Tree Season Begins

These are a few pictures I found from last year that I do not think I have posted. A SNOWMAN TREE, an ELF TREE, AN ELEGANT SOUTHERN LIVING TREE that is in a house that is absolutely unbelievable! There is a banister from a house that winds around forever...and also a tree done in the new green that has been so popular the last couple of years. You can click on each picture and get a better view of the details...(I hope)
I also wanted to show you some new color combinations..DO NOT BE AFRAID TO MIX COLORS that would seem to clash. Many times that is when we get our BEST LOOK!

We made 60 wreaths yesterday, so I am bone tired today and this post is a little disjointed, (is that a word?)! Plus Parker and Jack both spent the night last night....so it has been a FULL WEEKEND. Very much a WORK WEEKEND, after spending a few days in bed with the YUK stomach BUG...Which I get about once every 5 years.

This is not the post I had planned today. I have had trouble with blogger all day...Anyone else? This is a small part of all the wreaths and trees we got made. ....Let's just say my house looks like a store full of fall wreaths, Christmas wreaths and small trees...and LOTS OF GLITTER....I wanted you to see how using many combinations of ribbons, size, texture, color, make for gorgeous bows. Another tree I will show you in a future post is a patriotic tree. After 9/11, I collected some priceless America ornaments....They are some of my most prized ornaments. I also do a really cute Star Wars tree for Parker's room. I am hoping that looking at some of the wreaths will lead to more questions....and I promise answers....(I have not been faithful in that area)! I promise to do better. It will appear that I have posted the same picture twice, but some of the wreaths have little details stand out from different pictures....maybe only to me...AS you can see, I am a RIBBON lover. This week will be spent trying to get my shops straightened out..(HUGE JOB) Then I can show you some other things we made ....and YES, we have had the Christmas music playing and it does help....with the 94 HUMID degrees weather.

REMEMBER THE ORNAMENT DRAWING WILL BE

OCT 1st and all you have to do to be entered is just leave a comment. Have a wonderful week.

It has been a few weeks since I have been a part of the blog hop...but since I just launched the new blog "A Baby Changes Everything", I thought this might be a great time.

I cannot EVEN believe that I decided to do two blogs after only blogging for six months. I have been so overwhelmed at the response. Thanks to each of you that have already began following it. To me, it is a service blog. So many of you have been interested in what I do for a living. That would be decorating homes for the holidays...as in 60- 70 homes from late October through early December. This has been my business for the past 17 years. So I do know trees.. By the way you should still read my FAMILY BLOG, as I personally think I have the cutest grandkids ALIVE! Don't all grandparents?
Back to the holiday blog....and be sure and turn up the music and read about how the blog name was chosen. A Baby DID Change EVERYTHING.
It is filled with pictures, tips, questions and answers, and plain old fun holiday stories. In the seventeen years I have done this job, there have been more stories than I can count...so through out the season, I plan to post a few funny ones.... there will (and already has been) many GREAT giveaways.... I have told about a super special tree that our family does and so many people have decided to do the same tree...That makes me smile.....so stop by for a visit and comment and that automatically enters you in a drawing for a HUGE box of ornaments...We draw on Oct 1st....Send your friends and family and that increases your chances....

Coming This Weekend....AND I KNOW THIS IS SICK

I promise the Questions and Answers post is almost finished and coming this weekend........Our house has been full of sick LITTLE ones and BIG ones...and I have started and stopped on the post about twenty times.......UGH!!!!!

I was thinking about how many bloggers had said that they loved topiaries. I thought I would show you some of the ones that are in MY HOUSE.....and they began to GROW. I could not believe that I had so many...so here is a little preview of my love affair with topiaries. SICK!! I know...

AND MY FRONT DOOR WREATH AT LEAST FOR TODAY

Don't forget that every comment puts you in the October 1st drawing for a GREAT CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY! And BELIEVE ME it will be OCTOBER 1st before you know it. TRUST me on this one.

Fall and Christmas Run Together

*****Remember that all comments enter in you in the BIG ORNAMENT and HOLIDAY GOODIES GIVEAWAY on OCTOBER 1st....I want to BLESS some BLOGGER real GOOD!

