Christmas Eve Traditions

On this last mail day before Christmas, we take all our Christmas cards and string them with a piece of twine and hang them in the great room where we can see and admire them all.

The newspaper has an early deadline and press run on Christmas Eve. We go to the Post after dinner on Christmas Eve and pick up a Christmas Day edition of the paper. We try to make it in time to say "Merry Christmas" to the pressmen. This year we were a little late for that, but I got Bob to pose in the photo room with one of the old cameras. In the background you can see some of the photo pages run this year (Bob's "scrapbook pages").

Amaryliis

Amaryllis......fantastic Christmas bloom!

Every year I'm given an amaryllis bulb that blooms at Christmas. Last year, I saved the bulb and planted it outside in the summer. I brought it inside just before freezing and have been awaiting the blooms. I think I have a shoot that will turn into a flower.

This is the page I created 4 years ago, using the Basic Grey Notch n' Dye set for the decorative touches.

2005

Make everday a holiday

Chris was invited to the band dance by one friend. He went to dinner before the dance with a group of friends, met after the dance with another group of friends, then stayed at another friends' after the dance.

The quote from Amanda Bradley fits with the pictures of Chris and friends Jessie, Mary, Greg, Kelsi, Lindsey and Jess:

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make everyday a holiday and celebrate just living!"

Digital brushes (Kate Teague "Damaskalicious")

December 2009

Special Christmas 1961

After Bob saw my "Night Before Christmas 1958" layout, he said he wished he had pictures from Christmas when he was a youngster. So I asked his brother, David, to bring some of those pictures when he visited. Bob was thrilled to see these. He picked the photos, paper and even wrote the journaling for this layout.

"Christmas morning of 1961 was very exciting for me, much like it is for any seven year old who gets those "big toys" only on the holiday.

My brother David, who was ten, and my mother unwrapped presents while my Dad took pictures with his new Christmas camera, a Kodak "Brownie".

I got a Detective Special snubnose revolver set, a Tonka truck and boat trailer set, and most importantly, a Mattel "Fighting Lady" battleship. It was about 3 feet long and had a gun that shot plastic shells, a plane that launched from a catapult, and other great features. It was a state of the art toy for 1961. It brought me many happy hours of play for a long time after that very special Christmas."

Digital frame (Michelle Coleman)
Christmas brush (Memory Makers)

Santa's Elves

Every year I pack pizza kits and fruit bags for 50 staff members at the HSC Cafeteria. One of the boys and I go into the HSC Kitchen when no one is there and pack the gifts. I then leave them in the spots of the serving area or kitchen where the individual starts the work day. This year I was thrilled when both sons and Bob joined me. That made it all the more special.

Mornin' Morgantown

I'm unsure if Joni Mitchell ever visited Morgantown, but she sure wrote a song that's meaningful to a couple that met here, then spent their lives here.

Here's some pictures I took on campus, on a beautiful fall Sunday.

"The only thing I have to give to make you smile to win you is all the mornings still to live in Morning, Morgantown." --Joni Mitchell

Digital Tag (Sande Krieger "Fine China")
Digital Swirl (Michelle Coleman)

Let it Snow

It was Saturday, December 19th. We'd played Santa, made a holiday meal and shopped the day before. I knew that a Saturday snow would give us an excuse to stay home, watch the birds and visit with family. "And since we've no place to go. . . let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" 2009

Digital paper (Michelle Coleman "Twilight in my Garden")
Digital brushes (Rhonna Farrer "A Little Christmas")

Here's Looking at You Kid

Bob's brother David celebrates his birthday one week before Christmas and travels from Beckley to Morgantown to visit with us around that time. This layout is from last year.

Happy 58th Birthday David.........and welcome to the world today our great nephew, Stephen Oliver Michael!

Journaling:
The theater was cold. Bob and I both dozed off a little, but we all enjoyed the 1942 classic on the big screen. There were so many good lines. . .

"If it's December 1941 in Casablanca, what time is it in New York?

The problems of 3 little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

The fundamental things apply as time goes by.

To America, to America, to America!

Play it once for old time's sake."

Digital Overlay (Crystal Jeffrey Rieger)

Wii for Cats

Birds, blowing Christmas lights, her own reflection, even the shadows of those things. . . all provide afternoon entertainment for Sugar & her people. 2009

Digital Frames (Cottage Arts #8)
Digital Tag (Sande Kreiger "Fine China"

Night Before Christmas 1958

I was so excited for Santa Claus to come I couldn't sleep. The piano and doll were mine to play and love.

Digital Tag (Paislee Press)

Felt like Miss America

I'm not always comfortable managing nearly 30 people. Some days I feel like no one likes me. When I came back to work after being away at the ADA convention, I was greeted with flowers, cards & presents. I felt like Miss America. It was the handwritten notes that meant the most: "Some days you drive us nuts, just as I'm sure we do you. But if I were to pick a Boss out of the entire world, it would be you. We love you and miss you when you're not here."

Fall Asleep Counting Blessings

We hung lights, got the tree and the first snow of the season came. Then we watched our favorite movie "White Christmas". Bing Crosby sang: "When I'm worried and cannot sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep. When my bankroll is getting small, I think of when I had none at all and I fall asleep counting my blessings."

Digital paper (Erica Hernandez eyelet lace)
Digital elements (Heidi Larsen "candy cane")
Digital frame (Cottage Arts "Scrap Edges 9")

Seeds. . . posterity

My Mom always plays along with things I want to do. When I stopped to photograph the milkweed, she broke one apart and started flinging the seed in the air. She thought I was photographing the plant--in my eyes, the focal point was her. 2008