1st Christmas Snow Since 1969!

I'm hoping everyone had a happy and safe Christmas with family and friends, as I look out upon our latest snow storm ... that happened to fall Christmas Day, ;).  We haven't had snow in mid-North Carolina on Christmas Day since 1969 ... when I was 3 yrs old and thus have no recollection of it, so I was beyond THRILLED to see snow falling on this year's Christmas Day.  We stayed home for the holiday, with my mother-in-law joining us for Christmas dinner that we'll be eating off of all week, but afterwards we just couldn't resist taking our "children" out to play in it, and hopefully get a good picture for next year's Christmas card!  So, I share with you pictures of Boomer and Gracie, our 4-yr-old Labrador Retrievers ... whom just happen to LOVE snow, just like their Mom.

Their Daddy made snow balls for them, to throw ... but Boom, being a bit lazy and "thrifty" like his Mom, grabbed this one out of Daddy's hand before it could be thrown, and then quickly gobbled it up like it was the best Popsicle he'd ever tasted.

Gracie Sue had to fight for her snowballs, ... but she won!  It was so fun watching them play in the powdery snow, and made our Christmas that much more special.  Without children (i.e., doggies), life would not be the same.

So then we made them pose for a few more "Christmas Card" shots, poor children.

A snowball or a treat helped to get these poses, no doubt.  However Boomer is so black that alot of "back lighting" was required to see him, more than a blurb of black fur.

Gracie wore her festive collar proudly, while Boomer would not have anything to do with it ... boys, phewy!

So this morning, we're left with 3" of snow ... but I promise it was more yesterday, ;).  Three inches, five inches ~~ whatever ~~ the children are still ready to play!
Here's wishing each of you a special Holiday Season, and a Happy New Year filled with much prosperity and success!  Thank you for visiting "my children" and me here.  Now I'm off to see what I can accomplish today, after a day of leisure around the house yesterday, ;).  Hugs ~~ Jeanne

Merry Christmas...Card!

Since I can't mail a card to each of you, here is my "greeting card" to each of you ~~ "May we each find peace worldwide...now and always."  Wishing each of you the very best of Christmases, and a wonderful 2011!

Christmas Time!

Yes, Christmas is coming quickly ... only days away now.  I've been busy preparing, at work and home, and am looking forward to this year's first "Christmas gathering" at my home tonite with my niece and great niece.  In all the rush, I realized I haven't posted in awhile, so I will share a few pics from my "first job," at River Twist where I spend the greatest portion of my time as a sales associate.  We've had three weeks of festivities within the shop, with many friends and family visiting us during our weekly Sip 'n Shops, and we're very thankful for everyone whom has visited us, as well as those whom may appreciate us otherwise.  The above photo is a pic of one of my favorite pieces; it's a Mark Roberts original of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus that I think is grand.

This is a display at the shop, that includes a sign painted by my boss that I love ... "Darn, I forgot to be good," among many of the Mark Roberts fairies that we stock, as well as several moss reindeer that sport some of the fairies...and a few Sid Dickens memory blocks on the wall in the background.

  It wouldn't be appropriate to show pictures of River Twist's shop without including a tree displaying some of our owner's favorite colors ~~ amber, yes, amber!  Admittedly, it's grown on my in the past several years, and is very pretty when combined with red.  This is a tree that graces our back entryway.

And this is a site that has graced us twice in the last two weeks ... just a dusting of snow that has been gorgeous when falling, and has quickly dissipated so as not to cause too much difficulty with traveling.  This photo was taken of the rooftop of my husband's "storage" building.  I love snow falling, as it reminds me of Christmas and the mountains of NC.

These are a few of the gifts that I adorned with some of my book-page posies.  I love these packages ... and wish I had more time to make more posies to go on them!

I hope everyone each of you has a fabulous Christmas/Holiday Season, and finds much to be happy about through the season.  Merry Christmas to all of you!

Christmas Spirit

Admittedly, I don't decorate for Christmas at home (shame on me, I know!) considering I don't have children, very few guests ... and two doggies with big tails that prove to be "weapons of mass destruction."  However, both of the shops where I work are fully decked out, very festive, and thus I enjoy their decorations and still feel like "I have decorated" nonetheless!  Above is an old rusty iron urn filled with fresh cut holly that resides outside of Beverly's Down The Hill, although the urn and iron base are from http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Jamestown-NC/River-Twist/70403216527 ~~ much prettier in person, I must say.  (And YES that's a vintage shutter with a moon and diamond cut out behind the urn ... just waiting for a creative soul to add it to their treasures!)

When I walk in Beverly's front door, to the left of the entry, I see this beautiful holiday display.

This Christmas Tree is decorated with vintage ornaments that bring back memories of trees we had at home during my childhood.  The white piece of furniture is a BEAUTIFUL "secretary" with stained glass and wood panel insets; I love this piece.

Below is another view of the entryway.

I apologize for the lack of photographic "abilities" in this lighting, but I just couldn't resist sharing this photo as it shows a glimpse of a beautiful mantel that my "big sister"/coworker recently painted that is stunning IRL, and mimics an earlier piece she did shown below, in better lighting:

This was a kitchen cabinet out of an old castle from a local country club ... that looked NOTHING like this before Marcia painted it, and it is the talk of the shop currently ... and looks much better in person.  (Gosh, I need some photography lessons!)

Following, are the Christmas decorations Marcia put together for the dining room table.

The palm trees that we decorated with lights and white poinsettias can be seen the the left foreground.  What fun!

And, now to take you back in time a bit further, the following is a photo of a "retro"  Christmas Tree:

Remember these white trees ... with the spinning color wheel underneath it???  And what about that television, lol?  This definitely takes me back to my childhood, in a good way.

Lastly, I FINALLY began my Christmas shopping with more purchases from Tasteful Designs!

Vintage flatware upfitted into letter openers and key chains ... along with a wrapped Baby Spoon Ring (for me, ;-)!  I'm hoping this artisan will return to the shop this week, so I can purchase some more gifts from him ... now that I've actually created a shopping list and know what I need.

So today, I'm off to embarrassingly shop the "Big Box" shops, as my nine-year-old great-niece wants another Moleskine art journal and journaling supplies, and I've GOT to hit that Department Store for some Lancome facial cleanser ~~ gosh I hate shopping the big stores.  But sometimes it's necessary, I suppose.

Afterwards, I will work on addressing my handmade Christmas cards, and HOPE to draw enough inspiration to attempt to gesso the face of my current girl on canvas that currently has the Big Googly Eyes, ;)

Wishing each of you Happy Holiday Season (I suppose it's too soon to say "Merry Christmas") and much creativity with all of your endeavors!  Happy Holiday Hugs to each of you!