As we draw near to the end of the year, most of us ponder the unanswered questions . . .

1. Christmas! What other time of year do you sit around a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?

2. Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

3. How come abbreviated is such a long word?

4. Why do you press harder on a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

5. Why is bra singular and panties plural?

6. Why is phonics not spelled the way it sounds?

7. Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected expected?

8. Why do tug boats push their barges?

9. Why do we say something is outta whack? What is a whack?

10. Why do we put suits in garment bags and garments in suitcases?

11. Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They are gonna see you naked anyway!

12. Where does the toetag go on a dead person, if they don't have toes?

13. Why is it that everyone driving faster than you is an idiot and everyone driving slower than you is a moron?

14. If pro and con are opposite, wouldn't the opposite of progress be congress? {snickering}

15. If a transvestite goes missing, would you put their face on a carton of half-n-half?

16. Is there a time limit on fortune cookie predictions?

17. Why is it when we skate on thin ice we can get in hot water?

18. Do siamese twins have to buy two tickets for the movie or concerts or plane travel?

19. If a guy has a heart attack before they throw the switch on the electric chair, should they save him first?

20. Who was Sadie Hawkins anyway?

21. If a stripper gets breast implants can she write it off as a business expense?

22. Why do we tell our children to never take candy from strangers and then take them trick or treating?

23. Why is it no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

24. How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn't grow in it?

25. Can you still say stick it where the sun don't shine on a nude beach?

26. If you speak with sign language, can you talk with your mouth full?

27. Why did Ginger have so many outfits when they were only gonna be gone for three hours?

28. Where do people in Hell tell other people to go?

29. Didn't you have anything better to do today than sit and read all this stuff?!

Greetings from the other side of Christmas! Meaning after the crescendo leading up to the big day! We had a fabulous holiday, celebrating many times with different groups of family and friends! Festivities began with the weekend before Christmas, gathering at our home with extended family. I haven't found any photos from that event. I wasn't toting a camera because I was sick, recovering from a terrible sore throat. Enjoyed seeing family I don't see enough of during the year!!

The following Wednesday brought the annual eats and visit from Santa Tony at the office! We are blessed with some great employees at Metro Glass and even with a harsh economy the last couple of years, TK hasn't failied to spread a little extra Christmas joy to each and everyone! (Pics to follow...as soon as I find them!)

The next day was Christmas Eve Eve! We had a Hi-Ho Christmas with our kids since Jennifer, Tyler and Keller would be away at Tyler's mom's for Christmas. I'd have to say with all the activities fo the holidays, the time we spend with our kids (including Lindsay, Jen, Tyler and Keller) is the climax of the season! Below is Poppa playing with Keller and the Handy Manny Toolbox!


That evening, Jen, Tyler and Keller headed out to Jackson while Tony and Lindsay and I headed the other direction to Pensacola. We were expecting Caroline's arrival around 8:pm. We haven't seen Caro in nearly 12 years. She was our exchange student from France ... the region of Provence. Fos sur mur (?) in Marseilles to be more precise. She is a doll!! Caro will be visiting with us for two weeks!!



Lindsay and I took Caroline downtown to visit Artology and walked around awhile before stopping at Buck's for pizza and then back home for the evening. We spent some time on Skype with her family back in France. Technology is amazing! We shared some of Caro's French traditions. (Google 13 desserts of Christmas). We had grand plans to ride around to see Christmas light decorations and attend midnight communion. We were all exhausted and I know Caro still had a touch of jet lag so we opted for sleep instead.

Christmas morning found us all excited again about being together! It was a quiet, rainy day. We spent it sharing a huge breakfast, though it was nearly noon when we sat down to eat! Then we visited and wrapped gifts for Sunday's get-together. The laziness was interrupted mid-afternoon with a call for help during an attemt to rescue a manatee on the bay. We unloaded the trailer and took it to be used for transporting this huge mammal. Sadly, she didn't make it and died from complications of the cold. They are usually out of the bay and in warmer waters long before this time of year. It was a valiant effort by the Sea Lab crew, but we were hoping for a Christmas miracle.





And then we topped it all off with a fabulous Christmas Dinner on Sunday .... the First Day of Christmas! Can't wait til next year!!!

I'm glad it's Wednesday and few words are required!  There's not much time for talking! As we pull off the holiday bling and splendor and catch reflective glimpses of the true "reason for the season" my wish is that you all go in peace and be blessed throughout the season and the coming year!

 

How Do You Wrap?

This is how I do it!

Red, Green and White

w/an occasional dash of silver and gold!

This goes for the paper as well as the embellishments!

