Friday, December 31, 2010

Wouldn't it be Lovely??

If we could turn on our televisions, and the nightly news wasn't about disasters, murders, wars, greed, loss, illness, suffering (yes, they do try to throw in a "warm and fuzzy" towards the end.
If we could get behind the wheel of our vehicles, and go out onto the roads without some horrible person (usually with a cigarette in one hand and a cell phone in the other), wasn't trying to kill us..producing "road rage"..

If the world wasn't in such turmoil, the economy so horrible, that people are losing their homes and their life savings?

Well, that's my prayer(s) for all ya'll this coming year...That we can cling to one another, and share what we have...that we won't judge one another, force our political views down one another's throats, or turn our backs on those who don't agree...
That the hungry will have food, the cold, warmth, the lonely, companionship, the sick, health....Please, Lord...give us a New Year to start anew.....................
Happy, and Blessed New Year to All

Friday, December 24, 2010

The Eye of the Beholder

Lately, I have been experiencing "White Christmas Envy"....there's a wonderful blog, http://www.a-cottage-in-the-woods.blogspot.com (most bloggers just put HERE), and you click on it, and viola', there's the blog...Ya'll may have noticed by now that I am "Computer Impaired", and it's not getting any better...But, I digress...
Zuzu (name envy), lives in Colorado, in a tiny cabin in the woods, and writes, photographs, creates, and does everything with grace and skill...I don't envy her, for that would be way too much envy going on in me, and that's not healthy...I will settle for "White Christmas Envy"....

I did, however, look out the other morning onto my "big back yard" in Texas, just as the sun was beginning to break into the fog....(my cats had me up since three am), and I was struck by the beauty of it all....No, no snow, no crystals, no frost patterns on the glass...just trees, dried grasses, rocks (I don't know of anyone who has "rock envy"), and the serene beauty of nature...It truly all is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?

So, I grabbed my camera, and chased the sweet light.....











We had a wonderful rain today - so badly needed - the deer were soaked, but it wasn't too cold, and the birds were having a great time...the feeder was full, and they were singing their praises....
So, tonight, we are a small family, sharing a quiet Christmas Eve, and counting our blessings....






Sunday, December 19, 2010

Pot Luck Holiday Party

It's hard to believe that was a week ago! It's taken me all week to find time to post a photo now-and-then....
We had a wonderful time...everyone brought great food, the holiday spirits, and we laughed a great deal...
Rushing off to get last minute goodies for tomorrow...
Have


A



Blessed





CHRISTMAS EVE


AND...................................




A VERY, MERRY CHRISTMAS













Thursday, December 16, 2010

Hustle and Bustle, and World Peace

Tis the season....all the running about...parties, gifts, decorating...family visiting..my mother-in-law is staying with us (she's 89, and amazing)...for three weeks..having a "pot luck" party on Saturday...working on beautiful pillows for a gallery...it's worn me down....
I wanted the house and tree to be wonderful for my mother-in-law...and didn't have alot of money to just start a new "theme"...I am more traditional anyway...Dear, sweet, Aunt Lilly left us so much...a house (want to buy a house on a lake in Tennessee?), and wonderful heirlooms...one of which is this precious angel music box..which, the night before her memorial service, began playing (without any winding up).."Silent Night"...with the last "Sleep in heavenly peace"...her message to us...So....this is the angel..she is our tree topper, and probably will be for many years to come...
A wonderful addition to our tree are the crystals, that a lovely lady gave me (she worked for a lighting company in Madison..) that had accumulated over the years...I have them on the tree, and they catch the light beautifully...

I have much more to say, but am going to go watch a film with my family...here's a bit of what we have going on ...in the present (and a few shots of the past.)..it's the best I can do for now...enjoy!
































Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Here a Chick Greetings

My friend, Sonia, has opened a gallery in Georgetown, and I have put together these "packets" of my hand-colored, black-and-white photograph greeting cards (Here a Chick Greetings)....They are doing quite well...
I found the angel wings at Hobby Lobby, and I cut out glittered paper to front it, and regular cardstock on the back..I wrapped four of the cards in tissue and sandwiched them between, then, using scraps of ribbon, I tied them up, and then, but the wings in....I quite like the concept, in fact, I have copyrighted my cards and the packaging..(I'm not paranoid, am I)?



I Do hope you like them, and you are welcome
to use the idea for gifting, but not resale...
(my husband, the contract guy, made
me add this..) bah humbug...!!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Gatherings

My favorite place in GEORGETOWN, TEXAS........................................................... no need to say anything...


just that I love everything there.....



lots to show...............................




