Pink Saturday Nutcraker Parade...

welcome to our nutty world...

this is a friend's son...

Malachi...

he likes my nutcrackers...

especially the ones that are as big as he is...

he said they need to smile for the picture, too...

this one, too!

I started collecting them before they were something to collect...

over 25 years ago...

they are everywhere...

they came from everywhere...

they came from everyone...

even Santa...

made a santa suit for him one year and when I wouldn't charge him for my sewing...

that crazy old man left me a nutcracker!

my stocking is even a nutcracker...

I love the Wizard of OZ ones...

we only pulled out 2 totes...

we got photos and then we put one tote back up...

I have over 100...

and there is no way I can put them all out here...

but I have, in the past...

loaned them out for Christmas shows here in town to raise money for different orgs...

I even have nut crackers for other holidays...

it started with just one...

I know I have a problem...

10 years ago I told everyone...

NO MORE!

yeah, like that worked...

I have added 3 more totes since then...

and no...

they don't bite...

they are house broken...

and they don't complain...

they just hang out and take up space...

with a hubby and 2 adult sons...

I'm used to that...

bwahahaha!

I even have a pirate one...

now I'm looking for a parrot cracker to go with him...

Merry Christmas from the nuthouse!

oh yeah- the pink is in their cheeks...

check out what you can find shopping at the Dollar Tree...

white angels...

white crosses...

silver trays...

these would make great gift baskets... 

and these...

and what about these?

the reusable all time gift basket...

adn stuff to stick in a gift basket...

a must have any time of the year...

I so want some of these for myself!

perfect for scraping off windshields...

no more snow up  your sleeves!

something fun to do...

and of course...

there's craft supplies...

sheer ribbon...

and a little reworking here...

a fun craft project...

thrifty shopping is the best kind of shopping...

and it's more fun when you can use your imagination and come up with something really cool!

Hope you are on schedule and gearing up for the LAST WEEKEND before Christmas!

kids out for CHRISTMAS VACATION...

relatives will be coming in soon...

or you will be packing to meet them there...

its' officially HUSTLE BUSTLE time!

there's a cool give away...

and it's happening at ZanyMayd...

click on her button on the side bar...

So here is my story.

 My blog started out about my gardening, since it keeps me moving. It's healing for me. It's where I talk to God the most. When I am on my knees, my hands in His soil(soul) and I feel his smile on me when He shines His sun on my shoulders.

Now, my father in law and I shared a love of gardening...and his backyard was fenced in and you had to go through a metal wire gate to get to the roses, daffidils, tulips, lilacs, lillies, bleeding hearts and of course a tire swing right in the middle of it all.

There came a time when he took out the old fence and pulled the gate. It was given to me for safe keeping. It's the gate you see by my shed...and it no longer swings but is staked upright for a rose to grow upon now.

 So when I was thinking up a name, I thought of the gate, and the wonders that always laid beyond that gate for many years.

 Beyond the Garden Gate is a world that God created...and I get to dwell in for strength, peace, and unconditional love.

 And everyday, I do my very best to share that with everyone else.

 To freely give away what I have been given.

Everyone is welcome Beyond the Garden Gate...it always swings open.

Now go and play along...

hurry...

it will be over before you know it!