Christmas Freaks...

We admit to being Christmas Freaks at our house. We love Christmas and almost everything about it. Last night we went to hear our neighbors play at a Christmas concert (they were amazing) and then drove around a few different neighborhoods to see all the twinkle lights. We'd had about a foot of snow during the day and so it was truly lovely.
You can pick out the other Christmas Freaks fairly easily looking at twinkle lights.
It's not always obvious on the outside though. Sometimes a person is a Christmas Freak on the inside and that's good too.

Little c sometimes gets an aversion to Halloween. She only likes the fun part, but grosses out on some of the more ghoulish aspects of that holiday. This year was one of those years and so the Christmas music started on Halloween Night. Yep. c was ready to put the tree up the next day. Sadly, we didn't get it finished until last Friday, but she did most of the decorating this year and I thought she did a great job!

To Simplify... is not something I believe in. It's more to go full speed at all the traditions and plans that make the season fun and skip what has become a burden. I used to always make homemade candy... then, that wasn't as fun anymore so I stopped, however it's starting to sound fun again so I might make a batch.

I love to fill the house with Christmas flowers, which isn't expensive if you go to the right place. We paid less than $50 for the 7 poinsettias I purchased this year. That is much less than a nice flower arrangement goes for these days. Grocery stores over-charge for Christmas flowers and the quality is usually not very good so go to a greenhouse to get them. Mine usually last until Valentine's Day.

I love to paint Christmas boxes and listen to Christmas books on tape. Right now I am listening to Shepherd's abiding by Jan Karon. Father Tim is restoring a Christmas angel with a broken wing. Lovely.

I didn't paint any snow guys this year. Next year maybe. I did have to slow down a bit this year, but come January. I will start making big plans for next year. Christmas freaks celebrate all year long.

I hope you are merrier and merrier everyday.

The Bill of Rights...

Today, as it is every year, is an important anniversary in American History. It is the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, which happened December 15, 1791 and which guarantees to all citizens of the United States of America the following:

"The Bill of Rights protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly, the freedom to petition, and freedom of the press. It also prohibits unreasonable search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, and compelled self-incrimination. The Bill of Rights also prohibits Congress from making any law respecting establishment of religion and prohibits the federal government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. In federal criminal cases, it requires indictment by grand jury for any capital or "infamous crime", guarantees a speedy public trial with an impartial jury composed of members of the state or judicial district in which the crime occurred, and prohibits double jeopardy. In addition, the Bill of Rights states that "the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people," and reserves all powers not granted to the federal government to the citizenry or States. "

(Paragraph quoted from Wikipedia see the rest of the article here.)

I am so grateful for this document and for the gifts of liberty it guarantees. I am grateful for the men and women throughout the history of this country who have fought to preserve it and to make it's principles apply to every citizen. It is more important than ever that we know these sacred rights and are watchful that our government does not impose upon them or limit them.

Happy 217th Birthday to the Bill of Rights... May you live forever.

Barenaked for the Holidays...

I always get a few holiday recordings to add to our collection of Christmas stuff. I haven't heard this entire CD, but I love the song God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen that is performed with Sarah McLachlan. In fact, figuring out who was singing this song on the radio has been bugging me for days. I should have asked some of you music aficionados. Anyway, I hope the rest of the titles will be as much fun.

Lion House Rolls for Dinner...

We ate well last night. If you live in Utah, you can pick up this cookbook at any store that sells local Mormon stuff and make the famous Lion House rolls inside... (That's Sting of the Bee cake right there by the way... and if you haven't tasted it... you haven't lived.) ... Or you can just drop by a local Deseret Book looking for Christmas gifts and think... O lovely Lion House Rolls for dinner! Hooray! Please pass the jam!

Things Good Mothers Know...

Alexandra has just announced that her new book will be available February 15th. I am so thrilled! If you haven't been reading her books... don't miss Happiness For Two. Every couple should read it I think.

Mary Hamilton...

For as long as I can remember Mary Hamilton has been one of my very favorite artists. I wish that I could show you more of her work, but it seems to be disappearing. Mary Hamilton has been an artist for Hallmark Cards for over 50 years and all her practice with a paint brush shows. Best of all, I love her little angels, fairies and nativity scenes. When I was about 10, I started getting her Psalms calendar every year for Christmas. Hallmark no longer puts those out, but I sure wish they would. They were wonderful in every way. The art of Mary Hamilton is sweet and inspiring in it's delicate beauty with a touch of glitter here and there... I still look for her work every time I pass a Hallmark store. What an amazing career and to have spent all that time creating such loveliness... is just what I aspire to as an artist. With 40 years more practice.. who knows! Thank you Mary... it's all so beautiful!

Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband...

This is some of my favorite Christmas music. Music is something that I'm the last to know about, but I love the cheerful style of this group. This is happy music... I love it!

Joyeux Noel...

Beautifully done. I loved this film.

Otis...

OTIS

by Janie Bynum

"Otis is a little pig with a BIG problem. He doesn’t like mud.
His mama and papa are convinced he will someday love the stuff, but Otis isn’t so sure. And, in the meantime, he's lonely. It’s not easy being the only pig in the county who hates getting dirty.
Will Otis ever find

a friend?"

I have hang ups that I hate to admit to. Dirt is a thing that I not only despise... but it kind of scares me, so I relate to little Otis and his big problem. This little book shows that you can be OK even if you are wired a little bit different from other folksies... which I expect everyone is...

Making Jewels...

Next to painting, I really enjoy making jewelry although the things I make are pretty basic. That's what I spent yesterday doing. It's good activity if you are in a situation where couch time is something you need quite a lot of. Anywho... my friend Michelle who has a darling shop as well... (check it here) introduced me to MissFickleMedia who makes these little clay pendants. I love them especially the little chickadee. Right now she is running a special... buy anything in the shop and get a chickadee for free... What a deal! Anyway, I'm waiting for another chickadee because c has 2 bffs and she loves it when they all have the same of anything so I need to make one more necklace unless I decide that I need one too.

Thank You Vetrans...

Normally this is not something I would share, but it was such a great experience and I promised my neighbor that I would spread the word. My Sunday school teacher is a veteran of the Korean War and 2 Sundays ago he mentioned that he is a volunteer at the Veteran's Hospital. I had never been there and I asked him if he would take little c and I to the hospital and show us around. We were not allowed back into the rooms because the hospital is very protective of our soldiers. There were more than a dozen police officers around. I think that is a good thing. However, little c and I had made these thank you notes that have Pancake and Mints on the front waving the flag and on the back they said, "Our liberty is our most precious gift. We are eternally grateful to those who have provided it to us and to those who have maintained it for us. May God bless and keep those who have fought to preserve our freedom. Thank you!"

We were able to meet with and talk with many Veterans just in the waiting room. I was so impressed with their kindness. They were just sweet to little c. It was touching to see and learn how they look after each other. We met several Vets who are volunteer drivers. One guy was pretty grizzled. He had long hair and was missing teeth, but he drives Veterans 3 times a week to the hospital from Nevada and waits all day for them to finish with their treatments and then drives them home out of the kindness of his heart. He looks a little rough around the edges, but he is an angel on the inside. We literally saw 5 different guys who could pass for Santa and one told me that he had been growing out his beard for months so he could help Santa out during this time of year. I guess that's all I'm going to say about that other than it was such a great heart expanding experience that when my baby grows up a bit, I hope to find myself there more often. And, without sounding dumb, can I say... take the time to thank the Veteran who lives near you. They have sacrificed so much.. and they can't hear it enough.

The Ultimate Christmas Movie List...

We collect Christmas shows around here. My very favorites are:

1. It's A Wonderful Life

2. The Miracle on 34th Street (both old and new)

3. Albert Finney's Scrooge

4. Elf

5. White Christmas

and after that... not in order

6. The Family Man

7. Frosty the Snowman

8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town

9. The Little Drummer Boy

10. Home Alone

11. A Christmas Story

12. The Shop Around the Corner

13. The Ultimate Gift

14. Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas

15. Patrick Stewart's version of A Christmas Carol

16. The Christmas Card

17. Holiday Inn

18. Christmas in Connecticut

19. The Santa Clause 1,2 & 3

20. A Charlie Brown Christmas

21. While You Were Sleeping

22. How The Grinch Stole Christmas

This year we are going to try:

Joyeux Noel

The Bishop's Wife (w/Cary Grant)

Scrooged (w/ Bill Murray)

The Dead

We're No Angels

Are there any must see or at least pretty good films on this list that I've missed?

Our Mutual Friend...

The BBC does it again! Put this on your Netflix list or see if you can get it from the library. It's just fabulous!

In addition to Christmas Boxes...

