Abdominal Abnormalities

Yes, you know- 7 day hospital visit for ruptured appendix.

Whatever.

Glad it's behind me; however, there are SO many things I would like to share with you!

More to come- Next Year!

ps. thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks,thanks, thanks and thanks to all who visited

She Oughta be in Pictures!

A Christmas Queen if I ever saw one!

UPDATE: This is Angela. My new god-daughter! Quite an honor for me if not a little scary.
She is a living doll.
She's in preschool at Henry's old elementary school.
Her mother is a friend of mine and her brother is in my scout pack.

Bicycles, cycles, bikes, trikes!!!

Ya knew it was coming! The bicycle ornaments! Oh yes, these aren't the only ones by far!

Gosh, I'm not even gonna tell you when and where I got them. There are so many- except for the second from the bottom. Sandra gave it to Gary several years ago. Again, another fave!

Ornaments 'Round the World

Hazel and Eunice brought this beauty back from Europe when they went to visit the World War II sites in the 1990's. It is truly one of my faves!

Larry brought the teddy bear holding the Eiffel tower from, well, France. Melissa picked up this little wooden Santy from Germany. Bruce from Fossil Rim chose the koala when we transported some of our cheetahs to the Australian zoo.

Stephanie found this gorgeous gem of an ornament in Italy.

Can ya'll tell that I have THE best friends and family? People think of me when they find these ornaments and I think of their kindness every year when I unpack these treasures!
This is why my tree is so special to me!

Rudolph

Casa Manana is a place we go every month or to see a play. December is always a Christmas play (usually Rudolph or Frosty).


Henry loves getting his autographs after the show. He's very patient and won't leave until he gets them all!

Gary and I are wondering how long he will enjoy this tradition- we hope for a long time!

Cards Are Done!

THE Christmas Cards are so finished!* Now what will I do? I guess I can finish last minute gift shopping tomorrow at the incredibly crowded malls in town.

Oh, and to quote a silly girl-
"The first Scrooge I see gets a wedgie!".

*if for some reason you don't receive your own personal copy and would like too, just you let me know and I will add you to the list!

A Picture is Worth

a thousand words. Unfortunately, I didn't take any of the first xmas gathering we've had in years!

I'm on a photography strike...

I invited some friends I've made via Henry and his connections (our illustrious leader was conspicuous by his absence). We watched the last Cowboys game in Texas Stadium (boo) while listening to some rather interesting James Bond-type music blaring from Henry's room (we determined Henry is a spy).

About $34.33 worth of boiled shrimp was consumed along w/ Gary's now-famous cocktail sauce. However, Trish and I didn't consume any- for reasons known only to us and the safety of our feline friends.

There was a wide variety of fun-homemade party food with wine, beer (Mexican and domesticated for our domesticated males) and Willie Nelson Whiskey River whiskey for our eggnog (our rum supply didn't show). Then, Joy brought a yummy strawberry platter in for a delicious desert!

Lots of laughter, fun and happiness. All-in-all a great excuse to clean my house and to have really big Texas hair. I will do it again! Thanks for the grins!

From Sea to Shining Sea

I showed ya'll my ornaments from California. These are from Florida. MIAMI to be specific. What a great vacay I had there while visiting friends on the beach- Miami Beach!

And to answer the Grey Eagle's question, the ornaments will last until Christmas.

No Ornaments Today (anyone pleased?)

Instead of ornaments:


GOOD SANTA and...

BAD SATAN (sp)
don't be frightened, they just flipped the blanket

courtesy of Syd-the-kid, Lily, Linz, grandma

Giving Gifts

Henry's teachers are in for a nice surprise! Mom made some apple cake for Henry to give out as Christmas presents. These are especially *yummy* and hard for Henry to give away!

*update: while mom DID make these, I bought ingredients AND cleaned out two closets for her. i hauled away two large garbage bags full of used toys, junk, etc. to make a little room for guests...

Christmas Cards Can Wait

For those of you asking about my Xmas cards: I'm still working on them!

As usual, there are whirling noises in my head concerning my cards. However, I feel that they are worth it once I finally get it worked out (Gary tends to disagree). Between the idea of the card, the computer, the printer, the photo people (b/c my printer has an aversion to magnetism), Henry's opinion concerning his image, balance, color, texture, you name it, it takes a looong time to create these magnificent works of art that I call Christmas cards.

