I haven't dropped off the face of the earth

For those of you wondering, no, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. I spent a wonderful Labor Day weekend at home with family. Before we left, it was a flurry of packing and cleaning and making cards, etc. for the boxes Mom has at home. Now that I'm back, it's a flurry of cleaning and painting and making things for our booth at a local art show next Saturday. I have lots of pictures I need to post and I hope to get to it. However in the meantime, I wanted you to know I'm still here!

Hot, Hot Summer Days

It has been horribly hot lately. You'd think with all the rain we had a week ago that it wouldn't be so hot. Instead, that just added an extra mugginess to the humidity we normally have and you've got so hot that even your wrists (and the top of your hands) sweat when you step outside. We've had temperatures around 100 degrees (or over) for the past four or five days. I don't know how long this heat wave will be, but am now kind of wanting it to rain again to get some relief.

This is what Brownie and I do to cool off a little. She loves playing in the sprinkler (especially if someone is watching as she'll look over her shoulder to make sure you are still there). She likes the motion of it and how the water squirts out and she wants to "bite" it and she'll do it over and over. In the early summer, she'd be right out and up at the sprinkler, but with it being so hot now she'll just stand under the trampoline and let the water come to her! Every so often, she'll want her head wiped off with the towel and I'll towel her head off. We haven't been staying out to play too long and I almost just don't come out from under the umbrella on my patio table or the canopy of the porch swing. My internal temperature runs pretty hot, so too much of this type of heat is more than I can handle. I'd normally sit here and work on some crafts, but it is too hot to even do that outside. Paper and canvas don't hold up well under this kind of heat. I took 4 showers yesterday because I was so hot and sweaty. That was at least two too many, but it had to be done. Stay cool this summer, peeps!

On a side note, for those of you who notice I've mainly been posting during the week and not on the weekends, it is because Pooker has monopolized this computer during the weekends and I couldn't get on to post on my blog. Yes, he got me my own computer but I haven't got all the programs on it yet that this one has, hence my adobe photoshop is on this one and therefore any pictures that I want to post. So until I can get around and do that, postings on weekends may be pretty sparse.

Hi, I'm Cherinda

I've been blogging (off and on) for almost three years now (the off is when I've lost a grandparent and have been mourning and I've lost two in the last three years). I haven't had many people read my blog (but my family), so I'm not sure I've ever really introduced myself to those of you who don't know me (and have to) love me. In fact, I find myself with so much I could say, that I'll just have to pick and choose what to share now and I'll keep sharing tidbits with you as we go along. (I love reading stories and I like telling stories.)

My name is Cherinda and I grew up on a farm in the Panhandle of Oklahoma. I loved it. I went to several colleges, then finally ended up in one in the the largest city in Oklahoma. Even after graduating, I stayed here because what is a girl with an art degree to do? You'd think go after art, but I didn't know how to go about that so I worked for nine years as an administrative assistant. I like that type of work and am good at it, but found I'd lost my soul and my passion (and most of the light in my eyes) so I returned to my art. Yes, I am an artist (the title of which I fully embraced in my 30's). I need beauty and color and light and movement to really satisfy my soul. But the bills have to be paid (and they are, thanks to my husband of fourteen years, who I shall ever after refer to on here as Pooker).

I'm not the type to sit around and do nothing (although I can do nothing with the best of them), so I started off painting again and my sister has her photography and we decided to start doing some art shows three years ago. Due to not actually selling any art or photography (not for lack of trying or talent, but mainly to figuring out the art/photography people buy off the streets are more like prints and smaller paintings), we have expanded over the past few years to also making cards, magnets, bookmarks, tags, and other knick knacks and have started to sell those things at our art shows (as well as actually selling some paintings, too!). A year and a half ago, we heard about Etsy (a place for people to buy and sell handmade and vintage things), so we opened a store there (3creativesisters.etsy.com) which has slowly picked up both business and people who heart our store over the past year. We now have an outlet for our creativity online as well as booths in person several times a year.

