Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas.... And a Few Life in December Photos

Oh my!! Hello friends..

How are you doing?

Well I hope.. 

Christmas day is almost upon us.

Can you believe it?

My mind is swirling with so many thoughts as I'm resting a bit.

 Hanging onto all of the beauty and wonder of the lights,

the gatherings and special events.

Today, my daughter and I went bear hunting at the grocery store.

                  And we caught one and then we took it hostage and stuffed it into

the back of my husband's car!

HAHA... just plain fun.

AND...

our trip, of course.

Which was absolutely

perfect and amazing!

We had tickets to the Ballet Arizona

production of the Nutcracker.

It was spectacular beyond words.

And for our youngest daughter's

late 20th birthday present,

we went to see the 

For King and Country

Christmas Tour concert featuring Lauren Daigle.

I love to go on "holiday"in the winter. 

There's just something so exciting and special about it.

I will save that for another post.

I'm still gathering pictures from the phones and cameras.

There have been some really exciting times but much of the time I have 

 been enjoying everyday things. 

It was quieter and more simple for me. 

And it has been a Christmas to remember.

These past couple of weeks, we've played music with our friends to 

raise money for gifts for local children.

We were able to bring in $500.00 and we had s much fun doing it!

I enjoy such a mix of Christmas music.

Traditional O Holy Night ( one of my favorites ) by Nat King Cole to the

pumped up version of 

The Little Drummer Boy by 

For King and Country.

You can watch it here

Do you have a favorite Christmas carol or song?

I just want to share a few pictures of what I've been

busy at. I have enjoyed seeing others homes

and projects and hearing about their

families and friends. So I thought I'd share a bit also. 

Part of my Christmas village... it's a work in progress!

And I always enjoy making some cards to send some handmade love

to friends and family! 

 A little thrifting and a smoothie outing with my daughter

is always in order! 

I have found some beautiful

things this year. 

My middle daughter, Hannah, says that I'm a 

treasure magnet. 

Haha. 

(Maybe I just spend a lot of time in thrift stores ;)

Just today, I found the most adorable

little music box for my granddaughters.  The cutest

group of snowmen with halos and the music box 

played Joy to the World. 

It was perfect! 

I secretly wanted to keep it but I wanted them 

to have it more. They will love it!

Part of my HUGE pile of CHEX MIX that 

was atop my kitchen counter cooling!

 My Christmas wreath that I made.

 The December craft show.

 The following pictures are all of angel wing ornaments that I made.

This little tree has since been decorated with gleaming

silver, glass pinecones and a string of shiny silver beads.

The giggles had fun making it pretty!

And I am still decorating.. Shhhh!

Am I the only one?

Well tomorrow is Christmas eve.

And all is well.

What we've done is enough.

I am purposely practicing the

discipline of NOT doing that one more thing!

It has helped me to release that

temptation to make things perfect.

Well done ladies!

The baking and shopping and wrapping.

All that giving and doing. 

We might have a white christmas so in lieu of that,

 here's the classic and classy Bing Crosby

 singing one of our favorite songs of the season!

And here's a clip from Meet Me in St Louis with Judy Garland

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. 

So warm wishes to you and I hope that you do!

Enjoying family and friends..cozy fires, good food,

playing games, opening gifts... feeling the love that came down

and that is all around.

And always, always counting our blessings.

Thank you so much for coming by.

I always hope that you find a bit of peace,

happiness and inspiration here.

Love and hugs,

Tamara

Christmas Sparkle....

Hello... 

I hope this finds you happy and at peace.

Right now, my focus is contentment and 

the "that's enough" philosophy.

I am so grateful for the season and all that it means.

There's so much light that surrounds.

Not only from the twinkles and icicles but from 

the beauty in the hearts that share so much.

My idea of Christmas, whether old -fashioned or modern, 

is very simple: loving others.

Bob Hope

I was inspired a while ago by some white poms that

I bought at the grocery store the other week.

They were beautifully glittered. 

So I had to try it with gold, glitter spray

 Glittered Hydrangeas share their beauty.

 Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.

Hamilton Wright Mabie

I will be going on a holiday trip this weekend.

I can't say much because it might spoil the surprise!

 But I will share when I return.

Wishing you all a very lovely week filled 

with all the joys and goodness that the season can bestow!

Thank you so much for your visit~

Love and blessings, 

Tamara

Book Pages and an Old Spring ~The Angel That Spoke to Her Heart...

Hello Everyone...

The passing days have been

bustling with celebrations and outings 

with family and friends. 

Yesterday, I played hot potato with the giggles.

The expressions they make are priceless!

I've been hanging more lights and setting candles, 

and checking my lists. But I'm also working at being still.

Finding some quiet to reflect on the beauty

of today.. not only because it's the lovely

Christmas season but because.... 

every day is a gift~

Here's a lovely song and video by George Winston

for you. It's called 

SNOW.

*****************

Today, I wanted to share my little angel.

I've been talking about her for a while now.

If anyone would like details of how she is made, I'd be glad to email.

She was built on a heavy spring that I found at a thrift store.

