My Grama's Soul

Sydney, Australia is a fabulous city....... Here is their New Year celebration.... We have been there....but not during New Years...how much fun it would be to actually be present during this celebration. Happy New Year to All xo Jo  

Sharing a touch of Springtime in my house.....sending this out to the universe. (O: xo Jo

Keep smiling..... xo Jo

Hugs, Jo

I always love having flowers on a holiday table...as I'm sure a lot of you do.  Came across this idea somewhere and wanted to share it with you. Roses are by far one of my favorite flowers...picked these up at my local market and purchased a package of candy canes for a dollar.....instant holiday.....Threw in a few cranberries just for good measure.....Anyone who knows me....knows I can't leave well enough alone.  (O:(O: Well there you have it.....decorating on the CHEAP for this holiday season. have a wonderful day, Jo

Well.....we "old fossils" finally got the tree up.....not decorated mind you....JUST UP.  LOL LOL   I don't remember these artificial trees being so heavy...of course we usually have someone help us with this...but this year....we are braving it alone.  Well....we will have a little help from my sweet grandson who is going to help decorate the thing over the weekend.  I really don't care what it looks like as long as the darn thing doesn't fall over from being lop sided or something.  (O: Julian doesn't have a big tree at his house so we always have one here for him.  In fact...we saw him just the other day..and the first thing he said was "grandma.....where's the tree".  Sooooo gramps and I got busy.   Our livestock are helping too....with encouragement.... O.K. maybe not exactly helping..but they are encouraging...don't you think?? hugs from here. Jo

Personally, I love receiving home made gifts....I believe it really shows someone's caring...So, this year I have made altered bottles for my very dearest friends. This one is for one of my oldest friends....Jan.....she is also my traveling partner....along with her wonderful husband Jeff. Used an old bottle I found in Montana...with various pieces of embellishment.  Please notice the picture...of the peacock...my friend LOVES, LOVES, LOVES birds...in fact she has geese as pets...LOL LOL...so I thought this would be right up her alley. I know she would have a peacock if she could coax one to stay in her yard. (O:(O: The next  bottle is for my friend, Shirley.   She and her husband Tom are very religious and involved deeply in their church...so I thought this would be appropriate. The front.... The back.. This was made with an old vinegar bottle I had saved because I loved the shape....topped with an old door knob...and embellished w

This much I know about the holidays....."If you can't be with the one you love.....love the one you are with." Most of us miss someone at the holidays...it could be a mom, a dad, a brother, a sister, a best friend, a son, a daughter, a beloved pet and the list goes on. But I believe it is the wise person who embraces the above verse from a favorite song of long ago....I have known people..who were so caught up in their "missing" that they couldn't see the people who loved them....right before their eyes.  They lamented about all their losses..without realizing how much they really had.  I, personally, have had a few holidays like these myself, children absent for one reason or another, brothers gone, and virtually no family left through either death or absence...but no more.  I tell you...for quite sometime now I have embraced the holidays with all the joy God has intended us to have....and loved every minute of them....who knows...this one could b

For those of us who grew up with SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on the television...the above title should certainly bring back memories and a chuckle or two. Remember the Farkle family...Fred Farkle..Fanny Farkle..Fritz Farkle (i think) and SPARKLE FARKLE.....Each time I get out all my sparkly Christmas decorations...this show comes to mind...I know...how weird is that!  Anyway....have been busy sprucing up the house for the holidays. Don't buy any new decorations anymore....at my age...I just want to dispose of things.  So...I get out old favorites and reuse and redo them in various ways.  ALTHOUGH....if I keep taking things apart...I just might need to get a few new things to last for Christmases to come. I've had this big Snowman for years...won it as a giveaway from Laurie Ann's Vintage home...thought he needed a little color since he is all white....so added some red things...and he fits right in. Had this old wire ribbon from last year...and simpl

We just returned from our little trip over the holidays.  Thought this pic was so exotic I wanted  to post it....we were in some very exotic spots.  Will post more later...have to try and get ready for the holidays....We are sooooo behind!! hugs from here, Jo

I'm always looking for ways to use old things in new ways....so this year I just gathered things from around the house to decorate my table. Old law books purchased this summer in Fredericksburg, an old shoe form found in Montana... The vintage bottle shining in the candlelight we found in Wyoming this summer. Grasses from my yard as well as scented geranium and greek oregano in vases... This beautiful blue cobalt bud vase belonged to my ex-husband...who used to always spend Thanksgiving with us. He has been gone a number of years and I like to have his spirit with us....as well as that of Brad's parents.....We use his mom's silverware to eat with...a little tarnished...but loved none the less. This small blue bottle is one that I altered...it was given to me by a friend in Idaho....It is actually an old vanilla bottle from Mexico...you can still smell the vanilla....added the Traditions tag..as I thought it was so appropriate f

You know me.....if I can make something instead of buying it....I will. It's the end of the year....and I did not have a new 2013 calendar...but I had already booked some 2013 appointments.....so....I made my own. Downloaded some free printable calendars on google....covered an old composition book with some old papers and lace I had on hand.....and instant calendar for 2013. I didn't really care if it was the "prettiest" calendar on the block....I just wanted something I could use....and NOT PAY $15.00 to $20.00 for. Being frugal ROCKS!! hugs, Jo

Received these from my friend Jean.....up in Montana.....pretty interesting aren't they.  BTW.....shots from Dallas Arboretum ...... hugs, Jo

Been messing around with "junk" again. What do you think? Beads from old necklaces taken apart and reused in new ways..parts of an old earring and bracelet.  The silver piece is not one I made..but I liked how it looked so I added it. We will be leaving for warmer weather soon...on a little trip...this necklace should fit right in!! Hugs, Jo

Years ago I came across the above term in a book entitled THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE.....perhaps many of you have read it. It was a completely new term to me as I had never ever considered much of anything besides just getting through my day.  Days spent mostly caring for family members with one issue or another....rarely focusing on what I WANTED out of life. As I am now a woman of advanced years.... I realize how very important the thought of  beginning with the end in mind is.  In fact if there was one thing I would share with any of you younger bloggers out there it would be this term. So often, as women, we focus on every one else....totally forgetting ourself in the process...trying to fix or help this one or that one..and never really focusing on the most important one....OURSELVES.  Not nurturing our creativity or taking care of ourselves emotionally, spiritually or physically...and then we wake up one day and think.....WHERE HAS ALL THE TIME

UMMMM......please notice the wonderful cameo of my darling niece around my neck...oh my~~ oh my goodness.....I digress in my story.  Anyway....the reason for this little missive is due to a recent exasperating note I have received, as of late,  from Miss Sophie  You all remember her don't you....that wonderful Cavalier King Charles who had the PERFECT life.....until Little Mister..aka...Skyler came on the scene. She writes and I quote... "Oh Auntie.....I had the perfect life of a 10 year old spaniel.... Endless pampering People food on very, very many occasions Always got my own small bowl of rice when we ordered Chinese food Slept in the big bed with my humans..and I might add...had it all to myself Was coddled, caressed and loved totally and singularly for the first ten years of my life Never had to share my humans OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER with anyone else AND THEN HE CAME Little Mister, Skyler..... Now.