So, that is who I am and what I do (in a nutshell). Other than that, my days start off with a walk down on the trail by the river (with my sweet little brown dog, Brownie, also known as Bippi, Buppa, or Bip) then I go on to cook, clean, or create (or run errands and other things that don't begin with a "c"). When I take pictures, they are from things I see in my everyday life (or from when we go home) and I try to capture the beauty of a moment or just something that I find interesting or unusual, whether it involves nature or animals or interaction with people or lost shopping carts or things left outside (although I don't have a super duper mega camera, I do have my handy dandy little digital camera which is adequate for me). That is why you will usually see more pictures on here than anything else, though I'm thinking I should tell you more stories. Who doesn't love a good story?

I'd better get on with my day. We've got our walk under our belt and I need to eat (yes, I like to eat lunch around 10:30 am and supper somewhere before 5:00 pm, or as I used to say dinner and supper, but that was before coming to the city where no one could figure out what meal I meant). It is very hot (mid to upper 90's) and humid here, so we'll stay inside and I'll clean and take care of things so we can go outside later when the sun has passed over the house and the patio is in the shade. Enjoy your day!

Happy Late Father's Day!

And a Happy Late Father's Day to all you wonderful Father's out there! As this was the first weekend Pooker and I have been together in a few weeks because of his travels and my travels, I didn't do much of anything this weekend but hang out with him. Of course I wished him a happy Father's Day as he is a wonderful Father to our beautiful dog-ter! We grilled last night and had hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, chicken, potato salad, and grillin beans chased down with root beer, Coke, and chocolate chip cookies!!!

A Day of Remembrance

Today we pause on our journey to remember those who have gone on before us. We are thankful for all the service men and women who have given their lives so that we may be free. Their sacrifice does not go unnoticed. We also pause to remember loved ones who have run and finished their race and whose absence leaves empty spaces in our hearts and lives that only they could fill. We are thankful that they watch over us now and we will be re-united after we have run our own race. Brownie and I's journey is filled with a little more walking than running, but still.... We want to take time to smell the roses (or the mushrooms, or the wild honeysuckle, or the river....)

My lovely hiatus

I had a rough start to the New Year--two weeks of a terrible upper respiratory infection in which I had to spend most of those nights on the couch because of all the coughing and nose blowing. That put me behind and I'm just now feeling like I'm catching up.

We are up to 91 sales in our Etsy store! We were really believing for 100 by the end of January, but don't think I could have done ANY shipping during those few weeks. It was also nice to have a break from the hectic pace we kept up in the Fall for all those shows. (I say all, but there were 3. Felt like 20.) The big sellers for the month of February have been sunglasses that I'm selling from my personal collection of 1980's sunglasses. In keeping with my theme for this year, I'm trying to lighten my load. I figured if they have been in a box for the last 20 years, they should probably go on to new homes and blessings on them as they go. Plus, some of them no longer fit on my head. What is up with that?

My grandma passed away two years ago today (and my grandfather almost a year ago this coming March 14). I took their deaths hard, although they had both lived long, beautiful lives and God was so gracious to us in their passings. Truthfully, between the shows and the loss, I just really didn't feel like sharing much. Not to mention that they closed the trail by the river Brownie and I walk on during the week and it is coming up on a year that we haven't been able to walk there. They have recently opened it back up, but it is still in stages of renovation. I have no idea if all those beautiful mushrooms will be back or not, not to mention the wonderful wild flowers. I was kind of grieving the loss of our regular walking space as well and I haven't taken as many pictures of nature as I normally would have since the place we have to walk now doesn't really have any mushrooms or flowers. Mainly just geese, pigeons, seagulls (yes, seagulls in land-locked Oklahoma), and ducks. I haven't shown you those, either, as my camera doesn't have a good enough zoom for you to get a good look. Plus, they'd be moving and I'm better with semi-still targets.

I'd like to keep you updated more regularly, but only time will tell if I'm able to or not. Plus, I don't like to get to a place where I feel like I HAVE to do something over wanting to do something. And I like giving you beautiful nature shots to brighten your day, but I don't have a beautiful view quite yet. Maybe you (and I) will just have to settle for what I do have: a beautiful dog, handmade art and crafts, and some long distance shots of what may/may not be geese, pigeons, seagulls, or ducks.

