Sweet, Blessed Nativity

What Child is this, who laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come peasant, king to own Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Raise, raise, the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

May You Have A Blessed

 and Merry Christmas!

 

Holy Night

Lesson In Life.

Christmas Story...narrated by sweet little children.

This is really very sweet. It reminds me to slow down and to feel the wonder of Jesus' birth.

handpainted Christmas.

Over the years, I've collected many Christmas decorations. Some are expensive, some, not so much. This little fishbowl is the one I treasure most...it was made for me with lots of love. Third-grade was the year I had taken Jonathan to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with Jim Carrey and Jonathan could recite almost every line spoken by the Grinch. He was very good at mimicking voices and perfected the voice of the Grinch. Needless to say, we all had a lot of laughs when he'd recite a scene with a dead-on impersonation. Jonathan was in Mrs. Fowler's third grade class and her students would decorate a glass fishbowl for their mothers' Christmas gifts. Now  when I look at the bowl,  I smile and remember the fun Jonathan and I shared when he was little. Some of Jonathan's little classmates drew little religious figures on their bowls, some drew snowmen and Santas...I have an original. My boy chose to draw something he and I had shared, laughing together. Memories on glass... I wouldn't trade this bowl for all the Who pudding or rare Who roast beast!

reindeer hair clips.

 And the camera is kinda broken, but not entirely so. It seems there's something amiss with the power cord. I don't know, Jason can get the cord just-so to download, but I have no luck at all. The reason I haven't posted in a few weeks...

Until I discovered the memory card and the little slot in the laptop. Mmmm-hmmmm, I figured it out. I can download my photos without the stinking cord. And I have overcome.

Meet my reindeer clip. I've been making these for a few years. I'm selling them at a local shop...they're also great to clip to your collar or lapel. Or purse, or hat. 

This is my hair, modeling the clip. I know, my hair is messy. No, not really. It's just curly and it always looks messy. Thank goodness I can't see the back of my head, or else all that messy-looking hair would really bug me. 

creative links for Christmas.

My decorating has come to a standstill. No matter. It will get done. So much to do, so much to do! In the meantime, here are a few cute and fun projects to help jump-start your Christmas:

This is a very sweet idea...very clever!

I would love to start making some of these.

Chocolate chip cookie dough fudge...might just have to try making some and giving it out for Christmas.

Here is a very creative way in which to display your favorite photographs. I think this is going to go on my "to-try" list!

If I can find a little extra time, I just might be able to try some of these ideas....ha, ha, ha! There is NO way, before Christmas! Maybe after...

miscellany. Fabulous!

My camera went kaput...I am now reduced to pulling up a photo of the dog and embellishing it. It seems I have more shots of the dog than anything else. She's just so easy and will sit pretty for a cookie.

Today was an A+ day. I didn't work. This was the first day in a month (other than Sundays), that I've had off. Not counting Thanksgiving...work would have been easier than that! It was so nice to not have anywhere to be, anything to do. The whole day was mine. Christmas is, of course, on my list of "to-do." So I "did." Oh, I still have a great deal of stuff to do, but still, it was great just puttering around town and being loose and fancy free.

You know those chickens Wal-Mart sells? I bought one and made chicken and dumplings from this recipe. It was very delicious! I added a few herbs and spices, but the guys ate it up and really, that's the only barometer a mom needs to know that her dinner was pretty darn good!

Hair clips. Reindeer clips. I made a bunch and they're pretty darn cute! I'd love to take a photo of them and post it, but my camera isn't working. I dragged out some Christmas decorations...I love Christmas! I figure that if I decorate a little bit every day, I should be all decorated by the end of the week. Minus the tree, but I'm hoping we'll get that covered next weekend.

And that, my friends, was my day off. I have sewing and cleaning and more shopping...but right now, today, I am content just taking my day one minute at a time.

groovin' time!

