuits, toast, sweet potatoes, English muffins,or waffles. Store in fridge or at room temperature for easy spreading.

I have had this recipe for a long time and could not find it, luckily I found it last week and whipped up a batch or two!! If you are not a fan of the cinnamon, it can be left out and add 4 teaspoons extra of powder sugar instead.

If you are needing a last minute gift idea, and not a lot of time to whip something up...this might be just the thing!!

Secret Santa Arrives!

My secret Santa package arrived and what a fun box my Santa put together for me! I love it all!! It was so much fun opening up that box to find.....

......this. A box full of wrapped little gifts and a cute card!! I barely had the sense to go get my camera.

Just look at these goodies. I am so appreciative of each and every one!!!!

warm fuzzy socks (that I needed) and a cute little "S" ornaments......

which promptly went on my tree!!

An ADORABLE mug rug (which she made herself), snowman mug and hot chocolate and a new quilting book. The mug rug went promptly on my desk. I love it!!!

Bath Salts, Spruce candle and a bag of my favorite candy! Let me say, the bath salts are amazing.....they were used with a few hours!!! A nice calming bath soak does a stressed out body a lot of good.

My secret Santa also made me a little basket out of Christmas fabrics. She could never know how I will treasure this, as I have not had much luck in making these or bags, and I am frustrated with myself to say the least. I guess I need to take a class. I absolutely love it....and well, knew exactly where it was going.....now it is a very unconventional way to use this......but .......

This sweet bag is sitting in my guest bath holding extra rolls of tissue. Sure beats looking at an old ugly roll of tissue paper sitting on the bowl. It sits with the sweet little box Deb, from Deb's Vintage Soul sent me a few years ago on this very swap. It will be treasured along with my box and used each and every year, and I will always remember how my secret Santa made me feel special.

Thank you again Secret Santa!! I appreciate everything you sent me!! Merry Christmas!!

Can You Spare A Couple Of Minutes: Card Request

This afternoon, I had a request sent by one of my blogging friends, Anne. I am most sure many of you know Anne yourselves....she is a doll and requested my help. In the email she told me about a friend of hers who is struggling right now with breast cancer and having a hard time. Please see email below...

Hi sweet friends of mine:
I hope you ladies will help me out. Our billing rep., at my work place, who lives in Cheyenne WY has breast cancer and she is really having a struggle. I am providing her address and ask if you would spread the word for prayer and a card or letter of encouragement.


I hope you will encourage everyone you know to send a card or letter to Teresa. Her address is here:


Teresa Wood
4077 Cherry Wine Drive
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-8111


She is having some difficulties and I love her like a sister! Please help and spread the word. I am sure she would be tickled to receive lots of great mail!


I love each and every one of you so much and appreciate your generous hearts! A card or letter goes a long way in making someones day. Blessings, Anne.

If you still addressing Christmas cards, take a moment if you would to drop Teresa a line or two and some encouraging words. A simple word does a lot for someone who is struggling with burdens. Even if you have already mailed your cards, maybe a nice note of thoughts and kind words would be wonderful. It only takes a couple of minutes out of your day....and it would mean a lot I am sure. Mine is going in the mail Friday, Anne. Thank you for letting me know!

And Teresa......sending you lots of thoughts and prayers from my little corner of the world.......hang in there girl!!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: A Family Treasure - Vintage Santa

If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so  please make sure you follow the instructions.  Please only ONE link per week. 

One of  my favorite Christmas decorations is a vintage Santa Clause that belongs to my husband. He has had this for as long as we have been married.....even before that. It is a favorite family treasure.

My mother in law painted this sweet Santa when my husband was small. He is adorned with some red glitter, which is amazing that there is still a bit of glitter in his suit after all this time. My mother in law passed away in 2003, and although this has always been a holiday favorite, it most certainly is a family treasure now.

I think he has a most amazingly detailed face, love his beard and his all knowing eyes.

Just look at that big ole round belly. He stands about 10 inches tall, and I have always marveled at his big ole belly....so adorable to me!

I have been in a lot of antique malls, estate and garage sales and I have never seen one like this in all my treasure hunting, and I surely would have noticed had there been one. This Santa is a plaster of paris type material and luckily it is still in great condition.

(I showed you this pic last week) But thought I'd show you how he proudly sits in my china cabinet this year....I think he looks grand!! He holds lots of memories for our family, especially my husband. He is a real treasure and loved and well cared for.

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!!! Have a great week!!

Secret Santa Soiree: UPDATE

I have a new appreciation for bloggers who host swaps! In fact, a huge appreciation. It is a lot of (fun) work with paying attention to details and trying to keep on the ball about things....I never knew!

We had 67 swappers...that is a lot of folks,  people!!! However.....

out of the 67 swappers.......12 have not mailed their packages as of today, or have not emailed me to let me know the delivery confirmation number. Out of those 12.....4 will not respond to me AT ALL. I have emailed numerous times, left messages on their blog(s) and still no response. I am really at a loss. I am really sad, because someone else is counting on them to come through with the obligation they signed up for and that someone did fulfill all of their obligations to the swap.  So, this will serve as another reminder that please get your package in the mail as soon as possible. If you have not received an email from me, check your spam folder.......please. I will keep hounding said people via email or comments....so blogger be warned.

