My Grama's Soul

O.K......I KNOW ALL YOU LADIES HAVE MADE ONE OF THESE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER...   WELL.....I never have.... I came a little late to this artistic side of myself...so I have to make up for lost time. (O:(O: Hence...so many posts at Christmas....so many things to inspire one's creativity. These are bulbs from my sweet mother-in-law and many I have collected over the years. We no longer use them on our tree and they have been in storage for some time....so I  decided to put them to GOOD USE. Not sure if this is the final outcome on the WREATH as the glue-gun has yet to appear..(O:(O: and as you can tell....I am not ONE TO BE TIMID WITH COLOR. tee hee... Have a crafty day dear ladies, Jo

O.K. LADIES....I ADMIT I AM A CLOSET CRAFTER.... during the holidays I cannot seem to get enough of my GLUE - GUN and GLITTER. IT IS ALMOST AS THOUGH I CANNOT help myself.  I am drawn to my little spot I call my studio and am a SLAVE to GLITTER... DO YOU THINK THERE IS SUCH A THING AS GLITTER ANONYMOUS?

ELEGANCE:(n) tasteful luxury ELEGANCE is not "trendy" nor is it "cute or childish" ELEGANCE is timeless SPANING generation after generation ELEGANCE is not pretentious or snobby IT IS SIMPLY A LOVE OF ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL... Here's a tip of the hat to all things  ELEGANT AND BEAUTIFUL.... have a beautiful day dear friends...        all pics by me

GOOD MORNING DEAR FRIENDS.....HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU HAD A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING...I KNOW WE DID. TODAY..I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME PHOTOS FROM MY TWO WORLDS... THIS IS MY LITTLE SPOT WERE THE SUN SHINES... AND THIS IS MY OTHER LITTLE SPOT.. where the snow falls...... We received these pics yesterday from friends in Montana .... I cannot believe the winter wonderland that covers our beautiful spot there. Haven't been there when it snows.. yet...but it will happen. I am truly grateful everyday for what God has given me and his beauty NEVER ceases to amaze me. Gentle Hugs dear friends, Jo

MOST OF US ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE VERY DEAR FRIENDS. BUT A FEW OF US ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE FRIENDS WHO BECOME FAMILY..... THAT IS THE CASE WITH SWEET HUBBY AND I.... WE WILL BE HAVING THANKSGIVING WITH OUR DEAREST FRIENDS FROM  MONTANA AND ALASKA.... CATCHING UP ON NEWS, GIVING THANKS , HEARING OLD STORIES AND NEW. NO...I'm not cooking this year....giggles.....my sweet friend from Montana is a fabulous cook and she wanted to do this meal....each of us will be bringing our assigned dish....I VOLUNTEERED FOR THE NAPKINS (O: MY DEAR FRIENDS HERE's WISHING EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU A JOYFUL AND HEALTHFUL THANKSGIVING.... Hugs as always, Jo

I've never considered my self a crafter......but during the holidays....I seem to want to make a few things. I saw some SWEET BIRDS just like these  at a local store here and I loved how they looked.....SO I decided would attempt to make some of my own. I like how they turned out....you can decorate them in any number of ways...I'm going to use them on garland this year. IT WAS A FUN PROJECT. I hope his time of year brings out the crafter in all of us. Hugs, Jo

HAPPINESS is like a butterfly.  The more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But....if you turn your ATTENTION to other things, it comes SOFTLY and SITS on your SHOULDER. Have a HAPPY day beautiful friends, Jo  Quote:  Good Stuff

AUTUMN.......with its long shadows  and short days WARMER now without  benefit of  rain or snow..... GIVING THANKS for all those who have come before...... AND  all those who will come AFTER BEAUTIFUL ART MAKES AN IMPRINT ON ONE'S SOUL Jo ************ Sweet friends....winner of my last give away  is Rachel of FRENCH FARMHOUSE 425 Rachel....please contact me and I will get you little package in the mail. Photos:  Monet......Bazille

