just what I needed . . .

I have to spend at least one day wandering around Old Town just seeing what I can see.  It is my favorite kind of Christmas shopping . . . no hurrying, no lines, not really sure what I am going to find.  It was a rainy, blustery afternoon . . . perfect for putting me in the Christmas spirit.  I found a couple of gifts, enjoyed a hot cup of coffee and bought myself a fun new beanie.  Richard and I met up for dinner when I was finished.  Just what a needed a few days before Christmas.  

For today . . .

Outside my window . . . early morning - it’s peaceful . . . and it’s warm already . . . it’s going to be rather hot again today

I am thinking . . . that having summers off from work if a pretty good thing.
I am thankful for . . . my mom coming to visit.
From the kitchen . . .  right now . . . just a great cup of coffee!

I am wearing . . . denim cut off shorts and a peace t-shirt.

I am creating . . . working on 3 Shabby Charlotte dolls and messing around with my art journal

I am going . . . to look for a quilt that I haven’t been able to find . . . I can't figure out where it went to.  Maybe one of the boys took it?

I am reading . . . nothing at the moment – need to find a new book to read

I am hoping . . .  for some good news tomorrow.

I am hearing . . . birds singing (even without my hearing aids) . . .

Around the house . . . lots of projects

One of my favorite things . . . the box of paper cranes that I have folded

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . relaxing!

From my picture journal . . .

I found another little note from my mom this morning.  I am one week into my 365 day letter writing challenge.  I have this old Raggedy Ann stationery from when I was young . . . perfect for writing a letter to my mom today.  

Saturday . . .

 Richard found this idea online and wanted to try it.  He simply unrolled the packaged cinnamon rolls - then rerolled them after putting in a slice of bacon . . . then bake according to the directions on the cinnamon roll package.  They actually were pretty good - but we talked about if we did it again we would fry the bacon a little bit before rolling it into the cinnamon roll . . . it would then be a little crispier.  They tasted great though . . . especially with the eggs on top.

 

 We were downtown again today . . . walking through antique stores.  I'm not sure why we decided to do that - but ended up down there.  I always like Raggedys . . . although this one looks sort of like a zombie - I guess I should like that too.  :)

 

 

I saw tons of cute things . . . but didn't end up buying anything.  We were looking for some old wood tennis racquets, but didn't see any - Richard has an idea for a Christmas gift he wants to make for a friend . . . we will have to keep looking.

A Few of my Favorite Things

I have always liked and collected small things. Sometime I think about taking this printer tray down - but I can't bring myself to do it. Some of these items I have had since I was a child - others are things the kids and I have picked up over the years. Some of my favorites - one of my mom's thimbles, a set of three porcelain cats I got when I had my tonsils out (when I was 5), a little doll that my Aunt Sue made out of a spool, and a "Kennedy for President" campaign button. It is a pain to dust - but I will keep it hung up - and keep collecting little treasures .
You can't help but feel a little better when you look at a sunflower. They are big, happy, cheerful flowers.
"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows follow behind you."
~ Maori Proverb
This small trunk means a great deal to me. It belonged to my grandma when she was young. For some reason I never can really picture my grandma as a young girl playing with this trunk - when she talked about her childhood - she did not always have good things to say. I wish now I had asked her what she used this trunk for - what she kept tucked inside. I have been thinking about her a great deal lately - and even though I had moved so far away from her - and did not see her often - I miss her dearly.

Since these Raggedy's are nearly the same age as I am - I will not refer to them as old. These were mine when I was a little girl - and I love to see them sitting on this basket - holding memories of my childhood.
If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older. ~Tom Stoppard

Package from Home

I received a package from my mom yesterday - which is always fun. She thought I should have these raggedy's. Halloween and Raggedy dolls - two of my favorite things!
She also sent these two towels that Grandma made years ago. I have the "Sunday" towel already. I believe these were split up and given to different people after Grandma passed away. So now I have Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I made these little paint chip notebooks yesterday. I found the idea here. I think they are such a fun idea - I want to make them in every color.