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.

"Lift Up Your Eyes"

"Lift Up Your Eyes" painted 9/12/08

"Vase of Flowers"

"Vase of Flowers" painted 11/9/08

Flowers and Berries

Here are the last flowers and berries I saw this year (first part of Nov.). I just love the brilliant pinks, yellows, and reds against the backdrop of Fall. So beautiful.

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.

How do you lose a shoe and a sock?

I can't figure out how you can lose a shoe and both socks while jogging (saw the other sock a little ways away from the one shown, but didn't take a picture of it). You can see that the sock is actually on the jogging trail and the shoe was in the grass. I know some people run barefoot, but they probably leave their shoes at home (or in their car). I'm still baffled.

Cute little fellow eating a nut

A cute little fellow sitting in a tree eating a nut. (And you can definitely tell its a fellow.)

"Hosanna 2"

"Hosanna 2" painted 11/16/08

Mushroom Invasion

Just when you think there couldn't possibly be any more mushrooms, here comes the mushroom invasion! These are the last mushrooms I saw this year, also at the end of October. Quite freakishly amazing! (If you stare at them long enough they seem to be moving, hence the invasion.)