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

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....

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

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!

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...!!

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!!!!

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...