I do enjoy angels in general. They're such a symbol of:

HOPE

PEACE

COMFORT

PROTECTION 

and ambassadors of good things!

She had begun to have her own personality.

She seemed so kind and gentle with her big, green eyes.

she is adorned with gilded beads~

 and wears a collar of vintage lace

    she shines with strands of silken hair

I am smitten with her.

And I was undecided about keeping her or selling her.

She travelled with me to a holiday bazarre over the weekend. 

And an elderly lady came by and the angel caught her eye.

She wanted to see her. I explained to her how she was made.

And then she said, 

"I have to have her. She spoke to my heart."

I told her that that gives me goosebumps and makes me happy!

I can't tell you how happy that made me...and sad at the same time for I 

hated to see her go. (She was the first that I'd made but there will be more.

She was such a pleasure to make. I'm overjoyed when it comes to adding details!

I get lost in time when doing the work but I find myself in the process.)

I guess we never know how a piece might 

touch the heart of another. That's a big part of it for me.

And the other part is the finding of myself.

I'm on my way.  I have houses and stars to glitter. 

My elf work of sorting purchases and assembling packages 

awaits as well!

And for fun, I have music to play

and there's a little Christmas canvas that I'm working.

With:

torn papers

glitter 

paint

 and who knows what!

Are you busy baking?

Working on a special project?

Oh there are gifts to wrap and cards to send!

I am going to take time for blog visits, too! 

I've been consumed with the news since last Friday.

So, while sitting wrapped in my cozy blanket, 

surrounded by twinkle lights and eating a

peppermint Tootsie pop ;) I send hugs and warm wishes for

the rest of your holiday week.

Tamara 

Linking up to party here at:
Craft Frenzy Friday
And here at
Shabbilicious Friday 
and here at
Share Your Cup! 

Goodbye November, Hello December

Hello everyone..

Happy December to you.

I trust that your November was sweet and full of lovely fallish

 times with family and friends.

If that's your season of course!

Now most of us are excited about the season before us.

Oh the wrapping of gifts and trimming the house and the tree!

And the spirit that comes with it all! 

But before I move ahead too fast here I want to share

some of my November with you all.

Though Christmas is my favorite time of year,

I want to remember the beautiful fall that we had.

I was sad to see it go in some ways.

We had ever- so -much fun outside enjoying 

the wild things and flowers.

I thought I'd just share a few pictures of

 some of our adventures.

This little guy was rescued. 

He was lost inside of a blanket 

that we keep on our

covered patio for the animals when they want to 

enjoy a cool nap outside.

It's a Plateau Striped Whiptail

I can almost see a smile! :)

Such pretty markings and his tail is blue.

He was pretty dried out but I soaked it in some water and

kept him in a jar with some grass and water overnight.

I let him go on a warm rock the next day.

When I checked on him later, he was gone

so all was well I guess.

A walk to the canyon resulted in a happy Liberty and a little project.

treasures brought along in a pumpkin pail~

Almost completed.

water droplets

 look what blew inside~

A yummy treat from the chilly- nite bonfire!

(a little confession, however. I followed the instructions but the caramel

hardened to very tough! I have to find out why. 

We sliced them up and ate them anyway!)

Gathering blooms before the first hard freeze.

The little giggles had SOOO much fun picking flowers! It's not very often that

Grandma says, "Pick as many flowers as 

you want to from my garden!"

So they filled their little baskets and
then had fun being creative.

I put mine in this apothecary jar with an eighth cup

 of water and they were 

beautiful for five days without stems in water.

I was so surprised.

It was like a terrarium.

I made some air-dry clay trees to add to my decorating

and to sell. Here are a few waiting for paint and glitter.

They're all done now. 

I'll share them soon.

I've been working on several projects. 

My angel is finished.

I'm making some cards.

Last year I made them all but I won't be doing that this year.

There's a stack of cardboard stars to be glittered!

Oh what fun...

it is to get 

GLITTER EVERYWHERE!

haha. 

Just kidding! But I do love glitter.

 I have come to the conclusion that I really 

should make Christmas crafts all the year through 

because there's never enough time.

Are you shopping?

Baking?

Working on projects?

I am behind on everything today because I've had some all day outings

this week. But we make them fun and

keep "everything" in perspective.

I have little giggles coming soon for a sleepover with

their mommy and tomorrow, we will

have a special brunch for a birthday girl who is turning five!

Cheers..

to her.. to you.. 

to life that is full of such goodness and 

wonder. 

And also remembering those in Tennessee.

Lighting a candle to keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

Please remember to do something nice for yourself during this 

busy season of doing for others.

*Make yourself a nice, hot cup of tea.

*Watch a movie

ooo! a Christmas movie <<<=

(We just watched The Ultimate Gift)

*Stay in your jammies as long as you wish

*Read a good book.

*Buy yourself a present.

*Forgive yourself of something that you've been regretting.

*Work on a project instead of vacuuming

What gift WOULD you give yourself?

The warmest of wishes to you all and thank you

for your visit.

Tamara XO