…Winter needs to wait. Christmas decor is out of my office; Winter decor is in. But, I need to keep Christmas at home for a while longer. Why? My journaling is nearly complete…and pictures are in hand. The 2012 Journal Your Christmas album calls. I’m documenting my commitment to creativity and spirit right now. I just need to get through 2 more days at work. HA! Meanwhile, here’s my opening page.
Archive for the ‘Christmas’ Category
W is for…
Posted in Authenticity, Christmas, Commitment, Gift, Gratitude, Kathy, Lifeology on December 27, 2012 | 1 Comment »
M is for…
Posted in Christmas, Honoré on December 25, 2012 | 1 Comment »
P is for Past, Christmas
Posted in Authenticity, Celebration, Christmas, Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Kathy, Lifeology on December 13, 2012 | 2 Comments »
We enjoyed Ben’s caroling at his pre-school last night. A half-dozen 3-year-olds jammin’ to Jingle Bells. So fun. And as so often happens, I flashed back to my own Littles and times passed. While rummaging through recently scanned photos, I found this shot of the Maynard Bumper Crop awaiting permission to dive into the stockings from Mammaw. From the left, we have First Grandchild Shannon. Luckily, she had us all for 4 years before Heather (1981), Jeffrey (1982), Catherine (1982), Katie (1982) were born. Mac (1985) is 14 months old and Josh (1986) is in my arms as I take the picture. Anything sweeter than the faces of children for the holiday? Yes, most have their own kids to pose now…and to hear the explanation of first, second and third cousins. *grin* It’s a Hill Thing.
J is for…
Posted in Celebration, Christmas, Creativity, Family, Friendship, Gratitude, Holidays, Kathy, Lifeology on November 25, 2012 | 1 Comment »
…Journal Your Christmas! Yay JYC! Thirty+ days of documenting the reclamation of our holiday from prep-joy to post-joy and peace (and recovery). Can she do it? Yes, she can! Of course, that’s what I said last year. Solution? I just moved the front page for 2011 (which was just lovely – I’ll post a pic soon) to the back of the album and made room for pics from the Big Events of December 2011 to follow. Now while I await the creative nudge from Shimelle for the front page for 2012, I have papers/theme ready to go. I just need to find 1) a single embellishment to feature on each page through-out and 2) “Christmasy” numbers from 1-31. There is that other problem, of course. What do I do about those absolutely must-have vintage Christmas papers showing up on Scrapbook.com for this season. They call to me. Help.

The JYC 2009 cover’s verso…a first…and last…attempt with ModgePodge. What was I thinking? I HATE to get my hands yucky.
ho, ho, ho!
Posted in Celebration, Christmas, Family, Gift, Just for fun, Laura, Lifeology, Memories, Summer on July 27, 2012 | 1 Comment »
My mom loved Christmas and would plan for it all year long. She would scour yards sales in spring and hunt at flea markets in summer and tuck away the treasures she mined. She’d wrap them so early she’d forget what was inside! I’ve never been a planner for Christmas and now that our family has toyed with making gifts instead of buying them I’m definitely going with spur-of-the-moment kinda gal.
The same week that Kathy suggested a ‘Christmas in July’ post a friend gave me boxes of Christmas decorations to sort through and keep or share. May the spirit of Christmas twinkle in your heart all year long!

I second that sentiment: Let it snow!
just five months til Christmas…
Posted in Christmas, Honoré, stitching on July 25, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Two years ago, my friend Pat and I participated in a block of the month quilt club. The goal was to make and complete a quilt, made primarily of hand-dyed , felted wools, silky to-the-feel cottons, and embellished with embroidery and beads. When finished, the eight blocks plus borders quilt measures 39″ x 51.”
Pat finished her quilt in late April. I am still working on mine! My goal was to have mine completed, i.e., all the blocks embellished and sewn together, by today, July 25, 2012. I won’t make it! But, I am getting closer to the end – hooray! -and I do expect to make the final stitch by the end of the month. Most of what I have left to do is to make and add the border the quilt border. Most of that involves hand stitching. Can you imagine sewing on wool in 100+ degree heat! Guess I gotta do it if I’m to meet that deadline (thank goodness for A/C).
And why, you say, since Christmas is five months away? Well, so I can send the quilt top to Oregon to have it quilted – you know, the quilt sandwich is put together and then the final, fancy quilting stitches are added… they hold the sandwich together. Here’s one of the blocks…
Guess I’d better get busy!
Cheers~
Merry Christmas in July!
Posted in Authenticity, Christmas, Color, Family, Friendship, Gratitude, Holidays, Kathy, Lifeology, Summer on July 25, 2012 | 1 Comment »
The Muppets can sing of the holiday for me…
A cup of kindness that we share with another
A sweet reunion with a friend or brother
In all the places you find love
It feels like Christmas”
“It is the season of the spirit
The message if we hear it
Is make it last all year”

Life is full of sweet surprises…every day’s a gift. The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit. Fills me up with laughter. Fills me up with song. I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong…
“A part of childhood we’ll always remember
It is the summer of the soul in December
Yes, when you do your best for love
It feels like Christmas”
And, I’m sending out an extra dose of love to my pards here. Put on your jingle bells today!
getting ready for the long haul…
Posted in Christmas, Honoré, Winter on December 21, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
after December’s full Christmas moon…
Posted in Christmas, Honoré, Nature, Seasons, tagged moon, yule on December 14, 2011 | 1 Comment »
beyond whose reach?
Posted in Christmas, Creativity, Honoré on December 1, 2011 | 1 Comment »