What is going on with me?

I have been so absent from here for MONTHS. It did start with the computer and it continued with how busy we were for the three shows we did this fall. My sister and I both felt like we were working from behind. I still kind of feel that way. Our first two shows were successful and the last one wasn't very successful. What we learned this Fall was we shouldn't do any shows into November. I think we'll probably stick with the two successful shows we've got going on.

Our Etsy store has also continued to increase! We are up to 80 sales and are believing for 100 sales by January 28th which is the date we had our very first sale (a set of magnets my sister made). I really enjoy having the store and having a place to sell whatever I decide to make.

Well, I thought I could do a longer post to let you know I may be back (more so after Christmas probably), but I'm now due to go for a walk in this 19 degree weather. Thank God it is sunny!!

Bear with me peeps!

We've been having computer problems the past few weeks. Our main computer (which the laptop goes through to print, etc.) is operating at full capacity and it is time for us to get a new one. In the meantime, the laptop did not have a program on it to download or open pictures! We've never had the need for it to, so.... You may not be seeing any pictures with my updates until we can get this ironed out.

Also in the meantime, sales have picked up in our Etsy store (we are up to 35 sales!) and orders from people locally. We've really been working hard to get everything done AND make new product to put in our store. This is a good thing, but means other things might go by the wayside for a bit until we're able to get back to them. Between the computer and selling our wares, I'm doing all I can right now. But never fear, you are not forgotten!

FYI--our Santa Fe is now fixed from the hail damage it sustained upon return from our vacation to New Mexico (freak hailstorm with everything from pea size hail to baseball size hail--yikes) and our neighbors got a new air-conditioner! Yeah to both!!

Musky cologne, dramatic movies, and why I haven't blogged sooner

I'm sitting outside on my patio on a blanket, finally enjoying some cooler weather as night is falling and the crickets are singing. I was laying down and watching the clouds drift by when I smelled it again and I knew I needed to share this moment. It's actually wafting from our neighbor's open window, if you can believe it. That's how strong it is. It's hard to enjoy the smell of the night with this reaching out for me and embracing my nostrils. It's the smell of a man's musky cologne. Now I'm not one to tell someone how much cologne they should or should not use, but I question if this may be a little much if I'm outside their house and am a good fifteen feet away from the open window. We are separated by a screen and a picket fence. If it were actually a good smelling cologne, I probably would enjoy it. This one's just simply a bit too musky for me. Let me try to put my finger, er nose, to the undernotes and see if I can give you anything else to go on besides musky. Give me a minute. Maybe some berganot? Some rotten sandalwood? It may actually smell pleasant if it just weren't so strong. And maybe either of those shouldn't be mixed with musk. Then I want to question what type of musk. Muskrat? Musky doe? Musk of ox? Not sure.

I suppose I may also owe you an explanation for my month and a half absence from blogging. It was kind of a combination of things for me starting with the fact that the pleasure of doing was almost overriden by my obsessive need to post almost daily. While that is something I'd like to do, it can get to be a burden rather than a blessing and then it's time to stop for a bit and return. I was also having to take care of a lot of housework I'd put off to get my Etsy store up and running (20 sales so far!!) and I spent a lot of time cleaning it and getting ready to go on our family vacation to New Mexico for my parent's 40th anniversary (lots of fun, although tiring as I seemed to always be getting up much earlier than you should get up on vacation) (would like to share it with you, but I also have lots of other things that happened in between to share as well, but it will probably just have to be when I get around to it as I'm not going to push myself and am going to keep my house a bit cleaner and work on some paintings). I was also a little sad and was still dealing with the death of not only my grandad, but my grandma from a year ago. It's hard to lose two so close together, really three within a four year period and to go from having four to having one. I'm slowly adjusting.