I'm officially in the Christmas spirit. I waited until the first day of Advent to get my "holiday on." Out came the musical snowman and he is rather charming, don't you agree? In the spirit of getting back to blogging and ready for Christmas, I thought I'd post a little holiday cheer. You know, to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Play it again, Snowman!

Hey, I'm not a complete slouch! I have been able to sew a few things up this past month. The Christmas fabric this year is pretty darn cute and I couldn't resist making some little girls' skirts to sell at Avonlea for Christmas. Once I cut into the fabric and put it on the machine, I felt relaxed and content, ignoring the pile of clothes that were begging to be ironed. And the kitchen floor that screamed to be washed. With all the other little things that have been wanting my attention.

The day-after Thanksgiving...truly a relaxing and peaceful day. I chose to spend it doing a little laundry, ironing a few things, working on my blog banner all in the comfort of my black yoga pants and t-shirt. Though I'm working tomorrow (and though bitter at first, am now over it), I don't plan on doing too much tomorrow, either! I had thought about pulling a few Christmas decorations out today, to get me revved up for Christmas, but I think it more prudent to let the ol' engine idle for a day or two!

Here's wishing you a fine start to your Christmas season. May your days be merry and bright! This is my favorite time of year and I fully intend to enjoy every second of it!

time to let you know where I have been!

This is a first for me...no photo of a dog, skirt, or family member. No boat, no sky, nor silly photo of something that has caught my fancy.

When my world was narrow, I always found something to write about. Not sure if any of it was worth reading, but I sure enjoyed expressing myself. Funny, how as my world broadened, I didn't feel the creative bug biting. I have so much more to talk about now, but am either too busy to write, too tired to write, or just uninspired. And that makes me sad. Because I have always loved my blog. It doesn't really matter if anyone reads it or not, it's just always been a place to express myself.

The director of the CPC where I work, has been out sick since the last week of October. I enjoy my job and don't find it difficult to get up and go to work, but working 6 days a week is taking its toll. I've let a lot of things slide around the house and that includes this blog. The kitchen floor needs washing, some major cleaning needs to be done and I have sewing that I really want to do. And changing the header on this blog and posting photos and posts are on the top of my list.

Thanksgiving is next week...how did it creep up so soon? The upside is, I'll be off work from Noon on Wednesday thru Sunday. Yippee! I'm thinking I might be able to squeeze some blog redesign in, maybe a few posts and finish some little-girl skirts. Oh, and there's decorating for Christmas! I think I can do this...

I'm looking forward to my comeback...I really hope you all are still nearby, ready to read my silly blog. See you soon, hugs to you!

clean herd.

Clean elephants, that's what the world needs...made from baby washcloths.

Have you ever seen albino elephants? Here ya go! Here are two!

I made this herd last night, while we watched T.V. They're really not too difficult to make...but the ears! The ears are definitely maddening.

I'm hoping with a little more practice, the ears won't be such a challenge.

Here's Pinky. Wouldn't you know that she turned out to be the cutest of them all?! She even looks kind of prissy, the way she's standing.

You're wondering what one does with these, aren't you?

You use them as accents on baby gifts or diaper cakes. And you can take the washcloths apart and use them on baby!

If you're interested in the pattern, go here. She has all kinds of washcloth creations and I happen to have my eye on a few more patterns. It seems I started off with the most challenging, but hey! The next project should be easier, right?

At least that's what I'm hoping!

Halloween Light Show...and I'm going to get me one!

How do people do this?! It's insanely wonderful! I wonder how long it took to design, install, test, coordinate, manipulate, gesticulate, pontificate, deliberate...this light show?

Jason, dear husband:  I expect something like this on our house for Christmas. Maybe some talking Santas, dancing Reindeer, some Snowmen back-up singers. Nothing too elaborate, just a little something to draw traffic and mayhem in our neighborhood...and an extreme electric bill.

So Honey, if you're going to do this little something for me, you had better start yesterday, 'cause this is incredibly spooktacular!

Thank you, Sweetie!

3rd graders singing strong and beautifully.

A beautiful song...nothing could be sweeter than little children singing a song of "thanks."