Just so you know that I do not entirely skip fall, I thought I would show you a few fall pieces that we delivered to happy customers today. Two Fall arrngements that I made today.

THIS IS FALL AND CHRISTMAS MIXED and CHRISTMAS CD's PLAYING in THE BACKGROUND....

WREATHS WITH RIBBONS I LOVE AS YOU CAN SEE, I LOVE RIBBON

A wreath almost
finished, but a good look at how we use the gauze/netting ribbon to make a statement.
Soon I will show you my front door wreath...
at least the one that is up now. Normally that's the one my customers want to buy. You can click on any of these pictures and enlarge them.

We still have a house full of sick people, so hang with me. I am going to answer more questions, post the scriptures for the Jesus Tree, and get all the prizes in the mail soon.

I DO LOVE AWARDS, BUT

As you can see I did not get to the Questions and Answers today, instead had a very sick grandson that ended up in the ER for 5 hours. WE have had a HORRIBLE stomach bug go through our family in the last week and it seems just when we think we are OK, someone else has come down with it. I promise to try and work on them tomorrow or the next day.....as soon as I don't have a sick little buddie to take care of. I am praying that I don't get it.
I don't want any of you to think I don't appreciate the awards...I have received so many that I have not acknowledged yet, but I am going to get to all of them. This was from Michelle at Me, Hubby, All Our Misfits and a Baby on the Way. That is such a cute blog name....
Thank you so much Michelle!!!! Hope all of you will visit her.
Here are the rules..
1.) Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
2.) Share "10 Honest Things" about myself.
3.) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.
4.) Tell those 7 people they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving.

My Honest Things....I wonder how honest I should be.
1. I am playing Fantasy Football for the first time this year when I don't really have time to...and along with the football, I am a RABID BRETT FARVE fan, so haters do not need to leave comments. And I know he will be 40 in October.
2. I cannot get out of my vehicle without brushing all the floor mats out. I CANNOT stand a dirty or messy car. I never leave even a water bottle in it.
3. I buy 10 magazines for every one that I ever read. I cannot pass up a magazine that has a great cover.
4. I buy my grandsons something EVERY time I go in a Walmart or Target. They know I always have a PRIZE.
5. I NEVER cook. PERIOD.
6. I send cards to friends in the mail (as in snail mail) EVERYDAY! I write them at night and put them in the mailbox before I go to bed.
7. I rarely EVER get up before 9 or 10 AM, and I rarely go to bed before 2 AM and that has to change a tad as tree season starts.
8. I always have cash in my purse. My adult kids will go days without a dollar on them...they use ATM'S. Me, I have to have a couple of hundred dollars in cash always.
9. I NEVER go to bed at night until everything is picked up or at least in a neat stack.
10. And because this is a Christmas blog, once my trees are up and decorated, I RARELY ever turn the lights OFF!

Now I pass this award to some friends.....so when you have time I would love to know more about you!

Kim at Scarlett Boutique
Christi at Johnson Family
Natalie at Natalies Sentiments
Sheryl at The Perch
Nancy at Nancys Monablog
Angela at Love Being a Nonny
Mammy at Come to Mammy's

Now back to tree stuff tomorrow......

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

For the next couple of weeks I will be busy unpacking, sorting, and all the other things that go into getting ready to start tree season. I will do the first tree in less than a month. So I thought I would open the blog up for another round of QUESTIONS and ANSWERS. I will plan to answer them on Sunday while I am watching some football. If you know me from my main blog, you know I am a football junkie, even going to play fantasy football this year! Leave your questions in the comment section and I will do my VERY best to answer them in a way that you can understand. The hardest part of that is that I tend to talk in tree lingo that only me and the gals that help me understand. We talk tree language. I promise to try and answer all the questions. I have received so many questions about the Jesus Tree through the blog and through email. I will be so excited to see what some of you put together. IN the next post I will give you some hints on things you can use for ornaments.

For those of you have won prizes, it will be a week or so before I get them shipped. I still have new ornaments coming in everyday and I want you to get some of the best. So do not think I have forgotten you.

