A Look Back

When I started looking at images from 2011,

I soon decided that it would take me a year (!!) to

make all the mosaics.

So, I decided to try to pick my favorite image from each month.

Here is my look back at 2011.

1. It's All About the Shoes!, 2. Cardinal, 3. Tea Set, 

4. Cassie and Flowers, 5. Mosaic Musashi's Garden, 6. Buddha, 

7. Chimpanzee, 8. July 4, 9. Color Pencil Sketch Robin, 10. Curtains, 

11. Pygmy Falcon, 12. Asian Elephants, 13. Santa Claus

***

It was a difficult year for me with the passing of Mr. Dragon.

But there were also moments of great joy and beauty.

I look forward to 2012.

Wishing YOU well and JOY filled 2012!

Good Morning!

A Tale of Two Bears

Today I'm going to tell you a tale of two bears.

When Mr. Dragon and I first moved to Galveston Island,

we discovered their holiday festival called

Dickens On The Strand.

For 38 years, Dickens has been centered on

The Strand National Historic District.

Parades, strolling carolers, roving street entertainment --

all dressed in Victorian garb.

 

That first year, we made a trip to San Diego

for a professional meeting for Mr. Dragon.

On the waterfront, we found Mr. Dickens Bear.

He was perfect!

His top hat, velvet vest ... with his heart for all to see.

I sighed over him and we made the trip home without him.

Or so I thought.

But on Christmas Day, Mr. Dragon surprised me with 

Mr. Dickens Bear.

This year, Mr. Dragon is no longer with me.

My first Christmas without the love of my life.

I decorated the house, inside and out.

I put up two trees and today,

two days after Christmas,

I came home with the Court Jester Bear. 

I love his old loved look.

It just seemed right.

Two friends who can tell each other stories

and can bring a smile to my face. 

***

There are other Christmas bears who have their own stories.

Several more bears who dress in Victorian garb,

but their stories are for another time.

I have done well this Christmas.

I miss Mr. Dragon, but I know he would want me to

*suck it up and get on with it*.

No tears were shed ... until THE grandson ... on 

the other side of the country said:

"Merry Christmas Nana Snap.

Santa came to visit and this time he got it right!"

Wishing YOU well and JOY filled holidays!

Merry Christmas

May traditions

that you treasure most

and all the festive plans

you've made

Bring sentimental Christmas joys

and memories that never fade.

Good Morning!

Wordless Wednesday: Santa

A Christmas Tea This and That

Every morning this month I've been getting up and making 

tea in my Christmas Cardinal/Poinsettia Mug.

I found the mug and teapot at Homegoods last year.

It's a BIG mug (Gibson Elite China) and filled with

Twinings Christmas Tea, gets the day off to a wonderful, warm start.

Twinings Christmas Tea is a black tea with a little cinnamon and cloves.

In the evening I have Twinings Winter Spice.

It is camomile tea spiced with cinnamon, cardamon and cloves.

Just in case you haven't noticed,

I love cardinals!

***

I missed getting to the gym this morning.

On days when I miss walking on the treadmill,

I try to walk into my village (weather permitting). 

Off I went with a list of books to look for at Half-Price books.

This book wasn't on my list!

 

But Mary at Home Is Where The Boat Is was very impressed

with Nigella Christmas. In fact, she even gave a copy away!

I didn't win (!!) and when I saw this at the book store I just had to give it a good look and I ended up bringing it home.

I'm glad I did. 

My mouth has been watering and tummy growling all afternoon!

It's worth the price for the recipe for the poinsettia cocktail!

I love butternut squash and look forward to trying butternut orzotto.

It's a beautiful book and I probably should have picked up a few extras for gifts -- great price at Half-Price Books!

Thanks to our tea party hostesses.

These are just a few of the tea parties in the Land of Blog.

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Tea Party Tuesday

Tuesday Tea For Two

Friends Sharing Tea

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea!

Santa Has Been Seen in Town!

Santa and his elves have been seen all over town.

In the forests, in the candy shops, in front of homes.

He's checking his list ... checking it twice.

Getting ready for the big night!

A big thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week!

It's Almost That Time!

It's almost that time!

Santa is getting ready to load his sleigh with all the toys

his friendly elves have made. 

Both of these postcards are reproductions.

There is no artist, publisher or date listed for either one.

Santa is also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle and just plain Santa. Many cultures believe Santa brings gifts to the home of good children during late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve. The modern figure is a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. 

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend.

Thanks to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Good Morning!

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas Tea For One

Christmas Tea For One and a Snowman!

This is another Bella Lux teacup.

This cup has more berries. 
I think the white berries represent mistletoe.

Another wonderful handle.

Thanks to our tea party hostesses.

These are just a few of the tea parties in the Land of Blog.