The words are heartfelt, the music is so traditional and simple.

It's perfect...

Thank You!

profile of a doper.

The injury happened Wednesday morning. She insisted on going outside at 5 AM.  The morning 5 AM. We were sound asleep. OK, I was soundly sleeping, it was Jason who got out of bed to let her out. My sleep wasn't disturbed; never is, never has been and never will be.

BB stayed outside for several hours until I let her back in, just prior to leaving for work. I opened the door, she came in and laid down in front of the sliding doors... it's important that she can keep an eye on what's happening in her backyard as she waits for the sun to rise, that her sunbathing may commence.

It's tiring getting up that early to chase squirrels, owls and marking territory...a girl's gotta get her beauty sleep!

Call me an unfit mother, but I simply didn't notice her limping and favoring her paw. How would I? I open the door, she comes in and then plops right down in front of it. But I did notice her limping when I arrived home later in the afternoon. She was licking her paw.And licking. And licking. Did I mention she was licking her paw? And not that this has anything to do with her injury, but why does she lick the floors? Does anybody know why a canine would do that?!

It just so happend that the next day, BB had an appointment with the vet.The vet took a look at the paw and diagnosed a probable nail problem or bruise...

Then sent us home with some kind of fabulous medicine, to help BB "relax" during her injury.

"Relax..." OK, Doc! If that's what you want to call it.

 Our doggie got stoned!

I mean, really STONED! She didn't move a muscle.

What a lovely profile, BB! The fang angle is outstanding.

This stuff made her stone-cold stoned. We call it...Doggie Dope.

Doper. Stoner. Dope-Head.

She didn't have a clue as to what was going on.

And really, wouldn't it be nice to once-in-awhile be able to just sack out like this on the floor and not have a clue or care in the world as to what's going on around you?

We'll never know what was going on in that little head of hers.

But I can tell you one thing...her paw wasn't hurting anymore!

Sharpies for fabric...yee-haw!

What?! Sharpies for fabric?

Brilliant! I can't wait to get my hands on these...totally revolutionary!

Today's Creative Blog is sponsoring a giveaway for one lucky reader to win some loot from Sharpie. Click here to enter!
And while you're there, check out the rest of her blog. You'll find recipes, decorating ideas, fun giveaways and crafty goodness there!

Go. Get creative and if you win those Sharpies, I'm gonna cry...but I'll be happy for you. Sad for me. Happy for you!

project on my table.

Yup, I have another doll on my table. My little boy-hero doll needs a damsel in distress! I've taken pity on him and cut out a little girlfriend for him.Her legs and arms are finished, as is her hair, but I need to find some fabric for a little skirt. This is kind of fun!

In other matters, can someone please send some cool air down here to the South? I'm frying! Summer clothes have all been deleted from the stores; sweaters, jackets and long-sleeved apparel have been downloaded into them! Sheesh, enough heat, already!

Maybe if I do some Fall decorating, I'll feel cooler. Thinking not really...but the house will look cute!

Pinterest

I shudder at what I'm about to share with you...don't say I didn't warn you.

It's a new phenomenon called, Pinterest.

My darling niece reallly got me started with Pinterest...I'd seen it referenced, but never really understood Pinterest until...Donna!

So now I'm pinning like crazy, like I've never pinned before!

Several friends have asked me what Pinterest is and how you use it. Let me just say, whatever grabs your interest, you can find it on Pinterest.

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.


People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and share their favorite recipes.

Think of a bulletin board nailed to your wall, where you tack magazine clippings of great kitchen remodels, dream bathrooms, outfits, recipes, etc. Then when you need to refer to that clipping, you go back to your bulletin board and retrieve the information.

With Pinterest, it's the same thing, only virtual. And neater. And organized.

Here's a screen print of my boards (there are others, but I'm keeping it short in the name of "who really cares?):

Titles of my niece's boards:

My Hubby Can Build That! (I love that title!)
Click
Backyards

I want to learn how to knit or crochet, so when I find some interesting-looking tutorials, I'll "pin" them on the board I created.