With that being said...what a fun, fun thing it is to see all the generous packages being sent to the participants. I am ever impressed at the generosity and true Christmas spirit.

A reminder, I have updated the original link with ( * * * ) by the blogs name that have posted about receiving their gifts. I have tried very hard to keep up with this and keep it currant so all can go back to one location to view everyone's gifts. Please let me know when your gift arrives so I can update the list.

Lastly, if anyone would like to volunteer to be an "Elf" in case these Missing in action Santa's don't step up to the plate.....please email me privately and let me know. 

 Do Not Worry.....if your personal secret Santa does not send your package....you still will receive one....I just could not stand the thought of that happening, but hate the thought of disappointing someone worse. I am still going to be optimistic that this is just an oversight on their part....and it will be corrected soon.

A list will be posted later this month as to who had who...so you will know who to thank for your gifts! Thank you all who participated in the SSS this year....it was my first time hosting and have a deep respect for the last hostess who passed it on to me! I hope you have enjoyed shopping for your partner and meeting new bloggers.  Merry Christmas!

Simple Sunday: Kindness

“Kindness is like snow - it beautifies everything it covers”

~ Unknown

I am linked in today with Shadow Shot Sunday. Amazing photographs inspired by shadows. Go ahead. Take a peak!!

Five Minute Friday: Color

Today I'm linking up to Lisa-Jo aka the gypsy mama, who chooses a topic every Friday and writes for five minutes. 
Only five minutes
And the rule is that whatever you write about in that five minutes is what you posts. No editing your thoughts. Today, her topic choice is "Color....."
Ready. Set. Go......

Today's prompt was right on target for what had been on my mind all week. It has been a busy week with lots of things packed into each day and it all seems to have passed in a blur. When I think about that and how the week has played out, what comes to mind most is the fact that it seems to all have taken place not only in a whirl wind fashion but in black and white as well.

Not literally in black and white of course, but as an example of living life too fast. It is trying to get so much done in a short amount of time. It is being so busy that all the fun stuff is lost in the stress, and most of the week passes in a black and white blur. Simply no color to be found. Where has the joy gone in seeing all the beauty in every moment...the color of life. It has been replaced by a fast forward button like that on a old tape recorder and we are missing all the color and only seeing the blur.

Unfortunately, most of this year is much of the same, a black and white blur. If I had to pick several defining moments of this year and list them, it would be most difficult. It has already passed at warped speed, time gone and not to be retrieved later. The colored pages of my life overlooked and blown away like dried leaves on an fall day.

If you look around and notice, this time of year especially, there is color all around us. Beautiful colors that bring out the magic and the best in people's hearts. It is not the fact we don't know that the colors are there, we are just too busy to see them for what they really are. A brilliant display of love and hopefulness in our lives. Time to slow that fast forward button down and just let life play.....see the colors of everyday and the gifts they are.

What about you?? Are you seeing in black and white these days or in color?? Think about it.... STOP.

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Fruitcake Card and Memory

If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so  please make sure you follow the instructions.  Please only ONE link per week. 

This week, I want to share a Christmas card that was found in my grandma's cookbook. She kept it, and I believe it was sent to her from one of her cousins. It sits in my grandma's china cabinet this holiday season.

I love the front of this card, shows a cute kitchen scene with a fruitcake for the holidays.

On the inside is a fruitcake recipe. This is not the one my grandma used, but she did save this one. I love it.

My grandma always made fruitcake around Thanksgiving and she would wrap it up and she stored it in the hot water heater closet until Christmas. I don't recall liking fruitcake as a child and I am quiet sure I don't care for it today either. I took her old recipe, (not this one) but her original recipe and thought I'd dip my hand in making this Christmas treasure.

My vintage Soreno Anchor Hocking aquamarine mixing bowl works great for holding all of this candied fruit. Uggh....what a sticky mess! Trust me!

Now, I love raisins by themselves. I can not stand them mixed with or in other things. See the small ones on the right...that is dried currants.....and oh. the. smell. And not in a good way to me!

This is candied ginger. Now a small bottle of this at Walmart was over $10.00. A quick trip to Central Market and I got what I needed for $1.26. Speaking of Central Market, I needed some Mace spice.....expensive! At central market, it was $46.99 per pound. Luckily what I needed only cost me only 46 cents.

Add the nuts and rest of the goodies and this is what you have.......except for the most special ingredient.... BRANDY

Here is is all ready to rest for 24 hours....soaking up the Brandy......Oh. The. Smell. I don't drink and don't like the smell....this was quickly covered with plastic wrap and left alone until the rest of the steps took place and baked.

So there you have it, a vintage bowl holding ingredients from a vintage recipe that holds lots of memories. However, I won't be eating any of this...I don't like fruitcake..... What about you?? Is it one of your holiday favorites or something you'd rather not see.... or ahem...smell!