Merry Christmas Eve Eve Y'all!



Keller and her
"Cookie Bread Man House"

What a month!  It takes four times as long to accomplish a task

while using a pair of crutches to keep from hitting the floor!

So goes the last few weeks after breaking my foot.

Thank Heaven for Christmas Elves!

If it weren't for them, there would have been no Christmas Tree,

no cookies, no presents, and likely no clean clothes or dishes!

I must admit although the last few weeks have been tough

(not just my foot, but ... well, read the previous post),

my heart is full of grace towards myself for not

accomplishing that mile-long Christmas to-do list.

Many, many ideas were scratched, giving way to fewer,

less stressful endeavors, ideas and dreams. 

Less stress at Christmas.

What a novel idea!

What's on your Wish List this year?

Mine includes:

another fire extinguisher for the house

(precautionary - my neighbors' home burned down this week)

my kitchen knives being sharpened

(I do plan to return to cooking soon!)

a bottle of cod liver oil for my stocking.

(Vitamin D has bottomed out).

My family home for Christmas.

Joy - Laughter - Blessings!

Life is Good.

Be Blessed! and,

Be a Blessing to someone else!



Advent Season Project

 Advent Season

I created an Advent Calendar for my Granbaby Girl, Keller.  We always had one (a good bit smaller) for our girls as they were growing up.  Sharing bits and pieces of the Christmas Story, along with stories and joys from Christmases past, is a grand way to share the joy of Christmas with a child. 

 I've done similar for shut-ins, although instead of an advent calendar we shared The Twelve Days of Christmas.  Although, in my Southern ignorance, I always thought that was the twelve days before Christmas, not the twelve days after.  And since my first child was born twelve days before, it just seemed appropriate.  Anywho!  For twelve days before Christmas, there was a small package for each day to open up to the big day!  Such joy it brought to our elderly friends and family. 

Moving on ...

 

Clear Shoe Bag turned Advent Calendar!



Each Numbered Pocket Holds a Surprise!

These photos were taken last week in anticipation of greeting each day with a visit to the Advent Calendar.  After I had an opportunity to hang it, Keller would stand looking and tell everyone 'put your hands behind your back and don't touch' only to be caught fingering the ribbons!  She'd then emphatically say 'I just wanted to touch the ribbon, granmom'.  Oh, how I miss that little darlin! 

We had to roll the calendar up and send it home with her.  She'll be attending preschool now instead of knocking on my door every morning.  Odd silence after two and half years of seeing her nearly everyday.  Sad silence if I think about it.  I'm trying not to.  Trying to remain 'joyfully' yeah right occupied.  Me and my Frankenfoot.  I'm determined to focus on the joy of the season and this situation!

I have to share a somewhat blurred photo of the team of Elves that put up the most beautiful Christmas tree in my home!  I returned from the orthopaedic clinic Tuesday evening to such a sweet, unexpected sight of towering twinkling lights and giggling.  A pure Christmas blessing!  Thank you!  Thank you!

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!

Well, the entire year is wonderful if you ask me!

How can it not be when you're surrounded by family and friends?!

Sure, there are hiccups and heartbreaks.  They don't stop in December, folks!

But, the Christmas Season is special, indeed.

Bright, beautiful, colorful, twinkly, sparkly and red!

Those are but a few of the outward signs.

Others would include giving, blessing, loving.

We all get sucked into the vacuum of consumerism ... to some extent.

We all have a giving spirit to help those less fortunate ... to some extent.

This should hopefully be a year round thing - the giving part, that is.

We should share the Spirit of Christmas year round.

Unlike Santa, Christ doesn't arrive for His birthday celebration

and then exit for the next eleven months. 

Likewise, He also isn't "available" only on Sunday,

but every day, every hour, every minute, every second.

Always Present. Always Faithful.  Always Comforting.

Blessings Y'all!

Terri

The day started off with me putting away Christmas decorations. 

Of course as soon as Keller spotted the Santa hats she had to have the Ho Ho ON!

The rest of the day was great.......lunch, nap, movie, play, fall asleep half-on the blanket. 

