“The soul was never put in the body to stand still.” - John Webster

The tree is up. Finally. I delayed the set up because I thought Tik would destroy it. However, it hasn't happened. Thankfully.
However, Spazzy Jazzy has tried bringing the tree down a few times. Go here and check out her first Christmas tree experience. She is trying to recreate it, yet she can't because she is 'slightly' larger than she was three years ago. Notice in the photo above she looks very concerned about what Troy may be doing to "her" tree.
Perfect weekend - movies, baking, decorating, being lazy yet getting *stuff* done, "talking" to a dear friend for a bit (you know who you are!)...Love these low key weekends!

And...a big Happy Birthday to Tami in the Stone House! Hope your day was as wonderful as you are...and by the way the snow was my present to you (haha)!

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” - Willie Nelson

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the crafting that so naturally fits in amongst the season. Katrina made one of these magazine trees the other day. When I saw it on her blog I smiled as I remember making these with my Grandma's old Reader's Digest magazines. Of course I had to copy her and make one myself. I'm thinking I need a few more. Archer even got in the crafty mood and made one himself as we watched Dexter (I know that Dexter and Christmas crafts may not seem like a likely pairing but with him being a full-fledged teenager I'll take what I can get).
Every year I say I'm going to do a Christmas card sabbatical like my friend Tami does sometimes and every year my dear, sweet cousin Lorinda insists that a sabbatical will NOT take place and we spend a few days ensconced in the creative process of making cards.
This year was an every-card-is-different year. We used all our different Christmas papers, stickers, and embellishments in a variety of different ways. Some cards far more successful than others. :) In the past I've made the same card over and over, but sometimes I just like the process of something new each time. Everyone will get their own unique card. Fun fun.

December is in full-swing. Loving it!

Summer was meant for a hay ride
Fall was meant for a stroll
Spring was made for an Easter Parade
But winter, winter, winter
What a night! What a night!

Splendid and serene
Journeying where there's a chill in the air
Through this wintery scene
In the chill, what a thrill
Children's eyes are bright
Searching the sky for a sleigh flying by
That just might come tonight
Jingle! Jingle!
Watch out for Kris Kringle
Feel your nose tingle hands and feet are warm
Better hurry, Grandma starts to worry
she thinks ev'ry flurry turns into a storm
What a night! What a night!
Now we're on our way
I'll bring the cocoa and you'll bring the
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Up and away!
What a night! What a night!

I love, love, LOVE Christmas music! It just puts me in the holiday mood. I love to have it playing as I do laundry, bake cookies, or wash the floors. It's just good fun.

My favorite new CD (from last year) is Harry Connick Jr.'s What a Night! Love him. Love his music! He wrote several of the songs on the CD himself.

Enjoy!

“The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.” - Alan Alda

December is here. We are fully ensconced in the holiday season. My hope, my goal, my wish is to complete a daily December album and figure my blog could be a vital tool in fulfilling that goal. So, in honor of World Aids Day I went to my neighborhood Starbucks and bought two coffees (one for my sister - I am an awesome sister) and donated a whopping ten cents to Project Red. My favorite Starbucks coffee blend to have at home (besides VIA) is the RED blend.

Happy December friends!

can you feel it?

Right around Halloween (2 days) I start getting really excited about Christmas. Oh, not the busy, frantic, spend too much blah blah blah of Christmas, but the season in general. November and December seem almost magical. Chilly weather. Staying home. Tea and cocoa. Family. Friends. Joy.

This year I am excited to create a December Daily Album with the gentle counseling of the most fabulous Ali Edwards (again!). I followed along with the Week in My Life series and that was so much fun that I thought I could do this one as well...Documenting December seems like quite a challenge - I hope I am up for it!

As with the last album I am going to try using the holiday *stuff* I have on hand. (see more Christmas stuff Tami...hidden away...can you believe it?) I am hoping to start assembling the album this weekend so it will be ready to go on December 1st. So, anyone going to join along? Hmmmmm? One photo a day (if you want), a little bit of journaling, detailing the tidbits of December. Could be fun!