RAIN, RAIN - DON'T GO AWAY!

pic taken Sunday 12.2.12 @ 7:00am

As I've mentioned before,

I LOVE RAIN!!

A lot of people don't - but, for me...

it's energizing!

AND, also allows me to slow down & relax!

 

Lately, I haven't wanted to work on craft projects,

decorate for the holidays,

pick-up my camera,

or unpack my new sewing machine.

When it started RAIN-ing this past week,

I actually looked forward to putting on my RAINcoat, 

dusting off my umbrella

(actually, JPE's - I couldn't find mine - until later in the day)

& zipping my purse & work bag closed

(to keep my stuff dry inside).

The drive to work didn't damper my spirits either.

Even though my workload was enormous

(make that gi-normous)

I accomplished a lot!!

So --- I say, "BRING on the RAIN!"

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 12.2.12

 "CHARMED LIFE"...  "CUT TO THE CHASE"...  "RUNNING WITH SCISSORS"

It's here... DECEMBER and SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY...

Silly me... I waited until this morning to take pictures. Not the best light (overcast with light rain), but setting up my photo ops brought me out of my "FUNK"...

This week the SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY words were: MISSING, NUMBERS, PURPLE, MUSIC & BRACELET.

MISSING

Cute sweater... MISSING a button. It's amazing I didn't toss the extra buttons in the button jar... what do you do with the extra buttons that come packaged with clothes?

NUMBERS

Pulled from my archives... taken in Lima, Peru (in July)... amazing ironwork NUMBERS.

PURPLE

When thinking about the color PURPLE... I instantly think of flowers.

MUSIC

Listening... the gutter is gurgling... JPE put our Christmas MUSIC on shuffle... a light rain is falling... AH, MUSIC to my ears. Yesterday, JPE set-up his holiday houses... this time of year also reminds me of singing & listening to MUSIC in churches.

BRACELET

Although I haven't worn my charm bracelet in years, I continue to buy charms --- when I spot them! I found these in Sunnyvale - the Eiffel Tower reminds me of our trip to Europe the summer of 2005... and the pine cone represents the beautiful trees at the Big Bear Cabin (we're hoping to spend some time there after Christmas - can't wait).

Well, that's SHS for this week. Next week's words are: SEASON, COLORFUL, WEATHER, SILHOUETTE & CALM.

Hope you'll stop by again this week. Getting into the holiday "groove" now... so will be posting some pictures.

  

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

quote by Dr Suess

NEED HOLIDAY INSPIRATION?

source

 Boy, do I ever have a Bah-Humbug mood!

We won't have any visitors during the month of December, so I told JPE I wanted to skip putting out decorations this year. That's just NOT like me - so, I thought if I looked around on some blogs I would get inspired to "decorate low-scale". I ran across FUNKYTIME Magazine (an online mag) & everything in this issue looks so cheery & bright.

I'm thinking about trying the Christmas Garland & Chocolate on a Stick... What will you try?

There's talk of this tradition happening soon...

 

...JPE'S biscotti

Perhaps the smells of baked goods, our small live wreath, some candles  & a simple garland will be a start?

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 11.25.12

PICTURE PERFECT!!!

We're back from our visit to Washington DC. Having a couple of days to get organized & laundry done before heading back to work tomorrow is soooo helpful. 

Of course, the excitement of travel is capturing new photographic memories, seeing places different than your usual surroundings, meeting new people, but having time to visit family, is most important. Thank you Sea-Bass (Sebastian), MB & SLE for sharing your home with us.

This week's SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY words are: HOME or THANKFUL, IN THE KITCHEN, COUPLE, BUBBLES & TREES. You really need to stop by RAMBLING & PHOTOS to see the adorable picture Ashley posted for the word, BUBBLES. 

HOME or THANKFUL

In addition to being THANKFUL for family, I'm THANKFUL that people who need assistance can get those services from a dog. Sebastian (alias Sea-Bass) has been MB's guidedog for a little over 5 years. He's soooo sweet... such a lover-boy (when not "working")... in addition to guiding MB, he also watches out for SLE (our daughter) & was continually peeking over his shoulder to make certain our party of four stayed together. If you want to know more about Guide Dogs of America, please CLICK HERE. 

IN THE KITCHEN

JPE loves to cook, bake & having an audience makes being IN THE KITCHEN that much more enjoyable. As a result, he orchestrated the Thanksgiving dinner cooking... which included putting the turkey in early, so we could eat at 1:30. MB shared his mother's secret to a beautifully tender, roasted turkey... Baste it with tomato paste! Oh my goodness... we'll be filing this away in our cooking binder. Our bird was perfection... crispy skin, moist meat, and tasty! Yummmy.

COUPLE

JPE & I visited the National Washington Cathedral... here are a COUPLE more pictures of baby Jesus from the Crèche Exhibition: And Heaven and Nature Sing. The baby wrapped in burlap is from South Africa (Zulu Tribe); the small beaded nacimiento, was created by members of the Huichol Indians (Mexico) - glass beads cover the terra cotta form of this baby Jesus; & the blue & white smiling baby Jesus is from Louisville, Kentucky - creation of HADLEY POTTERY. Next time JPE & I visit his family in Kentucky, I'm adding a tour of the Hadley Pottery Factory to our trip. 

BUBBLES

BUBBLES of lights... I know, sort of a stretch... ha! just ran out of time & didn't want to grab a photo from my archives when I had a cool picture from our tea date at the BUZZ BAKERY & LOUNGE (Arlington, VA).

TREES

As you may have seen, I posted pictures of the changing colors & of Arlington National Cemetery earlier this week! MB & SLE teased me about the number of TREE pictures I took during my week-long visit. Peeking at the photos, I can feel the crisp cool air, hear the crunch of leaves being walked on, and see the brilliance of the colors. 

Next week's SHS words are: MISSING, NUMBERS, PURPLE, MUSIC & BRACELET. Ohhh... I can't wait... don't forget to visit ASHLEY'S to see her post for BUBBLES. 

HOME AGAIN, JIGGITY JIGGITY

DE-ICING THE PLANE (Wash DC @ 8:30am)

COLORADO ???

ARIZONA  ???

WHATEVER - IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!

I've learned...

I really didn't pay attention

during Geography lessons!

nor US History lessons!!

Whewww!

MB had to explain some historical details

seen in the movie, LINCOLN

(Thanksgiving afternoon matinee).

JPE & I are going to see again LINCOLN today!

(yes, we see movies we like MORE than once). 

source

...it's a must see movie!