Merry Christmas

From the gang at Shades of Blue.

Have a jolly day.

The NJ gift

Snowden and Grasshopper look forward to gifts from their Titis in NJ.

The bell rang...

Signed for, the package was quickly opened...

They might have an idea of the thing is...

Ta da.... It is the long awaited for games playable on the DSI soon to come too.
Thanks so much.

Goodies from Mary

Mary is a fantastic baker.

This year, my Christmas gift was this tray of exquisite sweets.

I am partial to the lemon cookies here, the round ones right
above the word "lemon".
Thanks Mary.

Deck the Halls

Although the start was slow, we managed to do some decorating.

Frosty the greeter.

A desert plant fits with the design scheme.

The Africa corner.

Snow globes make me happy.

Books for children who lost their house in a fire.

Christmas Gift Suggestions

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.
- Oren Arnold American editor and free-lance writer (1900-1980)

Cloved Oranges

Saturday afternoon was spent on Christmas traditions, old and new. This is a new one. The oranges are homegrown, TJ's parents have a tree in their backyard.

He grabbed the cloves on a trip to the supermarket.

Snowden was excited to make her own designs.

My station was ready too.

Snowden's creation. I did remember Sarah's advice and I was careful with my fingers. It really was fun.

Fall sunrise in AZ

The traditional Fall looking tree is hard to find in these parts.

And that makes the ones we find really special.

Here's one. Love the color.

Fun things to do for the Holidays

I am trying to incorporate some relaxing activities in my otherwise harried days.

I want to find my own new Holiday traditions that represent serenity.

I found one shown above. I have never tried this but will do so this year.

Find your favorites on the Safeway website.

Happy Holiday Season to you.

Christmas at Walter Reed

As you sit down to prepare your Holiday cards, save a few for a soldier at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

We did. The mailing address is above.

Windows

Windows are forces that connect worlds.

Some windows bring wellness and comfort as does my kitchen window. The lamp spreads just the right amount of light. The coffee grounds being collected will feed the tomato and pepper plants. The cups remind me of summer days at the movies and the ballpark. The plants signify life. And beyond the window lies a place of fun and togetherness.

Come as you are

God does not wait for us to become perfect and in possession of only high, pure thoughts and unmixed motives before [moving] through us. God waits only for the sign of faith.
- Eugenia Price, American novelist and community activist (1916-1996)

Essential items

The makeup bag, the tape, and the papers of the day.

This is what I see as I look to my right as I drive.

Food

I prepared spinach sauted with tomatoes from my garden.

I love the feel of vegetables.

The tomatoes are bursting with flavor. I love having them growing in the garden.

Grasshopper's photo essay

Life's simple pleasures include having my hair played with. It ranks high on my list.

Grasshopper indulges me from time to time.

She's done this since she was little.

Give her some scrunchies and a brush.

And masterpieces are created.

And I get to feel the softness of her fingers.

She photographs too, so this is Grasshopper's photo essay.

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm a google fan, he's a Snoopy fan.

Grown with love

The watermelon grows. I have happily watered it and stared at it from the behind the wall where it was planted in the summer.

I touch it and marvel at its coolness and life force. I often admire plants and trees and feel the beauty of life in them.

And just the other day I discovered a new fruit. Grasshopper does not like to eat the things she deems as friends... Will we bring this to our table some day?

Parenting

Yes.... it happens.

Poetry

I have often maintained that the best poet is ... the baker who ... does [the] majestic and unpretentious work of kneading the dough, consigning it to the oven, baking it in golden colours and handing us our daily bread as a duty of fellowship.
- Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet and 1971 Nobel Laureate in Literature (1904-1973)

Rules to live by

Little magnets from Hallmark.

They are all daily efforts I make.

The sun sets in the desert

By 6 pm the sun is set in Phoenix.

Before then...

this is ...

what you see. And so we gather outside and admire a nature's show of splendour.