Circle Food

It has been thought that what you eat and who you are with on New Years can bring luck during the coming year, so many people surround themselves with family and friends. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. Works for me. Here I come Krispy Creme!!

Resolutions

This is pretty much how my New Year's resolutions go. Mark Twain said it best.

"Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual." -Mark Twain

I have kept a couple this year:

1. I have read the Book of Mormon again for the third time in a row and have tried to be more fervent in my prayers.
2. I have gotten pretty organized in most aspects of my life.

I have failed miserably at a few:

1. I have not lost a pound, in fact have gained a few so it's off to the doctor for the head tumor review. Did I mention that I actually have two? Both benign as far as we know.
2. I have not finished all my unfinished craft projects
3. I have not kept up the treadmill and exercise routines faithfully.
4. I have not kept my journal current, although I think this blog is a good start.
5. I have not sent every person that I love a birthday card as I promised myself I would do.
6. I still have a lot of problems with my bad leg and Wayne has told me for months to go see the doctor about it. No, I didn't ever go.

I will still make some more resolutions though, and hope that if I at least keep one I am still better off than I was before. How did you do this year?

The Rest of the Story

Before I take all the decorations down, I thought I would blog the things that are not Santa or Nativity decorations. This is done mostly for me as a record of just exactly what I have in case all the Christmas lights one day burn the house down. I have greens on all the arches in my living areas that will appear now and then in this blog. They are also lighted , but I'm not good at taking night time photos. This is the arch between the living and dining area.

This is the arch between the entry and piano dining room.


This is a Santa painting that I didn't put on the blog before because I couldn't get my flash to turn off and it came up as a bright blob. I finally got the flash off, but there is still window reflection light on it so you can't really tell how great it is. I had seen this painting in an art gallery a few years back. I loved it so much but could not afford to get it. On Christmas morning, Colett and Matt had found a print of it for us. It is by Dean Morrissey and the detail is magnificent. Dean Morrissey Artist proofs & limited editions of Dean Morrissey Click here to see a better view of it. I am thinking of leaving it up all year.

I hand stitched a felt Christmas stocking for each member of our family. These are 6 of them out of 15. I am behind one for Emerson, but since he is only 15 months old, I can get by with it for a year or two. and he won't know the difference.

A little Christmas pillow that I stitched up when I had my bad accident 3 years ago.

I have a couple of these hanging from my sconces. I don't know what you would call them, but they are smashing.

The greenery along the stair rail. I have the old fashioned bubble lights on them.

An angel I painted during my tole painting phase of life.

An elf stocking holder that I painted during the same period, and.....

The creature that was stirring on Christmas. I even painted him wearing a Mickey Mouse watch. Maybe you can see it if you enlarge the picture.

Here is my elf collection. This is Earl.....

This is Russell.....

and this is Barney. You really must enlarge this one to see this little guy. He is about 30" tall and I'm pretty sure he is the one that made my Betsy Wetsy doll when I was a little girl. Is he precious or what?

Now we highlight my carolers. This is a cloth mache' set that I found in Billings many years ago.

This is a ceramic set I made (can I say this?) 35 years ago. I made it so symbolize my kids Shon and Colett.

These are my skinny carolers. They were given to me by my dear friend Marjie.

Mrs. Santa that I painted and is hanging on a grass broom

Rudolph is made of brown tinsel.

The greenery between the entry and living room

These are more of my tole painted items.

a Santa scene, an advent calendar and a sled.

My twig wreath with a wooden plate in the center that says NOEL. The flash wouldn't turn off again.

The window above the front door with metal reindeer that were Wayne's Mom's and a metal tree.

Above my kitchen cupboards..... poinsettias everywhere

You can't have too much red at Christmas. That's my theory anyway.

Dining room sign

My porcelain village. We got this in a year that was pretty lean for us. Wayne splurged because he knew I loved it so much. He does treat me right. It's very special because of that.

My wall of brass horns.

Well, this is my collection of decorations. There are still a few more, but I don't want you to think I am obsessed or something. So from me to all of you. Merry Christmas until next year.

