Aftermath
celebrations, cottage, family
We had a very full Christmas, and I still feel a bit like Dewdrop did here at the end of our evening, over the brim with holiday celebrations.
family
Gratitude, Joy, Merry, Thanks, and all of those wonderful words we need to use more
Dew Drop, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings 
I hope your day is a Merry one! Isn't that a great word? I love Merry and Joy both, I'm not sure which is my all time favorite word, maybe Joy.
We've tried to make each of those words part of our celebrations. Oh, there have been tummy aches, forgotten homework assignments. a case of the sniffles, and a few reminders that, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit" here and there, but over all, I'd say the season was a joyful success at the cottage.
I've tried to say YES to any and all holiday activities that come my way, plus make up a few of my own to make Christmas last all month, not just a day.
Some days, it can be as simple as a Cindy Lou Who hairstyle after watching the Grinch. Other days, it is cocoa in front of the tree, a special night out, or a ride to look at lights. Big or small, it is the attitude of celebration that brings the fun.
And while I can't keep up the parties year round (without more naps than I'd have time to take for recovering), I think that we can keep up the Joy if we make our best efforts.
I'm thinking about making that my New Year's resolution. To create a smidgeon of Joy or Merriment in each day. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture, of course, little things mean a lot. And this happiness should be shared, not saved just for family. It really needs spreading around.
My son is a master of this, and I'd like to emulate some of his moves. Like always asking the name of a store clerk or waiter and using it is one of his ways of acknowledging others and showing care.
There are many more, like: Simply giving smiles to people you pass, or making a joke on a crowded elevator instead of looking at the floor and just waiting for the door to open.
Stop yourself from snapping at your kiddo when you've asked them three times to do something, and try singing the request instead. A silly or unexpected response can turn a day around.
LAUGH! Even if you are all alone but especially with others.
Give a kiss on the head to someone as you walk by (which I have to admit, is a better idea with family than strangers).
Post a picture of pure prettiness on FB and bypass those ugly political arguments.
Compliment when you see something you like, speak up, if a passerby's coat is a great color, or if your husband looks nice in his shirt, or if some one is walking a dog that has very nice manners. Don't just think it, say it out loud when you see something you like!
Remember the power of please and throw in plenty of Thank Yous.
And be thankful-to others, to yourself, and to the world and god for what you have. Slow down and be grateful. Nothing brings more happiness than letting yourself remember all the reasons you have to give thanks.
I guess I'm saying that I want to work on not just noticing the good things around me, but speaking out about them. And also creating moments that count, that might lift my own day as well as another's.
Saying YES to Joy.
Well, maybe I should've saved all of this for New Year's Eve? No, probably not. It is never too early to get started on spreading cheer. And maybe I'll start a new tradition for myself- making Christmas Eve resolutions.
And I'll start my resolution by speaking up about YOU. Thank you to those who take the time to visit me on my blog, for listening to me blather on about what is on my mind, what I think is pretty, what I've made, or about my family and pets.
It's been almost ten years of blogging for me and I've enjoyed every minute of it, and I am both grateful and thankful for all of you on the other end of what I write.
Please have the Merriest and most Joyful of Christmases!
Feeling Better
family 
The last few months haven't been easy for me. I've had some trouble with heart arrhythmia and have been tired and worn down. Then, recently, I had a procedure to repair the issue and it looks like it worked! But the healing time was rough, I had some small set backs, that slowed the recovery time. In ten days, I had surgery, a severe UTI that sent me back to the hospital, a chest cold, then an outbreak of head lice brought in by the kids (not uncommon, but what bad timing!). After that, a kidney infection, asthma problems from the cold I'd caught, and my back decided that I'd laid around enough and decided to attack me while I was down and out. Every time I'd cough, it was accompanied by a small screech caused by a back spasm from the jarring cough.
But I had family around to help me heal, Sugarwings took it upon herself to make some mint tea, and keep me hydrated.
My buddy, Beth, brought soup from my favorite restaurant, and a tattered heart filled with things I love.
Mostly, I didn't want to do much more than nap and watch Netflix ( The Crown was exactly what I needed!).
The cardiac ablation itself went well and the recovery from that wouldn't have been so bad, if I hadn't had the other things to deal with. A cough is worse than normal when you have had the interior of your heart cauterized. Ouch! Add some asthma and a thrown out back, and well, like I said, it was rough. I was glad I'd pre-posted on this blog, and had a multitude of stories that felt like they were telling themselves, I didn't need to get up and go to the computer.
Things started to improve, but I'm still lazing around part of each day. My dining table is covered in semi precious beads, and as I am up to it, I whip up a necklace or two and get ready for Christmas giving.