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Tea Party Tuesday

Tuesday Tea For Two

Friends Sharing Tea

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea! 

Day 3 of Snow People!

I'm sharing more Snow People that I found around town.

A big thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week!

More Snow People

I LOVE Snow People.

So, I decided to continue the post from Friday

with some Snow People from Pinterest.

A Cheese Ball Snowman

Source: lessthanperfectlifeofbliss.blogspot.com via Snap on Pinterest

Snowmen from a Handprint

Source: littlebitfunky.com via Snap on Pinterest

A little burlap and some felt and a happy snowman is made!

Source: giftideapros.com via Snap on Pinterest

That's quite a nose my friend and who's that in your hat?

Source: flickr.com via Snap on Pinterest

Clay!

/9*

Source: flickr.com via Snap on Pinterest

How about a Snowman Christmas Tree?!!!

 

Source: bhg.com via

A big thank you to Natasha for hosting:

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend!

Snow People

More postcards published by Darling and Company, Seattle.

"It is hard to imagine a winter without snow creatures, but Bob Eckstein, in his History of the Snowman, can find no proof of their existence before the Middle Ages. They make their first appearance in the 16th-century, travel to Colonial America with its abundance of snow, flourish in 18th-century Northern Europe and Russia, and, like so many other whimsical and ephemeral creative pursuits, bloom in the Victorian era. Sadly, the middle and late 20th-century see the advent of artificial snowmen,but technology gives, even as it takes away, and snow people are now being celebrated via the internet -- perhaps the perfect medium for these transients. The picturing of snow people flourished in the penny postcard era (1890 - 1920) when many thousands of Christmas postcards featured these merry creatures. The illustrators, not content with everyday static snowmen, showed them in a variety of activities - walking, playing, courting, spying, cooking, and even melting. Families of snow people were pictured as well as their snow companion animals. There are 30 postcards in this collection."

Gertrude Caspari was the artist for this snowman carrying his hat.

Caspari was a very important childrens' book illustrator in Germany.

She was known for her bright colors.

The original was published around 1911.

No artist, publisher or date are given for this charming postcard.

Even the tree is smiling and waving!

My thanks to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing YOU well and fun filled weekend!

Good Morning!

Christmas This and That

I have really enjoyed visiting all my blogging friends

and seeing all the wonderful holiday posts.

I thought I'd share a few with you.

The first is from Susan Branch's wonderful blog.

This is her magical Christmas list.

Do you have a list?

***

The next stop is Stamping Mathilda.

She's making tea lights.

Each day she features a new one.

So pretty!

***

Last (for today), is Lisa at Moore Minutes

with her handmade knit stocking advent calendar.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled day!

Christmas Tea

I've been out shopping again!

My latest adventure took me to Cornelius Nursery.

I wanted a poinsettia and a Christmas cactus

and while I was there I enjoyed all the decorations ...

especially this table filled with sugarplums of all kinds and a tea canister!

I love the handle on this tea cup
and the wonderful red and green of the holly and the ivy pattern.

 There is no decoration on the interior of the cup.

The bottom of the cup and saucer read:

Bella Lux

Gracie Bone China

by Coastline Imports.

This tea cup reminded me of the book:

A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg and illustrated by Warren Hanson.

It is the story of a young man's reluctant visit to an elderly aunt at Christmastime 

and the unexpected joy it brings.

One year the book came as a set with a teacup.

I remember gifting the set to a friend who often talked about her Aunt

and the joy they shared over a cup of tea. 

Thanks to our tea party hostesses.

These are just a few of the tea parties in the Land of Blog.

Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Tea Party Tuesday

Tuesday Tea For Two

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea! 

Christmas Memories

Welcome to Winter Wonderland!

I just had to share this shot.

It is the first thing you see when you enter Blue Leaf in my village.

Oh, my!

Christmas Overload!!!

On to the memories with some help from Blue Leaf.

A smile came to my face when I saw the Christmas Village.

I remembered being a little girl and visiting my grandmother for Christmas.

She had the most wonderful Christmas Village around the bottom of her Christmas tree.

All the different buildings were made from cardboard.

The roofs had batting on the top with glitter (of course) to look like snow.

There were churches and shops and lots of bottle trees all decorated.

She even had some small houses in her Christmas tree.

Sweet memories!

I'm joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and JOY filled week.

Pygmy Falcon

The elephants weren't the only critters I visited with during

Pancakes with the Pachyderms at the Houston Zoo.

 

This is the African Pygmy Falcon ... the smallest raptor in Africa.

What a cutie!

Very photogenic and patient with everyone who came up to see her.

But, she did get fluffed up when the sparrows started to

bug her. Sort of: "Ha, Ha ... you can't get me!" 

Many thanks to Misty for being our hostess for Camera Critters. 

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled weekend.