Check out what's cookin' over at Sm'Arties!
Here's What's Cookin'!
1 day ago
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Our Christmas Bells
These crocheted bells have graced our tree 24 Christmases. They are our wedding bells, crochetted for me by the lovely lady who made our cake as a gift for us. They not only remind me of our wedding - such a happy day- they remind me of Miss Lucille, a sweet, talented lady, a special dear friend of my Mama.
As we approach our quarter century anniversary, we find many friends and family members who celebrated with us back then are no longer with us. Miss Lucille, already elderly at our wedding, is one of them. All our grandparents, my Father-in-law, several aunts and uncles, friends. When we look our wedding pictures, we point them out - look! there's Nanny, there's Dad, there's Uncle Willis. I'm reminded to appreciate dear loved ones while we have them.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Fa La La La La
I love Christmas music. I love all kinds of Christmas music. Earthgirl played "What Child is This" and O Holy Night" in her recent piano recital. I am so pleased that she has an ear to appreciate beautiful music, and that she wants to tackle the challenge of a song she loves that stretches to the limits of her ability.
We have found that some of our favorite Christmas albums have been the least expensive ones - the ones we picked up at Dollar Tree or grabbed from the $2 bin somewhere. One accidental favorite is Home for the Holidays, Country Style, a 2-album set I picked up for about $2 at Dollar General two years ago. The song I thought was on it was not, but what a fun bunch of songs we discovered - Vince Gill, Ray Stevens, Amy Grant, Toby Keith Randy Travis and another dozen or more artists are featured in this collection.
I've just been previewing Sting's new album, If On a Winter's Night. Not strictly Christmas, it has, as one reviewer notes, "rustic vibrancy enveloped in a haunting winter fog, vividly suggesting the British Isles or Scandinavian mountains in midwinter." I think it could really grow on me. But I'm not buying right now...I have about zero budget for Christmas music. We have lots already, and there are free sources all around - just turn on the radio!
Pandora.com has been playing music on my computer for years now. We've set up stations with names like "Energy Instrumental," "Instrumental Quiet," "Bluegrass," "Gaelic Storm," "Peaceful Holidays, "Jazz Holidays," "Hillsong," and "Bonerama." (I'd link you to Pandora, but I am permanently logged in, and am not sure how that link would work. I dare not log out - who knows what password I used 6 or 7 years ago?)
Amazon is offering 25 Days of Free Christmas Music downloads. They reveal a new song each day. I've downloaded 2 offerings so far. And that is not their only free Christmas music - check it out!
We have found that some of our favorite Christmas albums have been the least expensive ones - the ones we picked up at Dollar Tree or grabbed from the $2 bin somewhere. One accidental favorite is Home for the Holidays, Country Style, a 2-album set I picked up for about $2 at Dollar General two years ago. The song I thought was on it was not, but what a fun bunch of songs we discovered - Vince Gill, Ray Stevens, Amy Grant, Toby Keith Randy Travis and another dozen or more artists are featured in this collection.
I've just been previewing Sting's new album, If On a Winter's Night. Not strictly Christmas, it has, as one reviewer notes, "rustic vibrancy enveloped in a haunting winter fog, vividly suggesting the British Isles or Scandinavian mountains in midwinter." I think it could really grow on me. But I'm not buying right now...I have about zero budget for Christmas music. We have lots already, and there are free sources all around - just turn on the radio!
Pandora.com has been playing music on my computer for years now. We've set up stations with names like "Energy Instrumental," "Instrumental Quiet," "Bluegrass," "Gaelic Storm," "Peaceful Holidays, "Jazz Holidays," "Hillsong," and "Bonerama." (I'd link you to Pandora, but I am permanently logged in, and am not sure how that link would work. I dare not log out - who knows what password I used 6 or 7 years ago?)
Amazon is offering 25 Days of Free Christmas Music downloads. They reveal a new song each day. I've downloaded 2 offerings so far. And that is not their only free Christmas music - check it out!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
While I am editting...
I read a post recently that said, triumphantly, that the blogger had "wrestled" a Christmas template onto her blog. This morning I am wrestling. I don't change blog backgrounds often, but when I do, I usually go through several before I settle. I like an easy-to-read-through text area, so no swirlies or dark colors behind my text; I like straight lines on the sides (is there a girl engineer in the house?), and I like free. So I am looking through Cutest Blogs on the Block, Hot Bliggity Blog, and Aqua Poppy Designs, and maybe some others I haven't found yet.
I tried putting up this cute banner (love the carolers):
--but found it put "Merry Christmas" right over my header. I want to not mess with my header, so away goes the cute header. Right this minute I still have up its matching background, which I love, but it is copying my friend over at Hearth and Home. Copycatting is the sincerest form of flattery, B. So I am not totally settled on the vintage wrapping paper background.
