My Grama's Soul

Another year has passed.... We count them by days..... THE YEARS But can we really remember what really happened on one certain day...say....January  13th, 2011 or August the 3rd of the same year ~~~ I believe we should keep track of the years by EVENTS..... Oh yes, you say, I remember.... The year of the great flood The year of the great fire The year of the potato ~~ when eating massive amounts of carbs was the only thing keeping you sane (O: The year the U.S. was attacked The year my grandson was born The year I graduated The year I married One year slides into another so easily.... Really.....they are just numbers on a calendar The events are what should mark the years.... The numbers are just a method of tracking time. I'm going to make this coming year the year of acceptance and growth.....everything changes.....nothing stays the same. What will you label the year 2012? ~~Just me thinking out loud today~~ HAPPY N...

I've posted before about my dress form....Miss Minnette...... She has been busy choosing her outfit for New Year's Eve. She is an accessory gal like me and so she always goes for those that have a little bling and are a  little different.  This year she has chosen the pendant necklace you see above. She never goes anywhere without her pearls and she does love to pile on the accessories. The pendant you see above was made by MOI.....using soup can lids and junk jewelry.  Yes......I said soup can lids....oops....I guess there is a chewing can tobacco lid in their too. (O:    Oh.....and an old pop bottle cap is what the bling sits on... Here is a shot of the back.  I'm taking a class in making Jewelry from JUNK.....oh boy....do I ever love it. It is being taught at the Shemer Art Center in Phoenix.... This piece may be a little much for many of you....but I do like distinctive jewelry pieces. I actually planned this...

Today....I'm joining all the ladies over at A Stroll Thru Life   for tabletop Tuesday. This is the first time I have participated in this....and since I have always loved creating little displays on my holiday table...I would like to share mine with you this year. I'm really not much of a collector of Christmas decor...but I have managed to collect a few shoe forms....and I wanted to display both the rustic and shiny this year.   I also wanted to use some of my mother's very old china and my mother-in-law's silver.....nothing matched...but that was o.k. by us.  We just wanted their spirits there with us and our friends. For me.....making a beautiful Holiday table has always been very important....nothing formal....just pretty....I truly enjoyed putting this one together ....... and sharing it with you. Have a beautiful day, Jo

For many of us.....holidays have always been a very stressful time.....too much work...too little time.  However....as the years have passed and holidays have changed over the years...I find that ours are getting better and better.   Yes.....this could have been me a few years ago....(actually....my cute grandson was taking pics with my camera)..but you understand my meaning.  Christmas ALWAYS seemed more about the presents and what everyone received than just spending time with people who love you.   My wonderful grandson could be the reason they seem so much more pleasant...oh yes....he loves presents.... But...he also....just loves hanging out with his grandma and grandpa.  He is an only child and has quite wonderful attitude about life.  He enjoys every minute and is always looking for the next adventure.....kind of like his grandpa. Miss Sophie doing what she does best at the holiday.  (O: These pics were...

CUTE HUH???? MERRY CHRISTMAS xo Jo

I am indeed on a little holiday break from my blog....but I wanted to share this great idea with you. The wonderful blog La Porterouge  has begun an on -line book club....with JUST the classics.....right up my alley. Each month we will read a new book and post about the read by either making a recipe that would relate to the book ...or clothing from the era...or anything else related to the read.  This sounds like so much fun and very interesting ........ I might add. Hope to see you there. See you after the holidays, Jo

As it gets closer to Christmas I find myself thinking about Christmas time during my childhood.  My family was one of  very modest means....in fact....often my father was unemployed and my dear mother supported us.  Christmas time could be pretty lean as far as presents went...but we always had a big Christmas dinner   and invited family who were close by.   My mom was always so busy that she often left the Christmas decorating to me....and I gladly did it with what little we had.  In fact, I always enjoyed the task.   My mom NEVER made a Christmas cookie...but she would make cream puffs by the dozen and a home made chocolate cake with hard crunchy frosting that was to die for.  She baked all the pies for Christmas dinner as well as making the actual dinner.  Unfortunately, I was not much help in the kitchen.  I don't know how I ever learned to cook. Anyway.....every Christmas Eve....at midnight they would show A CHRIS...

