Once Upon A Time

Always wear cute pajamas to bed, you never know who you will meet in your dreams!

"Some Days You Just Feel Like A Princess"

What fun it has been to decorate a little girls room once again! My inspiration was drawn to this quilt! I love bright cheerful colors! The colors in this quilt and the fabrics on the windows are very bright!

Now, if we could just get Brianna to sleep in her BED! I am still working on the drapes, I'm going to put more tole fabric on the top of the valance!

The columns have lights with a little light switch , Brianna's favorite part of the bed!

A little detail of the drapes I made. I found the fabric at Hancock Fabrics when they were going out of business, I was excited to get it all for 70% off!

Grandma Lynna made the adorable letters, covered with scrapbook paper and charms for Christmas last year!

I found these in Utah at Quilted Bear! They would be easy to make, I was glad to find them, the colors match great in Briann's room!

I purchased two of these night stands at a Garage Sale in my neighborhood for 10.00 each! I painted them and found the pink handles at Oak Tree! The tables were in pretty good shape!

I painted a border around the top with wood flowers that I found at Michaels for .99 cents a flower! They actually had hooks on them, my boys helped me take them off! Brianna helped me paint the flowers! We also put wood letters "Once Upon A Time" in the border. The green leaves are a stencil! I finsihed the painting before we moved in, so I wouldn't have to move any furniture or her bed around

We found this Bed in San Diego when we were in the construction phase of our home! It has lights in the Headboard columns that Brianna loves! It was a splurge! After four boys, I decided it was about time to bring on the Fairy Castles! Brian was a good sport! I just reminded him it's about the same cost of four Sand Rail Tires! Right? :)

This is the chair that I slip covered with the left over

fabric from the windows! I still have one more chair to finish!

This is what the chair use to look like! Grandma Alice (Brian's Mom) gave us the chairs, they were brand new chairs in 1986! (Actually they were brand new when Brian and I got married!) These are chairs from a decorating project from their Family Room for our Open House/Reception! I was excited to recover them! The construction of the chairs are in great shape! I am still working on a few more projects for this room and then I am going to move on to five more! I still have a Teepee to make!

What are Little Girls Made Of?

I love this nursery! I am hoping to finish Brianna's room soon! I'm posting this picture for inspiration! Brianna's room is certainly NOT a nursery, but I love the colors and I love the chair! I also love the fabrics! I will post a chair that I am upholstering! Stay tuned! I love to decorate kids rooms, I'm hoping to do more with my boys rooms this year!

Treasured Christmas Quilts..."LOVE IS"

What Excitment to receive this beautiful quilt from Lynna! I love Nancy Halvorsen patterns! I am actually making the Be Attitudes quilt by Nancy Halvorsen, but still not finished, another "work in progress" project! My sister, Annette and I started our quilts this past summer! We know the time these quilts take! I am so grateful to receive this quilt, I love it and I will Cherish it! I've always said "Forget The Food Storage"! I will grab my 12 foot Christmas tree, if a flood, tornado or earthquake is coming! I think I will also grab these wonderful quilts given to me this year for Christmas! THANK YOU, you brightened my Christmas!

Frosty The Snowman Quillt!

Thank you to a very special friend! I love this quilt! I will cherish it! What a fun surprise! It is a beautiful quilt! I love the fabrics! It makes me think of the good ol' winter days of Home Sweet Home in Utah! THANK YOU to my dear friend! You always warm my heart!

Happy 09

Thanks for your visits and comments. Back next year!

Christmas Treasures

With Love from Grandpa and Grandma!
Grandma's Handmade treasures amaze us all!
Thank you Grandma Lynna for all the time and work you put into our gifts each year!
My children love their books and put them to great use!

Each bag contains articles of faith cards, crayons fabric roll, First Presidency and Apostles book,

a mini clip board of coloring pages from the Friend and a wonderful scrapbook of Latter-Day Prophets with important information about each Prophet. Last year, Brianna received a "ABC gospel" quiet book! The books are also great for FHE and Primary talks! We love our church bags! Stay tuned for more hand made quilts!

Winter Mittens

These mittens are more than the eye can see.

They represent the kindness in you and me.

It's the holiday season so lets do our part, to help

someone in need or to mend a broken heart.

Our helping hands can put a smile on a face, and it

can make the world a better place.

So see what an act of your kindness can do,

It may even warm a cold hand or two!

A Christmas Yuleblog Sampler - 2008

Merry Christmas!

 
Two years ago, I posted my first sampler which was basically a "best of" of all the music I shared out in 2006. One year ago, I posted my second sampler which was basically a preview of all the music I shared out this year (no links to the previous samplers - what's the point?).