There you have it. Thankfully, the cologne smell has slowly abated and now I'm hearing whatever dramatic movie he is watching (can tell it's dramatic from the way the music soars, then crescendos). I just hope it isn't Titanic as I can only watch/listen to that movie so many times because 1) it always ends the same and 2) I'm slightly claustrophobic and when the ship fills up with water it gets a bit hard to breathe and I have to remind myself I'm not underwater with them. One might wish he'd just close the window, but he can't as either their air-conditioner is broken and/or they can't afford to run it. He HAS to have the window open and I sure don't begrudge him whatever air he can get, especially when the temperature has been steadily in the upper 90's and 100's. So keep the musky cologne wafting and the dramatic movies playing!

Unexpected Project and Garage Sale

Sorry, peeps, that I've been unable to post this week. I thought I'd better let you know what's going on so you know I'm okay! I've just had several projects this week (including an unexpected one from a friend who needed my help with some errands/packets of info/goodie bags), so that took some of my focus as she needed part of it ASAP.

The rest of my focus has went into a garage sale that my cousin and I are having today! Those are a lot of work, but the reward of getting free of a bunch of junk (and getting paid for it) is a beautiful thing! I'll let you know how it goes. It is 4:45 am and I'm awake and need to start getting ready. We've got to try to get set up by 7:30 am because you want to be ready for those people who come early and we'd like them to see what we have rather than just a bunch of un-opened boxes!!! (I'm taking the last of 3 full vehicle loads over there with me.) (Yes, I've had all that extra in my garage for more than a year!)

Gotta go!

38 and Feeling Great, Book Fair, and Three Etsy Sales

It's been a while since I let you know what was going on. I finally finished up my part-time work right before we went home over Valentine's Day weekend which left me able to do other projects (will get around to posting those pics!). Since we got back, I've been working on putting vintage items to sell in our Etsy store, working on more paintings (had a beautiful day and I painted outside), and making more bookmarks (manlier ones) for a custom request. I also turned 38 and have been celebrating for a week. Funnily enough, I feel as good at 38 as when I turned 28 (will post pictures of our birthdays, too!)

We had three sales in one day at our Etsy store on the 26th! That was exciting. Today was the annual Book Fair we go to (in which we get there between 6:30 and 7:00 am and wait in line until they open at 8:00 am) and I, who don't really start fully functioning until 9:00 am, was chatty Cathy. I found myself talking non-stop to Pooker and dancing around in front of him. I kept up the talking when my sister arrived to wait with us. What can I say? I love books! I did find quite a few that I bought, but not as many this year as Iast year. I buy a few romance, a few mystery, a few fiction, and I look for old books. Not rare books, but books published before the 60's and very inexpensive. (I'll have to run down the titles of some of them for you and the years they were published in another blog.) I just like having them. I don't get just any one, especially if the title isn't that great (just in case anyone gets any ideas). I got one today published in the 1920's. I think the earliest one I have was published in the 1910's. There's just something really neat about owning something that old. I also like how they look on my shelf. Guess I should take a picture to show you what I mean. Maybe I'll do that when I blog about them. That would give you something to look forward to! I'll have to squeeze that in after I get my house cleaned and straightened back up from all the creating I've done.

We had a wonderful birthday lunch with our cousins at Bellacino's after the Book Fair to celebrate our birthdays (Pooker's was earlier this month, mine was the 21st, and Nee's is the middle of March). After lunch, they headed to the Book Fair (since it would be considerably less crowded than in the morning) and Nee went home so she could load up with her husband and kids and go to the farm for a week to help out. Pooker and I came home where he dragged his box of books in and proceeded to take a nap. I dragged mine in and lovingly pulled them out and lined them up to admire them. I wanted to nap, but knew I probably would just rather get to sleep early than nap and stay up late. In fact, Brownie is already in bed.

We had beautiful weather earlier this week, then today it was cool and cloudy. It may remain cool for the next few days, but the forecast for Thursday is 80 degrees! I guess that might make this next weekend the perfect weekend for a garage sale. If that is the case, I've got lots of stuff to do this week besides what I already mentioned. We'll see.