Anything shiny and blingy and polka-dotty will do!

Lots of Ribbon!

Red and Green or any

of the above combinations!

BOWS! BIG BOWS!

BOWS & RIBBON AND OFTEN AN ORNAMENT

OR A JINGLE BELL

ON EVERY SINGLE PACKAGE!

Yes! Even the critter treats!!

Vanilla Bark, Milk Bones and Sprinkles!

That's all there is to it! Fa la la la la!!

The vanilla bark is safe for dog consumption!

~ Reminiscing Favorite Gifts ~

Oh my, where to start. Can I list more than one? Bear with me!

I must preface with saying my children have never given me

anything, anytime of the year, that I didn't favor and cherish.

All the handmade, glitter, glue and macaroni picture frames,

hand prints and ornaments trump everything else!

One of my first faves was receiving my engagement ring

three years after we were married. When we were engaged

we couldn't afford a house and a diamond so I opted for

the house. Jennifer was 14 months old and we were sitting around

the Christmas tree opening gifts. One of mine was a diamond!

I've received more over the course of our 31 year marriage,

but that one was my favorite because I really believed

"diamonds are forever" and after coming thru a rocky year,

well, you know. It wasn't huge by mosts' standards but it was

precious. Several years later he gave me a beautiful ring guard

to put it in.  It, my friends, was da bomb!

A more recent fave was only a few years ago.

There was a tall bulky wrapped box leaning against the wall,

obviously wrapped by my dear husband. I kept thinking it was

likely a leaf blower or a new weed eater. I was the keeper

of the gardens afterall. Imagine how surprised I was

to open it Christmas morning to find a 10x10 pop-up tent!

Need a little background? Well, we had discussed a month

earlier the possibility of my stepping out publicly with

my artwork and doing an upcoming outdoor art show

in the Spring on Dauphin Island. I hadn't committed

and was still apprehensive about it. I looked at him,

at first quizzically, and he said "for your art show" smiling.

Of course, the girls asked "What show?" and we went thru

the spiel with them. They were very excited about the idea.

Yes, I cried. I cried because it affirmed his support

and belief that I could present my work and be accepted.

I did. I was. I am loving it still.

The Best Gift I've Ever Given? Gosh, I'd have to say

it would be the anonymous gift(s) we give each Christmas

to a needy family. We usually don't even know who

til the last minute ... cause we wait til certain in our hearts.

A few times it's been simply dividing the blessing among

more than one or simply blessing homeless wanderers,

or even a week-long random acts of kindness thing.

That is the true spirit of Christmas and the blessing

feels complete after it's done! This Spirit of Giving

lives on during the year with our family too!

Merry Christmas to All!

I've been under the weather the past week with the crud. Feeling better today but not totally up to par. But, hey! I'll take sub-par over how I felt over the weekend any day. Hate I missed all the blogging last week....didn't wanna spread this crud virally! ha ha ... get it? computer virus? LOL! I know. I'm over it! Must be excess mucous! ;-] (sheepish grin)

What more can I say?

I'm smitten!!

I got a little burst of energy yesterday afternoon and almost overdid it. Isn't that the way we women do things? 90% ready for the neighbors and drop-ins! We used to exchange gifts and then suddenly we began giving of ourselves instead. Priceless labors of home-made love!

How do you Bark?

Almond Bark is one of my favorite things to create with! There are endless possibilities!!! This year it was used in several traditional Christmas variations.

Vanilla Bark w/dried cranberries and pistachios. Pretty red and green treat!

Peppermint Bark: Layers of Chocolate and Vanilla Bark w/crushed peppermint!

Almond Joys: My variation of Martha Washington Balls...I had almonds instead of pecans and dip in chocolate bark. (My husband is a big fan of Almond Joy!)

Puff Bark: Golden Flake Corn Puffs lightly coated with Vanilla Bark (options: sprinkle with pecans or drizzle with chocolate)

Vanilla Bark w/almonds and dried apricots. mmmmmmmm!

Tomorrow I'll share a "Bark" treat for your canine friends!!

The possibilities are endless! What do you create with it? Do you use it any other time of year?

Sorry I didn't participate in this weeks' posts. Been a bit under the weather. When I was able to work up the energy to share my enthusiasm for Home Tour Tuesdays and the decorations around our home, my card reader decided to not work again. Fortunately, I was able to simply save a picture of my ornament from the Amazon.com website. Yes! My ornament! The one I received and the one I gave! Chrissy and I exchanged the same ornament! What's the chance of that happening between two people from across the country who have never even met? When the package arrived, I opened it and thought 'wait, they messed up and sent the ornament to me instead of Chrissy .... now she won't get it on time.' Then I looked at the shipping invoice and saw it was to me from her! Too funny cause I almost ordered one for myself! Thanks Chrissy!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Ya'll !

