Road Trip

The day after Christmas my friend Karla and I took a short road trip to check on her guy's animals while he was out of town... it was a beautiful sunny day, but cold. Enjoy the photos....!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Survey!! Forwarded from my two sisters... Here is my response -

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper - I LOVE wrapping paper!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Love the real trees. Usually a Charlie Brown tree

3. When do you put up the tree? anytime after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? By New Years day or the weekend after Christmas

5. Do you like eggnog? yes, with brandy!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A refurbished old, black Singer sewing machine from my parents - I think I was 8 or 9. I got a fully loaded sewing kit as well, plus lots of fabric. My bestest gift ever...

7. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone, if you don't have lots of money! No one, if you do!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My 11 yr old

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I don't but I'd love to have one like my mom's - an old German set that is like nothing I've ever seen

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Christmas cards, of course!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Its a gift! It can't be bad.
12. Favorite Christmas Movies? Charlie Brown Christmas and Mickey Mouse Scrooge
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Yesterday
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Never
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything, but years ago I loved my grandma's homemade ravioli's! She'd handmake enough for Thanksgiving and Christmas for 25+ people...
16. Color of Lights on the tree? I had white blinky lights, but they broke. Now I have multi-colored

17. Favorite Christmas song? Chipmunk Christmas Song, Silent Night, Silver Bells

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Usually had Christmas at my sisters (she's now moved to Alaska) but this year at our house, then to my brother's later on.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen, Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have my grandma's vintage silver and white star!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The frazzled look of shoppers! Relax, people!
23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? We have a mixed theme of ornaments that were given to me every year as a kid, plus all of my kids' stuff they've made
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? My family to be safe and happy

Christmas Color

Just thought I'd share a photo of my daughter and my 'grand-dog'!!! Glad they are here visiting for the holidays. The other photo is of my vintage table cloth and napkins... I LOVE this color - not a true red, but very pretty - kind of a pinkish red. It will look good on the table at Christmas!

Winter Giveaway and I Won a Giveaway!

A lovely giveaway is happening at White Linen ~ Lavender Field . Please check it out. Turquoise is the color of 2010!!!! Check out Pantone's color site...One of my favorite colors. I'd love to win this! Speaking of winning - I won an Inspired Living calendar from Melissa of The Garden of Pink Shadows! Can't wait to use this!

A Dream of Mine

This is VERY far-fetched, but I have a dream. I want to have a cute little house where I can have artsy-crafty workshops, gatherings of friends, a small gallery and shop - maybe coffee and treats... I found the PERFECT place right here in my town ~ in a lovely downtown location. Check this out. I haven't made a phone call... it is zoned 'commercial' so I could do it!

Twelve Days of Christmas

Jo Packham from Where Women Create is having some fantastic holiday giveaways! The drawings end soon but you can still comment to win any of the twelve gifts (one of them is pictured above). I really love this magazine and the following is a quote she has shared.

Woman is born to create. In creating she becomes herself, accomplishes her destiny. Her whole life is only an initiation into creative power. To create is not merely to produce a work, it is to give out ones own individuality.-Jeanne de Vietinghoff.

I won a giveaway!

Corey from Tongue in Cheek had a fabulous giveaway and I was a lucky recipient of old French papers and other emphemera!!! Here is a photo of some of the treasures included in the package. Corey is now selling French 'goodies' she finds at the local brocantes through her blog, Tongue in Cheek. Too wonderful!

The Feathered Nest Giveaway

One of my top-10 favorite blogs is The Feathered Nest. I love Dawn's style and her generous nature. She is having a fabulous giveaway! Check it out here.