Five Blackhawks

As I neared the intersection while I was driving, I saw five Blackhawk helicopters flying over the mountain. I was frantically grabbing for my camera to get a picture, but I only managed to get the tail end of them (three that you can barely see). Thankfully, the light was red so I was at least able to get this picture. I'm not even sure if these are really called Blackhawks or not, but it was the word that popped into my head (and these looked like the choppers I saw in the movie "Blackhawk Down") .

Brownie and I relaxing

Here's Brownie and I relaxing and watching TV. Anytime there is a blanket or a towel or whatever spread out anywhere, that is where she will sit or lay. I love having her curled up in the bend of my knees. She's warm and cuddly and sweet.

We had a good weekend at home in the Panhandle. It was nice and relaxing. We did go see Grandad, but he wasn't very responsive and kept his eyes closed almost the whole time. They said a front had passed through the night before and the weather really affects people with Alzheimer's/Dementia. Other than that, we relaxed, visited, watched a movie together, went on a treasure hunt, and watched the premiere of the Amazing Race (which was so funny watching them try to get the cheese down the hill). I'll post what pictures I took when I get a chance, but I'm trying to get my vintage things on our Etsy store and make more bookmarks (the lady I had my first sale to this week indicated she may want a few more)(a big thank you to the wonderful lady who purchased from me!).

Another one bites the dust...

Yessss, this is my second vacuum to bite the dust. (If you'll recall, my first one shorted out on me, complete with sparks and the smell of burning from where it was plugged in.) This is my second one, which we only purchased two and a half years ago (feels like only six months ago). There's a bit of a story, so let me get to telling it.

After my first vacuum shorted out on me, we had to go vacuum shopping. We ended up at Sears and bought a Kenmore Progressive vacuum (pictured above). My sister also needed a new vacuum around the same time and I was happy to recommend the one above as it had tremendous sucking power (made even more impressive by the fact that the one I'd had previously for eleven years must not have had much suction at all or maybe a steady decline of suction over the years to where this one felt magically powerful). So, she bought one too. We've been noticing in the past few months when we vacuumed, there would be a slight burning smell.

She called me two weeks ago and told me she'd burned the belt on her motor and broke one end of the brush off. She said the smell of burnt rubber lasted all night. Evidently, the brush is $35 to buy a replacement for an the belt is $5, so they were going to replace them even though they went out and bought a new vacuum. (Her husband wants her to have a backup vacuum as this is the girl who has gone through two mixers by burning up the motors.) She told me if I was smelling rubber I'd better check the belt on mine.

I proceeded to take it apart and check my belt and it looked perfectly fine, so I screwed it back together and went on about my business. Until Thursday night. I was vacuuming and had finished half the house and the smell of burning kept getting stronger and stronger, then BAM, a loud noise and a little smoky burning smell. I turned the vacuum off and turned it over and hollered to Pooker that I thought the vacuum just broke. I unscrewed the bottom and the little roller brush fell out at me on one side. It had burned completely off. I looked at the belt, but there was no problem with it, only that one side of the roller brush. Kind of odd. Especially since it just happened to my sister's vacuum in the last two weeks. Her roller brush must have broken on the side with the belt, which would explain why it broke the belt when the roller brush broke and fell into it.

I called her and let her know it was not her at all, but some genetic flaw in these vacuums (or a horrible ploy by the manufacturer to make you spend money on more parts every few years). So, we had to go out and get a new vacuum. It's a Bissell, especially for pet hair (I also shed hair like a pet, so it wasn't only because of Brownie). I wasn't happy about spending more money for a vacuum (I expect them all to last at least eleven years because my other one did). But I have to tell you that I love this new vacuum! It can recline almost flat backwards to you can slide it under more things and feel like you are getting everything really well. And, the brush rotates so fast, it is like a hungry animal straining to pick up everything it can so it actually kind of propels itself forward a bit. Nice.

No, we aren't going to bother replacing the brush on the old one. I'll be putting it out with the trash. I figure if it did it once (twice), then it will just do it again. I think it is a fatal flaw in the design and I sure don't need that. Plus, it is nice to have one that doesn't leave your freshly vacuumed room smelling like burnt rubber.

