this week in instagram

Beautiful sunlight poured in the windows this week.

Hopefully you smiled with this one.

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

everywhere I go...

Well I haven't been anywhere 

as I have been busy cooking

fudge, 

cranberries in brandy for the brie wrapped in phyllo,

cranberry orange cookies drizzled in orange sugar,

candied walnuts,

balsamic croutons,

Italian beef stew tucked in the freezer,

and chicken enchilada casserole...phew...

so I would be ready for a full house on Thursday.

I can't wait and my heart is pounding just thinking of the fun we will have!

and I took some closeups of the the holiday festivities

being played out in my rooms...

I wish you each a blessed Christmas

filled with family and love and peace

and good will towards men.

blogging mojo is lost- reward if found

need to post a sign on a tree that says -

blogging mojo is lost -

reward if found

seems she just up and walked away...

and i have been waiting patiently for her return
just like this fellow.
instead i am left trying to be smart and funny on my own -

nothing 
the brain cells are struggling to get magic to happen...
maybe she went on summer vacation with us and decided not to return.  

i would have stayed here too if i had a choice...
(view from our balcony)

instead i came home to so many house upkeep projects 
such as 
redoing the floors while we were on vacation

and fighting giant moles -

just kidding, although we do have those too.

these are our septic tank lids which needed cleaning too

(and thank goodness not by me )
and 

this week we had trees falling left and right 
and others being pruned -
looked like a war zone.

and then add 3 cavities filled plus 5 more to go, etc. etc. blah, blah
you get the idea.
well i need another vacation

so off to Lake Chelan 

to visit one of my bestest friend 
to create jewelry and paint and visit wineries
and soak in the sun

(did I mention she has a hot tub and a pool?).

so maybe i will find my mojo out touring the wineries enjoying the sunshine 
and just maybe i can bribe her 
with a bottle of wine or promise to paint her picture or
buy her a magical croissant at the french bakery on the way home

because I really do miss her and need her back.
see you in a week unless i decide to stay...

simple pleasure

Limitations live only in our minds.  

But if we use our imaginations, 

our possibilities become limitless.

Jamie Paolinetti

(the photo is one of my favorite collections...

the quote is from Carla Sonheim's wonderful book 

Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists)

What limitless possibilities

are you imagining today?

eat, drink and be merry

My book club came over last night...

After I put out the food and drink,

Zoe went into guard mode for me...

and guarded this yummy spread of bruschetta, grapes,

 and cream cheese layered with chutney and hazelnuts

(so easy and simply the best).

Our book of the evening was Loving Frank by Nancy Horan.

As it pertains to Frank Lloyd Wright I went with the architecture theme.

So I put down blue prints as a table cloth (thanks Doug)

and displayed this petite building complex

created by architect Kim when she was a student.

Then we had a lively discussion while sipping wine on the patio 

and enjoying the beautiful Seattle evening...

doesn't get any better than this.

Guess what?  Monsieur Nick is in Chicago on the second leg of his journey

and will be home this evening...tres bien.

This morning I went to the finger doctor and she said I can begin using my digit - 

at 5 1/2 weeks I never expected to hear that.  Yippeee!!! Our bodies are amazing!

Have a truly wonderful weekend -

I know I will!

ready for Easter...

Oh I had fun getting out the Easter goodies

and cleaning the house for lots of family on Sunday...

missed making Easter baskets for little ones,

but I have a grandniece that will be ready for one next year -

don't think she will quite get it at 7 months ...

so I will patiently wait.

advent December 14

The Nester is having a wonderful

tour of Christmas homes so I decided to join too...

This is the dining room and living room mantle.

I will add more photos tomorrow when it is light.

Go check out some other homes...

last snippets of autumn...

Well autumn colors around here are blowing away in the wind,

and I have even spotted Christmas trees in windows -

way to early for me...

so I decided to share my final group of nature and inside photos of autumn.

My collection of fruit/vegie pitchers and sugar bowls has luckily grown

to include this large pitcher from a dear friend for my birthday...

and doesn't this color look good enough to eat?

and these leaves look like a bowl of pastel candies...

and oh those kiddo crafts at school...

nothing better than a pasta necklace

made at our Kindergarten/First grade Thanksgiving party...

especially with these colors...

and these...

and even these colors which seem to remind me that the next season

is sneaking up on me way too quickly!

And these leaves were discovered on a walk...

along with these beauties...

and these too... hmm, red and green again.

spotted on a desk at school...

along with place mats of the season...

to go home with excited children

who can't wait to present their creations

to their lucky parents.

wish I had some little ones to create art for my refrigerator...

and look what God created on this tree...

and on this one too...

and oh this poor lone rose blossom is holding on...

and Oakleaf Hydrangeas are the most amazing plant...

So I guess I need to put autumn to rest and start thinking of the next season...

but I do have some adorable turkey paintings

that my students made to share on turkey day next week!