I would also love for you to leave names of any theme trees that you do or have seen. For example,in different homes I do several theme trees...one of all Santa's, one with all Snowmen. I also do an ELF tree and several Vintage Victorian trees. Another tree is done in all picture frame ornaments of all sizes and shapes filled with snapshots of the kids and grandkids at every age...a real MEMORY TREE.

Hot weather has returned to my area. I need a good cool spell to usher fall in..This will also be the weekend I get the Christmas music out...In a post soon I will share my favorite holiday CD's. I have a collection of over???,well lets just say I have MANY, MANY, MANY Christmas CD"S! Its a weakness!

Have a wonderful weekend. Please do not forget to pray for Melanie's son Andrew. As I talk and share about frivolous stuff about trees and decorating, I am so aware of many people that are going through very hard and scary times. So as you read this post, whisper a prayer for Andrew,and stop by and encourage the family.

JUST a SIMPLE THANKS AND SOME WINNERS

Fall is just around the corner and I LOVE IT, but Christmas has to be on my mind. Its my business.

I will admit I struggled with whether to do this holiday blog. Would it really help anyone? Would I have the energy and time to keep it up?

Did I really have anything new to share? Would you REALLY GET the message of the BLOG NAME and why it was so special to me? Christmas is the celebration of the birth of a baby that changed not only me, but the world. In our lives ten years ago, a little baby boy named Parker Benjamin Powell, was born to our 18 year old, senior in high school, all American cheerleader, getting ready for college, beautiful daughter. You can read that story on our family blog, but suffice it to say....That Baby Changed EVERYTHING!. He was absolutely the Best Thing that EVER happened to me, us, our family. I tell him everyday of his life, that he is the best thing that ever happened to me....That's just our love language and he GETS it. So the blog name and the song stir up so much emotion in me that many times when I am working on the blog, I have to mute the music. So the first thing we drew for tonight was one of Faith Hill's books and CD....and that winner is Daune at Freedom of the Dance

ALL your comments, emails, and excitement to learn some new tricks have confirmed that the blog was a good idea. When I looked today and there were 120 followers and the blog has only been up ten days...I was again humbled and amazed. I am in the middle of unpacking Christmas boxes, a back-breaking job...I am almost half way finished. ALMOST...as in about 70 storage boxes to go. Wow, what treasures I am finding that I bought after the holidays last year. Then comes the sorting for different clients trees, wreath supplies, and in the middle of that, I normally make about 50 custom fall wreaths for customers...so between Fall and Christmas things, it all begins to run together. And my back is hurting as in "find the heating pad" hurting...Your comments have been so sweet and I am excited that so many of you are planning to do your own "Jesus Tree"! Please feel free to email me with any questions that I can help you with.

TONIGHT I AM FEELING VERY GENEROUS...REALLY VERY GRATEFUL ..so we just drew...(that's so much fun for the grandkids) and the GRAND PRIZE WINNER OF THE BOX OF ORNAMENTS is

Gretta at The Johns Family

I also want to CELEBRATE the huge FOLLOWING this blog has quickly gained. Parker drew three names from the first 100 plus followers and they will each receive Holiday Goodies in the mail.... Those winners are....

Nonny at Love Being a Nonny

Xazmin at This is the Year

Jessica at The Mom Creative

And just because I wanted to keep drawing.....we drew two other names that will receive Christmas decorating goodies...so I need all your names, addresses, etc. Email me at annah99@aol.com and later this week, they will be on their way. Those winners are

Amy at Filled With Praise and

Melissa at Frogs, Snails, Puppy Dog Tails

Tonight I am putting out my fall things and probably in the next week will start working on my trees...So we just combine it here and that's the way it has always been, so no one thinks it strange...Remember to keep commenting as all of you are still eligible for the BIG HOLIDAY FUN BOX that I will be drawing for on OCTOBER 1.

The Letter

****DO NOT FORGET THE GIVEAWAY IN THE POST BELOW.....you can comment on either post and will be eligible. Because of the holiday weekend I am going to extend the comments until Monday night. So YOU still have a chance to win $100 in GREAT ORNAMENTS, plus a few other prizes..

