feeling motivated . . .

Oh, hello week . . . let's do this!

Once again my time is getting spent doing things other than making dolls . . . but on a positive note I am heading back in that direction.  Sometimes life just gets in the way.  Sometimes I simply need to regroup and get organized again.  Sometimes I get doing other things.  (Lately I have been writing and that seems to have filled up my head and time more than enough.)  

Doll making is pulling me back in though . . .  and these dolls all need something.  It doesn't help that one of them was made for Halloween and another for Christmas . . . so with those holiday behind me I just set them aside.  Charlotte and I made the one with pink hair a couple of years ago . . . she also got set aside.  I guess I need to try to break that habit.

 I also don't like to start any new dolls without finishing any that I may have started . . . so let's see what happens this week.

Happy Monday!

flashback friday . . .

This photo popped up in my Time Hop app this morning.  It made me laugh and it made me remember me - back then.  I was probably 21 or 22 . . . quite a few years ago and a lot of life between then and now.  Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder what happened to her - but when I think a little more about it . . . I was me then and I am me now . . . with some changes of course.  Life and time have a way of doing that.

My word for the year is CHANGE and this photo got me thinking about that also.
I'm still working through what changes I need to make.  Some of them are simple . . . some of them not so simple.  In fact, some are extremely complicated.  Wish me luck with those.  :)

I am feeling the need for change . . .
. . .  but maybe I am just becoming more myself. 

Once Upon A Time . . .

I love that she likes books!
I love that she likes to pose for pictures like this!
I love her legs!

lily love . . . and Deuce

 It is impossible to keep a straight face 

in the presence of one or more kittens.

~ Cynthia E. Varnado

 Love, love, love this girl!  

. . . and meet Deuce.  

Lily was with me one day after work a couple of weeks ago . . . and it just seemed like a good day to adopt a kitten.

This little guy was found by some police officers at a DUI check point right before Christmas.  The officers named him Deuce, but we tend to call him Dui.  I do believe that Lily would just like to move in with us and hang out with him full time.  

It has been years since we have had a kitten in the house.  He is a kitten . . . so of course he is entertaining . . . full of energy (most often in the middle of the night) . . . and adorable. 
We find ourselves awake in the middle of the night laughing at him.  Well, I'm laughing . . . Richard does something more like grumbling.  He saves the laughing for the morning.  :)

happy new year . . .

I love new beginnings . . . big or small.

I love starting a new school year at work . . . using a new journal . . . moving into a new house.  (I haven't done this in years, but the first few years of our marriage - Richard was in the Navy - so we moved often).  I always liked unpacking and making a new place our home.  He accuses me of recreating this feeling on a regular basis by rearranging or redecorating . . . or reorganizing closets just because I get in a mood. He's probably right.  So a NEW YEAR . . . I have to love it - right? . . . I do, but to be honest this New Year hasn't really felt like a new beginning to me.  Maybe because I had my mom visiting me for a couple of months and I had to say good bye to her . . . and right after that I got sick.
 . . . or maybe some years are just like that.  

So I find myself 17 days into this year without the usual feeling of a new beginning. 

A few years back I started choosing a “Word for the Year”.

Now that I am feeling better, maybe that is a good place to start my new year . . . choosing a new word. 

Last year I chose the word FAITH.  I was feeling like I needed to worry less . . . and let my faith get me through things.  It may have been a case of “be careful what you wish for” 
. . . because I definitely had to draw on my faith.

I watched my son deal with some things in his personal life which hurt him and tested him.  I am happy to say he got through it and because of his own faith he keeps moving forward.  It is hard for me to watch my children hurt – even if they are adults and I know that life can be hard and I know they will get through it and life will eventually get better for them again.  Sometimes all I can do is love them, let them know that I am there if they need me, and pray!  I prayed a lot last year!

Then there was Richard.  A few years ago he was diagnosed with throat cancer.  Unfortunately he had a recurrence this past year . . . and according to his doctor, “It came back with a vengeance.”  
Did I mention I prayed a lot last year!