About two months ago, I met a fellow Christmas music collector named Bill Dann who had supplied our friend Marc Bird with many, many a rare Christmas record. He sent me a list of extra Christmas 45s in his collection for sale and I purchased a fair number of these.

This led me to re-explore my haunts here in Fort Wayne looking for Christmas 45s. I came up with a few more amazing Christmas singles (thanks to Tim at Wooden Nickel) and even a couple of 78s (one of which came courtesy of my best friend Joel - thank you!).

On one of these searches, I came across an RCA Victor demonstration album entitled "Hearing Is Believing" which had the amazing cover art that I appropriated for my own. It also gives me a chance to use this vintage RCA Victor Christmas ad from 1950:


No spoken intro like on samplers past, no partial artwork like on samplers past, no individual tracks to pick and choose from like on samplers past. It's the full package - my Christmas present to you.

Your 2008 Christmas Yuleblog Sampler:


Track 1 - Ethel Smith - Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
Decca Records - 9-27240 - 1950

From her 45 box set called "Toy Parade" - another contribution from the former closet of my in-laws!

Maybe the best rendition of this song ever.





Track 2 - Allen & The Lads - Legend Of Old St. Nick
Secret Records Incorporated - 8696 - 196?

Bluesy Christmas song that lays the whole story of Santa out, ya dig?

The B-side is coming up later... stay tuned.






Track 3 - The Willis Sisters - Blue Christmas
Columbia Records - 4-41320 - 1958

No, not Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah... sadly, Google turned up nothing on these sisters. Anyone?

This is the B-side to "Happy Birthday Jesus" by Little Cindy which John Waters used on his Christmas album.




Track 4 - C.W. McCall - Sing Silent Night
Polydor Records - PD 14445 - 1977

Mercy sakes alive, we got us a Christmas record!
Earlier in 1977, McCall gave us the C.B. hit "Convoy". This Christmas song has no C.B.s in it at all - surprisingly solemn.





Track 5 - Joe Green - Adeste Fideles (Oh, Come All Ye Faithful)
RCA Victor - 26079-B - 1938

Straight chimes, anyone? From a 78 I found at a local Salvation Army store.

Thanks to Larry Pester for the transferring this!






Track 6 - The Walter Murphy Orchestra - Disco Bells
Major Records - tjv-disco bells - 1975

A year before they gave us the disco hit "A Fifth of Beethoven", these guys gave the disco treatment to "Jingle Bells".

Man, I love Christmas disco...





Track 7 - Dolly Nunn - Nuttin' For Christmas
Gateway Records - 9024-B - 195?

This is the first track I'm sharing from this EP. I searched everywhere for info on this one. Not a thing.

Nice to hear this song sung by a little girl instead of a little boy!





Track 8 - Connie Canuso - Santa Claus And His Sleigh
Applause Records - 8-1246 - 196?

I thought this looked familiar - Ernie shared out the A-side ("Someone Painted Rudolph's Nose a Chocolate Brown") at his blog.

Both sides are dynamite!





Track 9 - Bob & Dolores Hope - Silver Bells
Coral Records - 9-62237 - 1958/9

Forget their 1994 duet from "Hopes For The Holidays" - this one recorded back in the day is the real deal!

I'm now looking for the album listed on the label...





Track 10 - The Country Squirrels - How I Love Those Christmas Songs
Metromedia Country - MC-903-AA - 1972

An old-school Christmas country song with Chipmunk-like voices passed off as squirrels?

I am so there...





Track 11 - Ray Stevens - Happy Blue Year
National Recording Corp. - NRC-063 (S-1102) - 1960

Don't look, ETHELLLLL! Made before he started doing novelties for a living, this one features Ray playing a mean piano instrumental.

The B-side is forthcoming.





Track 12 - Terry Buter - C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Gateway Records - 9024-A - 195?

This is the second track I'm sharing from this EP. I searched everywhere for info on this one. Not a thing.
Very nice rendition.





Track 13 - The Frank DaVino Chorus - Lonely Old Shepherd
Decca Records - 9-29727 (45-88777) - 1955

Nice original Christmas song from a double-sided promo single. The B-side is lurking below...

Thanks to Ted or whoever wrote 12-10-55 on the label!





Track 14 - Justin Wilson - Whitey The Snow White Lamb
Tower Records - 380 - 1967

Glad to get this rare single from the Cajun Chef! A nice compliment to his full Christmas album that I shared previously.







