more old photos...the first one is 3 generations....my Grandfather...my Great Grandmother and my Dad... the other one is my Aunt Sis in Yosemite in 1940.

This is for the "Think Pink" swap.
Happy New Year's Eve to EVERYONE!!!! Hope 2006 is the best year yet!!! 2006 is really coming in with a roar and lots of water here in Northern California...FLOODS.....FLOODS....FLOODS......the TV has been on all morning with local news and flood warnings...the rivers are raging...lots of roads are closed due to the flooding...I heard this statistic earlier..."this is the wettest December we've had in 50 years"....just this month alone we've had over 7 inches of rain..that is alot of rain for this area! It is one big soggy muddy and very wet mess outside!!!! Once again I am so grateful to live on top of a hill!
We are staying home tonight...I plan on making some appetizers and I have a huge pot of beans on the stove...we have a fire going in the fireplace....and I'm looking forward to a nice warm cozy day in out of the extreme weather. I'm going to look through more boxes of old photos...and I have lots of good ones to post...plus lots more ART!!!!!!!!!

This is me...with my baby son Tony..taken in 1971...many moons ago. I've been going through boxes of old photos and trying to organize them..I know this will take me months....what a trip down memory lane.
Hope everyone had a good Christmas...we are still eating leftovers...and cookies...and fudge...etc. I got a new microwave oven for Christmas...and a book called "Where Women Create" by Jo Packham...I've been wanting this book...it is one of those books that you just sit and drool over...I'm also reading a book right now called "1906" about the San Francisco earthquake. Andy is home from work all week...so we've been relaxing...watching movies...eating....watching the rain (tons of it)..and just enjoying the peace and quiet after the holidays...I am just so grateful that my family was able to be together for the holidays...that really is the most important factor I think for most of us....I'm working on a altered postcard swap now..the theme is "Think Pink".

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHRISTMAS SCENES

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm getting ready to bake....really....I took this last night...the old card holder is full of wonderful art that my fellow artists have sent me....it is still raining! Only 3 more days!

Finally finished the atc's for "Winged Dreams".....all my other swaps are due at the end of Jan. sooo...now I can take a break and get to that baking! The morning started out with rain..thunder...lightening...a good day to have that oven on! Only four more days until CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas.....Merry Christmas....Merry Christmas....Merry Christmas....Merry Christmas...Merry Christmas...

stamped envelope I created...getting ready to mail....

The countdown to Christmas is here!!!! I am in the midst of finishing some wrapping....writing some special cards...and going to start BAKING!!!! The weekend was insane...An and I went out on Saturday to finish up the shopping..it was pouring buckets! I made a huge pot of chili yesterday (for the week so I can concentrate on the baking)..and I had to run out for some celery and onions..just up the road to one of the local produce places...this is a picture of the tree on the deck. You can see it is dark and dreary outside...it was only 2 in the afternoon! Gotta run...my granddaughter just showed up...hope everyone is starting the week out super!

"Nick was a jolly little boy"....a small collage I did for someone.....
Brrrrrr...it is cold today!!! My hands are freezing...it almost feels like it might snow!!!!!

Here is the Christmas tree...nightime...and daytime....

Is this the most precious or what???? My granddaughter wrote this years ago...of course...I saved it! and I put it up on the refrigerator every year... It says.....
"Happy Holidays
Family"
love, Ty

I especially LOVE fam-u-lee!!!!!!!

YES!!!!! I did treat myself yesterday and left the house for over 3 hours to go see "KING KONG"!!!!!! I really LOVE GORILLAS......and I loved this gorilla...but I can't stand the ending!!! so, I had to leave right before the sad part!! I know...it's just a movie!!! but that's how I am! I can't watch if ANY animal gets hurt in a movie..or even on the TV....it really was a nice break from EVERYTHING to go to the movies (by myself)...which I have always loved to do...get my favorite seat in the very back (where there is more leg room)..get a bucket of buttered popcorn....sip a soda (that I take in with me in my purse)..and kick back and watch the film! I loved the original "King Kong"...and also the movie "Mighty Joe Young"...does anyone remember that one??????
It's back to wrapping gifts..baking some bread...and fudge...doing some art for a few swaps...washing the kitchen floor (YUK)!!!....writing some Christmas cards....and listening to some Christmas music today. I'm also going to take a walk with my poodle..and enjoy this weather...it is sunny, and crisp outside with the smell of wood smoke in the air....

This is a very old photo...taken in the early 1920's. My Mom is the little girl...on her First Holy Communion..and My Grandmother is in the middle. I love these old photos...they are so priceless. I don't have too many photos of my Grandmother she died way before any of us were born...so I treasure these!

