February Foretelling 14

February 14:

With that understanding came total freedom.

February Foretelling 13

February 13:

That's the picture they saw of me, but it didn't matter what they thought.

patti smith inscription two, a photo by michael_stevens_ on Flickr.

February Foretelling 12

February 12: 

No; but I can't do it now, with two babies to tend.

February Foretelling 11

February 11: 

His attitude comes from his parents, he explains.

Those two little friends of mine-Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine, a photo by faisalkhaled1992 on Flickr.

February Foretelling 10

February 10: 

Her parents were crushed.

Battered, Tattered, Shattered, a photo by jerrysEYES (retiring Feb 28, 2013) on Flickr.

February Foretelling 9

February 9:

In the backseat, Mom was holding something in her purse.

By KaitℓynRose

February Foretelling 8

February 8:

She began reading the obituaries, and she came across one, a yellowed piece of newspaper, and kissed it.

Sweet Memories, a photo by edjane obama on Flickr.

February Foretelling 7

February 7: 

The path down the hill is a short cut to the parking lot.

Rollin down the hill...., a photo by Keith Sergeant on Flickr.

February Foretelling 6

February 6: 

But soon it was clear how happy these women were to be together, laughing and gossiping as if they'd saved up their stories all week.

A Good Laugh, a photo by Sanhodo on Flickr.

February Foretelling 5

February 5:

Chaos tells me to calm down or else 
they won't be able to help me.

Chaos Hipstamatic, a photo by Tessek on Flickr.

February Foretelling 4

February 4:
There was no possibility of a real conversation.

conversation, a photo by nemoegero on Flickr.

February Foretelling 3

February 3: 

The images were grainy, roughly cut into wood.

All cut up, a photo by Jason...lost in Norfolk on Flickr.

February Foretelling 2

February 2: 

It had been a particularly large Christmas dinner.

Um...I don't think this is the kind of sentence I had in mind...but so be it.

Ukrainian Christmas Feast, a photo by glenbowmuseum on Flickr.

February Foretelling 1

I just read a book in which one of the main characters started her day by opening a book & reading the first sentence her eyes landed on.  The sentence was a forecast of what was in store for that day.  I've decided to try this for the month of February and I will share it with you.

February 1:

Thus, the marks of external success had not changed appreciably during this time.

A Good Book., a photo by ©nicole on Flickr.

Christmas Past

As I was going through old photo albums this week, I found this photo of my mom, aunt & grandma. 

I thought it was appropriate to share because of my last post. 

If you notice in the background, they have their cards displayed by simply tacking string to the wall & hanging the cards over the lines.   

Isn't my mom so cute (on the right)?

You can tell she is so proud of her new doll.

Displaying your Holiday Cards

Christmas Cards have started to arrive in full-force and I have been searching for ways to display them.  Here are a few of my favorites that I've found.

Martha Stewart

bhg

IMG Fave

Chandelier

Martha Stewart

bhg

Rudolph

I am so lucky to get to spend an entire week home over the holidays for the second year in a row.  I've arrived back to Southern Indiana and am surrounding by all the Rudolphs that I love. In celebration of our festive surname, I've gathered a few of my favorite Rudolphs to share here.

paper source
 
Rudolph Santa, a photo by cindyiscrafty on Flickr.

concrete lace

desTroy

John Hanawalt

Quill and Fox

Collecting Feathers

Armato Designs

Rudolph, a photo by ganniemo on Flickr.

Rudolph TRNR, a photo by LORAC! Carol on Flickr.

Getting ready for a Holiday Party - Wrapping

I tend to have "wrapping themes" every year.  This year, I have focused on simple wrappings and antique containers.  Decorating has been all about the paper pinwheel.  

In previous years I have wrapped presents with 

snowflakes under wax paper

Costume jewelry

Lace ribbon

kraft paper

vintage photo "name tags"

sheet music paper

chocolate coin "bows"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garnishes

I can't quit using pomegranates and rosemary to garnish everything this year.   I used them both at Thanksgiving to garnish the cornish hen platter and then I used them again to liven up the cheese and charcuterie platter at the Christmas Party.  Each of them is gorgeous on their own, but together they add such color, texture and scents that they are just irresistible.  

Pomagranate, a photo by Sprout512 on Flickr.

Rosemary, a photo by cinnachick on Flickr.

pomegranate detail, a photo by papierdreams on Flickr.

Getting ready for a Holiday Party - Music

When it comes to Holiday Tunes playing in the background, there is nothing better than the classics.

Winter Wonderland...............................................Louis Armstrong

Santa Baby...................................................................Eartha Kitt

I've got my love to keep me warm..............................Billie Holiday

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas....................Ella Fitzgerald

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...............................Dean Martin

Jingle Bells.........................................Count Basie & His Orchestra

White Christmas..........................................................Bing Crosby

Baby It's Cold Outside.....................Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan

Mistletoe and Holly.....................................................Frank Sinatra

Frosty the Snowman...................................................Ella Fitzgerald

Let it Snow!  Let it Snow!...........................................Lena Horne

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town...................................Peggy Lee

Marshmallow World...................................................Frank Sinatra