Well, must go. We've got food to prepare for our Super Bowl party (just the two of us, but we like to eat). We're having a hot artichoke dip (mmmmn) and later we'll have cheese fondue (also mmmmn). I've got to get my crafts table set up facing the TV so I can eat and do crafts during the game and watch intently during the commercials. I've tried reading during the game, but then it's hard to pull my mind away from the book to even care about the commercials. Craft time keeps the hands busy, but the mind free to watch the commercials. (Craft time is different from art time as crafts consist more of sewing or making gift tags, bookmarks, or what have you and art (for me) involves paint and a paintbrush or my fingers and it is all consuming and I lose myself in the colors and the paint and the moment and the movement. Couldn't do that and watch TV, either.) Happy watching and/or what have you and eating!

Mailings, Gift Tags, and Paintings

Yikes, it's been a week since I've posted. That second mailing turned out to be over 500 pieces and I had to do it all last Friday. I realized after I was done (and had gotten them all in the mail) that I was really tense through my neck and shoulders. It took a couple of days to work that out.

I was also working on gift tags for my mama and a painting for my Grandad's room and an item for Dad and Mom to take to the Soil Conservation District's auction at the end of next month. Mom was in town on Wednesday, so I was working hard to have all that ready so she could take it home with her.

I'd say in the past couple of weeks I've made over 300 gift tags (which I really enjoy making). On Sunday, I sat outside and painted Grandad's painting and the item I'd thought would be great for the auction. I'd been thinking what should I do for the auction and the rocks I'd picked up from home during Christmas and our family rock hunt (I do have pictures I'll show you from it!) came to my mind (seeing that the people on the soil conservation district board would naturally like nature and possibly rocks!). I also thought I'd call them "Oklahoma Rocks!" in that they are rocks and Oklahoma is a great state. I sorted through my rocks and selected the largest one, which seemed to be begging for a flowery landscape. That's what I painted on it.

I'd told Mom my idea to paint a rock for the auction and she said, "Oh, okay... Maybe you could paint one with a lot of different colors and call it a psychedelic rock." I could tell she had no idea what I really was going to do when I painted a rock. I think she thought I'd paint the rocks straight colors, like kids do, and it wouldn't be something that would be appropriate for the auction. I took pictures of it when I was done and e-mailed them to her. She called later and the first words she said were, "I love it! It is beautiful!" They decided they did want the rock for auction. I really think someone will love it and buy it. It's different, unique, and it is beautiful (if I also say so myself).

So, now I'll show you Grandad's painting and the rock painting so you can see what's been keeping me so busy that I've neglected to post for you.

All work and little play

Well, I still haven't downloaded all my photos from Christmas but it is okay as I have a few odds and ends to show you to finish off last year. Plus, I've (we've) been working hard on getting items in our Etsy shop (continue to check it out as we've only just begun to get our stuff on there--it takes a while). Although we haven't had a sale as of yet, we do have people who love some of our items and some who have marked our shop as a favorite! That's pretty encouraging!

I've been working on getting the house cleaned up today and trying to get caught up with my part-time job. I've got lots of projects I need to work on, but have got to finish both the aforementioned things before I can immerse myself in fun.

Brownie and I have been continuing on our walks, but we usually drive to where we are going to start walking and then walk from there. I just don't feel comfortable walking out the front door and heading down the street as I'm still not sure those dogs who attacked us have been picked up yet. I'm not going to take a chance. Besides, there just isn't that much to take pictures of at the moment (although I do carry my camera just in case).

My Grandad is not doing well and he is (and has been) weighing on my heart. To see and hear of him doing and saying ugly things is so not Grandad. Dementia and Alzheimer's both (not that he has both, but both those diseases in general) rob the person and their loved ones of so much. It breaks my heart. I'm needing to put these feelings to paint so I can express them and get them out. I've really got several things to paint, but have to wait until I get my art room cleared up. I'm currently working on gift tags and those tend to be spread all over. The room isn't big enough to do both.

