NEW WINGS

This morning's work.  A reclaimed canvas.

Linoleum sanded, gessoed, then painted.

cut into squares to create flowers.

old book pages cut into hearts.

wings cut out of starbuck cup sleeves.

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING

                                           I am driving up to Carbondale to add to this tree.

It lifted my spirit.

It makes me proud to be human.

We are good inside.

All of us.

NOW

TO DO LIST

BAKE COOKIES

WRAP GIFTS

LAST MINUTE CARDS

TWO PARTIES TO ATTEND

KEEP SMILING

COUNT MY BLESSINGS

now

BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR

You have heard it before..  there are just not enough time in day.  I blink and it's another day gone by.

I take moments out of each day to enjoy the bliss of the season.  I found these adorable red rubber boots

complete with polka dots at the thrift shop, and had to have them.  Plop in some holiday greens and berries and now they are sitting on the front steps, making a smiling addition to the holiday decorations.

I have gotten two packages mailed, one more to go out on Monday. Our annual holiday party is tomorrow night here at the house.  Tonight is my husband's annual Christmas dinner party.  Sunday, I am planning on a full on jammie day.  Do some baking, do some art, take a nap... just enjoy a quiet day at home. 

Neglecting some things like this blog, but trying not to neglect the really important stuff that is so

essential this time of year.

Hope you are doing the same.

NOW.

GARLANDS OF COLOR

I have made three of these garlands.  I used strands of white lights doubled and then simply tie on the

fabric strips.  It creates such a fun explosion of color and even with the lights out, the color is festive.

I hung one above the breakfast nook, one over the kitchen window and the 3rd one I am taking to hang over my art when I do my display this Friday and Saturday at the Whimsical Women of the West Annual Holiday Show.  I will hang some of my art, some of my kitchen towels and nightshirts.. that will be a bright and

colorful display! 

I decked out the house yesterday, the tree is up, the garland hung, and the house is looking really ready for the holidays.  I need to start baking and if I decorate the house, it gets me in the mood.  I love to put my old favorite holiday movies on while I bake.  Or holiday Christmas music.  It snowed yesterday and more is

predicted for today. 

But for NOW
I must jump into my orders.

ta

HI OPA

Yesterday, we stopped by to see Opa's grave site.  I don't always feel his presence here but this was

a big important part of my mother's healing to have his grave and to keep the yellow flowers in place.

Now that Mom no longer lives in the same town as the cemetery, she doesn't get to stop by to visit the grave and to check on the flowers.  An old family friend named John does it.  And it looks like he is doing a great job.  This is how I found the grave with the flowers nicely tucked in place.  You can't even tell they are

fake.  And it does cheer up his resting place. 

As we drove away from the cemetery, I  thought about Dad and how much I miss him.  There seems to

be a void where he once was, and I think we all feel it in the family.  Most of all Mom.  She is adjusting

but it's a daily struggle it seems.  And she often will tell me how much she wishes she could just go to sleep and never wake up.

It's sad to hear, but I understand. 

I tend to embrace my fondest memories of Dad.  How he loved to take naps with Dumas their beloved cat.

And how he was such a funny guy to talk to.  And a good listener.  I miss that about him among other things.

ta Dad..

Hope you and Dumas are talking a nice nap together now in Paradise.

xoxoxox

MORE STUDIO TIME

Yesterday, I was thinking the upcoming Whimsical Women was this weekend.. which launched me into

a panic attack.  But silly me, I was a week early in my head.  So this morning, in my jammies, I started working on more ornaments to add to my stash that I will be taking to sell.

This is wonderful.. a whole week more than I was thinking.  I love it when that happens.

But the art time is done for now,

 and I must step into my order mode and work on getting all my orders completed.

I would like a day "off" tomorrow to get some grocery shopping done and house cleaning.

No big crowds for Thanksgiving, and in fact, I am not cooking a turkey.  We had a turkey dinner last weekend, so I decided to do a nice lasagna for dinner.  It's a working ski day for Dan, and a hearty

lasagna will be wonderful in his eyes.. and his tummy.

NOW
to work to work to work!

today cold blue skies

tomorrow snow

ta