I made this little box for a lovely dark haired baby named Lily.
... and put together these little favor bags for little c's b-day party. Do you see Pancake peeking out of there. c and I collaborated on that one. She didn't realize how difficult it is to get to the final design. I think she had to draw a simple sketch 9-10 times before we got the exact shape we needed. I was proud of her for sticking it out with me. There are a few Pancakes in the shop.. but no blue lilies I'm afraid although there are yellow and pink.

be happy: A little book to help you live a happy life.

I received this little book as a gift recently. I love it. It has some great advice inside that I need to follow.

Here are some examples...

1. Give away what you don't need, to someone who does.

2. Do a one day news fast.

3. Listen to music.

I'm a listen to the news person. You wouldn't believe the difference in your mood if you trade news for music! It's amazing.

I might not go back... OK I watched Frontline last night and that probably counts and it gave me nightmares and made me mad as heck before I went to bed. Hugo Chavez... what a jerk! See I need a change here.

I need to give away some things too. I would love to have one of those homes where all the clothing in the closet fits and is in good repair. Where the drawers have order and make sense. I used to have that when I lived in such a small space in the city. Chaos reigns here in the burbs.. but I'm going to work on this one too.

Find this little book. You'll love it. It will have something that will inspire you!

Bound for Glory...

This film about the song writer/musician Woody Guthrie was an interesting history lesson and well filmed. However, it was not an inspiring film to me. While the man Woody Guthrie often had his heart in the right place... he was no angel. His story reminded me of the quote by David O. McKay, "No success can compensate for failure in the home." No matter who you try to help or how magnanimous your intent.. if you fail your family all your victories may seem as hollow as this film.

Jesus The Christ...

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is a chronological biography of the life of Christ carefully researched and referenced and based on events recorded in ancient and modern scripture. Everyone should read this once. I thought it would be a challenging book, but it was not and I really enjoyed how Talmage compares the different gospels when they reference the same event.

Finding Noel...

This is the kind of book that I often complain about because I didn't learn anything reading it and that always makes a book less exciting to me. It's a sweet little Christmas story and I listened to the entire book in a marathon painting session yesterday. I wouldn't sit down and dedicate myself to reading this book, but if you have lots of dishes or ironing or something like that.. it's a nice diversion.

Good Manners Thursday...

Hooray! My sister Jackie sent in this lovely contribution to Good Manners Thurs. I just love this quote and hope that you will enjoy it.

I thought you'd appreciate this on a good manners Thursday. I've been studying about the music, and culture of Bali as it pertains to music. Here's a quote for you:

"Refinement (halus) is what everyone strives for, as indirectness, self-control, humility, and polite deference are important aspects of character and social interaction in Bali. They can be seen in business and social negotiations as well as theatrical performances. As cherished ideals for behavior, they are external representations of the inner power and potency (Lisa Gold, Music in Bali, p. 94-95)."

Sarah Jane Studios...

I love the sweetness in the art work of this Utah artist.
See more of her work here!

Matryoshka...

New Matryoshka Doll Box...

$30

in the SHoP

Madagascar 2...

Pretty funny. There are more penguins and more of the Lemur King... so it's funnier. I have to admit that I did fall asleep during 20 minutes of the middle... but my 4 year old nephew sitting next to me was glued through the entire film.

The Queen of Christmas...

I love Children's picture books. The best art in the world is found in the children's lit. section at the library. We collect Christmas everything around here and this is newest book in our collection thanks to Circe! Thank you Circe!

I love the message in this book. It reminds me of some advice that I got from a friend one day who said, "Life is short. Don't make your life about taking care of stuff. Make your life about experiences." Circe does that better than anyone I know as well as gifting great experiences that become treasured memories to her family, especially her children, and all her friends. Getting and having lovely things is wonderful, but memories of great times last forever.

I enjoy so much the work of what little c calls the "HOLIDAY BOOM!" Making the chocolate chip pecan pies for Thanksgiving is coming right up.. The trick is to skip the parts you don't like as much in favor of the fun part. For example.. I don't enjoy making the pie crust usually... so I skip that part... buy the crust and just make and bake the filling inside. I love the smell from the oven.

What are the parts you'd skip and the parts you enjoy the most?

Bird Clips...

DCi Decor Craft... sure makes some cute things... I love it when designers take the time to make common things a delight...

George Washington's Rules of Civility...

