2009 in My Rearview Mirror

In the past year, we (I)....

finished our homeschool journey

watched my youngest play his last varsity baseball game

graduated our youngest

planned a wedding for our oldest

gained a daughter in law

watched my oldest son become a husband and a father

gained a granddaughter

traveled to Phoenix, Seattle, and Vancouver.

Drove to Tennessee twice for weddings.

learned how to create stained glass

swam, hiked, and walked regularly

laughed with family

cried

became a second time NaNoWriMo winner

survived an ugly split at our church. Survived being the operative word. Healed? Not hardly.

reconnected with a long lost uncle

pondered new business ventures

spent way too much time on Facebook (and loved it!)

struggled and grew as a Creative Soul

How about you?

New Life!

We interrupt the Christmas season to announce the arrival of Little Miss Precious to the world.









It is a marvelous thing for your baby to have a baby of his own.

Easy or Last Minute Gifts ~ Pam

The Sunflower Fairy

If you've seen photos of me, you know I wear my hair so short I have little need for hair clips, no matter how cute they are. That's why I was thrilled to see my friend Pam offers napkin rings and other goodies as well as the clever and classy hair clips she sells. I can easily imagine the pretty beads and crystals of these napkin rings sparkling in the candlelight of a Christmas table.


The hair clips are easy to use and oh so pretty. Check out Pam's Hair Clips to see a video on how to use them. Tuck a couple of these into someone's stocking this Christmas or use them to make cute and useful gift tags. You'll find braclets, badge holders, key rings and more on the website.

Last Minute or Easy Gifts ~ Darla

Need a gift for a person who has everything? Finding the unique, creative, or easy is often not easy. Over the next few days, I'll introduce you to a few good ideas in the gift department. Each of the ladies presenting is a friend of mine. I hope you'll let them help you find a creative gift for someone special.

Darla from UpperCase Living

You probably know by now I love words. What's better than decorating with them?

I ordered the word 'Create' in deep purple from Darla after last year's NaNoWriMo success. I smoothed it on a piece of granite mount board and framed it rather than putting it directly on a wall. Portable, you know. It is a lasting, creative, and fun way to remember my achievement. To celebrate this year's NaNo success I will order the word 'Write." I'm also thinking about getting my soon to be granddaughter's name done for over her crib....and there's a Bible verse I'd like for my breakfast nook wall, too.

Yep, these are fun. Unique...and terrific quality. Mosey through the catalog from the above link so Darla gets credit. She will happily answer any questions you have. Great ideas, she has, too. You can do more than words...images of all kinds, symbols, photos, etc. so let your creativity soar.

Order before Noon on December 7th for Christmas delivery.



Stayed tuned tomorrow!

A Christmas Letter

Do you write an annual Christmas letter to friends and distant family? We do. Actually, we alternate years. Some years we send a card. Some years a card and photo. Other years, I'll do a newsy letter and photos.

I love receiving letters from friends during Christmas. It is fun to catch up with all the big and little happenings of their lives. Christmas is the only time we touch base with some old friends. When I get a card, I know they are still alive!

If you haven't written your Christmas letter, get started now. Here's some tips to get you started...

1. Change POV. To make it more fun for all you creative types out there...write the letter from an unusual point of view. I did one a few years ago from our dog's POV. It was cute, even if I do say so myself. What would your kitchen table have to say about your families comings and goings this year? The birds who lived in the nest on the front porch--what would they write about you? What would your cat or car have to say? Hey, you could even write one from the youngest kiddoe's point of view.

2. Write a Christmas poem, rhyming or free verse.

3. Include photos. Digital photography and desktop publishing make this pretty easy to do. Don't worry about printing in color...black and white photos are very trendy.

4. Keep the length short.

5. Use lots of active verbs.

6. Write about each member of your family.

7. Treat your vacations, job promotions, and new car purchases with a light touch. Not everyone had a great year financially. Focus on the joy you have in your family and friends, instead of material things.

8. Print on pretty Christmas paper or colored paper. Take care not to choose to dark a color or it will be hard to read.

9. Fold 'em, address 'em, and get them mailed.

10. Imagine the smile your letter will bring to someone you care about.

It's your letter, have some creative FUN with it!

Snow

The snow in the forecast is now the snow on the ground. We woke to a a vision in white this morning. It's official. Summer's over.

Snow on Old Blush roses


Red Canna against Duchess de Brabant Rose foliage with snow



Two days ago...


This morning....


One thing about snow...it puts me in a Christmas mood. It's time to pull out the decorations and make the house look and feel like Christmas. My creative juices are warming up...how about yours?

A Creative Christmas Season

Wow, it's December already. In my yard live three seasons...my roses are still blooming reds, pinks, golds, and whites to represent summer. The crepe myrtles and oak trees are blazing orange, reds, and golds in honor of fall. A possibility of snow is in the forecast for tonight. A few Christmas decor items have found their way out of storage to represent winter. My Christmas decor clashes with the late fall splendor which annoys my sense of color.

I love the beauty and meaning of the Christmas holidays. It is one of the most precious times of the year and one of the most draining, exhausting times as well. I'm challenging myself to post every day between now and New Year's Day. A quick snippet to keep you and I focused on living creatively and staying sane during these hectic days. Some times it'll be a how-to, sometimes a random free verse, some days, a photo. If you can jump in and share a few things, too, it'll make the conversation much more fun.

Today is all about dreaming....

Fix yourself a cup of something warm and delightful. In your favorite chair, take up pen and page and list your favorite elements of the holiday season. Put a star beside your top ten favorites. Those go on your 'it-won't-be-Christmas-without-these' list. Feel free to ignore the rest.

My list includes:

Using the pretty Christmas dishes every day.
Making food treats for neighbors and close friends.
Going Christmas shopping with the Pilot Guy.
Decorating the tree and fireplace mantel.
Sitting each evening with all the lights off but the tree and enjoying the colorful lights.
Decorating outside.
Watching 'White Christmas' and 'It's a Wonderful Life' as a family.
Driving around neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights.
Planning and cooking (with help) a feast for us.
Attending a Christmas Eve service.

Okay, you get the idea. What elements make a Christmas special to you? This is a great activity to do with your significant other and munchkins, too. What a wonderful feeling to know what makes each person feel all Christmasy inside. See how freeing this is? You don't have to do everything, only those important items.

I feel less rushed now. How about you?