While I'm sad that I've not been able to do all of the Christmas crafts to sell like I have in the past, I'm hopeful that I can get some done, later than normal, but maybe I'll be able to list some. This is my absolute favorite time of year and I'm determined to create, whether I get to list the items or not.
For now, I'm just enjoying the season. And appreciating being up and about, ready to deck the halls and fall into all that December has to offer!
Witchy Hats at the beach
family 
I found these black witch hats on clearance at the Victoria Trading Co's outlet store for $1 each. Since we were going to the beach, I decided to dye them ocean toned.
I tried Glimmer Mist in blue and gold, but it didn't seem colorfast. It stayed on my hands much, much better. Not good for a hat, we'd have had blue faces.
So I rinsed that out and covered them in spray glitter.
Then found this spray acrylic paint. Perfect!
We are going to drown them in seashells and ribbons to create Sea Witch hats. I'm glad I did the prep work ahead of time, so that we could concentrate on the fun part.
Keepsake bracelets for our annual Sister Trip
family, jewelry, tributes 
Three years ago, Bobbie, Sissy, and I met in Siesta Key to spread some of our father's ashes. Since then, we have been meeting there in October for a sister trip. Each visit, we bring some special gifts, in sets of three, so we have matching sister presents as mementos of our stay.
This year, I wanted to share some of the bracelets I've been making, so I used my best, beachy colored beads in amazonite, turquoise, aquamarine, chalcedony, azurite, crystal, and added in moonstones, and pearls, to remind us of moonlit walks on the white sand beach.
But to add a very special touch, I had some blown glass beads made up with our Daddy's ashes.
I didn't even know this was a thing, until I was at a Montessori fundraiser and bid on a custom piece by Cremation Marbles. That got me thinking about doing some extremely personal and sentimental additions to the bracelets I'd already made for the 3 of us.
On Vaughn's ( the artist) website, he asks to have a spoonful of remains mailed to him, but since I am nearby his studio, I asked if I could save postage and drop them by myself. Not only did I save a few bucks, I was treated to a show and got to watch the whole process.
He makes a variety of projects, I'd bid on a pendant at the silent auction. He was kind enough to let me get three beads in place of the piece I'd won. They were so much fun to watch being made, that I ordered a couple of extras for my boys, to make necklaces for them.
Here is a colorful one for my son. I'll probably just hang it on a leather cord. Vaughn made a couple of extra beads as a bonus too, those are a cobalt blue and I'll make a necklace for my grand fairies from those.
Blown glass colors can come out randomly and change with the heat of the flame and the kiln, so I knew that the beads he made for the sister trip might not be all the same. But they sure turned out perfect! I love our Gulf of Mexico Blue beads, the shade is ideal.
Don't the tones of the glass blend beautifully with the stones? I'm so pleased with Vaughn's work, and loved meeting his cute little family. And I hope my sisters love these as much as I do. I smile every time I glance down at my tiny bit of Daddy when I am wearing my own bracelet.
Close ups of the gallery wall
cottage, family, Hearth Room, photography 
When the new room was finished, I decided I wanted some of my favorite family pictures hung in it. This one is from our big getaway to Siesta Key a couple of years ago. I printed it at 8×10, but wanted it to be more prominent to show off the darling, but so fleeting, proof of sisterly love.
So, I framed it in an oval, vintage frame and attached that to the center of an ornate clock frame that I had. I'd taken out the clock and painted over the brass frame, then painted the oval frame to match.
Recently, I read one of those posts that pop up here and there, you know, those lists of the Top Ten this or thats, often about decor or fashion? This one was about decorating trends that make your home look dated. And one of the things listed was having displays of family photos. Their point was that a bunch of pictures was grandmotherly.
Hmmm.
Well, as often as I get sucked into reading all of those lists, they aren't something I believe in our care much about. They are slightly addictive to me, just like the TV show, Naked and Afraid. I'd NEVER be a survivalist, but I am glued to that series and can't turn away when the bugs start crawling on the starving people who can't build a fire. I follow those lists just like I follow that show. They are hardly ever ideas that I use, but I sure am hooked on reading them.
I do like it when I see a photo from my own home pop up in one of the lists, though! (hopefully on a positive list)
So, not caring if my gallery wall made my home look dated according to a very important top ten list on the internet, I went ahead with collaging and framing some of my loved ones.
This one is not flattering at all to a single member of the group, but I still think it is a great pic. A photo doesn't have to be perfect. This one is full of emotions and that beats perfect any day.
Ryan seems to think I have an over abundance of grand fairy shots. He could be right.
Here is how they all look, puzzle pieced together on the wall. The glass block window is the backsplash behind my kitchen stove on the other side of the wall. This used to be the cottage's exterior, and I liked that window, so we kept it with the remodel.