I was sitting at the computer watching her like a good gramma, of course.  It had fallen

dark outside (5:45 pm) and I didn't turn on the light as I walked over and pulled her up onto

 the blanket.  I picked up an ink pen laying on the floor nearby (thinking I was glad

she hadn't seen it).  She was out ..... zzz z z z zzzz.  A few minutes later Lindsay

turned on the overhead light and asked me what was on her face.  I went and looked. 

OMG!

I told Lindsay "Her mom is gonna rip my eyeballs out! 

Get me some wipes and some clean clothes!" 

I proceeded to pick her up and examine her face.

Then I turned her face and saw the other side. 

Then the papparazzi returned with the clothes and camera!  

The ink came off with the wipes. 

I'm hoping the Oxyclean will take it outta her clothes. 

She just looked at me an giggled when I told her she colored so pretty!  

This is where "Semi-wordless Wednesday" steps in!!!!!

Never again will I say "You have to watch her like a hawk" .... uh-uh, not me.

OK....So this is supposed to be a before & after post.  As for me and my house ... who has had time to do anything this week except procrastinate put up the Christmas decorations.  Not to be left out, I am posting my studio re-do from last summer (only because it is ONCE AGAIN on the list)! Below is a before(left) & after (right) shot.

During the process of emptying the studio completely

and culling & organizing before putting it all back.....

I found this fabulous flat storage at a tag sale! 

It fit in my car with only 1/2 inch space to spare. 

It was meant to be mine and has made my studio life

a ton easier to find mats and bags and paper!

This was the transition phase ..... everything in the pool,

uhm, I mean the dining room.

It looked so good and was such a peaceful place. 

Unfortunately during the holiday rush, and

now preparing for upcoming shows,

it has nearly come full circle back to the disaster it was ....

evidenced by the photo below which I took this morning.  Ugh!

This is where I create!

and

This is where I post what I create!

http://www.tkellerart.com

The holidays were grand! My tree is still up! Only because I'm lazy waiting on a shipment of ornament storage boxes to arrive. This year the gift to the entire family has been Caroline's visit from France. She is older than and Jennifer are close in age. Caro was our exchange student approximately twelve years ago. This is the first time we've seen her since! She is leaving this Saturday so we are doing all we can to make her miss us when she leaves! it memorable .... which isn't easy since everyone is working and a lot of things have been closed the last two weekends when we aren't working! Lot's family time!

Keller was so much fun! We had many get-togethers during the holidays and she was in the spotlight every time! Each time Caro has skyped with her family, Keller has been front and center waving at the monitor and chatting bisous and cuckoo....which is kisses and hi!

New Years Eve was not too terribly loud although late! We had a couple of friends over along with our family and cooked oysters from Joe Patty's along with steamed shrimp and gumbo. And last, but certainly not least, cupcakes to greet midnight with!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and expect a joyous, prosperous and safe New Year for all!!! Be blessed!!

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!

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 !

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!

Random Thoughts .....

1. I'm going back and forth between which Christmas tree to erect this year ... the traditional 10' or the 7' 1960's era aluminum, which was passed to me from my great aunt. Petie kept me often when I was a baby. She used to put me under the tree and take my picture. (That's us in the photo on the left and me under her tree on the right. I miss her terribly.

2. I started my Christmas baking this morning. I love shortcuts in the kitchen. I pulled a tub of sugar cookie dough from the freezer. After it thawed I scooped small rounds and dunked them into peppermint bits and pieces. Baked them and after they cooled dusted with powdered sugar. They taste like Christmas!


3. Did ya'll go shopping on Black Friday? I did. But I traditionally waiting til the Iron Bowl game started and then went out. No crowd. No lines. Bargains still lingering! I was finished before the retail mayhem resumed!

4. This is my first year using the art mesh to decorate with. I seem to never catch on while it's hot. It's a love/hate relationship to say the least! But, oh! It's so pretty when it's done. I'm resisting the urge to put it on everything!

5. Besides soup, what did you do with your Thanks- giving leftovers? We made the yummy sandwich I posted the recipe for last Tuesday. I'm gonna make some white bean chili for dinner and tomorrow it's breakfast for dinner with turkey hash/brown gravy over scrambled eggs. Oh yeah! My mother-in-law showed me how long ago!! I put the carcasses from the three birds in the freezer. Yes! I said three. Only eight of us at the dinner table. My husband had to try three different ways to cook turkey. One in the green egg. One in the oil- less fryer. One in the oven. They were all amazing! Kudos to the turkey man!