Recipes. Another great reason to create a board.

Christmas...I'll make a board for great decorating ideas. Speaking of Christmas, I have a board for things I'd someday like to have. Or, gift ideas for other people. I might create boards with names of my family and pin gift ideas for each one. I like that idea!

If you want to use Pinterest, you need an invitation from someone already addicted registered. I'm not sure why, but them's the rules!

If you need additional help with Pinterest, just email or Facebook and I'll make you a junkie pro.

So go, pin away!

Have fun.

Then detox.
Forget my name.

I Need A Hero!

Super-heroes.

What the world just doesn't have enough of.

 That's about to change...

Because I am on a mission to bring some caped-crusaders to the world!

What's this? There must be trouble...

 My super-hero is racing to the TV...

Oh, now he's scaling the dog kennel. One of BB's "babies" must be in trouble!

 No, they're fine. It seems that my super-hero just wanted to introduce himself to them and let them know that if there's ever any trouble, he's right here!

 Oh, now his identity is revealed! He's relaxing, hanging out after a busy Saturday morning.

You'll be seeing more of this dude hanging around on this blog. You can find the pattern here.

Wendi Gratz is the designer of the pattern and her blog is Shiny Happy World. She has set up "schools" on her blog, to help guide you in sewing methods and embroidery stitching.

The patterns are fairly easy to make and very super-cute! If you have some basic sewing skills, you could totally make this little guy. Especially with all the help Wendi has available.

Next...some girl dolls!

Stay tuned!

happy doggie-day!

 Oh, my goodness. She was happy, she was ecstatic.

She wouldn't leave his side...she took up her old familiar place on the floor near the couch. Close enough to have her belly scratched when he felt like scratching it.

And then he got on the floor to play with her and as you can see, she couldn't take her eyes off of him.

That's love, right there.

Timeless, classic.

A boy young man and his dog.

All is right with the world.

little man.

There's a little guy on my table.

So far he has a face, hair, and legs with shoes, of course!

I'm having fun making him. Now I need to locate some old jeans and an old shirt. I think I'll raid somebody's closet...

This is a cute one, can't wait to share the finished boy with you.

And after he's stuffed, a girl will be in the works.

Have a great Monday!

I remember.

Ten years-ago today, I was crying.

I cried for weeks and our then 9 year-old little boy would say, "Mom, you're still crying." The emotions of September 11 would wash over me and I felt such a sense of loss and sadness, not because I had lost a loved one on 911, but because countless families lost loved ones in the blink of an eye. Tragically. And the victims suffered. And that's what the survivors and loved ones of those lost had to cope with.

Ten years later, the sense of loss resides deep within, as I watch families and survivors at the 911 Memorial lovingly caress their fingers over the engraved names of lost loved ones.

And I cry.

Still.

And hopefully, I will always shed tears on this date.

Because I want and need to remember the events that sought to destroy our Nation, by killing Her beloved citizens in NY, Washington and Pennsylvania.

May God bless America and the surviving families of those we lost on this date, 10 years-ago today.

And please Lord, keep us free!

accidental on porpoise.

We were cruising up the St. John's River, just talking and looking at the downtown buildings when I spotted a dolphin. Then another dolphin, then a school broke the surface together. They were beautiful, playful, graceful. One came up to the side of the boat and greeted Jason...so funny. I grabbed my camera and pointed at the spot I thought they'd next be surfacing. I have a point and shoot digital, which means that bright sunlight pretty much makes it impossible to see the subject. So I just pointed the camera and hoped that when I downloaded into the computer, I'd have a few photos of the dolphins. I managed to capture several fins, but this is the best photo.  I had no idea that dolphins could travel through the river...I thought they were strictly ocean-dwellers. Definitely a great day on the river!

blue skies, smiling at me!

Our day in photos.

Blue skies, smiling at me. Nothing but blue skies, do I see.

And our great son, who is now grown...but forever our "Bud."

God is good.