If only our society was as concerned with good grace as our first president! This little book has 110 rules for good manners. Some of the rules are a bit funny to us ... but some are still very pertinent and important rules of etiquette.

a bit funny...

Cleanse not your teeth with the table cloth napkin, fork, or knife; but if others do it, let it be done with a pick tooth.

very pertinent...

Be not angry at table whatever happens, and if you have reason to be so, show it not; put on a cheerful countenance especially if there be strangers, for good humour makes one dish of meat a feast.

and...

It is unbecoming to stoop too much to ones meat. Keep your fingers clean and when foul wipe them on the corner of your table napkin.

I would add... never.. ever lick your fingers. It's a fast way to bad manners and a bad cold.

Love this little book. It's a lot to think about still.

The 2008 Paralympic Games...

Sunday, I was able to catch just a few minutes of the 2008 Paralympic Games. I wonder why the networks don't broadcast these games like they do the regular Olympics... these athletes have struggled every bit as much or more to get to these games and their stories are compelling and inspiring.

I found myself crying a long with a man who was telling about his battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, who was trying to live to compete in the sailing event. He told about his love of being out on the water and how he wished for more days to sail. A story was told about a girl who suffered a terrible cancer and became paralyzed, but still had the courage to swim and about her parents who made her dreams possible even in the most challenging circumstances.

There is so much pure junk on TV these days..., but for very little cost the networks could have broadcast these stories all day. It is difficult these days to understand the success of some of the programing on television. We have to look for those stories that inspire, that art that lifts and encourages, those people who speak truth. These are all hard to find, but they are there and worth the effort.

Something I'm happy I saved...

I love these sweet little Feltman Brothers dresses. They can be found lots of places. I saved a few that c wore when she was a babe. I have one kind of like this one.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...

Just to put you in the mood to vote tomorrow. ..try watching this fabulous Frank Capra film! It's a favorite around here!

Christmas Fairies...

Isn't this winter fairy dress from Chasing Fireflies... just a dream? Sooo pretty! These dresses remind me of Jackie Kennedy's beautiful wedding dress. I've seen a lot of these applied ruffles or ribbon details lately. I love it, it's so feminine!

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the King's Singers...

I was thrilled to see this in Deseret Book on Saturday. I've been waiting for it. I have become a huge fan of the choir since they started making their own recordings and the sound is sooo much better. This CD will be one of your Christmas favorites... Yes, if you hate the Christmas posts.. you'll just have to stay away from this blog for awhile. C and I have a philosophy about Thanksgiving and Christmas it goes like this... What are you most thankful for??? CHRISTMAS!!!

Pork Chops and Brown Rice...

Sorry, I forgot to take a photo of this recipe... It's one of those Utah recipes with Cream of Mushroom soup, which I sometimes tire of... but it tasted good yesterday.

1 package thin lean pork chops (cut about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can french onion soup

Mix soups in small pot and place pork chops in the soup making sure they are covered... cook on 275 for about 4 hours or more until they are very tender.

Serve with brown rice, a side veggie and salad.
Recipe is easily doubled.

Autumn Day at Temple Square...

We had such a fun family day today. We went to see the Reflections of Christ exhibit at the Joseph Smith Building... it was quite beautiful. We had lunch at the Lion House Pantry.
We walked around Temple Square's beautiful Autumn gardens and rode the Trax train around town. It was like a mini vacation. I just loved it all.

Happy Halloween...

Meet Slim and Dim Witt my Dad's Halloween Pumpkin creations.

I hope everyone has a great day and gets lots of treats!

Holly Claus Costume...

THIS eBay Store had great costumes/dress ups... if you need something for a little girl at Christmas be sure to check it out. I was very impressed with the price and quality of the dress. I made the crown of snowflakes myself so that c could be Holly Claus for Halloween... not her favorite holiday.

City of Ember...

This book was made into a film that was released to zero fanfare earlier this month. I think I will miss the film after reading the reviews.. it sounds far too much like Wall-E and you know how I loathed that movie. However, the book is an engaging read for the 8-14 crowd especially. I enjoyed it myself. c insisted that I read it after she did.

Where have you been all my life???

This is a wonderful product. It is a bit painful, unless you've experienced waxing and then it's really not. If you have dark hair like I do... this could be your new favorite thing.

Read the reviews here.

Frankenstein...

