How Long Can You Hold Your Breath?

February has been too full of busy- ness, so here is a little chortle for your entertainment. Our Valentine girl Jenessa turned 20 and we enjoyed some dinners and lunch together to celebrate. She had her free pass to D'land printed out, but didn't go because it was Saturday, and we couldn't go with her. Since she (and her boyfriend and other friends) are spending every last cent on textbooks she couldn't find anyone else to go. She enjoyed the celebrating, though, and she did get some grandparent funds to buy more textbooks, as well as some other fun gifts. Trevor is in his HS production of Pirates of Penzance, cast in a pirate role, and has some very fascinating hair going on since the pirates were all asked to grow their hair longer. He is having a great time and is finding a little time for sleep here and there. He also took a cute young lady (who was also in his kindergarten class) to his first Winter Formal on Saturday. They went with a group of friends and enjoyed a great time. We finally got his Track physical finished and also his passport for his choir tour to Vancouver BC. Logan has been going to scouts and piano and got his first pair of glasses, which he is pretty excited about. Doug is sewing our new costumes for faire this year and I have done some of the hand sewing. He is also preparing to "Play for the Prize" to advance to the level of Free Scholar in his swordfighting organization. Life is good, can't complain.

Wanna buy some makeup, little girls?

Nessie's friend Hannah was at Southcoast Plaza on Tuesday and sent this pic to her. It was a promotional for a new cosmetic line at MAC.

In these perilous times

http://www.thinkofthe.com/products/lunch_bag.php

one must protect ones sammich from filchers

Valentine

I just posted some new cards I made on http://methodtomymadnessclasses.blogspot.com/

My Smart Guy

Trevor's finals were last week, so he had Monday off before the new semester starts. I asked him if he wanted to go anywhere, or maybe he would like to be dropped off at Borders' for an afternoon of reading Manga and such. He wanted to stay home and have a Maxwell, 99, Chief, Hymie, Siegfried and the CRAW marathon with the entire first season DVD set he got for Christmas, which I thought was just fine, since I got to see a bit of it too.

Lost Generation

Please pause my music so you can hear this, and watch the whole video, it is amazing.

166 minutes

I just hung up the phone, after a rare visit with the one I claim as my sister. (I am an only child, but Audrey is my sister). We have been friends since sophomore year in High School, and were each others' Maid of honor. She has two little "monkeys" to contend with and we only get together 3-4 times each year. We hardly even talk on the phone, probably because when we do, 166 minutes pass like lightning, and who has time to spend like that ? It's so worth it though, she is beyond words made of awesome. I love you small.

Then there are those several HOURS over the past 2 weeks that I have completely been absorbed with catching up on Alison's life, and she catching up with mine. We had lost touch for 10 years, but really hadn't had a good visit for 15 years. We also were friends since about age 14-15 and even though there was a vast amount of life happening, there is still a blissful connection and I cannot think of hours better spent than those with my true friends. Friends who both loathe sappiness and will ream me if they read this drivel. Still, it is TRUE drivel, my meager attempt to describe the vast love I have for these women.

Reflection

It is the new year, does it cause reflection? I have always been so grateful for all the good that has come to me in the year that has just completed. I am sad to pack up Christmas with all it's color and light, and warmth. However, I love the simplicity and slower pace of January that refreshes the spirit. I have hope that all will be well in the coming days and year, and through everything challenging that happens in life, I have faith that all will be well. May all my friends and family have comfort and peace this year.

Christmas morning

The Gift Wrapper

the gift wrapper blog This sweet short film will only be on you tube for a limited time.
(made by a friend of my friend Myra)

Wishing you Christmas Joy

The cold rainy weather has finally made it feel like Christmas. We had a good family Christmas Eve gathering, and Logan fully enjoyed playing with his cousins with carefree abandon. There was good food and laughter,presents and togetherness. We loved having Jenessa around for such a long time, we don't see her much with her busy schedule and I get sad when I haven't had enough time with her, she is a wonderful person. Trevor is a great guy and enjoyed time with his brother and sister. Then today we had a fun visit from Linda the Christmas Cutie, and we took my Mom with us to some sweet friends for a delicious dinner at their table which has seated several generations of their family for many years. More fun and togetherness and happy children playing. I even got a nap for a few minutes this afternoon. Some years are better than others, and I have enjoyed a very Happy Christmas and hope the same for you and your loved ones.
click here for some cheer



thanks to Gar for the links

me tired

This week marks the seventeenth year I have spent my week before Christmas vacation selling and wrapping handcrafted items to hundreds of little kids at the school Holiday Boutique, which includes months of trying to figure out what to make and sell for under $5.00, then staying up late nights/mornings trying to finish all the items after the days' usual demands are quieted. There were many years that I considered not putting myself (and the poor family) through this yet again, but it is always worth it to keep the tradition and help all those little ones shop for family and friends and feel their excitement about it. By Thursday, I have a difficult time forming sentences and every part of me aches. Tomorrow I can't wait to start on plans for next year, ... "making Christmas, making Christmas" ...




by the way, this one's dedicated to my mad crafter buddy Melissa , and then there's Joy, who has found herself sucked into the madness also ;)

Disney Castle Looks Amazing this Christmas

New Projects Next Door

If you check the link for "Method to my Madness" on my blog list, I have posted some new items for sale!

RAnDom MoMEnTs from today

The decking of the halls continues, thanks to my sweetheart who got the tree started yesterday, and got the lights all over it, and now some ornaments as well.



No more Archway OR Mother's cookies, including the pink and white animal cookies. I had forgotten that they were the same company. So Sad :.(




Venus and Jupiter and the Moon were showing off together tonight just after sunset. I was surprised I could just snap a quick picture effortlessly. They were very bright and seemed to be enjoying themselves, even if they do form a frowny face.

A Farewell to Pumpkins

200 years ago who would have ever thought pillories would be so much fun?







It's just not fair. We only enjoyed a very few crisp Autumn days this year. I really tried to pretend, but there was no color change in the trees, at all, except to brown. Here are some of our photos from "Autumn", if you will. In Oak Glen it was at least cool enough to wear jackets, and it was beautiful. A few years ago when we were there it snowed in late October.

Cakewrecks is my new addiction

Run, don't walk to cakewrecks
you will laugh till it hurts, I promise. There is a reason a degree is not required for a cake decorating job, but it probably should be.


"First I see a weird smiley face whose hair is on fire. Then I see... no, wait - sorry, that's all I see." (direct quote from cakewrecks)

Thanksgiving thought

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
-Melodie Beattie

Fires

Yorba Linda is only about 10 miles over the hill from us, and we have friends whose home has been spared, but the fire burned all around them. They said it looks like the moon surface where there were some pretty large trees, down in the wash along the 91 fwy. There was a complex of condos that was completely lost really nearby their home. Logan had been invited to have a sleep over at their home, but he was really understanding about what was going on, and really relieved to hear they are probably spared and safe. Tonight, the fire is coming over the ridge toward the south end of Chino Hills, and we are hoping and praying for friends along that area.