My Grama's Soul

This is a picture of our little tree this year.  Each year our trees seem to be smaller, a function of our getting older and just wanting to deal with less stuff.  I'm sure a few of you feel them same.  Although it does seem to be a little weird that we want to deal with fewer Christmas decorations and give each other MORE STUFF in the way of presents under the tree.   Ahhh...being human is such a quandary sometimes!                                          MERRY CHRISTMAS                                                          Jo  

Sending Christmas greetings out into the world today. BELIEVE in what you hold dear. xo Jo

Enough already folks.....it is the holiday season!  If you follow the news at all you will realize that our country is so very angry.  In fact....the whole world seems to be angry right now. I get that everyone  is overworked and most of us are underpaid but can't we let go of all this animosity for just a short period of time and really ENJOY this season. I know things are far from perfect on our planet...we've done a lot of things wrong and haven't been paying attention as we should.   But please...let's give it a rest and just smile and greet the next person you see with a heartfelt MERRY CHRISTMAS or HAPPY HOLIDAYS. I know, I know.... I'm on my soapbox, but life is much too short not to enjoy the truly merry times. SO.........MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! Jo

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PHRASE.....AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE! MERRY CHRISTMAS xo Jo

Brad and I have a lunch group that meets on the third Friday of each month.  We rotate turns on picking the place.  Today it was Indian food. Here are we girls being silly in our Christmas cheer. xo Jo

I certainly don't do as much Christmas decorating as I used to when I was younger.  In fact, since my son passed Christmas is always a bittersweet time for our family.   But this year it has been easier to get in a festive mood, so we got out all the old Christmas things and tried to use them in new ways.  The above wreath is decorated with clear bulbs that my sweet grandson and I tie-dyed to be pink in color.  They turned out lovely and I was able to use them in this old wreath.  I have it mounted on an old bird stand and it is proudly displayed in our living room. Our tree is only about three and a half feet tall and it sits on a desk and the end of our main room in the house.  My sweet sister in law gave me a Christmas book a few years back with all kind of handmade papers and cards.  This year I took it apart and used it to decorate my little tree.   When you retire ...

Goodness....I have not posted in over a month.  This one will have lots of pics so be prepared.  (O: I was not sure if I was ready to celebrate this year as Christmas day was the last day I saw my son alive....but I know Scott would want me to celebrate the day even though he is somewhere else....hopefully....having his own celebration!!! These old clear bulbs turned into the ones in the shots above.   Still loved the bulbs as they are plastic and unbreakable but wanted to make them a color so took paint and made that happen.   I have used the same decorations now for sometime....just remaking them into something new.   We did not put up a big tree this year as I was just not up to the task...but as you can see I spread little things here and there though the house. The leather photo album in this picture is over 100 years old.  It contains pictures of my aunt, my mom and my grandmother and grandfath...

Simply said.....and warmly felt. xoxo Jo

My favorite time during the holidays is at night.  Sitting in a dark room with the tree lights on is always so calming. Enjoy........... hugs, Jo

Have a awesome day. xo Jo

I know there is a lot of snow out there in our country right now.....wanted to send you a little spring to brighten your day. I don't usually mix flowers..but these tulips and roses were the perfect match. Enjoy!