The Delusional List...

I felt the first wave of holiday blues this morning. Sobbed in between chores for a couple of hours. I'm better. I always am after a good cry. It helped me to journal what I was feeling after I talked to a friend on the phone about it. I miss my mom and my aunts that passed away the last year or two. I really do. But that turned out not to be the conclusion I came to. I'm frustrated and anxious because I'm just plain old tired. I do so much during the holidays .... mostly self-imposed expectations and with a bit of "what I think others expect me to do" cause I always have. I don't have the stamina and energy levels I had last year. For lack of a better word, I'm just pissed at this B12 thing. It keeps me drained tagging along with the Iron deficiency. I know I've gotta get a grip on reality and be selective of what I can realistically accomplish this season and still enjoy the holidays. I have other commitments outside of family activities as well during the month of December. What was I thinking? I know! I know! I'll do it all and love it all, as usual.

The JOY I'm looking forward to includes our extended family gathering, keeping Kell Bell for the weekend while her parents take a much needed mini-vacation, receiving our French exchange student for a two week visit (haven't seen her in nearly ten years!), Christmas baking and our family Christmas Eve Eve breakfast and gift exchange and Christmas Eve Communion. I know the anticipation combined with the anxiety of pulling off the perfect Christmas will be ever present on my shoulder throughout the holidays. Don't send me comments about remembering the 'reason for the season' either. I know the reason. If it weren't for my faith and the ever present Spirit of Christmas, I wouldn't make it thru. He made me. Martha just twisted me all up with the perfection thing.

I'm really missing being in my studio too. Haven't had an opportunity to paint in more than two weeks. That is my therapy. Maybe this weekend I'll catch an hour or two painting .... not cleaning. Oh my, that reminds me I have two commissions to do before Christmas. It never ends.

Santa's New Reindeer Team!

Instead of diving into a wish list, I thought I'd share a laugh with ya'll! This is a fun game to play during a big family Christmas! Divide everyone into teams. Each team gets a pair of new pantyhose and a bag of small round balloons. At the start, teams race to finish blowing up balloons and stuffing them into the legs of the pantyhose. Then they crown the oldest member of the team with the finished antlers!! We all laughed till we 'bout ..... well, you know!

Random Thoughts

1. I'll start with a Thanksgiving Thankful! Besides the obvious: family, health, food, pets and chocolate, I'm thankful for electric blankets! Yep! When I'm chilled or just need to snuggle I crawl in, take a deep breath and just ponder things. Nothing like being all wrapped up and cozy - even it is a something and not a someone! And on a cold night, nothing beats it. All those scientific studies about electromagnetic fields and electrocution? I'll take my chances with this one!

2. Mail order! Yes! I'd rather pound the keyboard than the pavement anytime! I kicked off my Christmas shopping a couple of weeks ago thru Pottery Barn and LL Bean. I need some new sites to feed off of. Please! Please kick me a few this way!

3. Coffeemate Peppermint Mocha Creamer. Need I say more?

4. Remember when you get caught up in the rush of the holidays: Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat as necessary!

5. Get out there (or online) and order yourself a Third Day Christmas CD! Awesome! Mucho blessed!

6. Oh yeah! First weekend in December! Mobile Bontanical Gardens Annual Poinsettia Event AND the Artists' Christmas Market. I will be present with the Artology group showing my wares Friday and Saturday (12/3&4)!

Caro is coming 'home'!!

A dozen or so years ago we hosted an exchange student from Sao Paulo. It wasn't a good experience. Enough said.

Ten years ago we braved the program again and hosted a French student. Her name was Caroline. We had a fabulous time with her! We lost touch a year or so after she returned to her home in Marseilles. More recently we reconnected on Facebook! We are excited to hear Caro will be visiting during Christmas and New Year!!! Can't wait!!! I've pulled out all the photographs from her previous visit reminiscing about the fishing trips, shopping excursions and frequent dining on our local cuisine! Looking forward to sharing our home again!

Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup!

Art Scoop!