Two rounds of chemo and 45 radiation treatments later . . . beardless, weighing 30 pounds less, and not being able to taste anything . . . he made it through that.  His scans continue to come back clean and we are thankful each and every time they do.  His strength and determination through his treatments was amazing.  He has gotten a little wacko since his treatments ended . . . we are dealing with that.  I am finding that the hardest thing about dealing with him having cancer has come after the treatments.  This seems to be true for both of us.  Life can be hard and I know we will get through it and life will eventually be better again . . . WAIT!!  Life is better again!

Let’s see . . . after that Richard tore his rotator cuff and had to have surgery.  In light of the cancer – this seemed like a small thing, but it is has been a little trying not having him able to do the things he normally does.  It was during this recovery that he made the comment that he hopes this next year is better than this past year.  I have to agree, but . . . This past year ended with Richard being cancer free, we have a beautiful new granddaughter, his beard grew back, I have amazing children and grandchildren who I see regularly, and in spite of whatever life throws at me I have a faith that gets me through.  Now more than ever I realize we have to celebrate the good days and love each other through the bad ones. 

So my word for next year . . .

CHANGE

I have some very personal reasons for choosing that word . . . and if I get in the right mood I may just tell you all about them. 

skeleton and elf . . . Christmas Eve

skeleton and elf . . . days 21 - 24

skeleton and elf . . . days 17-20

Skeleton and Elf Giveaway

I am excited to invite you to enter the first giveaway by @skeletonandelf I am giving away the 2015 Skeleton and Elf book. It is an 8x8, full color, hardcover book with dust cover. Free to one lucky winner. Super easy to enter.
1. FOLLOW @skeletonandelfon on Instagram and like the post. 
2. FOLLOW Skelton & Elf on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Skeleton-Elf-1889217591300205/and like the giveaway post
3. Leave a comment either on Instagram or Facebook telling me you favorite Christmas tradition
4. Either share Skelton & Elf on Facebook or tag 3 other people on Instagram.

Giveaway closes Thursday 12/22/17 at 12:00 PM Winner will announced on Friday 12-23. Delivery for winner is not guaranteed by Christmas - but you never know.

skeleton and elf . . . days 13 - 16

Peace Tree

I absolutely love my Christmas tree this year. 

 I didn't get everything made that I wanted to put on it - so it isn't quite as full as I would have liked it to be . . . but I will add to it next year.  I will also start a little sooner.  

This was sort of a last minute idea and I still was in the process of making pom poms when we brought the tree home.  We got it in the stand and Charlotte was ready to decorate the tree right then . . . 

. . . so we decorated the tree - ready or not.

For me decorating a tree with my 5 year old granddaughter is mostly about letting her decorate how she wants.  This tree is so kid friendly . . . and we had so much fun!  

We added a few ornaments that I had to fill it it and set the tree in front of this tapestry . . .  I LOVE IT!

We are calling it our PEACE tree!

If you notice the little doll toward the top.  I won her in a Giveaway on Instagram @ b3twixt.  

Check out her dolls in her ETSY shop - B3twixtByJessi 

I like the idea of a WISH doll . . . now what to wish for?

skeleton and elf . . . days 9-12

skeleton and elf days . . . 5-8

one more thing . . .

 She was a little hesitant to walk through this shed.  

. . . then she did this. 

 I guess it reminded her of something spooky.

great day for a GREAT day . . .

 We took Charlotte to pick out a Christmas Tree on Saturday.

The weather was beautiful.  It was a great day to be five!

 She wanted to do everything and go everywhere . . . 

and if you let yourself enjoy a day through the eyes of a five year old - you can have

nothing but a great day!!!

 I am thinking Richard looks a little bit like Santa? . . . 

or does Santa look a little bit like Richard?

I just like to smile,

smilings my favorite.

~ Buddy the Elf.