Track 15 - Sammy Poole - Snowball
Great Record Co. - 1190 - 196?

Snowball's not a lamb but a cute adorable puppy... mix this with some old-school country and you get this toe-tapper.







Track 16 - Ken Griffin - The Skaters Waltz
Rondo Records - 45197-A - 1951

What better way to follow "Snowball" than with a winter waltz? A bunch of newspapers... har-dee-har-har.

Another contribution from the former closet of my in-laws!



Track 17 - Jim Backus - The Office Party
Dico Records - D-101 - 1959

This is the hilarious B-side to "I Was A Teenage Reindeer". Listen as Backus plans the annual Christmas office party ("Boob McNutt!"). Clean copy!







Track 18 - Jack Daniels - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Gateway Records - 9024-B - 195?

This is the third track I'm sharing from this EP. I searched everywhere for info on this one. Not a thing.

He makes a mean whiskey and sings a great rendition of "Rudolph" as well...





Track 19 - Ambrose Haley & His Ozark Ramblers
Mercury Records - 6067 - 1948?

This is my favorite track on the whole comp.

Not because of my friends' help. This is a great old-school Christmas country song whose melody will get trapped in your skull after hearing it...





Track 20 - Eric Jay - Little Drummer Boy
Bullseye Records - B-1021 - 1959

Jay's solo voice vs. a male choir, a string section, and drums that attempt to blow little Eric out of the water.

A good alternative to the Harry Simeone Chorale.





Track 21 - Allen & The Lads (feat. Larry Crippen) - Homemade Christmas Card
Secret Records Incorporated - 8698 - 196?

Perhaps the grimmest Vietnam Christmas song of them all.

This one locks you in at note one and doesn't let you go. Oliver Stone couldn't have written this any better.





Track 22 - Ray Stevens - White Christmas
National Recording Corp. - NRC-063 (S-1101) - 1960

Stevens signed with NRC, owned by music mogul Bill Lowery, in 1958. During his tenure there, Ray did mostly session and arranging work (i.e. this song).

The following year NRC went bankrupt, Stevens signed with Mercury and began cranking out the parodies.




Track 23 - Homer & Jethro - Santy's Movin' On
RCA Victor - 47-6322 - 1955

I missed out on an eBay auction for a Homer & Jethro Christmas EP (twice!). So when Tim at Wooden Nickel sold me this one, I didn't feel so bad.







Track 24 - Eileen Scott - The Night Before Christmas Song
Gateway Records - 9024-A - 195?

This is the fourth and final track I'm sharing from this EP. I searched everywhere for info on this one. Not a thing.

Another great rendition.





Track 25 - Ed Penney - What Is Christmas?
Decca Records - 9-29727 (45-88776) - 1955

Penney attempts to define Christmas through narration.

Did Stan Kenton get a listen to this before he recorded "What Is A Santa Claus?"
Hmmm...





Two "Super Secret Bonus Tracks"

A Christmas Yuleblog Sampler - 2008

A reminder: I contributed an entry to Otis Fodder's 365 Days Project at WFMU's "Beware of the Blog!" on December 26th last year. If you're looking for some post-Christmas radio spots, and songs for the New Year, click on the link.

In years past, I've used this spot to share some personal info about me and my upcoming year. What's next?

About sixteen hours of uninterrupted sleep for starters. I stopped downloading stuff about three weeks back - it's time to catch up, sort through the backlog, catalog it all, and then do the same for all the Christmas CD presents I'll receive under the tree.

2009 will be a year of change for me. I want to lose 40 lbs. by my 40th birthday in June and I'm going to do my best to get to that goal. A special project lurks on the horizon that I definitely want to be part of (more on that as it develops).

Next fall, my youngest daughter will start kindergarten and my decade long career as a stay-at-home dad will come to an end. Finding a part-time job that revolves around my kids' schedule will be a difficult task for someone who hasn't been in the workplace for 10 years.

I'm looking into radio production classes - either online or nearby if available. Where that might lead to in the future ("Rob Martinez on KAOS Radio... here's the latest by Barry Manilow!") is anyone's guess.

In any case, I'll start cranking out new entries as best as I can next week. I won't be sharing out much - just the occasional MP3 post now and then.

If you found this place for the first time this year, thanks and I hope you'll stop back often. If you're a longtime reader, thanks for stopping here often and hope you'll come back. I am wishful that you found something that made you smile, brighten your day, week, Christmas season, lifetime, etc.

I appreciate all the comments, criticism, corrections, and comradery you've given to me throughout the 2008 downloading season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone reading, everywhere...


Capt