I really must focus...

 I don't seem to be able to let go of Christmas...

 maybe it's because most of my favorite people left ;(.

the laughter is gone...

must take the decorations down and pack them away,

and the guest cot will go and

 art will return
(can't wait to work on this one),

 and I received some precious gifts 
such as these mouse pads from my son-
one with my favorite fur ball and the other -
one of my son's pieces of art,

and another piece of art from the other Holderman artist.
How lucky am I? 

 We enjoyed good food,

 playing tourist at Pikes Market,

 ferry rides

in the rain of course,

 

and we waved to our niece as she sailed the other direction.

 Then we enjoyed Roy St. Tea and Coffee

(which is an incognito Starbucks -

you would never know it 

- the best lattes ever!)

 and we made new friends

(he lives in the pond at my sister-in-law's on a golf course),

and I bought these words of wisdom cards

to inspire me each day.

My favorite says...

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I do this?

Henceforth will I look on all things

with love and be born again.

I will love the sun for it warms my bones;

yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit.

I will love the light for it shows me the way;

yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.

I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart;

yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul.

I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due;

yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.

Og Mandino

My mom would have loved this poem.  She died a year ago on January fourth and I have been dreading this anniversary, but I am grateful that I made it through the day with joy in remembrances and I do seem to be crawling out of the deep place of grief.  My dad was able to join us for Christmas which was a huge blessing as he was not able to travel for many years because of my mom's health.  So I am hopeful for the new year and all of its blessings.  I am going to try so hard to see the beauty in little moments of perfection and not to be so hard on myself.  Sound good?  I wish each of you a wonderful and blessed 2012.

Happy New Year!

 Have a great New Year's Eve!
Party responsibly 

and don't drink too many saucers of warm milk.

Merry Christmas one and all!

Merry Christmas!

 My family arrives tomorrow

and I am so excited to give each one a hug.

Joyfilled blessings to each of you!

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.

still gift hunting?

There's still time to please that special person on your list

who is so hard to buy for...

May I suggest a pack of gnomes filled with 3 cards, a bookmark and a journal

to put a grin on the receiver's face.

You can get it here.

 And for the crafty person in your life...

 the artist's giftpack comes with 3 cards

and a journal.

May I suggest you keep the journal 

and give the cards to your crafty friends?

Get them here.

I am so thankful that I don't need to fight the shopping crowds today -

bought most of my gifts on etsy

and it was so easy and the gifts are unique and heartfelt.

Merry Christmas!

walkin', prancin, and flyin' in a winter wonderland...

Stepped outside today and discovered these beauties.

 If I was a gnome I would so live here.

 with these lights nearby

and this guy could come visit anytime.

Well school is now out for the Christmas break and

before it was over the art clubbers did a little 

prancin' in a winter wonderland...

 only chose 2 to include here, 

but the rest were adorable too.

 and I got to teach all 19 in my during school time class

with the same theme -

here to stay is a new bird...

 again I couldn't choose them all,

but aren't they precious?

 The students happen to love angry birds so

I knew these would be a hit.

Borrowed the idea from pinterest and it took me to this great art blog.

Don't you just love how the blogging and pinning communities share,

and the whole world gets to be enriched from a project

done in one small classroom,

and before you know it,

another class gets blessed creating a similar one?

What a wonderful creative world we live in!