Believe

"In this season it is well to reassert that the hope of mankind rests in faith. Believing there is hope for the world is a way to move toward it." Gladys Taber

Happy New Year's Eve

A run to the book store again today for the book that my "Artist's Way" group is reading next! Thought I had bought it already, but it's not here. It looks like a good one! "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay. My bags were bulging when I left the store, as I managed to find many more bargain book treasures. Met Lorraine there and two of my books looked so good, she dashed to the aisles to get them too!

We usually do not go out on New Year's Eve, but this year we are going to go for an early dinner with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Then, Danielle will be coming to spend the night. A good way to end the year and start out a new.

Happy New Year, Uta! Just saw the celebration in Sydney, on our television, at noon here.

o#x*#qjdos##$!!

Fiddling and fiddling with my sewing machine today! I need to sew these stockings! My manual in buried somewhere among piles of fabric, so went online to see the correct way to thread my Singer and thread the bobbin just in case that was the problem. Found a site called http://www.wonderhowto.com/ and the video walked me right through it. Works great! No problem! I recently bought a portable bobbin winder, thinking that would be a good idea so I wouldn't have to unthread my machine each time I needed to fill the bobbin. Well, it doesn't work for me because each time I use it, my machine balks. I think my machine is just telling me that I should learn to use it the right way. Sew more often, thread more bobbins, thread the machine more, and it will become secondhand. Duh!

Afternoon fun!

Monday afternoon, a lovely lunch and a time of Dominoes with good friends. I never knew an actual game of Dominoes before until I learned from this group and we can play for hours! So much fun!

Today, on to another unfinished project. Filling stockings; a Christmas tradition for me to do for my family. Can't quit. I have been collecting a boxful of goodies, ready for the filling. No stockings bought! But...I have some great red fleece fabric and I cut a pattern out of newspaper, traced it onto the fleece and voila! Stockings! Now to sew them up with a quick zig-zag stitch that Denise introduced me to in quilting class. Delivery for New Year's. Oh well.

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." Hal Borland

Twas the night before Christmas...

Due to circumstances beyond my control...the tree didn't get trimmed, the snowmen and the angels and the nativity stayed in their boxes, the packages weren't wrapped so pretty, the cookies didn't get baked...but Danielle was here for a few days and we colored and pasted and painted and read and watched "Prancer" and made a gingerbread house. What more could I ask for?

Christmas continues...

Danielle's favorite yellow thumbprint birdie

" tweet-tweet-tweet"

Christmas is over, but not here. Today will be our Christmas dinner and last night Danielle and I began assembling this year's gingerbread house. Allowing it to dry inbetween, I wrapped and she painted at the kitchen table using her little pallette of watercolors and first time watercolor pencils. I dragged out the Thumbprint drawing book, that I was saving, and we had fun making reindeer, cats and birds. While she is still sleeping this morning and I am going to try to put some more ornaments on the tree, if Henri will behave.

The wind is blowing hard, but looks like the water that was creeping toward our backyard has gone down. The newspaper reads 61-degree temperature yesterday caused that flooding, and there is no sign of the snow and ice that covered the ground. This is crazy. A sign of the times.

The closing of December

This year is going out with a bang! Thunder and lightning last night and pouring rain this morning. All that snow and ice are melting and it's a mess. Like a swamp, except it's not warm. Does this year want to make a statement? Does it want us to remember it? 2008.


I think I've been on the couch too long.

Oh Winter!

Freezing rain! The dogs are confused again. Can hardly get out the back door, let alone go down the stairs to the yard. Our deck looks like a skating rink. Where are my skates? Hidden with the Christmas tree skirt.

Pretending Sunday is Christmas, I continue to prepare. Little by little. Feeling better, but it's still hanging on. Others have had this for a couple of weeks. A nasty bug.

Merry Christmas

"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all." Emily Dickinson

Better

Feeling somewhat better and up to do a few things to catch-up today. Must not overdo it. Huh? At this time of the year? Finishing writing my Christmas cards and it's a good thing most people may have realized by now that they don't get mine until the week after Christmas. I love doing them though. And I love receiving them. Just like a kid! And there are some beauties this year. Next is wrapping.

Lights!

Here are the amber lights that resemble candlelight glow to me. They are on and ornaments started, but now, with the "sickie" bugs going around our house, things are behind. I guess our Christmas celebration will have to wait until the weekend.