I wonder, though, if I should somehow temporarily disable viewing? I've changed blog backgrounds about 6 times, and messed with the banner, too. And, presumably, each time I have checked it out, anyone who happened to be viewing would be seeing the backgrounds that did not work for me. For example, that cute red/black/green striped one, that on my screen, runs out of width before it arrives at the first red stripe, so all black and green - not workin' for me, not my style. Or the "messy snowflakes" one, with BIG brown snowflakes first, so on a less wide screen, one sees mostly brown snowflakes. I prefer cleaner snowflakes.
So whatever you see right now may change momentarily.
I tried putting up this cute banner (love the carolers):
--but found it put "Merry Christmas" right over my header. I want to not mess with my header, so away goes the cute header. Right this minute I still have up its matching background, which I love, but it is copying my friend over at Hearth and Home. Copycatting is the sincerest form of flattery, B. So I am not totally settled on the vintage wrapping paper background.
I wonder, though, if I should somehow temporarily disable viewing? I've changed blog backgrounds about 6 times, and messed with the banner, too. And, presumably, each time I have checked it out, anyone who happened to be viewing would be seeing the backgrounds that did not work for me. For example, that cute red/black/green striped one, that on my screen, runs out of width before it arrives at the first red stripe, so all black and green - not workin' for me, not my style. Or the "messy snowflakes" one, with BIG brown snowflakes first, so on a less wide screen, one sees mostly brown snowflakes. I prefer cleaner snowflakes.
So whatever you see right now may change momentarily.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
There's a Periodic Table of Elements Here, Too!
My good friend the Science Geek has posted a link to a really nice visual Periodic Table of Elements.
Here's another fun (for the geeky) version - a musical Periodic Table of Elements. Back ca. 1985, we had a friend who could play and sing this song. The first time I heard it, I could hardly believe it. I'm still pretty amazed at simply how much singing ability one must have to conquer these tongue twisters, much less to write the song in the first place.
Here's another fun (for the geeky) version - a musical Periodic Table of Elements. Back ca. 1985, we had a friend who could play and sing this song. The first time I heard it, I could hardly believe it. I'm still pretty amazed at simply how much singing ability one must have to conquer these tongue twisters, much less to write the song in the first place.
Science Geek in her element.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Fun Craft Blog
I just loved the post name, "A Dollar Barn Christmas." Her whole blog is full of fun inexpensive craft inspiration.
Friday, November 13, 2009
The 17th Project
No pictures!
Peg and I joked a few weeks back about the fact that I start 14 projects and have them all going on at the same time. She on the other hand, starts one or maybe 2 projects, completes them, puts away her project materials, and turns back to greet you from the door of her clean and beautiful home. Sigh.
I just picked the number 14 out of the air, but then I started counting up, and sure enough, there were 14 projects in some stage of workin' on it.
Don't believe me? Projects 1-3 involve closets; Projects 4-6 involve fabric and quilt batting; Projects 7-9 involve more fabric and new patterns; Project 10 involves making a beautiful $3 skirt fit my skinny little daughter, Projects 11-12 involve American Girl dolls and fabric; Projects 13-14 involve Modge Podge and beautiful paper.
Since then, each time we mention something, we pipe up - "Project 15!" "Project 16!" (Both those involve yarn)
Well, Monday during Mini-co-op Science she showed me - Project 17. Nope, can't tell you what they are; can't show you what they are. No pictures, because she is giving some to friends at Christmastime. Now I am, too - Project 17 was just too cute, simple, and fun - I had to make a few! I left Peg saying, "I shouldn't have told you." (I'm sure she is just teasing.) So I'll be making some for family and friends, but NONE for mutual friends : )
No pictures!
OK, maybe just one picture:
Peg and I joked a few weeks back about the fact that I start 14 projects and have them all going on at the same time. She on the other hand, starts one or maybe 2 projects, completes them, puts away her project materials, and turns back to greet you from the door of her clean and beautiful home. Sigh.
Just an aside - I don't usually use friends' and families' names on my blogs, but since her name already appeared on Science Geek's blog, and she keeps a pretty low profile on the internet, I take the liberty.
I just picked the number 14 out of the air, but then I started counting up, and sure enough, there were 14 projects in some stage of workin' on it.
Don't believe me? Projects 1-3 involve closets; Projects 4-6 involve fabric and quilt batting; Projects 7-9 involve more fabric and new patterns; Project 10 involves making a beautiful $3 skirt fit my skinny little daughter, Projects 11-12 involve American Girl dolls and fabric; Projects 13-14 involve Modge Podge and beautiful paper.
Since then, each time we mention something, we pipe up - "Project 15!" "Project 16!" (Both those involve yarn)
Well, Monday during Mini-co-op Science she showed me - Project 17. Nope, can't tell you what they are; can't show you what they are. No pictures, because she is giving some to friends at Christmastime. Now I am, too - Project 17 was just too cute, simple, and fun - I had to make a few! I left Peg saying, "I shouldn't have told you." (I'm sure she is just teasing.) So I'll be making some for family and friends, but NONE for mutual friends : )
No pictures!
OK, maybe just one picture:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
