Christmas Past

Not long ago, my blogging friend, Vee, had a post about the perfect Christmas.

That got me to thinking.

Is there such a thing?

Like Vee, when I think of Christmas I think of snow, a farm house, 

twinkling lights, carols being sung. 

All of those "old-fashioned" things that I used to see on Christmas cards when I was a kid.

While putting up my little tree and looking at "old" ornaments,

I got to remembering Christmas Past.... Christmas at Granny's house.

Her Christmas tree was real. Those were the days long before fake trees.

She had a church under the tree that would illuminate.

It also played silent night.

I would sit on the floor staring at the church and listening to Silent Night.

I wonder what it was that so fascinated me as a very little girl.

Original image from Vermont Country Store.

Then there were the bubble lights on the tree.
I loved the bubble lights. They made me smile.

My aunt always came with something sweet to eat.

Do you remember the gum drop tree?

Original image from Vermont Country Store

I remember the gum drops disappearing quickly!
I think I still have my Mother's tree -- somewhere.


This is the modern version of the green ceramic tree that welcomed us as we walked into Granny's house.

Original image from Vermont Country Store.

I have a green tree that my Mother-In-Law gave me.

It welcomes one and all when they enter my home.

Christmas at Granny's.

That's about all I remember.

The most important part -- it was a happy time, full of magic and wonder for a little girl.

*

Another one of my memories is of one Christmas when my Daddy came home with a big box marked Christmas Tree.

I had horrible allergies as a child and was allergic to the "live" Christmas trees.

He brought home one of the first metal trees, with the revolving light.

We had all blue ornaments on the tree.

This is the modern tinsel version.

Original Image from Vermont Country Store

I may have to get one of the smaller trees.
My days of putting up big trees are over.
A four foot tall tree looks good to me!

That's my short visit to Christmas past with help from the Vermont Country Store.
The images belong to them and I did some tweaking here and there.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Ho Ho HO and a Merry Merry

Thank you to Judith for hosting Mosaic Monday.

**

P.S. Did you watch the Orion launch?
WOWZER!
We are off into space once again.
Explorers we are.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Missed Hump Day!

Yesterday was Hookin' On Hump Day and I missed it.

I'm taking a class in Community Studies at Rice University on hump day.

The time just seems to fly but I did have a crochet project to share with you.

A good friend of mine put in her wish for a pair of fingerless gloves.

She saw this free Red Heart Pattern for wavy long wristers and said "this is what I want".

I missed her birthday.

I couldn't find the yarn in town and had to order.

Here they are all finished in time for Christmas.

After running out of yarn on projects in the past,
I ordered one extra of each color.
Lo and behold, the pattern seems true!
So I have enough yarn to make another pair.

I'll have yarn leftover
and plan on making a pair for me, but much shorter.

Be sure to check out the other Hump Day projects!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

This Year They Did One Better

Friday night the zoo was open to donors for a sneak peak at Holiday Lights 2014.

There were two million lights last year and this year they did one better--

three million lights!

These are large revolving globes near the African Forest exhibit.

I didn't take as many photos as I have in the past.
It was just so lovely walking through the zoo with good friends.
There were several repeats from years past like Mr. Deer who pops up now then when you least expect him.

A trip to the gift shop is always in order.
They had lovely trees decorated with toy animals.

Last year the temperature was 89 with a high humidity.

This year the temperature was 44 and no humidity.

Over 700 had RSVPd for the event, but I'm guessing not half that number showed up.

Too bad.

There was no wind and it was really quite a lovely evening.

I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday.


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Hole in the Head

Last week I went to a lecture and then saw the exhibition

"Monet and the Seine: Impressions of a River"

at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

I love postcards.
So much cheaper than buying the exhibition book.
The two postcards above show some of Monet's early work.
He was still painting people.

The one on the right is The Seine at Bougival (1869) and
the one on the left is The Promenade with the railroad bridge, Argenteuil (1874).

Even using these postcards, you can see how his technique changes.

Monet's family knew a lot about boats.
When Monet drew one, he knew where to put all the lines.

The postcard on the right (above) "Ships riding in the Seine" ~1873
The left is "Sunset on the Seine", 1874

What would Monet be without a series?!!
The postcard above on the left is titled The Seine at Giverny 1897
and the one on the right also from 1897 is titled the Islet on Port-Villez.

I've shared 6 of the 52 pieces in the exhibition.
Monet is magical.

While I was in the gift shop buying postcards (conveniently located at the end of the exhibition)
I found this.

I need another teacup/tea-for-one like I need a hole in the head,
but I told myself it was a nice reminder of this wonderful exhibition,
 and the lovely luncheon I had with a dear friend.

This tea for one was made by McIntosh Fine China.

I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday

and several tea parties!

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!