My Other Palette

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!