I am going back for this fan................................................




will shoot some more....and share
















MY FAVORITE!!!!









Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The Mantle is First

My mother-in-law is coming to visit us for three weeks (she's 89), and she loves that I "deck the halls". I enjoy her, and am looking forward to seeing her.
My husband wants to wait until this weekend to get a tree, although I am chomping at the bit, so in the meantime, it's the mantle. Then, tomorrow, the exterior, and a wreath...I have to pace myself!
We are on a tight budget this year, so I've not changed out the theme too much - which, as an old (and I do mean old) display lady for such stores as Bloomingdale's and Filene's, I try to start fresh with a new theme each year. This year, I've just added to it, and am making alot of my decorations, along with repurposing some. I did buy a swag (half-off Hobby Lobby), and used it on the mantle, along with the tiny lights, that fade in-and-out. They also blink like crazy, when I first plug them in, and I feel as if I'm going to have a seizure! Anyway, notice that our builder took it upon himself to put a stone, shaped like the great, state of Texas smack in the center. At first, I didn't like it, but after five years, it's fine. I love birds...and I have two of these little ones....I love the feathers....(no birds were injured in making this wreath).....









I took the pointsettias off a wreath that I had made six years ago, and put them on the mantle...I also switched the deer...He's facing in now...it's always best to have things facing in, so the eye follows it...(little display and art tip).
Off to make another wreath...cheerio...




Saturday, November 27, 2010

Friday, November 26, 2010

Ladies, Start Your Engines!!!

What does this photo have to do with that title - nothing...I just love the photo..I took it years ago, while driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains. There was a forest fire (very large, frightening fire...lots of wildlife running out into the roads)...and there was a haze over the mountins...I shot this, but when I scanned it the other day, I played a bit. I don't have photoshop, and if I did, I wouldn't know how to use it...this was a "happy accident".....

As to the "Start your engines"...today marked the day after Thanksgiving...this is when I wake up from my groggy naps (been ill), and hit the stores; sneaking in all kinds of holiday goodies...When my husband sees another length of garland on the mantle, he will say, "is that new?", and I will say, "no, we've had it for years" (tried that with a sofa once, didn't work)...

So, tomorrow morning, out it all comes..in all it's glory..my holiday "stuff"...can't wait...Have my camera ready, and, hopefully, barring a terrible relapse (I've had a few)...I'm off and running...

Just finished the leftovers from yesterday's dinner, and back on the diet/wagon again...sigh...

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Hope you Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving

Had a bit of a relapse...am hoping this is the end of the three-month saga of the unknown virus....Meantime, I am back to wish ya'll a blessed, happy, safe, loving, yummy Thanksgiving.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Better!!!!

I woke up this morning, and for the first time in nearly two months, nothing hurt! Okay, I had a little, teeny-tiny sore throat and headache, along with the remains of months of muscle pain, but for the most part...I AM BETTER!!! I am so grateful that I am finally (hopefully) over the worst of a terrible virus....I thought about my wonderful friend, Ginna, who didn't get well...I think of her so often. I lost my friend to cancer (please don't smoke) six years ago. I gave her this photograph (framed), that I took and hand-colored to hang by her bed while she was sick. After she passed, I don't know who ended up with it, but I have this, and the memory of a wonderful, funny, woman, who graced my life for many years....Anyway, this is for Ginna.
I entitled this "Ginna's Hat".....so, my chain-smoking, Diet Pepsi guzzling, wize-cracking friend, I hope you are looking down from wherever and saying, "that's enough, Jessica, move on".... I am feeling "romantic", and thought that since I haven't had the energy to photograph much about me these past months, I'd put some of my "Romantic America" photography series I did several years ago. Those were the days, when you shot actual film, in black-and-white, then you sepia-toned it....today, with my wonderful, new digital camera, I can push a button, and "viola", sepia..or black-and-white....never will replace the hand-colored, though...(yes, I know about Photoshop, thankyou)..

"Once I had a farm in Africa"...nope, that was Karen Blixen/Iasic Dennison, I once had a farm in Wisconsin - now, we live in Texas. I had a lovely, 4,000 square-foot garden, which I tended with love. Lot's of flowers, and an apple tree, where I loved to lie under (when I wasn't weeding), reading books, and enjoying a summer that wasn't 107 degrees for months on end. If you double-click on the photo, you will see there is an ant on the apple..for some reason, that delighted me (it doesn't take much, does it)?

I wish I still had this basket...I used to haul around a family of kittens, born in our barn...we had five, and are down to two, fourteen-year old babies...that's how I date this photo...