If I could..... I would send all of you fresh flowers this Christmas..... Please Enjoy! Sugarplum squeezes, Jo

We all love looking at Christmas houses during this festive season.  Here are a few shots around ours..... Please pay no attention to the lady in the housecoat reflected in the mirror.  (O: HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE ENJOYED THESE FEW LITTLE PHOTOS. Have a wonderful day, Jo

Dear Santa ~~~ I've spent 65 Christmases with you.....yep sixty-five......and I know I've asked for a lot over the years.....but this year, I want to keep it simple. Just one thing on my list this year. Can you please fix it so people begin communicating VERBALLY again. No....not on a computer, or texting or twittering and tweeting.  Not facebook or answering machines: press one for English......two for Spanish.....or blackberries or blueberries.... (O:(O:....but actual face to face conversations. A phone call here, a nod hello, a simple thank you, a warm smile and a kind how are you....actually making eye contact. This is all I'm asking for Santa....I know you are so very busy this time of year...but as someone who has been a faithful believer for 60 plus years...I know you won't push my request aside. BTW......we have great  cookies HERE this year!!!  LOL  I figure a little bribe won't hurt. (O: Christmas sparkles to all, Jo

  I have posted before about my love of reusing and repurposing something around my home. This year.....instead of putting up the BIG tree we put up a small one .... so I had tons of Christmas Balls left over. Since they are so beautiful and sparkly I decided to incorporate them in my dining room chandelier.....added a bunch of ribbon and some beaded garland...and instant make over. Yes.....those are old iron bed springs you see.  I love mixing up funky with grand....it always brings me a smile. How about you? Hugs to all, Jo

"Life is not the way it is supposed to be.  It is the way it is.  The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." Virginia Satir A life lived is not without hardship.  At times....many of us have had hardships we thought we could not bare....but we did. During the holiday season with so many people being joyous and merry it is easy  to enter a mind set of ....... well.......I would be joyous too if I only had his or her life.   Well.....in reality....we do have his or her life.....we have LIFE......period. We were given this life to live to the fullest.....not to sit around complaining about what we don't have or being sad because our life is not the same as someone else. The Buddhist tradition believes that each day you wake up.....may be your last day on earth.  Would you want your last day on earth to be one of moaning about what you don't have. Let's think about this during this wonderful season of the year.  Acceptance and being g...

Celebrating our Creator's love and our life on earth........ Hugs, Jo Photo:  Kim Klassen

O.K. sweet friends......what do you think this is??  This came to me in the mail the other day from one of our local retailers. I opened it and didn't have a clue.  First I thought it might be a lighter.....then maybe a small flashlight.....but no~~ not that either. Notice the bling on the case....tiny..tiny....little crystals that are a topaz color.  Well I was a little bewildered ..... so I asked my sweet husband.   His reply......Oh.....that.....that is a Zip-Drive .... says he.  A Zip-Drive with BLING!!! Only where I live in AZ would someone consider putting BLING on a Zip-Drive. Gads.....we are right up there with Rodeo Drive in Hollywood. (O:(O:(O: Don't know how happy that makes me.....either. But it did make me smile....I'll tell you that. Hugs from here, Jo

Yes......your eyes are not deceiving you.....that IS a blue poinsettia..... My local grocer is one great store....they carry everything and I mean everything. The other day was there and came across this unusual plant....a BLUE POINSETTIA....of course it came home with me. It actually is getting bluer by the day....I'm assuming they did this by putting food coloring in the water when they watered an off white plant.  How clever is that? Pretty neat....huh? Hugs from here, Jo

Thanks to each of you who stopped by with your kind comments yesterday......as they say TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY!!  Can't stay in the doldrums for long.....I'm saving all of everyone's muchness in my heart and now it is Pink and fluffy~~ as it needs to be  . Here are a few Christmas pretties to share over this cold, cold weekend. We have our wonderful grandson this weekend....going to get a fire going and make a Gingerbread House......It could be the first one he has ever made....and I know it will be my FIRST! (O: Hugs and warm thoughts to all, Jo