While perusing thru my phone photos, I came across this one from last year when Keller was an infant. Sweet sleeping angel baby!





I had lunch the other day with one of Santa's Elves! I couldn't let her get away without a phone photo to post today!! This my dear friend and fellow artist, Ardith. She's a great artist with a kind and sharing heart. I've posted links to her sites below. Check out her work! It runs the gamut from beautiful fine art to fun and funky, which truly shows her wacky side!

http://www.ardithgoodwin.com/

The three phrases that sum up Christmas are:

Peace on Earth.

Goodwill towards men.

Batteries not included.

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cubgWvBfs24

I missed Home Tour Tuesday so I'm just gonna post a few pics I took yesterday and get back to the to-do list! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Below are a few of the angels I prepared for the "Angels Among Us"

event at our gallery this month.

There is a Christmas message on the reverse side.

Thank Heaven for Christmas Elves!
One showed up at my front door wearing a halo Monday morning!
She spent six hours decorating the tree and wrapping gifts.
Everything would still be sitting in the dining room floor
probably til next week if she hadn't! Thanks Debbie!!!!

I just love this vintage Santa! Found him at an antique shop years ago. Ho!Ho!Ho!

Seems like a Rosemary tree is the first decoration that goes up around here

... followed closely behind by the wreath on the front door.

Heading out to finally attempt Christmas shopping. First stop for the sleigh will be ToysRus!
The the rest will be my usual "one for you, two for me" routine!

1) I don't know why I fret about the bottomless to-do list. It always gets done. Is it as difficult for anyone else to just admit you can't do it all anymore? Why is it even necessary to do it all .... anymore?

2) The tree is up. Decorations will happen ... eventually! Hey! That's progress, right?

3) Remember! Eliminate Holiday stress: Simple dinners. Bags instead of wrapping paper is okay. Give the dust bunnies permission to fornicate a couple more days. It's all good!

4. While reflecting over the past year and anticipating improving self, be kind to myself and be realistic about upcoming resolution season!

Breathe In. Breathe Out. Repeat as Necessary!

Help! I've misplaced my Super Woman cape .... again.

Deep into the throws of opening a new gallery downtown with my friends, my granbaby girl kicking her new found walking abilities into high gear, pulling off a multi-artist show ... and suddenly Christmas decorating and shopping are tossed into the mix. Lists and laundry and foot-soaks, Oh My!

I am determined not to let it get the best of me. After all, it's not like I didn't know it was on the calendar, right?! I ran into my neighbor at the grocery store this afternoon. He exclaimed, "I know you already have a head start ahead of the rest of us, as usual." Assumptions are so funny. I hung garland and a wreath on my front door Sunday after Thanksgiving. Inside, the boxes of decorations are all piled up along the dining room wall waiting to adorn mantels, tabletops and trees. Maybe if I toss a few lights on the year-round tree in the corner of the living room, my back-door neighbors will think the same thing. Problem is, my family will still be wondering when mom is gonna get around to it. Anybody out there in cyber space have a round tuit? I need a few dozen! I know! I know! Everybody is busy. This is MY world. Go type your own blog!

I wonder if I can buy round tuits wholesale?



NOTE: An elf with a halo showed up at my front door this morning and spent six hours, yes! Six! decorating my tree and wrapping gifts. Thank you! Thank you! Debbie you achieved hero status in my book today!!

Art Market

Eleven local artists, including myself, are all set up and ready for Christmas shoppers during the Art Market at the Mobile Botanical Gardens' Annual Poinsettia Show. We will be open Friday 12/3, from 9:-4: and Saturday 12/4, from 9:-12: with a large variety of original artwork, jewelry, assemblage art, handpainted furniture, clayworks, scarves and much, much more! There are also three Open Studio events in the area on Saturday.

Artists include: Ardith Goodwin, Michelle Leech, Holly Carrigan, Marsha Sutton, Lydia Host, Denise Inge, Provie Musso, Claire Noojin, Bryant Tanner, Gail Wilson and myself, Terri Keller.


There are photo sneak peaks at:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2066445&id=1248077616&fbid=1478013430813&ref=mf


There are also several Open Studio events in the area! Maps will be available at the Botanical Gardens Art Market! Info about the Open Studio Tour can be found at http://www.artologyinc.com/ . Click the link! When you get to the Artology page, scroll down to this picture: