This and That

Here's a little James Taylor for you to enjoy while you read!

Music

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How do you feel about Christmas cards?

I love them!

I like hand addressing the envelope,

writing a short message on the inside of the card.

I put a short Christmas letter together for those I don't see often during the year.

Emails are nice, but I miss the personal touch.

I love receiving Christmas cards.

I get excited about figuring out the postman's timings! 

What gorgeous card, what beautiful message will I find in my post today?

It's like receiving a smile in the mail.

The simplest things in life are often the most magical.

What joy that simple Christmas card can bring!

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Speaking of beautiful cards.

Here is a reproduction of a vintage postcard.

Looks like they are off for a day of fun.

Delivering packages, decorating a tree, walking in the snow

and all with a furry friend.

Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

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I love snowmen.

I love Christmas cactus.

They look happy together!

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I found a crochet group that meets twice a month

at my favorite breakfast spot in my Village.

They are a fun group of ladies and they sure know their hooks!

The last two meetings, I've been taking my Santa mug rug/coaster/hot pads.

Finally, they are finished.

I made a whole bunch of them using my stash yarn.

Jingle, Jingle and Ho-Ho-Ho!

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A  couple of holiday links for you today:

The first one is from a dear friend, Karen Harvey Cox.

Karen has made an advent calendar for all of us with her beautiful art.

Welcome to The Gift of an Advent Calendar here.

Poppytalk again this week for winter scenes in Mason jars.

I love the VW bug with the tree on top!

Your holiday photos are probably already taken, 

but here are a few suggestions from the Focusing On Life Group

on taking holiday pictures.

*****

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a fun filled weekend.

******

Okay kitties. We still have some more decorating to do. 

Everyone hop to it!

Leave the Christmas Cactus alone, please!

Nap time is later!

This and That

It's another This and That Friday!

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First, another reproduction of a vintage postcard.
The illustrator was A. L. Bowley.
Adorable children and I'd love to have the elephant!

Loving Christmas Greetings to you!

(Thank you to the lovely Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.)

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I'm sharing a post with you today from Tiny Buddha.

Paula Grieco  is the author.

It got my attention and perhaps it will get yours!

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ~E.E Cummings

So, in this present moment, how about you? Are you growing up to be who you truly are?

Here are easy suggestions for building the being you habit. Pick one or more if you like.

1. Express your uniqueness daily.

Create a daily practice of doing or saying something that expresses you without regard to its popularity or commonality. It can be as simple as a wardrobe choice or saying no to a social engagement that will leave you feeling drained.

2. Make time for brief moments of solitude.  

Even just a few minutes during the day can help you connect to yourself rather than being caught up in outside forces.

3. Re-connect to a childhood passion. 

Think about what you loved to do as a kid as it can be a clue to your truest expressions. Anything you want to try today?

4. Write down three things that you truly value.

Take one small action every day to express your values.

5. Go easy on the pressure.  

There’s a difference between compromising your true self and having multiple passions. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make the right choice when it comes to your calling. Sometimes you just have to pick something and take action.

6. Create relationships based on being you. 

Some people are more naturally inclined to care what others think. If you are one of those people, you also likely have a great propensity to be empathetic. Build upon that strength and reach out to others to get the support you need.

7. Find your mantra. 

Sometimes we end up compromising who we are because it is hard to say no. Write down on a small card your response to requests for your time or an opinion you are not prepared to give. Doesn’t have to be eloquent—“Huh, I’ll have to think about that” works.

8. Support someone else in self-expression. 

When you see someone standing out rather than fitting in, be a voice of encouragement and support.

9. Create art.  

Buy a small journal or notebook just for self-expression. It will be one of the best purchases you will ever make. Spend even one minute a day writing or drawing a picture. No directions required.

10. Remind yourself how important this is.  

Hang up a sign with the quote at the beginning of this post or another that reminds you the importance of being you.

I do enjoy being ME! 

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A few fun links for you.

The first is from Poppytalk (one of my favorite blogs from Canada). 

Find free chalkboard style printable gift tags here.

We all know Mennonite Girls Can Cook. Apparently their Guys can, too.

Take a look at this breakfast bake for two here.

It is no secret that I love cats.

Lines and Colors is a blog about art -- all forms of art.

In Women and Cats, Charley Parker shares a Flickr site full of art featuring women and cats.

Over at Sidewalk Shoes, Pamela Geer shares a knit-a-long--

a Christmas stocking.

I won't get a chance to knit-a-long this year, but maybe in January (!!!) I can start! 

Have fun!

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The temperatures have been in the 80s this week.

The air conditioner decides to run every now and then.

The weather folks say it is going to get cold next week.

I'll believe it when I feel it!

