MERRY CHRISTMAS

It's Raining again!

I can't get over this weather we're having! In the last 3 1/2 months, we've had LESS than 10 full sunny days! I KNOW!!! It is so drab and dreary and wet and misty and foggy and grey all the time! We're also having above seasonal temperatures, so the big snowfall we had a few weeks ago is down to slush. The grass is showing and the mud isn't frozen anymore! Poor Gracie, [our Lab] hasn't been for a decent walk in days. I know she wouldn't care if it's raining, but I hate walking the dog holding an umbrella. It's just not comfy.
I haven't had a chance to get out and take many photos lately either. I've been trying to capture some closeups of the birds at my feeder, but every time I bring the camera to the window, they take off!! The squirrels have been frolicking on the trees and fence, but they too seem to be camera shy.
Here's a few shots I managed to get the other day -- when the rain had stopped for a bit!

Christmas Inspiration

A Poem, by Deborah.....
[©1992 Deborah Pero]

Christmas Inspiration


What is it about this season
that gives me inspiration?
I love the invigoration
that comes with this festive occasion.
It's such an exciting contagion
to attack us with such jubilation!
Shopping can be quite an aberration
as I have seen in my observations.
It seems like the whole entire nation
is pacing the malls in an odd formation,
staring in fixation
at prices of inflation,
blocking the aisles in fraternization,
searching in desperation
for a gift for a relation.
Amidst the decorations
we all ask the same question,
will this gift be received
with thrilling elation
or tossed in a closet
with no hesitation?
Don't you sometimes wish for tranquilization
to put us in a state of anesthetization
just to get through the holiday aggravations?
Then in the New Year,
with renewed determination
we resolve to change things
in personal affirmation,
or to answer life's questions
in interpretations,
to find justification
in our idealization,
to bring warmth,
peace and love to creation.
We may ponder our past in
contemplation;
some with sadness or great damnation.
Others with glee and gratification.
But I have nothing but glad appreciation, and in my final closing summation,
I can say with acclamation
I hold dear in my heart such adulation
for all of my past Christmas vacations.
So now I look with clear admiration
at our elegant tree in illumination,
and give thanks for my love,
for fate's destination,
for my family,
my life,
my inspiration.

My Christmas Treasures

I decorated the trees last weekend. It's been a tradition in our family, for many, many years, to decorate the tree during the local Lion's Club Children's Telethon. It's usually broadcasted on TV the first Saturday of December. We watch the talent on the telethon, drink and eat munchies, while I decorate the tree. WE don't decorate.... I do!
Now, for those of you who know me, I don't usually let anyone help me decorate MY trees! I am SO particular about it being done just so!! When my girls were little, I would give them their own tree to decorate any way they wanted. That left Mommy to do her tree her way!! That started after I let them help me one year. The decorations they put on were all on the bottom branches and bunched together like cold people around a fireplace! It was actually adorable, but I couldn't leave it like that. After they went to bed, I moved everything around! That's when I decided to give them their own tree. Now that they're grown up, my girls just let me do it and they sit back with their Dad and enjoy the tradition!



Some of the ornaments on our trees date back to the early 1950's. My parent's had quite a selection of glass ornaments that I remember hanging very carefully. I also remember dropping a few. I have about a dozen of these old ornaments that I treasure and put on the trees each year.



The floral tin 'bulb protector' [right] was used on trees back in the day to prevent the bulb from burning the surrounding tree branches. I have about 10 of these left from my mom and dad's collection. The larger ornament in the picture is one of 6 we found in the attic of our first house. I'm not sure how old they are, but they were amongst newspapers, books and magazines we also found dating back to the 1940s and 1960s!

We had an ice day today. Freezing rain began last night and we woke up to a blanket of thin ice on EVERYTHING. The car slid down the driveway as Meghan was backing it up. Almost hit the retaining wall! She had just arrived at her Teaching placement when she heard on the radio that all classes were cancelled! The main roads were well salted and sanded, but parking lots, sidewalks and side roads were treacherous. When Meg got back, she could only drive the car a few feet up the driveway. Trying to get herself out of the car was hillarious! She couldn't get a grip on the driveway and was holding herself up on the car door, giggling the whole time! She finally got her footing and hopped onto the grass. We enjoyed a morning of doing nothing! By afternoon, roads were in better condition and the temps are rising even now. Forecast for tomorrow is +11ºC!!! Crazy!!!

My Christmas Decor

I started decorating today! I was going to wait until December 2nd, when the MCTV Children's Telethon is on TV. It's tradition for us to decorate the house that day! But, after listening to some Christmas music on Pandora today, I couldn't wait!

I only put up a few garlands, lights and pictures, but it looks quite festive in here!
In one month from today, Christmas will be all over for another year!!!

Karma frames are ready!

I have been working for a few months now on designing some frames for use in Photoshop. It took me quite a while to figure out the HOW. Once I knew HOW to make the frames easy to use, the designing was FUN! You can find them on my website, from my Links.
Now I'm working on designing some everyday templates. I'd like to make some for Birthday, Thank You, Congrats, Graduation, Anniversary, Hello and more! I will even custom design templates for that special ocassion!
It's a good thing I don't have a "paying" job outside the home. I could spend hours and hours on my computer. I guess it's the artist in me. When I was a little girl, I was always doodling, painting, drawing, writing poems or making collages. Little has changed, except now I do most of it on my laptop or desktop PC.

First Snow

It snowed yesterday. It was magically beautiful. Thick, wet flakes fell overnight and most of the day. The tree boughs were heavy with the weight of it. Everything had a clean, white, beautiful snowy coat on it. But I had a hard time liking it. I hate snow.
I haven't always hated snow. When I was a kid, a teenager, a young mother - snow was wonderful! I used to slide down the schoolyard hill until the snow had worked it's way through my snowpants, jeans and underwear. Talk about cold butts! I was a downhill skier (very novice), a cross country skier and a snowmobiler.
We would take our girls on special outings to go sliding or skiing or sledding. We'd build snowmen and snow forts. I would make snow fudge and we'd eat it outside! Snow fudge is just like regular fudge, but when it's warm and gooey in the pan, you run outside and drizzle it on the clean snow to cool off! Chewy and delicious snow treats!
I think when I became a driver (I was 23 years old) I started hating snow. I was nervous driving in it. Still am. It's always so c-o-l-d in the car and I'm too much of a conservationist to let it warm up for very long! I don't want to pollute the air or waste the gas!! After so many years of living here in the north-east of Ontario with -30ºC temps and 4 feet of snow, I got tired of it. I hate snow.
But after seeing how gorgeous everything looked yesterday, I felt guilty. Maybe I need to seek snow-anger management classes.

DesideratA

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Written by Max Ehrmann
My motto, my words to live by, my favourite poem - ever.