one nice Christmas afternoon....

This is for Michael Wayne.
On our way for a walk before Christmas dinner.
It was so warm, we had to put on short sleeved shirts when we returned.
We were not shoveling a foot and a half of snow. We were not cold. We contemplated heading out on the boat but dinner was almost ready.



Yep, just for you Mike. Merry Christmas.

the most wonderful time of the year...

straight from the box....

the annual gingerbread house. It's not homemade...but still tons of fun.

just a little crafting this year...

This year, I am really trying to go simple. Store bought Gingerbread house kit, no decorating purchases, no gifts between Chris and I, etc.

But Hannah and I decided to make these for gifts for her friends. They turned out sooooo cute! We made extras....they were just too fun!

all by itself.....

I got a new christmas cactus this summer.

The garden books said if I repotted it, it probably would not bloom this season.

I proved it wrong.



Yep, one little ol' lonesome bloom.

11 days till christmas...

and we have our tree up!
and decorated!
and big!

and it is double sided this year - we can see it from the living room and kitchen!

from Thanksgiving....

A photo from Thanksgiving. Chris and his sibs. I was shooting in camera RAW format, trying to figure it out a little. So maybe not the best photo.....


You see in his family, every year they take a photo of the kids. The original kids that is. Just Chris, his bro and two sisters. No one else. Maybe mom and dad.

If you ask me, it is weird. Don't you ever want a photo with everyone in it??
Guess not.

because it makes me happy...

This is a small project I made for myself using a butterfly punch and paper scraps.

I wish I could say I came up with the idea myself, but I copied it from a blog I read - Ali Edwards.

I put it over my desk because it makes me happy to look at.

Close up:

been busy ...

with Thanksgiving.

No, not really.

I have been reading this:


and this:


and going to see this:


and waiting for this to arrive:

Back in later when book 3 and 4 is finished.