I am totally blown away that the new Christmas blog has 100 plus followers in about 9 days...I really need to get my game together so I can give you some great tips that you can understand...It is one thing to know how to do something, totally another to tell someone how to.
That was my purpose for doing this second blog...which is crazy for a person that has only blogged for 6 months.....
I need to celebrate the milestone of followers on this Christmas blog.... I think I will send a few extra prizes to some lucky winners tomorrow night. I would love to send everyone something....If shipping did not cost an arm and a leg, I would. I so hope I can serve you and make your holidays a little more fun, a little less stressful and maybe just a TAD prettier...

I have had so many requests for the letter that I sent out 25 years ago when starting the "Jesus Tree"! This was my letter but use your own words...and if you are new to the blog, read the post about the Jesus Tree!

Dear Friends and Family,

Sometime ago, a friend shared with us the idea of a "Jesus Tree"! We would love for you to be a part of this and help us get started. As we have searched the scripture, we have found that HE IS the heart and central theme of the entire Bible. His names are endless.
We would love for you to send us an ornament that represents something Jesus is, along with the scripture that goes with it. This will be a priceless tree filled with the love of our friends and family. Be creative and don't feel like you have to spend money. We look forward to hearing from you....

With love,
The Powells

In another post I will give you the letter we wrote, rolled into a scroll and tied with ribbon to give to each person that saw the tree....I wish I knew how many of these I have printed in the past 25 years....
Just to give you a few more hints, in case you are looking for things yourself....
He is The Seed of Abraham, Son of God, Bright Morning Star, Security,
The Way, Prince of Peace, Fourth Man, Friend, King of Kings, Bridegroom, Lamb of God, Jacob's ladder, David's Slingshot, Issac's Well, Our Guide, Lilly of the Valley, High Priest, Wisdom, Our Burden Bearer, Name Above All Names, Lion of Judah, Bread of Life, Helper, Head of the Church, Counselor, My Song, Abel's Sacrifice, Son of Mary, Pearl of Great Price, The Soon Coming King, Ruler, Lover of Children, and on and on. These just happen to be ornaments that I have in front of me....

If you need help or have other questions, please email me. This really is a fun project and one you can pass down to your children and grandchildren.

Trees, Trees, and More Trees and Another Giveaway

I am in the process of unpacking 100 plus boxes of holiday "stuff", which is a back breaking job and probably the part of my business, I like LEAST.

I am posting a few more trees from last year...you can click on the pictures and enlarge them and maybe see a little better what goes into the LOADED LOOK!!! Feel free to keep the questions coming and next week I will do another Q&A. Next week I will also show you an array of ornaments from Hobby Lobby that are GREAT BUYS, especially when they are half price, which is at least every two or three weeks.

A Gingerbread Tree in a kitchen

This is one of my favorite trees....will try and get a better picture of it...It is loaded with every color ball....no other ornaments....and is on a balcony over looking the family room and another HUGE tree.

This tree is a slim tree that we just made a little fuller!!!

This is a collection of "girly things" that a we do for a client

each year for her granddaughter.....

A tree we do in a clients home office..

A gorgeous tree in a fabulous home....that they moved into a couple of weeks before Christmas last year....

A beautiful family room tree

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, but in my business, it is hard to find a spot for a pumpkin, when trees are everywhere.

Ok, lets have another GIVEAWAY!!! I have ornaments everywhere, so I need to give some away. I think they would look good on YOUR tree. Giveaways are one of my favorite things to do....Simple rules to be in the drawing.....Send a new blogger to the holiday blog...one that has not visited it before and just let me know they stopped by...and you are entered....and for every person NEW that you send my way, your name goes in the drawing again and again...plus they are entered in the giveaway too... I will draw on Sunday evening....that will give you a few

days and lots of chances to enter......

OK, lets make it a little MORE FUN.....This will be an ornament collection valued at $100.00! I am feeling very generous! Plus I want you to have your most beautiful tree EVER this year.