2013

This is winter through my kitchen window.
I wanted to add bird sounds but was informed the one I use is not functioning.

Friday Shoot My Town-Best gift ever.

Friday Shoot Out

theme

Gifts

Gifts - Birthday gifts, Mitzah gifts, Hanukkah gifts, Christmas gifts. 

Highlight your gift giving occasions or share a special gift.



This was from my best girlfriend.

Oh No. 

Share the JOY Thursday

I love photography.

Been working with my new Fujifilm camera.

Such joy when using the 3x zoom when I got this shot of my beautiful Geranium.

Peppermint JOY

Accomplishing a task one has been working on brings me much JOY to share with you.

Happy New Year To all!!!!!!!!!  

Mosaic Monday Christmas Eve

Mosaic Monday with Mary Christmas Eve 2012

Merry Christmas to all those around the world who celebrate Christmas.

May the blessings of all our holy seasons be ours.

  Flowers for the holiday season

 The reason for the season

The DVD in the photo with the Poinsettia was shot by my hubby and I on tape and our son redid it on DVD for us.

We traveled to the place where each of us was born and told about our growing up and then we visited the home where each of our children were born and grew up.

We always play it at Christmas and laugh and cry and remember all our blessings,

Which are so numerous.

Blessings to all of you 

Go visit Mary and share all the joys of Christmas 

  

Sepia Saturday Christmas 2012

Well dear Alan has given us carte blance for this next two weeks.

This is the oldest photo I have of Christmas in my family photos.

I loved my grandparents dearly but this was the first Christmas that we had after living 8 years with my grandparents following the break up of my family.
It was very hard living, even in a large house, with 3 adult uncles, a pair of aging grandparents, one depressed mother and three bewildered children. 

This little house was a castle to us.

This little house had running water but the water was cold  and the house had no bathroom.
We had to go outside to the "outhouse."
TMI

But we were as happy as elfs.

The dress to the right of the photo was the one my grandmother made for me for my first Cotillion.
I was 15, my sister 13 and my brother was 7.
We only lived here about one year and then moved to a nicer home near the doctor's office where my mom worked.     

The piece of furniture to the left was a buffet that belonged to my grandfather and grandmother that had been cut down to make a desk.

The tinsel on the tree is forever gone and the tree was real since there was no such thing as artificial trees in our town at that time.

I still have the manger scene that is under the tree.

The telephone on the left is a dial phone. 

My sister and I sang in our church choir and we went Christmas Caroling around our town.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukka and Happy Kwanza or whatever is going on in your life to all of you.
Blessings.

 

Go here for more Sepia Saturday Christmas stories and photos. 

Looks like rain to me

Friday Shoot Out
theme

Signs of rain

Finding my way home.

Nature watering the flowers.

Go here for more Friday Shoot Out.

 

Share the JOY Thursday

JOY

Simple things bring peace to my mind.

Nature

The ability to replicate something simple to a piece of canvas with a few colors.

 
  

After 6 coats of shellac my waterlily has found

it's place of honor in my home.

May all of you find JOY is the simple things of life.

Linking up with Meri at Share the Joy

Share the JOY Thursday

Pineapple, coconut goodies

This is my first post since last Friday.

My heart was heavy, as everyone's was, in this country and around the world.

God is in charge.

We must remember that.

Pineapple, Coconut Clusters.

You will need 1 pack of softened Creme Cheese

1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup chopped pecans

Shredded coconut.

Mix drained pineapple with softened creme cheese. I buy low fat.

Chop or grind 1 cup of pecans and mix all together

Place in refrigerator to chill.

Remove several hours later, shape into round balls and then roll in shredded coconut.

 They are delicious and I believe better than candy, at least for me.

See you in January 2013

Linking up with Kathe with an E   

In mourning for the children

Friday Shoot Out -My favorite holiday

My favorite holiday is

Christmas

Our family gets together every holiday but at Christmas we have our get together the last in the day and folks know they don't have to leave to go somewhere else as they do earlier in the day.

That is okay and everyone loves ending up at a place where they can lay back and relax.

Son John trying to pick his Mystery Santa gift.

He is a big comedian and when it is his turn he will make a comedic production out of it.

Most of the women buy the gifts and they never know what they might end up with.

If it is a really desirable item someone else make take it away from him.

 

My happiness comes from seeing him relaxed and having a good time. He works long and hard job as  manager of a huge diesel parts company.

I love watching siblings barter back and forth for gifts. The laughter is such a great feeling and the feeling of family is so comforting.

Sometimes funny childhood stories get told and even tears will roll.

  John's beautiful daughter Abby entertains with a song

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus underneath the Christmas Tree Last Night."

  The newest member of the group, our daughter's fiancee, wonders what in the world will I have here.

Well daughter Julia is "It" playing charades.

Julia and her hubby swapping clues. Is that fair?

   Daughter Jennifer thinks she will be safe by picking the gift she brought, which so happens

to end up being the one all the ladies want.

 Daughter Rachel, in burgandy, is only with us every other year as they go out of town to the other grandparents every other year.

She is the silliest of all.

The grands, Abby, on the left, Ben, Trenton,, 

Ellen and Thomas like having their own place to play and not have to listen to 

"Those silly grownups."

Oh course everyone has been to Church to celebrate the reason for the season

The Birth of Jesus.

 This is the same group of kiddos many years ago.

When they were little they always did a production of the 

Birth of Jesus

Merry Christmas to all of you.

Go here for more Friday Shoot Out.   

  

Share the JOY Thursday and laugh with me.

About 2 weeks ago I bought 

1. A Christmas Cactus

It came through the mail and had blooms on it.

No blooms now.

2. A container, soil and bulbs for Christmas 

Paperwhites.

I was beginning to think, no Paperwhite were coming up.

Then Wala

   You can imagine my JOY at seeing this yesterday.

Life after all.

But wait, something is wrong.

I decided to get out the directions that came with the package and yes, all you gardeners out there,

they were potted upside down.

No only am I getting forgetfull, just a little, but I am not even comprehending instructions any more.

I turn them over and now,

Wala

   I was overJOYed.

Now I am wondering if my Paperwhites will grow out sideways or will they rise up and reach for the sun?

I will just be hoping the sun keeps shining.

Well I guess that makes for next weeks JOY post.

Go here to share the JOY today.