Oh, and is case you are wondering. I LOVE it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Next Chapter

Well, this is the next installment of my Christmas decorations. This is the nativity series. Once again, you may need to click and enlarge to see the details. When you see dust, just ignore that please. Sometimes the lens captures things the eyes don't see.

This is a picture that Wayne and I had seen hanging in a church and fell in love with it. It is a picture of Jerusalem. We had looked for it for a long time. Amy found it and gave it to Wayne as a gift.

This is a wooden plate that I painted with children from around the world visiting the baby Jesus. Not realistic as all but representative of the love has for all people regardless of race or nationality.

I have a wonderful friend named Laura that gave me this little nativity. She is a kindred spirit in so many ways to me. She is generous, funny, talented and so thoughtful and every time I look at it, I think of her.

This little nativity was found at a store here called Broadbents. It's a general store that warms your heart. It is a combination candy store, fabric store, collectibles store, toy store, antique and furniture store, housewares store etc. It reminds me of the stores in little house on the prairie and it has been around for many, many years. It's like taking a step back in time. They had a Christmas tree decorated with ceramic nativities. and this was one of them. It is housed in one of Wayne's mom's mangers.

This was a little nativity that was in a musical snow globe that broke. I mounted it on a base and still like it this way.

This is a little nativity set that my friend Coleen and I bought about 25 years ago. We got matching ones. They are a little cutesy, and look like Precious Moment figurines but they are

sweet and bring back wonderful memories of our friendship.

I found this set at Sprinkler World this year. They really are a sprinkler store but at Christmas, they turn in to "Christmas World" with the most amazing decorations I have ever seen.

This is a special nativity that my son Shon made when he was in Alaska on his mission. He knew a lady that let the missionaries pick something to make their parents at her ceramic shop. I love baby Jesus because he looks like a baby and not a half grown child with his hands in the air.

This is the 3-D nativity that I got when I was a young girl in primary. It has some weak spots on it now and I am hoping it won't tear. I am thinking maybe I can take it to Kinkos to get a copy made. It is so well done and beautifully painted.

This is my largest nativity and covers the whole top of my piano. The items are very

detailed and I have to say it is the most favorite of all my decorations. I usually put it up last just to remind me what Christmas is really all about. This is one that you will really need to click to enlarge to appreciate it's beauty. OK, this is chapter two of my decorations. I'm not done yet.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

You will get tired before this post is done. I collect Santa Clause figures and am posting many of them. This is not my entire collection though, just the main ones in the upstairs. I have a basement full too. It's a little excessive, I know, but I don't know anyone who loves Christmas as much as I do, so I just go with my feelings. Some day when I am gone the kids will have to have an auction on E-Bay. I have other wonderful decorations that I will post on my next blog entry, but this will do for today. You may want to enlarge some of them to see detail better.

This is a Santa that is a reproduction of a carved Santa. Some day I will get artist Ken Acton to carve me a real one. But still, I LOVE him!!

This is a little Santa in a sleigh that my sister and her husband picked out for me. It made me feel so special because I know they were thinking of me when they got it. I LOVE it!!

These are all the little collectible Santa figurines that I have either collected or painted. I LOVE them!!

What house is complete without a Santa rug? Oh, you don't have one?

When I was a little girl, my Grandma had a set of nesting figures. I can't remember if it was Santa or nesting dolls but when I saw these in the drug store I had to have them. It seems to be one of Emerson's favorite things to play with too.

Cute little tole painted Santa scene that I painted. It was fun painting the fire and a sock for each of my kids.

OK, this is almost my favorite Santa because I painted him. I got a canvas , adhered fabric to it and then panted on the fabric. The green areas are where the fabric shows through, and the rest is painted. It was a fun project and I keep thinking I will do it again but haven't yet. Amy tap-tapped it when I die.

Garage sale find #1. I took him home and painted him because I can never leave things alone. His suit looks like it's covered with soot and I LOVE him!!

My garage sale find...very ugly at first but I took it home and repainted it and now I LOVE him!!