It was such a beautiful day today--sunny and warm with a light breeze, just enough to keep it from being too hot. No wonder the geese haven't left town yet.

Just wanted to update you on where I'm at, in case you've been missing my almost daily posts. Never fear, I'm still here! I'll get caught up with all this and be back to posting more frequently before you know it!

Happy New Year!

I'm back again! We got back late Wednesday afternoon. I was so tired that I wasn't even able to stay up to welcome in the New Year. I haven't gotten the pictures off my camera yet (but I do have people in my pictures from this trip!). When I download them, I will get them posted (although I may need to post the rest of the leaf pictures from last year first!).

I'm still tired (haven't seemed to catch up on my sleep yet), so this won't be a long post. I need to shower and get ready (admittedly my first shower in several days) because Pooker and I are going out so he can spend some of his Christmas money. Not sure what he is looking for, but I'll keep my eyes open for a pair of furry boots. Not overly furry, just the cozy and warm type of furry. If I don't find any, no problem! My sister and I are going out shopping on Tuesday so I don't have to jump on the first pair of furry boots I see (not literally).

Anyway, hope your Christmas was filled with beautiful things and that your New Year will be too!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Well, that was the last of the paintings I painted in 2008 (I'm not sure that I actually posted every painting I painted this year--I think I didn't start posting them until the summer because I didn't know if that would be something that would be interesting on a blog or not--I decided of course they belong on my blog, interesting or not).

I think the last of the pictures I took in Nov. are scenery and bunches of beautiful leaves (which I'll now have to post after Christmas). I really haven't taken many pictures in December, probably because where we are walking now is not that interesting, nor are there many bright, beautiful colors to grab my attention. Plus, with the frigid cold, there's no way I want to pull my hand out of my glove and fumble around with the camera (especially with no happy spots of color). I need my bright happy spots of color. The winter with its bare leaves and dead grass doesn't hold much beauty for me. My soul goes into hibernation along with the animals, the leaves, the grass, the flowers, and comes alive again with the spring! (I could not make it living in Alaska.)

Anyhoo, just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! We'll be at home for Christmas and I'll be visiting, playing, and helping in the kitchen so you'll have to find some way to live the next few days without a new post from me. I'll be back to posting next week and hopefully with some lovely shots from our time together (will try to get more people in these shots as the people I'm with are very important to me!).

If this happens to be my last post for 2008, then I want to leave you with a blessing (always a blessing): May His love heal your heart, His grace see you through each day, His peace lift your burdens, His arms enfold you to hold you close, and may 2009 be a year of great blessings in every area of your life.

Waiting for Mama

My sister and I went with our mama to some appointments she had in the City (Oklahoma City) in November. It was while we were sitting in this waiting room (waiting) that we came up with some brilliant ideas (which we haven't actually had the time to do yet, with all the preparations for Christmas). As soon as we actually make aforementioned "brilliant ideas," I'll let you know. You can tell by her laughing eyes that along with our sparks of creative genius, we had a lot of fun.

In between appointments, we shopped at several stores and of course, we had lunch. We ate at P.F. Chang's where we had this cute (young) waiter who was really nice to us. When we left, along with his tip, I wrote him a note to tell him how much we appreciated his kindness and smiles. I signed it the "Three Lovely Ladies." I hope it brightened his day. Too often, we don't tell others, especially strangers (or even family), about something they've done that we really appreciate. I think it means a lot to hear that something about you is appreciated. I can still recall going through a drive-thru window at Long John Silvers/A&W and having the guy who took my money inhale and say, "You have the most beautiful eyes." I appreciated it (and continue to remember it with fondness).

I think I've gone off on another tangent, haven't I? Well, I can't use the "I'm tired" excuse, but can I say that all the packing/planning/preparing has gone to my head?

Anyway, we had a lovely day and I'm glad we had the opportunity to be together.

Pooker and Brownie playing the piano

Brownie loves to hear Pooker playing the piano. She stays as close as she can to him while he plays. I admit I helped her up there to sit by him, but she sure didn't mind.