And then, just like "The Wizard of Oz", it springs to life in "Technicolor"....The quilt is in tatters now (I photographed many babies on it, which meant many washings), and the farm is a distant memory...I've moved on...


And now, it's autumn in Texas (this corn was on the door to my gallery in Wisconsin), and I don't mind the cooler weather a bit. In fact, I might even take a walk today! Happy Fall!!!







Friday, October 22, 2010

Beside the Bed.....a Take on Bedside Tables

As many of you may know, I have been ill....for two months...but, I am slowly getting better. At least my energy levels are beginning to improve, which is good, as it does take time and energy to blog.
I have noticed that several of my favorite bloggers are either shutting down their blogs, or at least, taking a break. I totally understand, as it takes a great deal of time and energy. We all have lives, (at least I had one, now, trying to regain it). This said, I don't feel quite as guilty about not being around, but I do enjoy blogging. I just have been sort of throwing what I have up there, and I can't see blogging, if you don't give it your best effort.
I have shown my bedroom before, but I am concentrating on my bedside table..I have spent many hours, reading and sleeping lately, and my bedside table has become a place to gather some of my favorite things. It's one of the first things I see in the morning, and last at night.
My table is really a folding-wrought iron base, with a filagree top, that I got at good old TJMax a million years ago. I put a piece of glass over it, and it serves me well. A table that size with a solid top would feel too large for the space.
The elephant lamp is very old; in fact, the shade (which I loved), is a linen, box-pleated ivory-colored shade, but the liner just shattered one day. I have saved the shade and hope to eventually, find a new liner, or place it over a neutral shade a size smaller. In the meantime, I have this brocade shade over it from another lamp (which died, and became a candle-holder). It is too short, but I don't want to add fringe to lenghten it, as it would feel too heavy. I will eventually find a lamp in the right proportion for it.
The hand-painted black-and-white photo is by me. I was doing a portrait of a young girl, and loved the lace and the position of her feet. I call it "Porch Feet"...I used some skeletonized leaves in the matting. Notice that I have a very important tool....a backscratcher! My husband is a sweetie-pie, but he's the world's worst back scratcher (I mean, what are husbands for, if not to scratch you where it itches)? My cats also love it. Since my gray cat, Gussie, went blind, she can still find her way to my bed, and she loves having the sides of her face scratched with it. Raisen, the black cat, likes it, but prefers to gnaw on it once he becomes bored with being scratched...
The satin-covered round box holds jewelry. I seem to have jewelry boxes all over the place, and need to spend a day, editing, repairing, and repurposing. I like to take pieces apart, especially, old, faux pearls and using them differently.


I hate my alarm clock radio, but it won't die. It's probably twenty years old; still, I can't justify getting rid of it.

This sweet, strawberry glass dish belonged to my Grandmother Julia, as did the heart-shaped, paper box. The top to the box eventually was lost, but I put my wedding rings in it at night. My rings once belonged to my husband's Nana Rose, so two grandmothers are sort of "introduced" each night. I made the bracelet from faux pearls, crystals, and a lovely, antique button, that was given to me by my mother-in-law. I treasure them all.I love my bookends; another great find from TJMaxx...$12.00! I know there are those who say to never tell what you paid for something, but I am the "Bargain Queen", so I like to "crow" about my finds!My mother-in-law is appalled that I let my box (with a Rhino on the top) tarnish so, but, there are some things I prefer in tarnished silver, especially, silverplate, as one shouldn't polish it too often anyway. I think it looks wonderful the way it is. Secret - it contains a box of vaseline, that fits perfectly in it. I use it on my feet before I go to sleep at night.
This is one of my favorite photos, (and frame) of my husband, Bob -bottem, and our friends, Maggie and David..The are on the diving board ladder of their swimming pool. He's still very handsome..only now, he has white hair. I collect scotties, and I love these. I especially love the big guy, who glows in the dark!
This bookcase was orginally bright blue...painted it black. And yes, the candle is crooked..the lamp was the one to which I referred earlier. Someday, it may become a lamp again. I love marquetry frames, and I treasure my family photos. No, my mother was not really resisting arrest; (policemen don't usually turn their caps backward) rather, she was a dispatcher in the 1950's, and they were horsing around. She was so beautiful.
Okay, this is not the bedside table, but as is the bookcase, a view from my bed. I painted the foxes; I call it "Foxes and Fireflies". Theya re competing for the last bunch of grapes. I love my settee, which I have had forever.

There you have it...sort of like, "how I spent my summer vacation", but where I've been spending most of my time for two months.