So stay close to your mailboxes. Only not yet.

For the Birds

We are very fond of birds here at the Shannon household. Seriously, we feed/water them every day and bring the food in every night so the raccoons won't get a free meal.
I counted 11 cardinals (male/female) at/around our feeder this morning. They were bathing, eating, hanging out.

What a joy! The tufted titmouse ornament on the upper left was Gary's 2002 ornament. The pink lady at the top right was one his family had when he was a little boy.

The male cardinal on the right is Gary's this year. I give him a bird ornament every year so there are lots more. Such as this white owl from 2000.

Really, there are lots more. Perhaps they don't photograph well or perhaps I'm just lazy to post them all - or, perhaps I don't want to bore you all to death showing you ALL of our bird ornaments!

Cutie Patooties

Awww! Our Utah gang: happy, healthy and healing!
Benny, Amy, Colely

Transportational Ornamentals

Sandra brought the Santy Claus cable car back from a business trip she took to San Fran in 1999. I'm not sure what kind of memories she has of it, but I love the fact that she took time out to buy it for me!

Gary and I found this double-decker in the Davis mountains in 1997.

The third one is again from San Francisco. A business associate named Gail gave it to me while I was in California on business. She also took me to see a '49ers game. Fun!

Ornament of the Day #2

Here's a cutie-pie for ya! Henry is adorable in 2000. He is 2 years. It is also the year of Max.

It's Snowing

Go here for *S*N*O*W!
I found the wherefores on WhiMSy Love's awesome pages!

Ornament of the Day #1

Many of you know of my christmas ornament collection; however, you may not know the delicious details of each one of them! Here is your chance to share my obsession, er, fascination with my objets d'art.


This little wooden fellow (who is also a bell) was discovered by Gary and me in Silverton, Colorado in the early 1990's.

We were on a vacation - just the two of us. Every-time we see this bauble, we say "ohhhh, Colorado" and have a trip down memory lane... (silly!)

A+

I've just checked my grades on-line and I received an "A+" in the first college course I have attempted in 20 years!

97.02 out of 100 available points

(what'd ya think happened to the 2.98% that eluded me?)

Cute Little Guy

I just found this little guy on the 'net and HAD to share him!

Last-minute Layouts

The cover-art for the off-spring's yearbook is completed (by younglings)! The squares have been matted, touched-up, squared-up, voted-on and taped (several times) to perfection. Off to the yearbook vendor they go- shhhhhh. I haven't informed the winners yet, so no speaking of this in public places.

happy moment

Did I tell ya'll that this was MY blog? No? Oh, it is. Just for me. Things that make me smile. Perhaps it isn't the picture of me, perhaps it is the yummy things surrounding me- soft pillow, comfy shirt, pecan praline, printer, YARN, antique telephone, Gary...

Traditional Times

We are making the traditional Count-Down-To-Christmas Chain! You know, red, green, red, green, red, green, red, green, you get the idea...






And, speaking of traditions, I want to make this advent calendar this year (if I make time!).

Holidays and Christmasing

Holiday gathering at the Watson's. Goofy youngsters and oldsters. Lots o' fun!

Later, I was gettin' the lights from the attic and poof! They came down, just not the way I wanted.

be merry, be good, be jolly

Jenny and I went Christmasing at CiCi's Touch of Nature on Vickery. LOTS of holiday decorating ideas! Jenny will need it as she is sponsering an open house for the local high school. We wish her luck

Thanking

Time spent with the Shannon family for turkey day! Henry is SO thankful!

Log Cabin Style

This is my first attempt at Log Cabin knitting:

I am loving how it's turning out!

There are only two rules:

*work each section clockwise
*use whatever yarn you have (stash-busters!) & use it all
(notice extra large section of moss green in middle)

yummy!

Sunglasses and Sundry Snapshots

I love this guy!

*Yippee*! I got my xmas present early.

Fancy-schmancy Oakely replacements!

I misplaced my old ones (shocker)

however, I'd had them for years and years so I don't feel so bad.

Who knows, I might find them yet amongst the piles of laundry...

Gary's been playing with the camera again:
tufted titmouse

carolina chickadee

He's got lots o' creativity & patience finding birds in
our backyard paradise!