Counting Down....30 minutes to go to 2010...
We have gone to a movie as a family on New Years Eve for several years so this year we went to see Avitar-WOW! What a fantastic movie. Of course, the visual effects, 3-D, and especially the colors used were fantastic. The colors remind me of Maxwell Parrish prints (which I would love to have hanging on my wall one day). There were so many films to choose from, but we made the right choice. After the movie we stopped in the local Starbucks, snagged the comfy chairs and had a skinny latte-yummm...
Before the movie, we made our annual Good Will New Year's Eve run with the last donations for the year-that is also becoming a tradition.
Tuesday, I had a wonderful day in Elkin, NC. My friend Jamie and I spent the day poking around for treasures at a totally full antique mall, Habitat for Humanity and hospital thrift shops. The best "deal" was at the Habitat store where I snagged three HUGE rolls of satin used for trim for blankets-the price was perfect!! FREE!! I will try to get a good photo tomorrow just to show how big these rolls are. I'm not sure exactically what I will use all this satin for, but I know there is something. It was a great day-I'm so thankful I have a great friend who loves to go treasure hunting as much as I do. Jamie has a great eye and picked up on several things that I totally missed. She will make something totally cool out of her treasures.
I hope everyone is having a warm, dry, safe New Years Eve.
Be sure to eat black eye peas and greens tomorrow for good luck.
Happy new Year!
L
p.s. Igloo status-still standing. The snow is waiting around for more-weather here in NC is getting ready to be really cold for the next week.

Monday....

I love a vacation day....still in jambies, watching Rachel Ray....drinking coffee.....
I tried to upload photos, still need more patience to get that done and will perhaps later today.
The goal today, after a trip "to town" for cat food and litter-must take care of the kitties first-back to the goal....Is to work on the Goodwill donation "pile". I am notorious for making a 12.31 dash to GW before they close to qualify the donation for this years taxes. If I only had more time! 365 days is just NOT enough to get it done....
Tomorrow I am going on a "thrifting, adventure/exploring" day with my friend Jamie. I hope to have wonderful photos of our finds-just like the trophies I read from all those artsie gals' blogs I check in on. The second thing best to finding treasures myself is to see other's treasures. I just love the idea that "one man's trash is another's treasure"....
Check back-I hope to have SOMETHING worthy of bragging about snagging and posting the photo......
Have a wonderful Monday to all.
L

December 24-It's Christmas Eve!

We just checked Santa's progress-He's already been spotted over New Zealand and Asia-Kids better be on their best behavior (including my own)! I'm trying to behave today although it can be so difficult most of the time.

We had a wonderful dinner with Ethan's girlfriend last night-I cooked pinto beans, cornbread, butternut squash, and turnip greens-yep, I went all out with some high class cooking. Ashley brought a wonderful homemade apple pie that was delicious.

Before we went to dinner we went to church for the musical cantata which was supposed to have been Sunday morning but due to the snow, it was postponed to last night. It was even more impressive having the service at night, the youth had luminaries all around the church, there is still snow everywhere and it was just so moving and spiritual. The music was spectacular-we are blessed with an incredible choir-lead by our pastor who has a passion for music amoung other things. I was wondering how this wonderful experience was here is Union Grove, NC as we are a small rural community. "Still, Still, Still" is now my favorite Christmas song-I can't get it out of my mind-it was there first thing this morning when I woke up-how cool is that? This is truly a special place.

I really wanted to post photos of THE igloo so I am going to attempt getting that done. I'm sorry to say the temps today are predicted to reach the 50s and the sun is shinning so some real damage is going to be done on the snow.

For North Carolina having snow at Christmas is REALLY a big deal! I don't remember ever seeing Christmas lights in the snow before, but they have been beautiful. There is always beauty to be seen, but sometimes it is just so special we have to catch it when we can.
I wish a Merry Christmas to all. I hope Santa Claus finds everyone and you have been behaving. If not, a lump of coal or a bag of switches can be used for so many things......

I don't mind Happy Holidays-I used that before it was cool (or uncool). Now I feel it has became a political statement if I say Happy Holidays-I don't like that....Growing up, my family always celebrated the holiday season from Christmas through New Years-the holiday season. A tree and decorations will never come down in my house before January 1 as this IS the Holiday Season.
Christmas is a part of the holiday season which includes New Years, Hannakah, Festivas, Santa Claus, etc....

Don't forget to remember the twelve days of Christmas which starts tomorrow and ends January 6. Folks used to decorate their trees and homes on Christmas Eve for the Holidays and celebrate until Januray 6-now known as "Old Christmas"
Whatever your preference, I hope you take the time to reflect on the season.

Now I MUST wrap gifts, bake and I'm sure "make a run to town"......tomorrow is Christmas Day!

To quote C Clement Moore: " Happy Christmas to all.......and to all a good night."

L

It's the Saturday before Christmas Day......


We had a wonderful winter storm last night that dump several-looks like eight inches of snow on the ground and I woke up at 5:15 this morning because I still get excited about SNOW! I love snow!


We live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and we do ocassionally get snow, but not nearly enough to suit me.


I've already made a pot of homemade vegetable soup-looks like we wont be getting out of our drive today-we're a quarter of a mile off the "main" road-which really isn't a main road, but it is paved!


The sun has just popped through so we better get out there while the early morning beauty of a fresh snow is still out there.


If my wonderful 16 year old daughter will allow me to use her digital camera, I will put some photos up. Yes, I still use film-love my Nikon, but the results are not so INSTANT!


I have EVERTHING to do today for Christmas (I mean everything)......It's all good....


I hope everyone out there takes the time to pause and breathe during this special time of year. There is quiet solitude if we allow ourselves to listen for it.....


L


p.s. Above mentioned 16yo has gotten up, is baking cinnamon rolls, and is wrapping presents....WOW!

OK Here we go....