Upcoming art shows are looming nearer. I am no not prepared. But! I will be ready. Been busily distracted with higher priorities. My granbaby girl is tops! Watching her grow and develop and learn new things each day is priceless time spent! I switch into overdrive during naptime and accomplish quite a bit ... only if I have a plan.

Been pitching in every free block of time to help a great group of artist women/friends to ready and open a new art gallery/gift shop downtown. Grand opening during next Friday's ArtWalk. It's such cool little space right in the heart of downtown Mobile and the hub of the art scene. Excited about being a part of this new (ad)venture with Art(ology)!

And of course, the holidays are coming up! I have a love/hate relationship with the holiday season! My last art show of the season will be the first weekend in December. After that, I will spend the remainder of the month preparing and creating Christmas gifts for family and friends. Then immediately after the New Year arrives, the cycle will begin again. I'll get crackin again in the studio producing work for sale at Spring shows, beginning in March.

But for today ... recover this morning from my daughter's 18th birthday party last night. Gather artwork to hang at one of the galleries for ArtWalk followed by a visit to ArtOlogy to help out and a 5:00 meeting for the Botanical Gardens Show.

Breathe. Just breathe!

Storage Boxes are on Sale!

The Christmas season is coming to an end as we usher in the new year. Trying not to have the Christmas blues while facing the almost insurmountable task of taking down and putting away the decorations. I desperately need to go through the boxes and pass on things I no longer display. I so need to get over the "I may use this one day" mentality. The space those "I may need this one day" items takes up is ridiculous. I suppose we always begin thinking about organizing and purging when a new year is cresting. I think about it all year long. My garage is a wreck with Christmas boxes, art show equipment, cardboard boxes, gardening equipment, dollhouses I can't part with, exercise equipment, seasonal decorations. The list goes on and on and on. My husband commented the other day "You can't find anything in this house" obviously oblivious to find anything in the man cave. My thoughts were "If ya'll put things back where you found them, they'd be there next time you need them" instead of just dropping it where you used it. My tape dispenser is never in my studio cause my daughter uses it for scrapbooking. Perhaps Santa should have thought of that. The dog leashes are never put back in the space provided, therefor we all search for them when the dogs need to go out.

There is so much to do to keep a home organized. It doesn't get done by itself. Professional organizers tell us to purge and buy all these cute boxes to store things in. I suppose that balances it out, huh? Purge then buy. {shaking head}

Among the other daily routines I have no control over, I am determined to tackle this issue one room at a time. Top to bottom. Left to right. Keep, toss, give away, store. Then there's the outside to deal with. Dang! My car hasn't been washed in three months. Add that to the to-do list.

Looking on the bright side: I have til December 31, 2010, to finish this to-do list. That's a good thing since household chores tend to run in a never-ending chasing your tail, pick-up, put-up, shut-up and just do it cycle, while throwing in a little procrastination here and there.

It's everywhere. Where are my elves when I need them? I thought I was getting a head start the weekend after Thanksgiving. My husband retrieved all the boxes and the Christmas tree from the garage before going to the camp for the weekend. I put up the tree and all the decorations and cleaned it all up....that is, except for the little piles here and there....cards, wrapping, photo ornaments waiting for pictures, recipes, etc. Now it's the second week of the season and I'm still trying to finish the planters for the mantel and the dining room table centerpiece. I haven't started wrapping gifts ..... I do mean WRAPPING not bagging. I have probably 16 rolls of heavy duty wrapping paper so forget the bags this year! And I haven't started baking...made a list, sort of. There's a cookie swap next week at my daughter's house so I will at least have a variety of cookies to add to what I want to make. I'm 90% finished with the Christmas shopping and preparing for a Christmas celebration with my family members from out of town and local. Then to prepare for Christmas morning with my immediate family .... including Keller, my first granbaby girl! So excited! I had a chance to run by Al's 5&10 the other day and found some gorgeous large poinsettias for my front porch. They are still sitting on the porch in their bags three days later. Hoping to do some baking this evening cause I'll be keeping Keller this weekend while her parents are away doing Christmas things and I know there won't be time to bake then! But right now I've gotta get my Art in the Park application and CD in the mail. And, while Keller is napping, maybe I'll finish those mantel arrangements! Ho Ho Ho! Off I go!