HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

My father wrote this poem in 1996.

I look forward to taking it out each year...

best wishes to all...let's make 2009 the year of CHANGE!

CHRISTMAS COMMISSION

Finished this just in the nick of time for a friend to give to her daughter as a Christmas gift. Somethimes I work better under a bit of pressure...sometimes not. In this case, I finished the majority in a two day period. Whew! I am going to concentrate on finishing things more quickly in the New Year...consider it a resolution. That and create more, smaller pieces. I have several exhibits coming up...the first being at The Spirit of the Hand Gallery in February. I would like to do some smaller interesting multimedia pieces...especially since it is a high traffic retail store and I will be in there in time for Valentine's Day. There is an opportunity to actually make some money and I must take full advantage! I'll have to reinvent myself a bit for that....whoo hoo the excitement!

SPARKLY LIKE A HOLIDAY....

FINALLY! The tree is trimmed and the trains are running....my son fell asleep on the floor watching them go round the track 4,000 times.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all...

You Can't Catch Me....I'm the Gingerbread Man!

My latest project...a life sized (well, life sized for a kindergartener, anyway!) gingerbread house to add to a village for my daughter's elective class. Rachael is a teacher assistant for her kindergarten teacher and is loving helping all the little people with the very same projects I used to help her with eight short years ago. (Where did that time GO, anyway!?) I had helped to make a similar one for a play they did and it needed replacing. The new model has a gumdrop removable roof, candy cane door decorations and enough room inside for William to stand up. Windows cut on the side allow light for reading and a Santa gingerbread man hung on the inside wall will keep the lucky scholar company...tons of fun to create with help from the entire family.

ANNUAL ORNAMENT EXCHANGE AND "GAB BAG"

The girls and I have an annual Christmas ritual of meeting to exchange pleasantries and ornaments. Both are more enjoyable when accompanied by a glass of wine and , in this case, a pizza. We hold back no carbs when it comes to our friendship!





Painting a day bit the dust and I find myself a bit drained after putting together the GALA fundraiser...I will post photos of that shortly. Am working on a Christmas commission of some family pooches...more to come.

TIME TO PUSH BACK FROM THE PIE

Can't believe it is a week since I posted last. Well, I've certainly done my share of eating (and cooking) in the last week! About 6 days to lose a few pounds of pie before the Fine Arts Gala Fundraiser Event.

Why do we become such gluttonous fools at the holidays?

I sat back at my overflowing table, thankful for the other cooks who brought yummy side dishes, helping to alleviate some of my stress...

thankful for the loved ones there to share the feast...

and very guilty over the fact that once again, there was way too much food. I suppose the guilt is because I full well knew that some would go to waste, even after doggy bags were sent home with relatives and I managed to make pea soup out of the ham bone and turkey soup out of TOM'S carcass. (DID do both and they are yummy!)

Next year's resolution...

PREPARE HALF the portions and we start with dessert and end with the appetizers, assuring everyone the thrill of pumpkin and apple pie without the tight pants and need to run around the block a few times to make more room for them!

THANKFUL FOR MARSHMALLOWS TOASTED IN THE FIREBOWL!