The fabric is the silk from the circus apparatus that hangs from the ceiling, and we need a pulley, so it can be fitted into the corner without it swagging as it is now.
All of those photos might be a little busy with so much going on right now, the top of the buffet is full of Halloween decor. Normally, it is more demur. At Christmas, it will be fantastically, over the top, so for that, I'll probably take the family pictures down and replace them with a stained glass window or some mirrors.
Until I get a pulley for the rope on the silks, this is how we hang them up after use. Who needs a ladder when you have circus kids? I wonder if she can reach the ceiling fan blades to give them a dusting while she is up there too?
Sister gifts- hand made art journals
Books, family, vintage paper/collage art 
When Bobbie, Sissy and I go on our annual sister trip to Siesta Key, we pack craft supplies and I make journals for us to work in. My suitcase is 90% tools, lace, ribbons, ephemera, and other pretties to foof the books.
Although, they do start out pretty foofy already. The spine is all decked out in beachy toned trims.
The theme this year is Beach. The first year it was Blessings, last year it was Witchy Girls
Each one is a little different than the others. But all are covered in silk wallpaper (that I waxed for durability) and are made in the same colors.
I painted these little frames in ombre blues with glitter, so we can take photos of ourselves on the beach and add those to the covers. (I packed my portable printer)
The interiors are made up of scrapbook papers. They are heavy card stock and can be covered or used as is. Bobbie's has this black and white Harlequin pattern.
Sissy's has wallpaper roses.
There is already a little bit of trim added and I packed a two gallon sized bag full of ribbons and lace to really make these special and drip with vintage goodness galore.
I'll be sure and get photos of finished pages as we go along. More to come!
Punkins and Joy
Dew Drop, family, Sugarwings 
This year we chose a chilly day for a trip to the pumpkin patch. But the cutting, Kansas winds didn't bother these guys.
I was the party pooper who wanted to leave early. That isn't easy to do, when Sugarwings wants to explore the farthest fields and is automatically drawn to run for the horizon line to find a pumpkin undiscovered by anyone else.
Sometimes, managing fairies is like herding cats. Or why don't I just say, herding fairies? That is a pretty apt description, if you picture a flock of winged, sparkly creatures flying in all directions and me trying to convince them not to flit over the flowers and chase ladybugs, but to go get in a car instead.
But there is no force on earth that can keep a cold Grammie out in a field of anything, including this pumpkin wonderland. I smoothly directed their thoughts toward our next adventure and made the rest of the day seem so enticing that they ran with me to pay for the gourds we bought and then out to the car.
Ha! Someday, they will realize how diabolical I am in my maneuvering. But for now? They think I am fun. Our pumpkin hunting was successful, and we had a wonderful, if short, visit. I might have bought a few more big orange ones that I'd planned to, though. Sometimes a bribe helps move things along too.
Hmmm, I wonder if they were the ones who maneuvered me?
But seriously, can you have too many pumpkins?
The annual Zombie walk
celebrations, family, We're having a party 
The zombie walk gets better every year. This season, we had 4 grand ghouls in it.
Including this one. Her baby sister stayed home, though. She isn't ready to join the ghoulishness yet.
Avahni and Kia did fabulous jobs with the makeup and costumes, but the girls were in such constant motion, it was hard to capture at the parade.
Luckily, I got to see the process. Look away if you are grossed out, because the gashes and sores that they made with tissue paper and liquid latex look very authentic.
Seriously, LOOK AWAY!!!
Last warning, here comes the gore….
I warned you. Here comes another.
Awfully well done. But a bit stomach turning.
Here is a fluffy bunny to make you feel better.
And here is a cheerful, funny, Marge Simpson.
Maybe you need a little nourishment to fortify yourself.
Still feeling rough? Here is a nurse to the rescue.
Lawrence goes all out for the night.
We try to get a table on the patio at a good restaurant to enjoy the show.
This spooked up car was parked across from us.
I already can't wait til next year's spooktacular!
Wicked
celebrations, family
Wicked is my favorite play. Of course, I haven't been to that many… but I do love it, I've seen it four times now.
Each time, I've gone with someone different. The first time with my husband to the fabulous Fox theater in St. Louis, which is so special, it is worth going to even if there is no play to see.
This time with 3 of the grand fairies, and I have to say, that was pretty special.
We made a weekend of it, and stayed at a nice hotel in Wichita. They were great company. And it was fun to watch Sugarwings' emotions as the story unfolded.
It was a special birthday weekend for KiKi, we brought cupcakes to the hotel and watched an in room movie.
Now, I can't wait til Dewdrop is old enough to go see a play with us!