I belong to a book club that is comprised of many amazing women. We all live in the same subdivision and just blocks from each other. After seeing the pictures, you may think that if your name isn't Laura or Susan, you can't take part, but that just isn't true. At book club when you say "Susan" or "Laura" you have to specify which one you are talking to or they may all answer. We have 3 Laura's, a Lori, a Lisa, and 2 Susans..... plus Michele, Joan, Nicole, Yolanda, Cliss and Tricia. We have diverse tastes in books but we try to read most of them even if it is not something that we would ordinarily pick. I have read several of these and have been pleasantly surprised each time. That's what I like about book club....it takes me out of my proverbial box. My tastes run to mysteries, historical fiction, biographies and old classics but I have expanded my repertoire to include some romance, contemporary fiction, young adult fiction, science fiction and histories. I have liked almost everything we have read except one (that I really should have liked) and that book was the non-fiction textbook called "The Illustrated Brief History of Time" by Steven Hawking. Even though it had a lot of fascinating things in it, I found myself drifting off too often to learn. I like to think it wasn't too intellectually above my understanding but I was just BORED to death. I may try it again in 20 years or so when I am in a "home" and can do nothing else. I will have to take a crash course in the next life if I ever hope to build my own world. Others really enjoyed it however. I love the discussions we have and how points will be brought out that I hadn't thought of or even noticed in the book before. Many times we will have totally different perspectives on the intended plot development and if we care about the characters in the book. Oh, and did I mention that we never leave without filling our tummies with yummy food? We have run the gamut of appetizers and desserts to soups, breads, fruits and veggies and have been known to prepare foods that are mentioned in the books. We can also bring our needlework or lap crafts and work on them while we talk. Thank you girls for making my 3rd Wednesday of the month a little more special than other Wednesdays. You are all the best!!!

Susan K. and Susan W.

Nicole, Laura H, Joan and Yolanda

Lori and Lisa

Lisa, Nicole and Laura H.

Laura L. , Julie, and Laura T.

Laura H. and Yolanda

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.