(last two...)

...of the 52Q mini art journal challenge for 2009...
I enjoyed the weekly exercises very much.
It forced me to get the supplies out and make something fun.
Every.
Single.
Week.
!
I would like to do something similar for 2010 in a traditional journal format.

What will I do with the tags?
I am planning keep them in an altered Whitman candy box.
The box will fit into a bookcase with my other journals.
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Any special plans for this evening?
Be safe.
♥

(simple gifts)

When I was a little girl, I would spend hours looking at a large Christmas catalogue that came in the mail. Year after year, I longingly wished for Pez and probably did not express it to my parents....so never had the pleasure of opening some Pez for Christmas.
I mentioned this in passing, while Jessica and I were shopping this year.
Imagine my delight in finding two Pez from her and two from my son amongst my gifts!
Yes...even at the old age of 57, I was as excited as the little kid who wished for them so many years ago.
!!!

Lukas made these bookmarks for me.
He knows how much I adore the smell of leather.
See the dawning sun on the one?
Love that.

A few more.
Our grandson, Zion, painted this sled ornament for us.
Sweet.


He also did this special book for his Pop-pop.
He wrote and illustrated the story.
♥

I couldn't leave this one out!
Miss E helped her mom can cherry pie filling this summer.
Pops will enjoy this!
:)

(afterglow)

(to my blog friends)

(daybook)

FOR TODAY...
~a shortened version of the daybook~

Outside my window... snow is gently falling

I am thinking... about my last minute things to do

I am thankful for... the safe arrival of Rachel and her family from the NYC area

I am wearing...jeans, T-neck, denim shirt with hot chocolate embroidery, sox and slippers

I am remembering... to count my blessings in the midst of the busyness

I am going... to a local dinner at noon

I am hoping...for safe travel tomorrow... for son Zach and his wife
(We haven't seen Zach in over a year!)

From the kitchen... hot rolls for the dinner! mmmm....and coffee, of course!

Around the house... it's looking like Christmas!

One of my favorite things... the aromas unique to Christmas

From my picture journal...

More daybook entries here.

Happy Monday!
To my east coast friends:
How are you liking the blustery weather??

(quote)

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.

~ Bob Hope, American film actor and comedian.

(Q50)

* image on tag: our small town circa 1909*

The prompt for week 50:
What do you love most about where you live?
My answer:
I love the history we have with this little town.
The hubs was born and raised here.
We went to school here.
We married here.
We raised our family here in Grandma Emma's house...where in the far corner of the living room, my in-laws were married back in 1947.
She was 19 and he was 18.
I love it that I can still see my dad's name carved into the sidewalk beside the historical society building. The old timers still remember him.
That is nice.
The neighbors share their extra cookies hot out of the oven...seeds from their flower gardens...and a helping hand when you need it.
Everyone knows your name and everyone likes to know your business.
:)
Typical small town.
I love it.

(winding down...)

The 52Q mini art journal challenge is nearly complete.
Emily gave us the prompts for weeks 49 and 50 earlier this week.
week 49: What is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for you?
answer: I could name several, but one thing stands out in my mind.
Ten years ago at Thanksgiving time, my father died and the plane tickets from NY to CA were something like $900.00. I didn't have nearly enough to buy that ticket. My church family very generously gave me the money needed to purchase a ticket so that I could be with my mother for the funeral.
I will never forget.
I will always be thankful to them for their loving kindness at a time when I needed it the most.
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Stay tuned for Q50 later this week.

(staying in...)

...and staying warm.
Have a cold.
*sniff*
I am working on presents now and again.
How was your weekend?

(little red...)

My little red haired girl, who wore these little red shoes so long ago, is having a birthday today.
Happy Birthday, Rachel!
Loveyouallthewaytothemoonandbackagain.
♥
xoxox
momz

(snow)

Lots of it!!!
It's one of those hunker-down-inside-and-keep-warm-and-cozy-days.

(25 questions)

~this little sled ornament was given to me by my mother in 1982~

I know I have done at least two of the Christmas memes in years past.
Why not another?
:D

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both

2. Real tree or artificial? fake ~allergy issues

3. When do you put up the tree? right after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? right after New Year's Day

5. Do you like eggnog? it's ok...don't like the raw egg thing

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Revlon doll with a wardrobe made by my "Grandma" Faye

7. Hardest person to buy for? I'd rather not say

8. Easiest person to buy for? the hubs

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes...blogged here

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail...mostly to out of town friends

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? nevermind...the kids know

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Child's Christmas in Wales

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? nope

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? my mother-in-law's date filled cookies

16. Lights on the tree? white twinkly lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? too many faves to choose just one

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home and celebrate with whomever can come home that year

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? yes...thanks to the Rudolph song :P

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? an angel that I made when the kids were little

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? both

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? the decorations go up waaay too early in the stores

23. Favorite ornament? anything my kids made me and their first pairs of baby shoes

24. Do you make Christmas cookies? a few...Jessica makes more than I do

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? continued good health

What say you?
Let me know if you decide to do this one.
I will come by your place to read your faves.
Deal?

(tree and pillows...)

...are completed.
I used the freezer paper method to do the letter and number.
Very fun process!
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Are you keeping warm in your neck of the woods?
We are expecting the storm later today.
Brrrr...
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I think I should make some fresh coffee.
Join me for a cuppa?

(catch up post)

We celebrated Zeke's birthday on Friday night.
The family stayed over so that the guys could go hunting early the next morning.
(They only saw a squirrel)
:(

The littles also enjoyed decorating Aunt Jessica's tree before going to bed.

On Saturday afternoon, I was surprised by a visit from my friend, Claudia.
She brought me belated birthday gifts.

This is the cover of a vintage Swedish catechism book.
I love the detail that is Claudia's trademark style.
She also gave me a vintage birthday book and suggested I alter them on the inside.

She also gave me this vintage picture.
I had mentioned in a blog comment that I ♥ it and she set it aside for me.
Thank you, my friend!
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On Sunday, I was hit with some sort of bug...and it lasted until this morning.
You know that something is wrong when the smell of coffee makes me sick.
:-P
I am happy to be feeling much better.
Today I am slowly "encrusting" our tree.
(That description comes from my kids....since I have so many ornaments.)
I have been taking breaks to catch up on all of you.
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Happy Tuesday!
(It is Tuesday, right?)

(finishing...)

...knomes painted on cinnamon sticks and snowmen that need noses and scarves...
Sorry for the dark photo.
It's a gray one out there today.

(three)

Our youngest grandson is THREE!
His birthday was yesterday.
We haven't celebrated yet.
Cake and candles will happen this weekend.
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I love this little face.
Can you blame me?

(fluffing the nest)

I am wandering around the house...fluffing and adding the Christmas touches here and there.
I am trying to go with less...rather than more.
My family knows that I have more of the more.
;-P
The tree will go up at the end of the week. It is stowed in the attic and I am not ready to tackle that process just yet.
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This little dolly is leaving soon to make her way to live with Little Miss A ~ a friend of Jessica.
She has nothing to do with my post.
I'm just loving Martha's light green glitter.
Wish the photo showed the sparkle better.
The arms -minus wrapping- sort of bother me.
I can't seem to master the wrapping of embroidery floss.
The dollies would look better if I could.
Maybe the next batch...
...if there is another batch.
Maybe.

(wreath)

December, already?!
My daughter, Rachel, made this wreath for Jessica using a vintage hymn book and the tutorial found here.
Here is another way to implement the same method to do some wonderful angel wings.
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We had a little snow on the ground this morning.
It was all gone by mid morning.