Tuesday, December 31, 2013

MIRACLE ON 12th STREET


JARS OF CLAY


II Corinthians 4:7
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

How will you fill your empty 2014 vessel?

Might I suggest miracles?
All one must do
is
 look!


(please click link for this amazing miracle)

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

THE NUTCRACKER


 is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by 
Marius Petipa

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

 Although the original production was not a success, the twenty-minute suite that Tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. The complete Nutcracker has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season.

I remember the first time I was "forced" to go see it, I had no idea
that I would soon want to make it a Christmas tradition.

Perhaps Bass Hall in Fort Worth, Texas was what was so intoxicating to me

I was smitten the first time I saw these matching angels

If you ever have a chance to see a performance here of any kind
you will be so glad you did
it is beyond lovely


It's priceless to watch this magical ballet
with a child
(this is my Betty with her best friend Acie just last week...they look like sisters)

The original production of The Nutcracker, 1892

Olga Preobrazhenskaya as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Nikolai Legat as Prince Coqueluche

Ivan Vsevolozhsky's original costume designs for Mother Gigogne and her Polichinelle children, 1892


 Ivan Vsevolozhsky's original costume sketch for The Nutcracker (1892)


This is the part where the snow falls from above
glittery and so real
M.A.G.I.C.

and while you're in Fort Worth
be sure and visit the Gaylord for some winter time antics!

Holy Nutcracker Ya'll!






Thursday, December 12, 2013

FRONT PORCH SUSSIES

What you will need to pull off this fun 
ring the doorbell and run front porch surprise

project partners
dressing alike is an option
paperwhite bulbs

used and cleaned prayer candles
(it is very possible that your name was called at the lighting and burning of one of these candles)
I'm quite sure as we were thinking of friends and neighbors 
lots of good cheer toward you and your family was involved

ribbon, bells, ornaments
colorful message and instructions
we folded these fan style and placed within the jar
driver and chef have supper cooking and car heating up
it's cold outside!

story time break  in the pillow fort
fresh rosemary from the herb garden for a nice fragrance
laughter at  how it's going to all come together
its' getting dark enough to deliver
off we go!
to deliver 
a bit of handcrafted nature and it's promise
happy spaces
to include you as we remember
that Santa is on his way!




Tuesday, December 3, 2013

IT'S BEGINNING

to look a lot like Christmas around 822

Do you decorate your home each Christmas the same way?  Or do you like to change things up every year?

Since Christmas decorations can be rather pricey...I find myself being a theme decorator and using the same things year after year...and you know?  I really love it like that...

BUT...this year...I made a purchase that shook it all up!  Dontcha just love Hobby Lobby!

the 3 things I love about Hobby Lobby..
1.  the seasonal things are always on sale...like 50%!
2.  they play Christian music which I find so relaxing in the hectic isles during hectic shopping days
3.  they're closed on Sunday...big statement in this day and age!

This year I bought two champagne pre-lit tinsel trees that I am

C.A.A.R.A.Z.Y. A.B.O.U.T.

one for each side of the entry...each with just a jeweled cardinal or two
cardinals represent Christmas and winter to me
a girl can never have too many Nativities
I have them all over the house...no presents under the trees
just Nativities
isn't that what the gift is?

My favorite to decorate is the living room..the walls are a pale pink and it's so pretty with red
love the glitter
we have owls in our trees...so we love to add this element of nature all around this room
why look.... there are my two baby owl peeps...sitting in the nest...last year..one nest had a golden egg...
this year
that egg hatched
there are me and B...see that I have an owl on my shoulder?  I have had these decorations for 16 years and I still adore them
 another owl
more red birds

more owls

forced bulbs in the kitchen window

Nutcracker hanging on the door to the wine cellar

the bar
we love holiday cocktails with our friends and family 
and each other!
this little jacket shows how much American Honey I am NOT drinking
:-)
the tree at the baking station that nobody bakes at
surrounded
 by those Nutcrackers
I love old mercury ornaments
yesterday found me chopping
spraying and lighting
an old dead tree...70 degrees today
high of 12 Thursday
it's a wonder we don't catch pneumonia
medicine!

Pa rum pa pum pum ya'll!

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