One of my favorite vignettes

Took this picture then manipulated it in Photoshop adding paint daubs. Here is the altered picture:

And everything that didn't move got a bow:

My lambs and my statue

and the birdhouse got decorated too,
A simple wreath at the front door,

Some of the many things I enjoyed doing for Christmas

I used tons of fresh greenery from the garden to decorate. This was fun. I had had the "plungers in claypots painted up gold from two Thanksgivings ago", and I had Oasis 4.5" balls in my stash. Sooo, I decided to make boxwood topiaries. Loved them for the buffet we had for our book club on the Friday before Christmas.


Then I took the boxwood balls off the plunger/pots, then stuck them on top of small crystal salt cellars for a lower arrangement for the Dining Room Table for Xmas eve. Gary makes his lasagna dinner and has done so every Christmas Eve for the last 9 years we have lived here. We usually invite friends and people we know who may not have family in the area. This year we had 11 for dinner and we set up six at the Dining Room Table and five at a table I set up in the Library.








Another fun thing was my rosemary on lime halfs dipped in egg white then crystallized sugar

Christmas in the Garden

The weather here today is divine, in the upper 60's. I cut a whole lot of greenery so I could make a garland for my front door. Started it, but did not get it finished since I got sidelined making some Christmas finery for my little "Louisa." (she is the statue) I have been wanting to do this for a few years. I think I may even change it for different seasons, making her a flower garland for each season. I did get a start on the garland for the door, but will have to finish it tomorrow.

I shouldn't be doing this---

I shouldn't be playing around like this, I have way too much still to do for the holidays, but when I find a new toy to use in Photoshop, I can't resist. Took the photo of the wrapped present and created two kaleidoscope images (not quite right, however, since they are supposed to be round, I am not sure what I did wrong, but I like them anyway). When I get more time, I will try to figure out what I did wrong. Yet another addictive hobby!

Shhhh, don't peek

One of my favorite things to do is to make gifts. I painted a small picture of a friend's garden and she wanted me to paint a bunny picture. I have procrastinated until now. We meet tomorrow for lunch and I will give her this present. I don't think she checks blogs as frequently as I do, so I am hoping she will not see this before I give it to her tomorrow. Had fun painting this --I have been saving bunny paintings/pictures for a year now to get a good reference. A gift I make has lots more goodness in it, first, I hope the recipient is pleased "and" of course, I get all the enjoyment from making it. However, not everyone thinks this way, so I especially like to make things for those who do!

Flaky Cat

Couldn't resist, was making a few more snowflakes when Beau walked by:

Snowflakes in Wilmington, NC!

Synchronicity---
that's what it is! My dear sister who is undergoing chemo (for a whole year), sent me a beautiful snowflake lace ornament she had made. It got to me too late last year to put on tree, so I had it pinned up on my bulletin board near my computer so I could admire it every day. Then, I saw a posting on my Great Impressions forum posted by Tracy, which led me to this wonderful site showcasing paper snowflakes and I thought, why not use my sister's ornament as the theme for my tree this year and have fun making all those snowflakes, sooooo, my daughter and I put up our tree on Friday and the snowflake madness began. You all know I am not content to just show one picture when a whole slideshow would be better, so, yes, yet another slideshow. I apologize for some of the not-so-clear photos as I am still not adept at using closeup lens in low lighting, but you all get the idea.

Pink and White, must be Fall!

The painters finished last week and we have been busy putting everything back. As most of you know from looking at my photobucket albums, I have a lot of "stuff" DH says junk surrounding the house on porch and patio. Although this is a problem during hurricane season, most of the time, I enjoy these homey outdoor spaces and am willing to put up with the extra work. I put my hayrack back up and like it even better than against the green siding. Haven't added any color in there yet though. You all know how much I love making slideshows, never content to show just "one" picture. As usual, Fall in Wilmington, NC is mostly pinks and whites with a little purple sage thrown in the mix. I do have one maple with fall colors but didn't include it since pink and white is the theme here. I have azaleas blooming and my most favorite one, the bright pink with white edges, that I bought years ago as a florist azalea (told they can't be put outdoors, but this baby has produced lovely blooms every spring "and" fall for me.) I have had no luck propagating it, and would love to have more.
Well the slideshow will reveal the new White House and what is going on around it.

Trip to Williamsburg

Just returned from a delightful trip to Williamsburg. I know you all can't make the trip, but my dear friend Lynette just sent me the website with lots of slideshows that will make you feel like you have been there. For all you crafty, decorating mavens, check out the slideshows for the Wreaths, Garlands, Ropes and Fruit, and the Holiday Decorations Slideshows, you will get some fabulous ideas for decorating your beautiful homes and gardens for the upcoming holiday season. Click HERE to start your trip to Williamsburg.

Beautiful Day for Garden Tour

Thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful gardens on the Fall tour here in Wilmington, here are just a few quick images,:


The rest can be seen at this site.

New "Old" Hobby, working with Polymer Clay

I have recently gone back to an old hobby, working with Polymer Clay which I love to do. Here is a necklace that I made yesterday. I have had these earrings (not Polymer Clay) for quite a while but had no necklace that went with them and have been looking for a long time, things I have seen have just been too bright silvery, or wrong in other ways, so I decided to make something and here is the result. I used magnetic snaps (that I use when I make handbags out of placemats (yet another hobby), and encased them in polymer clay for the back of the neck clasp. Here is a picture of that:


and a closeup of the magnetic snap inside:

My Fall SlideShow

I just saw the September 16th challenge on Nature Trail Blog (one of my daily check-ins)--and she led me to Maria in Finland and several others and thought I would add mine too. Here in Wilmington, our leaves have not yet turned in fact there is so much pink still around in the garden, but I am in a Fall mood and this vignette suits me, plus I get to practice my blogging skills. Need to figure out how to do the links.

I think also I will create another slideshow with fall decor, just for fun. I should be in the garden weeding, etc., but here I am.

Here's a collage of old photos of me and daughter and husband, new photos also of family and friends

I created a Slide Show! Check it out!