Merry Day After Christmas To You

(art by Melody Ross, Brave Girls Club)

Happy Day After Christmas!



Did you get what you wanted?



I did!



A glorious 'Jammie Day' all to myself!



No, there's no self-pity or loneliness--my real Christmas was on Christmas Eve morning. My kids got to town the night before, we all went to church (fantastic candlelight service); dined on Chinese food after!

the famous 'smilin' tucker'!

Home to the chaos of two big Labs, trying to make friends with Maggie, my usually isolated kitty. We all finally got to sleep, with me planning to go work out with Evan, my son-in-law, at 7 am.



All's good, then, when bending over to pluck the workout shoes from under the bed, I felt my back 'tweak'...


(Mostly, this gets started with stress and being 'wound up'--how Does that happen THIS time of year!??)



I worked on stretching it out after the workout--2.6 miles on the treadmill, yay!- but it was still a little painful at the end of the day. I took a muscle relaxant to help me sleep, and I certainly did!!

Glorious Fantastic Sleep!

The Christmas celebration itself was warm and perfect!

• Going to Mom and Dad's,
• the 'Bumpus' Dogs,'

(two Labs, a Golden, and a Blind/Deaf Shih Tzu!--Careening Around!!),

• a crackling fire,
• yummy brunch***

with Thick Slices of Ham, Fresh Fruit, and a Cinnamon Bread Pudding!!

(she used more than 3 ingredients!)

Wow!
***Great Job, Mom! 

(here's the little tree quilt I made
which I gave the kids--
isn't it perfect here?

Then, happy faces all-'round, as we went one gift at a time around the room, conversation, appreciation, LOVE reflected there!


So Great!







Thank you God for my beautiful loving family.







After, the kids went off to various other-family celebrations...I watched Christmas movies with the dogs!!

(Maggie was in hiding, in the Garage!)

Later, the kids came back, collected all, and 'dashed away, dashed away, Dashed Away, ALL'!!



Once I told Maggie that, "The Big Dogs are Gone!"--she slowly emerged from the Garage, and then the two of us watched some Christmas Movies.
(Thank goodness she likes 'chick flicks' too!  She was riveted to '27 Dresses' last night~!!)

I am happy to report that the Hallmark Channel still has Christmas movies on, even a day after, and I was able to set the timer to record a few--

I just may have a SECOND Jammie Day in a week, on New Year's Day!!


I have promised myself to purchase POPCORN ahead of time!

Being a new Blogger, I knew there were a zillion people 'out there' who are blogging...who really knows how many zillion (and what they/we all think is important enough to 'say',

BUT!

                                                                 (haha!  That's a Big BUT!)

today, I've had a lot of fun checking out other blogs...there are SO many creative people in this world, and the blogs I've seen are rich and textured, and full of light and life. 


Down below the post, I've added a few buttons of places I really love. I'll add some more, perhaps, or put them in my favorite blog list.  I'm still on 'Explore Mode.'  I'll keep you 'posted' on what I find!

Here's a few for now-- Check out:

www.alphastamps.com
(There are all types of gee-gaws, mixed media supplies, and FUN! There's even a great giveaway contest to check out!)

Rebeca Trevino: http://rebecatrevino.blogspot.com
Obtanium Art
(amazing collage/found object art)

www.journalgirl.com
Samantha Kira Harding--a very talented, funky Art Journaler

BBBBRRRRRrrrrrr!

Hello, Out There!

I've missed being 'here'--no posts since last Friday--Hmm, what's going on?

Christmas!!  (Well, Christmas-Time, anyway!)


Okay, let's see what else?

• Work at Job #1
• Work at Job #2
• Laundry at Home
• Feed the cat!
• Christmas Party with Quilting Group
• Sewing on a Christmas Quilt gift
• Newsletter for the Quilt Guild
• Eat, Sleep, Drive, watch a few Christmas movies

i'm sure there were other things, but that's a few!  (how can I leave out Feeding the Cat!)


As far as working on Art, I haven't had much time this week.  Job #1 is in the Construction Industry, and usually slows down during the winter.


