O CHRISTMAS TREE

OK---so I don't know how to edit the tree to turn it around....

Still, it's pretty, huh? We usually have 2 0r 3 trees. One is all blue, with blue balls, and silver tinsle, but since we have new kittens---we didn't want to tempt them with tinsle!! They are being soooo good, and listen so well, they have not climbed the tree, or even bothered the ornaments. We use a spray water gun---and it works!! I can even leave them alone now with the tree---no problems!

We love ornaments, and after all the years we've been married have accumulated a LOT! I went through a "Hallmark" phase (no more) and have a lot of those, plus we put on 100's of balls because I love them. And of course a lot of home-made ones from me, my children, and my grand-children and other people. So it's very full---but we like it that way It brings joy to my heart every time I see it. O Christmas tree----how lovely are thy (decorated) branches.....

HO HO HO

My friend Trish is blogging and putting pictures up of what's going on at her house around the holidays----I LOVE IT!! my daughter is posting pictures of Christmas's Past---and it's so put me in a holiday mood. Like Eloise------I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the Plaza er um Christmas!!

So I am going to put up some some pictures up of decorations around our house. We REALLY like to decorate-----for Halloween, and Christmas. Also we make a lot of our decorations. Both Dean & I are "handy" and he does wood-working & now carving. I paint on wood, knit, crochet, needlepoint, embroider, and craft!! We love it. So......you will be seeing a little of Christmas at our house over the next couple of weeks. I hope everyone is enjoying all the decorating and baking and "doing" around their homes as we prepare...........to celebrate the most important birthday of the year. This is our fireplace & mantle....

STAMPING

This is one of the Thanksgiving cards I made this year. I don't usually do Christmas cards, b/c I send too many----but I do make them for other holidays. I love these round scalloped cards and may order some more. I think there was a glich in the catalog tho---cause it said I was supposed to get 30, but only got 12 in the order??? Anyway, I may be able to make these cards myself. I have a "ker-chunker" machine, and hopefully it will take the dies from "stampin up."

I loved my friend Suzanne's pictures of the day we spent in Tulsa making cards and other projects. (Really good pics. Suzanne!!!)

Tomorrow I have a haircut appt. and a vet appt. to take the new kittens for booster shots. We are so in love with these little babies! They already come when we call them, and we have successfully (so far) taught them to leave the tree alone. I even left them alone to take a shower today, and so far they walk around it, but leave it alone. These are GREAT cats!!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays-----remember it' the journey that counts!!

New Craft Room!

(Table before I put all my stuff on it) Notice the huge lazy susan on the left-hand side---it holds a ton of stuff!)

I had a hutch and a big kitchen table with 2 leaves in it as my studio. This sat in my living room, which is large. However it took about 1/3 of the living room to house all my stamping stuff. Plus the huge table was FULL of stuff and not efficient, as it was hard to reach all the stuff on the back side of the table. It AWAYS looked cluttered. Dean built screens for me to block it off from view when company came over. That was ok for awhile. But then I just got tired of always having screens up and/or the clutter!!

So he built me a long craft table for the back bedroom. I thought I wouldn't need the hutch any more------but I really did, and we moved that back there too. We took out all the furniture except for the Q-sized bed, and 2 night stands. We added the new craft table and the hutch. It actually works out quite well. The long narrow table is much more efficient, and he added another shelf on the wall to house more "stuff". I love it!!! He even built in a corner shelf for the new flat-screen tv I'm getting for Christmas to fit in that spot.

I also use an ordinary-size lazy-susan to hold all my pens, pencils, markers, and colored pencils. Oh----the living room looks huge now!!! I love it.

OUR NEW ADDITIONS!

This is Max---the gold male, and Cally, the female calico Manx cats we have adopted. They are not like traditional breeds. After much research we have found out that besides having no tails, they are the friendliest breed and most like dogs, than any other breed. We have had them 2 weeks, and they aready come when they are called, and listen to the word NO. They are about 10 weeks, and love to sit in our laps. Every time we sit down, they come running and jump in our laps. They like to"snuggle" which is a joy to us. They have double fur and are very "round" cats and are broader in the chest. They have tiny little voices and like to talk. They are not fully developed until they are about 5, and live to be 18-20 years. We are just so enjoying them, even though they are exploring and getting into things. Aren't they cute?

DAUGHTER OF FORTUNE by Isabel Allende

Just finished this wonderful book of historical fiction. I wished there had been just a few more words at the end----or an epilogue! This book was translated from Spanish---the author was raised in Chili, but now lives in California. This is what the back of the book says:

"An orphan raised in Valparaiso, Chili by a Victorian spinster & her rigid brother, young vivacious follows her lover to California during the Gold Rush of 1849. She enters a rough-and-tumble world whose newly arrived inhabitants are drivin mad my gold fever. A society of single men and prostitutes among whom Eliza moves---with the help of her good friend and savior, the Chinese doctor Tao Chi'en----California opens the door to a new life of freedom and independence for the young Chilean. Her search for the elusive lover gradually turns into another kind of journey, and by the time she finally hears news of him, Eliza must decide who her true love really is."

I learned a lot about this historical time while reading the book (I obviously never paid attention in school!), and was surprised that so many people from all over the WORLD came to California during this time. The biggest problems CA had during this time was the influx of foreigners, crime, and fires. (Gee---sounds, the same, huh?) Interesting reading and a good story.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

We had a WONDERFUL family dinner today with all the karps & karpettes. Brian deep-fryed a turkey---a first for us, and it was good. We had all the usual foods and watched a great movie: AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING (by Louisia May Alcott).

I feel truely blessed to have wonderful family here. I did miss my boys & their families, but I appreciate them when they are here.

For my wonderful grandchildren!!

I'm so very thankful for ALL of my family near and far.

For all my friends----the ones who live in Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, and Louisiana and the ones who live here.

For God and all He continues to teach me-----and for discernment re: His gifts.

For my two new little Manx kitties. (Max & Cally)

For being able to participate in all the hobbies I love to do so much.

For having an appreciative and loving husband.

For all the glorious and fun trips we took this year-----and all the people we were with along the way.

For great books to read----and the ability to still read and enjoy them.

For the ability and joy and pleasure in always learning new things.

I know there's more---that I'm not thinking of right at this moment. God's Grace is a wonderous thing. Thank you God.