I've been making jewelry like it is my job!

Hi Everyone! I actually had a free minute at work to post this. Yes, I know it is hard to believe but it is true! I haven't been on here as much because all my free time at night has been going to making jewelry. I really wish I could make this my career. I've been making necklaces, bracelets, rings, keychains, earrings and cell phone dangles. I just got 2 special orders at work and sold 3 prs. of earrings! I took a few dollars from my jewelry orders and put the $$ away and I bought my hubby something special for Christmas. I will continue to put things on my etsy site after the holidays too. If any of you aren't familiar with my etsy site here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/search_results_seller.php?search_type=seller_usernames&search_query=cherylmcdermitt1. When you get to that page you click on my username next to the bracelet and it will bring you to the page with everything I have for sale. Thanks to everyone who has ordered from me! There will be some new things coming this weekend-still time to order for the holidays! Enjoy your day!

Work has been so busy and now I know why!

I have been swamped at work, I mean really drowning for the last 2-3 weeks. Today I finally found out why--alot of the guys I work with will be taking vacation before and after Christmas! They didn't tell me until today. They said they thought I would just figure it out-really I'm suppose to read 8 men's minds! I'm trying to closeout 5 fairly large jobs, type subcontracts, change orders, red line drawings, keep up with some maintenance things in the office(coffee supplies, heating issues, ordering flowers for sick clients, just to name a few), take care of 8 projects issues, etc. and I'm suppose to also know what they are planning in their little brains!! Truly they are kidding!! Oh well now I feel better venting a bit to everyone here! It doesn't make all the mountains on my desk go down but I feel a little better. The only lovely thought is all those men-free days at the office while they are vacation-aaaahhhhhh! Thanks for letting me vent everyone :)!

It was cold here over the weekend!

I know some of you have much colder weather than us but the weather here this weekend was really cold for Charlotte this time of year. The temp reading yesterday morning was 32 and the high for the day was 39! Our votive candle holder in the yard had ice in it and so did the birdbath! The roof on the garage was so sparkly with frost. Here are a few pictures of that:




Everyone stay warm and snuggle up with a good book and tea or coffee!

Snow Angel

Last night I was watching the news before I went to bed and the weather came on. The mountains of NC are expecting quite a bit of snow this weekend. The Piedmont region (I live in Charlotte, NC) may get a few flurries too! Then they showed all the pics from Houston, TX and New Orleans, where they hardly ever get snow this time of year or at all! All these pictures of snow reminded me of myself and my 2 sisters when we were little making "snow angels". Then my two girls following in our footsteps without any coaching making "snow angels" too! I found this picture on line and I thought I would share it with you! Isn't is just gorgeous! What lovely memories that picture brought back for me. How simple it is to create and such beauty afterwards. Enjoy your Saturday!!

Rockefeller Christmas Tree

Last night the Rockefeller Christmas tree was lit! What a gorgeous tree. This year I missed going into NYC to see the tree. A few years ago my sisters and I took my Dad into the City to see the tree and the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. He doesn't even like the City but that year he was having a bad bout with his Lupus and insisted he go into the City for the tree and the Rockettes! We had a really great time all together. We took him to Ted Turner's Restaurant not very far from there and had a lovely meal. We saw the Rockettes, the tree and then went into St. Patrick's Cathedral. What a wonderful visit to the City that was! What a really fond memory!

The Recipe Club interview with the authors

What a very awesome bookclub last night! We were able to talk to the 2 authors through Skype and what fun we had. There was some lukewarm feelings about The Recipe Club. I enjoyed it but did agree the 2 characters in the book got a little tiring. The authors did say there will be a continuation book, it will pick up where this book left off. The authors told us they had this book printed in a specific way. The book when opened lays flat just like a cookbook would do because they had a special binding made to make the book do that. The cover of the book is cloth with gold embossed lettering (this is under the dustjacket). The weight of the book, the feel of the cover and the picture on the cover was all done in special ways to their specifications. They are not sisters and they really enjoy writing together. It made us all appreciate the book more having talked to them! They were really funny! They also said that Recipe Clubs have sprung up all over and some are more like therapy sessions. Some people tell each other about recipes that mean certain things to them and they shed happy or sad tears telling the other people about it! Very interesting! They also encouraged anyone who had a recipe or thoughts about the book to e-mail them, which their contact information is on the dust jacket of the book on the back inside flap. We are probably going to the new Ritz Carlton for our bookclub this month and have a high tea! We are all excited about that!! Our bookclub is so much fun, we do alot of things outside of reading a monthly book.

Christmas Decorating all around the House!

Yesterday I spent most of the day decorating for Christmas. I had alot of fun doing it! Since we are in a smaller home I thought I would have alot of challenges but I really didn't! I'll take you on a tour of what I have done so far!


Here is our front door wreath-welcome everyone!


Here is our bannister right as you come in the door. I love garlands and lots of little white lights. John realized half the little lights weren't working so today when we were out he got some replacements. He'll do that during the week. Thanks sweetie!


That now brings us to the little cupboard in the entry hall. I have been collecting a few Santas as you can see! Some are handcarved by a man in NJ. I used to buy them from him when we lived there.


Once inside our front door if you go to the right you would be in our Dining Room. Here is the Dining Room all decorated for the holidays!


Here is a closeup of the Dining Room table arrangement.


This little Waterford crystal angel is part of a set. John and I went to Ireland 5 yrs. ago to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and we brought her and her sister back with us! Every Christmas we put them on the Dining Room table.


When we lived in our Victorian house in NJ I started John on a collection of Dept. 56 New England Village pieces. He loves New England and he went to college there so it was a nice reminder for him. This year I set the New England Village up in our Dining Room.


There are so many pieces to the New England Village I had to continue it on another antique table we have in the Dining Room.


A few years ago John gave me this Willow Tree Nativity. I have other Willow Tree angels too in another room. I have to find the box that has my childhood bible in it. I received my Bible in Sunday School when I was in 3rd Grade and every year I put it with the nativity. I also place a white dove in the greens. That was a tradition my grandmother did every year and I have continued this tradition.


I have collected Dept. 56 Dickens Village pieces for probably for 21 years! I have stopped buying pieces but I put it out every year. I just love it!


I have quite a few Byers Carolers. I put Santa with his Reindeer on the breakfast bar ledge that divides the kitchen cooking area from the breakfast room eating area.
The following pictures are the rest of the Byers Carolers I have, which this year I put on the ledges that divide the kitchen and eating area from the living room.








Here is my 1st stocking! My grandfather bought it for me 50 years ago in Newark, NJ! I treasure this so much.


My grandfather also bought me this ceramic Santa the year I was born. I put this and my first stocking out every year! My grandfather loved Christmas!


This is a special decorative painting plate I bought from a woman named Jane Guthrie. She lived in NJ not far from my house and I went to her studio with a friend (who has now passed away). I had such a good time that day with my friend, it was a wonderful memory for me. I put the plate out every year as a reminder of my friend.


When the girls were little I decided I need a night out to myself. I found out from a friend this woman was giving decorative painting classes in her home. She had a little boy that was very ill and needed the extra money. I signed up for the class and did quite a few pieces which I gave as presents that year for Christmas. I decided to paint on this old sled I bought at a local auction. I haven't been able to paint anything that well again. I had alot of fun, but that year was a special year for me because the lady teaching the class told us on our last class before Christmas that her sons leukemia had gone into remission and it was because of all the prayers all of us had said for him! Miracles do happen!


Here is a closeup of Santa on the sled I painted! I just love the flow of his beard! Wish I could paint like that again!!


This cute little "Peace" pillow says it all! Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men.