A different tree - and off to a party!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree. . . . . . .how lovely 

are thy branches. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . such a beautiful carol, and many versions are often played over

 the radio these close to Christmas days. 

On this warm, wet foggy morning pianist Tim Janis is playing this lovely

 melody in the background on my laptop. I'm burning the Tree Farm 

fragranced candle and the world is calm......at least here.

Christmas trees seem to be the most conspicuous decorative item for

 our most important, much-loved Christian celebration, and they come in

 many shapes and forms.

Some of you have asked about my 'music paper' trees. 

They are very easy to make.

These are several years old. I carefully pack them away

 in tissue after the holiday season and they have held up quite well.

Don't have any real directions - a chunk of styrofoam stuffed firmly 

in a terra cotta flower pot, a wood dowel and pieces of printed 

music sheets, the thicker the paper the better - I picked up several

 vintage books of music at SuzAnna's Antiques. I cut the sheets

 using deckle edge scissors, gradually sizing them from large to

small with a small hole in the center, and glueing glitter on

some of the edges. Cut a paper star for the top. No rules really,

just use your creativity - they do look pretty and if you love things

made from old bits of paper you will enjoy these.

Any questions?  Be sure to ask.

Speaking of glitter. . . . . . . we're off to a Christmas Open House out

 in the country this evening.

I will wear black velvet but need something to give a little shine to my

very blah black mask!

I've decided best I can do is 'decorate' it like this . . . . . . . just 

using my dear late mother's marcasite clip! I also have small

marcasite earrings to match.

Do you think this works?

Closing here with a collage I made of the Christmassy corners around the cottage.

Enjoy your Sunday before Christmas. . . . . and the busy week ahead!

Knit one, pearl one. . . .

Purchased on my way to Antarctica ~ January 2013

Do you knit?

With cooler air flowing - here still only after sunset as days are still in

 the 80's - the click clack of knitting needles can be heard in my head.

 Now I just need to get my fingers loosened up.

I have to admit I'm just not up for big projects such as a really chunky, cozy

sweater or cardigan.  Following a pattern, usually printed in smallish type, is 

too hard on the eyes now. 

Store-bought, or an online purchase if you prefer, is much easier and much

 quicker.  A garment such as these can take a long time!  Winter would

 definitely be over by the time I completed something similar. . . .I'd be

 pulling the summer linen tops back out of storage. . . . .the ones I'm

 busy putting away this week!

As for cost, good quality yarn is not cheap. 

Buying a readymade sweater can be expensive if you're leaning toward

 good quality cashmere (my favorite), smooth, classic Merino wool, or silky, 

soft Alpaca, also a favorite. However, if you shop around there are some

 wonderful sweaters out there at more reasonable price points in blends

 of wool, acrylic, polyester, cotton, even yak fiber.

Way back in my teens I was quite a good knitter, making many sweaters

 and cardigans. Nowadays I'm knitting only scarves and neck cowls, usually

 while watching TV in the evenings. I can do this without having to bother

 with any patterns - plus I feel like I'm staying busy creating something rather

 than just wasting time staring at another screen - you know what I mean.

In all honesty, right now sitting at the computer, or in a chair with a heating pad

 is all I'm truly up for! Tomorrow I start physiotherapy which I hope will help

 with the pain in my right lower back/hip/leg. It's a month now since something

 went wrong and walking/bending has just become more painful, sleeping

 harder, and feeling good has been missing from daily life.

Yesterday Bob and I received our COVID booster - #3 Pfizer - at a local

 hospital. No side effects other than warmth and a slight ache at the injection site. 

We still go away from the house masked at all times - mandatory here indoors

 in public places, and we even keep them on when passing people outdoors.

After the hospital yesterday we headed to the mall to run a couple of

 errands - before my Tylenol wore off!  Amazed at how many, mostly young

people, were not wearing masks in the shops, even though all store 

personnel were!

Leaving you with something pretty. . . . . . . this lovely pumpkin/fireplace

 setting. Not mine but I do need to start doing something soon to make mine

 look more seasonal.  I'm hoping to make it to the pumpkin farm this weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend - it's almost here.

Friends and elephants!

Sunny Saturday afternoon brought a surprise visit - with social distancing of 

course - from our very special friends Mary Ann and Jim. A quick stop to hand us

 the most adorable cloth masks made by Mary Ann (and she's stitched dozens

 more for others). 

Bob's is a gorgeous blue, mine this fabulous elephant print. . . . . . .because

 best friends know what you love, and I love elephants!

I'm loving a real washable fabric mask - can't wait to go shopping for food this

 week and displaying it at Costco! 

Of course thinking of elephants made me take an online journey back to Africa

 this lovely spring morning.  I looked up my posts of the three fabulous safaris

 which took me to Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Kenya, and

 am sharing a few of my dozens of favorite photos I took of the beautiful, often

 mystical, elephant encounters I had.

I was going to say "DON'T LAUGH" - but what the heck go ahead and laugh all

you want - because we all need a giggle to keep us smiling in these difficult days!

Thank you again dear Mary Ann and Jim - we love you guys.

Show us your masks - and please be certain to wear them when and where required.