All I can say is phone/Internet trouble. I am not even going there today! I’ll let my husband tell you in another post the trials of low signal/ off grid Internet. Ahhhhh… on to better things.

I really wanted to show you some of our thanksgiving baking and a few Christmas touches around the house. 

I woke up really wanting to make some cute advent for the kids on Dec. 1. I didn’t have much to work with around the house. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do??? That very morning we had to go to the library, yet again. So while my husband checked emails, I had a few minutes to look at blogs.

My friend Amy @ Homestead Revival had a wonderful advent idea. I have to admit, hers looks like it came out of a Country Living magazine. Gorgeous!

Sooo, I had to make one. I didn’t have paper bags, but I did have 24 Christmas card envelopes, a snowflake stamp, and a pen. Perfect!

I wrote cute notes for every day surprises for the kids… like bake cookies together, read a Christmas story, a piece of candy for everyone :) (you get the idea) I must say they love it, and so do I.

 Keep Christmas simple and sweet.

We will be back, I promise. New smart phones are in the mail.

Have you heard of tussie-mussie? Currently thought of as a nosegay, or compact bouquet of flowers and herbs. Tussie-mussies are posies assembled from a carefully chosen selection of flowers and herbs, usually to convey a specific message. My daughter made this one out of material on hand, and flowers off of our property. It's so simple and fun to make. We just enjoyed the beauty of it. The message was " I love you mom!"


History 

• During the English Gregorian period (1714--1760), pestilence was rampant and indoor plumbing was not. Elegant ladies would often carry small bouquets of fragrant herbs and flowers to fend off noxious odors. Also known as nosegays, tussy mussies remained popular through the Victorian era.
  
  

Significance

• Tussy mussies came to be used as gifts, especially when a suitor would call on a young lady. Every flower had a meaning, and ladies referred to a book called the "Tussy Dictionary" to decipher the message.

Current Uses

• Today, tussy mussies are still given as gifts, and they are a popular choice for bridesmaids' bouquets. Modern tussy mussies often deviate from the original round shape, but remain relatively small.
  
  

Famous Ties

• Many mourners left tussy mussy bouquets in memory of the late Princess Diana. 
• - Credit given eHow.com
  
  

Read more: Tussy Mussy History | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5189113_tussy-mussy-history.html#ixzz1S8lcd8HC

1) Rose or other prominent flower for the center.

2) Filler flowers such as; pansies, lavender, spikes and baby's breath.

3) A variety of herbs and leaves such as; rosemary, mint, basil.

4) Large leaves for framing the outside of your bouquet such as; lamb's ears, scented rose geranium leaves or violet leaves.

5) material ( vintage handkerchief works great), ribbon or raffia.

6) Small gift card to convey your intended message.


 Prepare the flowers by allowing the stems to sit in water for at least an hour or overnight if possible.
 Take the time to make a tussie mussie for someone you love!

 - Abby Jo