Monday

sinusitis!

Winter Solstice

Winter solstice is when, because of the earth's tilt, your hemisphere is leaning farthest away from the sun. The daylight is the shortest. Things will look up from here on.

Siberian Express

When I got up this morning and opened the door to let the dogs out, I said it feels like Siberia! The radio says it is 2 degrees below zero. Wondering just how cold it is in Siberia, I found out on the internet and why it is so cold here.

Siberian Express brings Arctic blast across the States by Steph Ball

"Over the last few days high pressure has been continuing to build across Siberia bringing unusually cold weather.On Wednesday weather warnings were issued by Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry after forecasters predicted a fall of temperature to –55C (-67F). On Saturday night the temperature in Ojmjakon, Siberia actually fell to -60.2C (-76F). January temperatures across the larger Siberian cities normally range from –15C to –39C (5 to -38F).Over the last few days this cold air building over the Polar regions of Canada and Siberia, has now been sent southwards across the States in a phenomenon commonly known as the Siberian Express.The Siberian Express is a meteorological term in the United States which describes the plunge of an extremely cold air mass. When high pressure extends north from the extreme western states of the US into northern Siberia it allows this Arctic blast to surge southeast wards across Canada and central and eastern parts of the US, sometimes as far as the Deep South. It often brings with it significantly below-average temperatures.Over the last few days and into the weekend, the Siberian Express has been felt as far south as the Gulf Coast. Most of south Mississippi, as far east as the western Florida Panhandle, was placed under a winter weather advisory on Saturday. Freezing temperatures were forecast as well as snow. Up to 7.5cm (3 inches) of snow fell across southern Mississippi during the day, before the storm headed east bringing snowfalls across Alabama and Georgia. Across both the US and Siberia, the cold weather is forecast to intensify over the coming days."

A Christmas Tea

Yesterday was one of the Christmas Teas, planned at The Center each December. The Log Cabin windows are dressed in white lace curtains with bows and everygreen toppers. A very festive feel to everything. The tables look so pretty, set with white dishes on red plaid tablecloths. The weather was a worry, but the streets improved somewhat by the early afternoon, so the guests were able to attend. We had made lots of yummy food, stories and poetry were read and there were smiles on everyone's faces. A very merry Christmas day.

Oh baby, it's cold outside...

The weather outside is frightful! Everything is frozen. It's surreal. The dogs don't even understand what to do. A little snow in December is nice, but this freezing weather is just too much!

ATCs

Yesterday was art class and the plan was to trade "artist trading cards". I had decided to collage mine and was still finishing in the morning, hoping to be done in time for class. Late, but I got there. A nice get-together and even an unexpected lunch out at Palos Country Club, adding to the holiday spirit.

Snow!

Knowing it would be a pretty day amid the woods at The Center, off to class I go!

Warm inside with warm friendship shared. The last class of this session, resuming again in January.

Happenings here.

Yesterday's photo. Timber moved, but you can see how Henri is growing. He is happy that the painter is coming back today. He loves to steal paint rags! And Uta, he too is waiting for the Christmas lights to be delivered. That will cause much excitement, I am sure. ho ho ho!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr

A Birthday Party!

Rudolph and Clarice were already having a birthday toast as we arrived at Julie's today for her birthday celebration. Her birthday is tomorrow and so she invited the family for lunch today.

She made Sausage Tortellini Soup and it was perfect for this windy winter day. Yum.

I made the "birthday" cupcakes with blue frosting upon request.

Missy waited for a morsel to drop.

Abby surprisingly slept through lunch.

After lunch, Danielle helped Aunt Julie trim her tree.

Lights on! And one of Grandma's crocheted snowflakes dances with glee.

Earlier this morning at home, I got our lights out and remembered from last year, one string was half out. Luckily I plugged that one in first. Deciding I might be in for more trouble, I thought about some lights that I had bought many years ago after seeing them on a friend's tree. They are the miniature lights, amber/orange, and they glow like candlelight on the tree. I called all over and couldn't find them except for a place on the internet, so I called and ordered. Now the lighting and tree trimming will have to wait until Wednesday. Plenty to do inbetween though.

The tree is up...

Finally! One room back in order and the tree is up! Up early to get the lights on and start trimming. Will Henri let me?

Party time!