When I was in school studying Mary Shelley, I read somewhere or heard that Mary met Percy Shelley as he walked up a hill and saw her there performing a seance in order to communicate with the spirit of her mother who died at her birth. Shelley was a married man, but was immediately smitten with Mary although he did not remain faithful to her either. Whether or not the story of the seance is true, they did court behind her father's back at the grave site of her mother... a graveyard courtship.

Death was a devastating and all to frequent an occurrence to the Victorian who had really almost no hope of raising most of their children to adulthood. Infant mortality was high and real medicine a new and often brutal science.

Subsequently, a generational desire to conquer death through science and the debate over how far science should go were topics of the day. It almost sounds like the Victorian era never ended doesn't it?

Of course the book has other interesting themes. The idea of beauty being linked with a persons treatment, something that has been studied and well documented in our culture. Looking from a modern point of view, I would also say that more evolved emotional intelligence and better communication could have solved the troubles in this book.

However, the most interesting theme was brought up to me by my sister the English teacher who said that Frankenstein's creature was yearning and searching for a divine creator. He wanted an omnipotent, compassionate, loving and perfect creator to set him on course and help him to make a life for himself with purpose and direction, things that he could not do for himself. A mere mortal scientist fell far short and disappointed at every turn. Likewise, our mortal parents, creators of our clay forms can hurt or reject us and we can and do fail our own offspring in large or small ways, while a perfect God and creator does not disappoint, fail or lead us astray.

With few exceptions, I am not really a science fiction/ fantasy fan, but I found this book a very interesting read.

Coconut Dilema...

Why does packaged coconut always have a nasty after taste. What variety should I buy to avoid that? I made these cookies and they were great except for that.

OATMEAL, COCONUT, CHOCOLATECHIP COOKIE

1 1/4 c. oatmeal
1 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. flake coconut
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. melted butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients together in bowl. Then add oil, egg, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from pan.

Ballet Shoes...

I wish they had spent as much time with the script as they did with the sets and costumes... however, it was worth watching for the sets and costumes. I loved the classic book by Noel Streatfield and so I had very high expectations... but see it anyway.

Life... Family... Marriage.. on the Ballot in November.

Please click over and see

THIS...

and the beautiful video presentation that follows...

John McCain An American Odyssey...

Robert Timberg originally wrote a highly acclaimed book called The Nightingales Song about 5 high profile men including John McCain, who were graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy and also served in Vietnam. This book John McCain: An American Odyssey is has been excerpted and expanded to be mostly about the life of John McCain. There is no sentimental fluff here. Robert Timberg does not write from the point of view of a fan or conservative supporter; he is not, which is sort of why I wanted to read this book. He must have included every mistake both minor and major that McCain has ever made.

Still, the book is a page turner although a very rough read in some places. I heard an interview with McCain's daughter Meagan where she said that it was very difficult for her to hear about her father's time as a POW and she tried to avoid it. I can understand that after reading this book.

After reading this book and watching the recent debates I have a few questions about one or two of McCain's policies. I have never met any type of socialized medicine that I have liked. However, I am convinced more than ever before that this is the man who should be the Commander in Chief during these troubled times.

John McCain was sent into a war where our own government spent years tying it's own hands behind its back. John McCain only wants to fight where we can win and to commit troupes where we will stay committed. His comments about the Bosnian/Serbian crisis were prescient at the time and ring more true now as we have learned more about that terrible time.

Some of the points he made were these:"We must take action," citing "an uninterrupted pattern of atrocities since 1992."

and...

"The world's lone superpower, having committed itself militarily, cannot afford to be humbled by an army of forty thousand in a country no larger than Connecticut."

In a graduation speech delivered in June of 1994 to the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia he said, "I have memories of a place so far removed from the comforts of this blessed country that I have learned to forget some of the anguish it once brought me. But my happiness these last twenty years has not let me forget the friends who did not return with me to the country we loved so dearly. The memory of them, of what they bore for honor and country, causes me to look in every prospective conflict for the shadow of Vietnam.

I do not let that shadow hold me in fear from my duty as I have been given light to see that duty. Yet it no longer falls to me to bear arms in my country's defense. It falls to you. I pray that if the time comes for you to answer the call to arms, the battle will be necessary and the field well chosen. But that is not your responsibility. Your honor is in your answer, not your summons."

This book made me want to do more to honor those who serve and their families who serve a long side them and to learn more about our country's history. It inspired me to do my best to educate the next generation in the values and principles that made this land a place that redefined liberty for the world.