With a little help, I got a lot done in Musashi's Garden.
As much as I love my purple trumpet vines, they get carried away
and I'm getting too old to keep them under control.
So, "we" took them off the fence leaving them on the trellis.
They look pretty bare and sort of sad,
but I'll water and they'll come back.

Speaking of water,
we have moved into moderate drought again.
So sad.

What a surprise!
The first of the seed catalogs arrived today!
Let the garden planning begin.


*****

Wishing YOU well and much joy this holiday season. 

Yarn Work and Links!

I've had a cold. I could hire myself out as a fog horn when I have a cold. I feel sorry for myself, too. I'm feeling much better now and thank all of you for your good wishes for a quick recovery. I put my *down time* to good use. Got some reading done (saving the books for another post) and finished the baby afghan for my niece. I used up all the yarn I had in my *baby* stash, too. That means I get to buy more yarn! You can't have enough yarn!

The baby afghan is ready to be washed and blocked.

Then I started another crochet project. (For those who may be wondering -- the lacey stole is still in the closet!) Mr. Dragon really likes how this one is going/looking. I'm making a lap afghan. Most folks make their lap afghans for football season. I'm making ours for baseball season! College baseball starts this month. They started practice on February 1 (that's also for another post) and we were there! It will be cold for awhile at the beginning of the season and we will be happy to have a little lap comfort! I just need to crochet faster! I have changed the pattern up a little since this picture was taken. I like the puffs or bobbles, but the triangular shaped *things* made my fingers hurt -- so listening to the old arthritis, I changed the pattern a little. I like how it looks and I think you will, too. I'll share when the afghan is a little further along. Anyway, it has passed the Mr. Dragon test with a *golly, that's cool looking*.



I've been trying to keep up with the gypsy caravan at One World One Heart. Lisa now has at least (when I last checked) 880 participants! WOW! I've tried to visit all of the blogs at least once - quickly. Now I am working my way through them again and this time really trying to stop awhile, visit, and read. In the process I've added a few blogs to Link Mania and would like to give you links on this post for a few of them.

A Scrapbook of Inspiration is the first one. You must go visit Karen Harvey Cox. You'll find beautiful pictures, wonderful words, artwork to knock your socks off and soothing music. A real treat!

Next is my new friend Sarah and her family at Cottage Garden Studio. They are sweet young things! Go have a cup of tea with Sarah, read her blog, look at her pretties and say hello. You'll be glad you did.

I love monsters and Nicole at Mealy Monster Land is the place to visit. You'll smile all the way through. What talented people these doll artists are!

Lastly, you must spend some time at Shibori Girl. You'll find a little bit of everything here. Art. Food. Sunday is What's Cooking Sunday with good recipes! Enjoy!

If you visit any of my new friends, please tell them you saw them here first!

Thank you. Come again.
Have a wonderful, germ free day!
Achoo!

Christmas Links For You!

It's time for a little catch up. I really haven't been missing in action. We finally got the art work back up on the walls downstairs. Mr. Dragon is painting one of the bedrooms upstairs that had some drywall/plaster work done. I've spent way too much time reading blogs, but have enjoyed every minute. It's been sorta like *down time* seeing what everyone else is doing.



One of the blogs I check in with every now and then is Sorta Frugal. She had a wonderful post about finding a forgotten Christmas treasure backed away in a box -- a wonderful little paper angel. Not long after I read her post I was looking in a closet and found my own forgotten treasure in a box. Not sure I would call them a treasure, but they are cute! When we were living on Galveston Island, I had a *Santa's Box* -- a box I kept in the closet that I used to put small little gifts that I would buy throughout the year -- things I found on sale. I used these little things as hostess gifts, secretary gifts. Nothing much, just a little something nice that said *I remember you*.



Opening the *Santa Box* I found these tins -- Mr. and Mrs. Claus and Mr. Snowman. Their heads pop off and you can put candy or little trinkets on the inside. What was amazing to me was what I found on their bottoms -- MADE IN THE USA -- with a 1981 date. They are in our living room today and I promise, I won't forget them again.



This is *Zoe Nathan's Cranberry Orange Cornmeal Cake*. Doesn't it look delicious? Some of my favorite things in this cake: cranberries, orange zest, cornmeal, ricotta cheese. I love The Wednesday Chef web site and I think you will too. Check it out. Isabelle is very entertaining.

One more link for you for the holidays (or any day). Check out Eddie Ross. He has suggestions for hostess gifts and a tutorial for making a wreath.

I have to add one more link for you. My friend Julie is a digital scrapper and she has a wonderful set of Christmas tags for you. I'm not a scrapper, but I can really use new gift tags! Check her out at Julie It Is.