I thought I would give everyone a good laugh for the day!! This is me at my 8th grade graduation in 1964...check out that "in style" hair-do called the "Double Bubble"....I challenge anybody else to post a photo of a SPECIAL hair style! I can't imagine all the hair spray I must have on my head! I do remember the dress...it was white eyelet..fit like a glove..and homemade by my Grandmother!

These atc's were made by my talented friend "Dorothea Tortilla". She teaches a technique called "brushless watercolor" using rubber stamps, markers, watercolor crayons, etc. to stamp watercolor effects. I love the effect that it creates!

Here is another very old photo...from the left..my Dad, my Great Grandfather...and my Aunt Sis. This was taken in the mid thirties in San Diego.

Another Christmas ornament I made for the "Secret Sister" swap.

Sunday night at 7:35 pm...and I am sooo tired! Went down to Sacramento today with my sister to return a book at Barnes and Noble...just looking in there gives me a headache because I LOVE BOOK STORES SO MUCH!!! I see so many books that I want...and it drives me nuts! We stopped at "In-and-Out Burgers on the way home for a burger, fries and coke.
I've been decorating the tree ever since I got home..decided to decorate this year with all Christmas balls instead of the usual mixture of "everything"...it looks pretty good....hope to finish it tomorrow and move on to another project...Ya know those "religious" candles that you buy in the grocery stores?? I bought a few the other day and decided to collage them...here is a sample.

It's a scene from the "Little Village"......

BUSY GIRL.......

This picture didn't come out very well...it is the huge tree that was in the lobby last night of the church that the play was being held at...it was very pretty!

Yes!!! It is a Wonderful Life!!!! Last night Me, Ty, Tina and John went to see this play at one of the local community churches. I was really very surprised because the play was excellent (better than expected). All the actors were extremely talented...the place was packed..in fact, I heard it was SOLD OUT for every night that it was playing.... this was my Granddaughter's first big musical production..and the look on her face throughout the play was priceless! My sister and brother-in-law also took us out to a Chinese dinner before the show..General's Chicken...Sweet and Sour Pork...House Foo Young...Fried Rice...OH!!! it was yummy!! It was really a beautiful night...not too cold...and the stars were shining so bright in the sky...plus the trees out in front of the church were all wrapped with lights and BIG beautiful trees were decorated in the church lobby....we all had a most WONDERFUL night....
Today will be a busy one...my son got us a Christmas tree last night...so Ty and I will be decorating that today...I'm going to make a batch of cookies and some fudge...and maybe work on some ART..that's the plan anyway..hope everyone is having a really really GOOD day!!!

Thursday! Already!!!! I finished the village last night...and now I'm up to my knees in ribbon...and wrapping paper...and bows and tags...and gift boxes...etc. I'll finish the wrapping today..but still have more gifts to buy! Aaah...the joys of Christmas! Things are so much easier when we are kids...if only we realized it then....instead of trying to grow up really fast! Here is ME and SANTA!!!!!! This was in the fifties...Santa would probably be arrested today for having his hand on my leg!!!! Happy Holidays Everyone !!!!!!

This picture didn't come out very good...it is a lense ornament I made for a swap. You get the picture anyway...
It is just starting to rain...but...I say "Let It"!!!! I'm warm and cozy here with a nice fire in the firplace...Christmas music playing...and finishing up my little village decoration..which turned out to be not so little anymore!!! I now have a ice skating pond...and a park...oh! and 2 new houses!! I use to love playing with my dollhouse when I was a little girl...guess I never really out grew it!!! What's everyone else doing this week??? Marina??? Kim????? Christina????? Shari????? I'll take some photos of my village later and post them.

My second Christmas...new rocking chair..with that big smile on my face..I must have really liked that rocker...and that little doll in the background is called a "Bonnie Braid Doll"...

I'm still tired from yesterday!!! I'm going to try to get some things done around here today..(or at least some of them)...I'm working on a altered book...and still have a few swaps to finish. Here is another parade photo! I also need to start my baking list!!! HELP!!! I need a bunch of little elves here to help me!!!! Maybe I'll just give old Santa a call!!
PS...I 'll let you know if he answers his phone!

Awwwwww....I just love this little brown pony! He is soooo cute! More Christmas photos from yesterday's parade. I have so much to do today...I'll try to post more parade pictures later on....wish me luck...I know it's going to be a "mad house" out there!!!!!!

Everyone loves a parade...and I am no exception!!! Andy and I went to the Christmas Parade yesterday! It turned out to be a really nice day...here are some of the random photos from yesterday....

more of the Christmas parade.

Here is a Christmas card for everyone today..Let's all remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas ornament for a "secret sister swap"...this was made from a photo slide.