It's hard to tell from the picture, but this is a relief wall plaque, quite big and hangs above my doorway. I have never seen another one before or since I got it and to tell you the truth. I really LOVE IT!!

There is nothing sentimental about this Santa except I think he is really cute. I got him this year and he had a broken antler so I got it for $4.00. I took the antler home and glued it on. It's not perfect but I really like him.

This is a keepsake that was given to us by Wayne's Mom many, many years ago. He is made out of a small brandy snifter and has a Styrofoam ball for a head and felt everything else. We put hard tack candy in his tummy and have each year since the kids were little. She was not a real crafty person and the fact that she made it for us makes it even more special. I LOVE it!

This is a pewter Santa . He is dimensional and wonderful and my daughter Colett gave it to me.

I really LOVE it!!

This is a Santa with a burlap hat and a rope beard. I couldn't resist that cute face. He was painted so badly, that I redid almost everything about him and now I LOVE him!

This is a Santa from the Christmas Store. He has a little hammer, tools and is making a train engine. I love his striped socks and his kitty. I LOVE him!!

How cute is this Santa layout? There is an old fashioned photographer with camera, Mrs. Santa, a tree with presents and 4 children. I feel like a little girl playing doll house again when I set it out. I LOVE IT! Oops. the roly, poly Santa in the front shouldn't be there. Some tiny grandson had something to do with that but I didn't catch it when I took the picture.

Here is one of my Costco Santa's. As you can see, he is as tall as the arm of the sofa. He is carrying toys and has a knitted sock and gloves. He is beautiful and I LOVE him!

Oh that Costco. Over the years you cannot believe the beautiful Christmas things

that they carried. I was their #1 customer. The prices were so reasonable and other stores that carried similar things were priced at least 500% higher. This Santa is one of my favorites He is dressed so beautifully, and he came with a real working Grandfather clock. I LOVE him!!!!!!

This is a Santa I painted many years ago. He is wood and 3 dimensional. I Love him!

These are Santa candles, but who could ever burn them? They are way too cute. The boxes I made and they say gum drops, candy canes and sugar plums. Amy made a set too but hers were a little different color. I LOVE them!

These are some Santa's that I have just collected from various stores over the years. They are antique reproductions of European Santa's. I LOVE them!

These are ceramic Santa's that my mother made for me....one each year for 5 years and oh how "I LOVE them". I have seen several other people's work who used the same mold but they weren't anywhere near as nice as mine. Thanks Mom!!



















This is a Santa in a sleigh that was one of the larger collectibles at Costco. He measures about 27" tall and 30" long. I LOVE him.

These are my collectible Santa's. Some are from the Christmas stores and were quite expensive and some were from Costco and were not. Costco doesn't carry them anything like them anymore but they are wonderfully detailed and I LOVE them!

This is a paper mache' face that I painted, glued raffia on for his beard and then made him a velvet hat with a big bell on the tip.

These are reproduction antiques that I got in the Raffia store in Montana. And again, I LOVE them!

This is an almost life size Santa. Well I guess he is life size because Santa is an elf. The grandkids can sit on his lap and ask for their Christmas desires. Emerson always goes and gives him loves.

I really, really, really LOVE him!!

The large Santa was made by an artist in Cheyenne, Wy and was given to us by Jill and Lew Stubbs. The little ones are ceramic and wood which I painted. Gosh I LOVE it!!

This was a Santa I found at a craft store but he had no color and was very ugly......I repainted it and now I really like him.
This Santa is carved to look like a giant pinecone on the bottom and with his face on the top.

Well you get to see a little of my obcession.

The commercial aspect of Santa is not what appeals to me at all.

To me, Santa is symbolic of Christ. He gives to everyone, he is not a respector of persons, he loves all, sacrifices for those that he loves and he is forever unchanging. He wants us to be happy and to fill our homes with love, peace and goodwill. I will look at my Santa collection every day but in my heart I know that the real spirit of the season is because of the birth of our Savior and I am so blessed to know that I am loved by him.