It was another night out to the wonderful annual Christmas supper at a wonderful friend's home and a wonderful time it was! Girlfriends are great! The menu is a tradition, always the same, and we love it. Baked ham, scalloped pineapple, cheesy potatoes and carrots & green peppers in a tomato sauce. Yum. It's a fun time that I always look forward to.

Today, I will try to put some of my painted rooms back together. First, the room where the Christmas tree goes. I want to do that for Danielle (and me).

Another musical evening!

Last night found me at the Rialto Theatre, enjoying The Oak Ridge Boys on their Christmas Cookie Tour! A treat for the eyes and ears. I haven't listened to their music in a long time and this was a renewed enjoyment. Each of the four voices are beautiful. I know my favorite is Richard Sterban, the bass singer. His sound goes right through to your soul. www.oakridgeboys.com . And William Lee Golden, the Mountain Man of Music, is a painter, among many other things. www.williamleegolden.com . I was so impressed. What nice men!

...Fa-la-la

It was a lovely little program last night. The little singers boasted out "Must Be Santa", I'm A Little Pine Tree", Reindeer Pokey", "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer", "The Lights On The Tree", "Jingle Bells", "Two Little Candy Canes", "S-A-N-T-A", "Shy Santa", and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". A very exciting performance!

"Wilbur"

Wilbur is the donkey who has carried many "Marys" over the years for the live nativity at The Center, wore crowns of lilacs on his head for the May Day festivities, and was just a beautiful sight to be seen in the barnyard with his big beautiful eyes. Wilbur died yesterday. The sweatshirts bearing his dear face were delivered and available today. Wilbur was my favorite - and the drawing is mine. I will always remember you, Wilbur.

Funny, the sweatshirt is tan, but in this photograph it appears gray. Wilbur was more gray. Hmmm.

It's a Wednesday!

Collage class today. Class finishing up their pieces and I'm finishing up my piece for my Christmas card. I'm calling it "Hope" (as in hope to get it done in time). Then, back home to the painter and cleaning out one more room and putting back another. Tonight is Danielle's preschool Christmas program! Fa-la-la!

Thumbprint reindeer with Danielle

tuesday

A rainy night. The snow is messy. Bah!

Class tomorrow. Lots to do today. Danielle is coming. Painter returns. No tree up yet.


"December is the toughest month of the year. Others are July, January, September, Aprll, November, May, March, June, October, August, and February"... Mark Twain

A Woodland Christmas

A welcome stairway. The path to the weekend's fun festivities.

And we even had some snow to add to the beautiful scene.

" Hello!"

Eleven of us met in the fireside room to start off by trimming the tree.

Come with me

Come trim the tree

Little white stars strung on twine

Keep making more for this tree fine.

Beautiful red delicious apples with tapers made a lucious addition to the dinner table.

Dinner!

After a warm wonderful meal, we took a nightwalk, down the path, to a favorite everygreen tree, which was waiting with little messages for us to pick.

Stitching hats

Red and warm

For a snowy walk

To "Ace's" tree

A note for me.

Friday night red hat making in our new Log Cabin #3.

front view.

side view with a poof!

Saturday morning, a trip to the woods to gather greenery and pinecones for yule log making.

Ice luminaries turned out so pretty.

Luminaries!

Icy clear

With cranberries

And Dogwood dear.

Our tree in the fireside room.

Making cards

Stringing beads

Sending cheer

Good elfie deeds!

Little white star garlands added to the natural look.

A story read

Of snowmen fun

A message said

When all was done.

The lovely yule log.

And here are the ladies!

Glitzy bottles

Snow ladies appear

Sleigh bells ring

As scarves clutch near.

A Snow Lady Fashion Show...

Laughing all the way...

Then time for wassail

By the fire

A good-bye toast

Before we tire.

Supper chatter

No time to lose

Before I know

I start to snooze.

Time for bed

Another day done

Now catch some winks

Before morning sun.

"Had I but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it for gingerbread." William Shakespeare

and...

Little paper ornaments.

Victorian calling cards.

Little fireside projects to do, after making some floppy red hats and stitching a border on them.

We're almost ready!

Snow Lady on parade!

Here she is!

All glittery and feeling festive.

Our big craft project for the retreat.

Jingle bells are ringing and I hear whistles too!

It's "Snow Lady". A snow lady assembledge.