All is calm.

The house seems so incredibly quiet. All of our family is on their way back to their homes in Alaska and Boston, Mass. I can hear cat paws walking across the carpet again...... Though it makes me smile to hear them, I'm sad at the same time. You know what I mean?

Warmest Sunday bear hugs, Aleta

Thanksgiving and family.

Happy, happy Thanksgiving!! May yours be blessed and bright and filled with love, happiness and laughter.

We have a merry, merry house full with family visiting from Alaska and Boston! It's a crazy busy time (with fifteen for dinner this evening!), and just the BEST to be surrounded with those we love and have missed spending family holiday time with all these years. I'll pop back in on Sunday.....hopefully with some pictures!!

Until then.....Warmest and biggest bear hugs, Aleta

Merry and White!

I'm going with the "less is more" way of thinking this year. Because I'm not able to drape the tree in glass Christmas garland this year (not a safe thing for me to be twisting and turning on a seven foot ladder trying to get it "just so") I decided to forget the glass garland and go simple. This year, simple is good. It's white and tarnished silver, feather birds and glittery snowballs. Still festive, just quiet and more relaxed. It's exactly what I needed to slow things down a bit.

Now mind you, I didn't run out and buy all new ornaments. Nope, nope, nope. I actually bought them a couple of years ago for a New Years party. That year, the day after Christmas, I took all of our traditional ornaments off the tree and replaced them with a white glittery snow theme. Crazy perhaps, but I knew we would have guests at the party that don't do Christmas and I wanted them to feel welcome in our home. Taking the entire tree down wasn't an option with Bill's schedule so I had to improvise. The really great thing here is that this year I was able to use the decorations again!!

This year I even included an element of surprise on our tree.....I've hung my collection of silver baby cups from the branches!! They look so sweet and are a nod to the impending birth of our first grandchild. (insert a happy smiley sigh here) Life is grand! :o)

Before I close, I want to say thank you for all the well wishes posted both publicly and privately. Time, patience and physical therapy.....oh!, and ice three times a day!! I am beginning to see improvement!! Yay!! Though the road may be long, I'll get there!!

Merry Merry and warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Missed another one!

Yup, missed another Pink Wednesday. (sigh) I suppose it's time I explain. If you follow my blog, you probably realize I am always juggling many projects at one time. It's never been a problem until recently. I've had some health issues I've been ignoring. Little tip here: Willing it to go away, doesn't make it go away. It only makes matters worse. Lest you think that something horrific has happened...it hasn't. I'm under a doctors care and I'm going to physical therapy three times a week. I do, however, have to slow down.

That's what my little rant was about a week or so ago. DARN IT, I don't want to slow down!! I know now that I have to. Otherwise, I may end up with even more nerve damage, or even worse, require surgery. Which, in turn, would mean an absolute cessation of activity for many weeks. That rant was my cock-eyed way of telling my family I needed help and not to expect so much of me while they're here on holiday. For once, I have to put myself first. It's not something I'm used to doing. Nor is it something my family is used to.

In the meantime, I made a commitment to Monticello for their holiday faire back in August. (Long before I knew I would have so many coming for Thanksgiving.....or that I would be facing worsening physical issues.) The time I feel at my best, I use to work on things for that event rather than spending time on the computer. Little by little, the rest of the time is spent getting the house ready for family to arrive. Anyway, now you know the reason for a belated Pink Wednesday here and there....or missing it altogether. ;o)

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

P.S. That's a Japanese Aralia bloom that hasn't opened yet....cool, huh? Nature supplies the most amazing pictures to capture!!

Quietude.

Blessings to you this Sunday. Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Pink Wednesday on Wednesday!

Hey! A Pink Wednesday post actually posted on a Wednesday! And, the subject is actually pink! Wahoo! ;o)

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

From reference books and old photos!

I know. I missed Pink Wednesday. Sorry. Too many projects! No, wait. Not enough hours in the day!! Um-huh. That's it!! Not enough hours in the day. ;o)

Here are a couple of the projects I've been working on. These are part of my white, silver and gold theme. I was inspired by a picture in one of my Christmas books, one full of antique Christmas ornaments, to make the heart with the center bauble. I love the old ornaments with the tinsel! Though the tinsel is new on this ornament, the glass ball is actually an oldie.

The idea for the gift box came from the picture of the little girl herself. She's all dressed up for winter in her mohair coat and hat. Perfect for a little snow scene! This is actually the prototype. I wasn't completely happy with the ice cream cone look of the snow pile so I had to squish, squish, squish the form down until I got it right. I added bits of old pipe cleaner around the bottom of her coat and around the ruff of her hat giving her more of a dimensional effect. Vintage sheet music, antique tinsel, old chenille pipe cleaner, dresden wings and glitter!! Love, love, love it!!

Happy Thursday!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Caution...you are about to enter a little rant.

They don't take me seriously. My sister and sister-in-law. I told them I was going to hand them paper, scissors and glue and that they would have to work for Thanksgiving dinner. If they are going to come visit for a week and expect me to drop everything because they are on holiday, I must insist that they do something for me. Afterall, it's not MY holiday.

I still have to work. I still have to be ready and set up for the Holiday Faire at Monticello the day after they leave. That means I have three weeks. Three weeks to get all my projects done, get all the guestrooms ready and have all the holiday decorating done. Whoa, Nellie! Only three weeks? Yikes!!

You're on notice, in writing right here, Michelle and Kimberly! If my projects aren't done, it's paper, scissors and glue for you!! Ha!! Oh, and another thing, I'm not the group leader on this trip. DO NOT ask me, "What do you have planned for us today?" If I hear this, you will get the stink eye and be made to sit in the corner with your nose pressed against the wall.

Little rant over. I'm off to the studio to sew up some bears!!

Warmest bear hugs on a delightful Monday morning! :o) Aleta