DO YOU EVER SEEM TO SUFFER FROM BLOGGING BLOCK???   I know I do. We all try to find interesting and pithy things to post about ..... giving something to this world of ours....leaving our mark....somewhere..... somehow....... but lately....I've been coming up against this. don't know if it is the holidays and all the effort that one must put forth for that or whether I am just at a lull in my life..... BUT I DO KNOW I WILL BE ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH THIS LITTLE IMPEDIMENT WITH JUST A LITTLE QUITE TIME TO MYSELF. I'M GOING TO GO FIND A QUIET CORNER AND BE STILL AND AT PEACE KNOWING CREATIVITY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND I CAN FEEL GOD PEEKING AT ME WITH A GLINT IN HIS EYE WAITING.....WAITING....... WAITING.......... let's find a quiet corner today dear friends...... Hugs, Jo

  "I FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE ONLY REASON TO BE ALIVE IS TO ENJOY IT" Rita Mae Brown SOMETIMES ENJOYING LIFE IS DIFFICULT......BECAUSE LIFE CAN BE DIFFICULT! However.....If I can learn to discern between what is truly important and what is just peripheral ..... I can remain truly joyful. ENJOYING LIFE IS NOT ABOUT BEING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ENJOYING LIFE IS NOT ABOUT HAVING A LOT OF MONEY IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING THE MOST CREATIVE OR THE MOST CLEVER Enjoying life is about paying attention and doing the best with what we have....where we are. It is about the healthy food we eat it is about the people we love IT IS ABOUT SEEING THE BEAUTY IN ALL THE THINGS GOD HAS GIVEN US. Remember "God creates.....people rearrange". I do hope I enjoy my life today to the utmost!!!! Hugs dear friends. Jo       Photos:  Courtesy Filckr

"a kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." Ingrid Bergman Here is sending each one of you dear readers a big kiss today.........for just being YOU!! All of you are truly beautiful. Hugs, Jo

BY NOW.....YOU ALL KNOW OF MY LOVE OF FLOWERS...... TODAY  I am giving away this little piece of art that once again has hung in my home in various places.....Actually it has been one of my favorites over the years but alas....I no longer have NEED OF IT. OK....HERE IS HOW TO ENTER......TELL ME ONE THING YOU ARE  GRATEFUL FOR...... NO.....IT CAN'T BE THE USUAL FAMILY AND FRIENDS RESPONSE....WE ALL ARE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE...IT MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE.... O.k. I'll start......I'm grateful for the sight in my left eye.... Without it I would be completely blind....and I am such a visual person I would be at such a loss without my vision. O.K......YOUR TURN. ~~~~ Winner of last week's giveaway is Jane at Blondies Journal She has a beautiful diary type blog and is a lovely lady.....please go visit her. Jane.....please send me your mailing info and I will get this little package out to you. ~~~~~ Dear friends.....THIS WILL BE MY LAST GIVE AWAY UNTIL NEXT YEAR.. THE LIN

      Photo from Better Photo

I have borrowed the above phrase from a book by JEAN SHINODA BOLEN, M. D. She is a very wise author on understanding the process of getting older and wiser. Recently, I have suffered a major disappointment......no I'm not talking about the usual every day things....I'm TALKING ABOUT A MAJOR LIFE CHANGING EVENT....ONE THAT HAS MADE ME SIT UP AND PAY ATTENTION........ it has made me view people and my surroundings in a completely different light. oh I know you are thinking at my age I would of figured some things out....but life is a lesson to be learned and we are never to old to learn or be taught. This is what I have learned: "Crones trust their instincts about people and principles." "Trust grows through growing older and wiser, through learning from life." "A painful lesson taken to heart makes an impression." Not everyone you want to help.......wants your help. some people never get it..... During this upcoming holiday season embra

I have posted before of my FRENCH ancestory... the  French love mirrors and they love embellishment.. HERE we have a little of both.....I've collected mirrors for many years....small ones, large ones, middle sized ones TOO LITTLE wall space.....too many mirrors... SO.....this little mirror is my this week's give away. IF INTERESTED.......JUST LEAVE ME A COMMENT TELLING ME SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WOULD SURPRISE ME!! that's it O.K.......I'll start...... I'm blind in my right eye....probably  the reason for all the unfocused pics.....teeheee...... ~~~~~~~~~~~ Winner of last week's give away.....Gerry of GERRY art . Please stop by and say hello to her. have a beautiful weekend dear friends. Jo    P.S. Gerry....please contact me with your mailing address and I will get this out in the mail to you