However, in my case, I am able to work at Job #2 (quilt shop), so that will help fill in...yay!



Yesterday was my first 'new day off'--and it was All Girly!


I slept in til 10:30 am!!

I checked my emails,

Facebooked a few friends,

Worked out (2 miles on the treadmill)

Shopped a bit at my fave resale shop, 'Rags to Riches',
(found a cute Leopard-print cardigan, and a couple 'zazzy' scarves)


Then, I had a hair appointment, and my friend, Milia, at Allure Salon and Day Spa*, really beautified me!

(I'm thinking a new slogan for them could be,

'I found my ALLURE!!'

* If you live near Salem, Oregon, and need a great haircut, this lady is a dream!  I've gone to her for about 10 years, and never had a bad haircut or color!  Totally.  This salon has other great people, and they do spa treatments, waxing, colors, the whole nine yards! 



While there,
I found a couple new OPI nail colors:

'Strawberry Margarita'  and 'Houston, We Have a Plum!'


now, thinking about it, I think it should be 'Pro-Plum'!!


(maybe it was, and I'm old and BLIND!!) 


HAHA!



Ever think getting older is 'sucky'?


I do, until I remember that there are PLENTY of people who'd wish they had one more day, and I tell myself to get over myself.



Anyway, back at home, I gave into the 'girliness' and gave myself a clay masque, (which Maggie, 'the Cat', chose to watch from the bathroom counter!), and after that, I got close-up and personal with

the TV

and

'Strawberry Margarita' (the polish)

and

a hot cup of chai!




What a great relaxing fun pampering day!

On to Christmas!

Well, the Thanksgiving weekend is over--
and the Black Friday Pre-Christmas Madness is starting:

in California, a lady pepper-sprayed a crowd so she could grab a case of Wii gaming consoles from the hoard.  

People are robbing bars with shotguns; stabbings and riots ensue over Christmas toys and sock sales; someone was shot in front of a Salem Pizza Hut, cars set on fire while parked in driveways--

Madness is upon us.

I struggle to find peace each Christmas season. What should be a time of preparation and expectation seems like a trip on crack to Alice's Wonderland.

So much hurt, chaos, disappointment, nay, LUNATICS in this battered world.

How to center myself and just breathe?

One idea- I will try NOT to check the news every 5 minutes. The media is so full of drama--anything to get our attention; and it WORKS!

(like a little screaming child, shouting, and we drop everything to race over to find out what's wrong; only to find a hangnail or broken toy.)


So- I will try to exercise more-that should help, too.


Here's a few"Thankfuls" for the last several days:

Friday: my daughter came from Bend for the weekend; love to have her close. And-I braved the wilds of my studio--I did a little sewing, finishing some UFOs, and starting a Christmas gift.

(Haven't had much time for quilting lately--what with blogging and all!)

(Block #1 of the Boo-Boos!  Cute, though!)

Saturday: a huge 'Thankful' which doesn't sound like it, was making two quilt blocks yesterday, which turned out perfect, only to glance at them later, realizing the finished block was 2" larger than it was supposed to be!

Not a big deal unless it's an example for a pattern you wrote, which will be made by about 80 people for a block of the month challenge!!!

Eeekk! Thank you God for helping me catch THAT mistake ahead of time!

Today (Sunday)'s 'Thankful'-- are many...safe travel back to Bend for my daughter, house returning to its usual quiet (which Maggie, the cat appreciates--she also is thankful for Bing Crosby movies!!), food in the frig for lunches this week, a sermon at church reminding us that:

(Maggie Loves Bing!)

'Grumbling
Generates
Garbage'

&

'Gratitude
Glorifies
God!'

(How appropriate!
Also, when we are grumbling, to catch
a glance at our 10
fingers, and come up
with 10 things we're thankful for.)

Thanks, Cory!

You know, I was just thinking...


Being able to breathe, and breathe deeply during this crazy season should be one of my 'fingers'!!

(I won't say which one!).

Haha!
More tomorrow...

Block #2 of the Boo-Boo!  Cute block though, don't you think?!