These cute photos were supplied by Jonas Grinevicius and Vikorija Osikaite via their article, “Cats 1st Christmas” on BoredPanda.com
I well remember one of our cats diving into the middle of our newly decorated tree, bringing the whole thing down onto the living room floor. After that, I only used ornaments that wouldn’t break…
Filed under holidays
I hope that you’re not going nuts trying to do six things at once to get ready for Christmas. I realize that if you have kids, much of it is about the presents, but I HOPE that you take time to cherish those who are with you to celebrate, more than the presents, decorations, food, and hustle, bustle. You are building memories that will serve you the rest of your life, something that can’t be taken away
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We went to visit my husband, Harvey, at the nursing home this morning. He was pretty alert, and was following the pictures we were showing him and the things we were telling him pretty well. He seemed comfortable and pretty calm, although at one point, he asked where his gun was. We explained to him that he wasn’t in Arkansas now, he was in Thailand, and that we had auctioned off all the guns before we moved. He told us there was a male nurse who came to his room yesterday. He didn’t like him and wanted to shoot him. GREAT. HUH?!
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Brian and I stopped for a chocolate drink on the way home. There are lots of Christmas decorations showing up every day. It really lifts your spirits to see all the lights and happy decorations. There is a tall Christmas tree in the lobby of our building with colored flashing lights, presents under the tree, and two tiny reindeer in front. Really nice!
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It’s a beautiful day today. It was 66 this morning, so I didn’t wear a hoodie to the gym. I did, however, wear one when we went to see Harvey. The GRAB drivers tend to keep their vehicles cold, and the room where Harvey is is cold, as well, so I was glad I had it with me. When we got home, however, I was sleepy and wanting a nap. I opened several windows, pulled the screens across, turned off my air purifiers, and created a wonderful cross breeze that was perfect for a nice nap. Ahhhh! I now have everything closed up again, but it was a really nice interlude.
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These are my two latest painted sketches. I have such a great time in my art alcove. It seems I barely get started and my alarm is going off that it’s time for me to exercise or go somewhere. Such a pleasure!
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My jigsaw puzzle is going very slowly, but I AM making progress and I DO love to do it.
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Enjoy the days leading up to Christmas. Try to remember to slow down and BREATHE, enjoying the process, the anticipation of the love you’ll share, the fun you’ll have, the laughs you’ll enjoy.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
“The best way to get in the festive spirit in Chiang Mai is, without a doubt, by visiting one of the malls. Chiang Mai has several large malls, and during December, they go to town on seasonal lights and decorations. Chiang Mai’s malls are some of the best shopping destinations in the country, containing a vast range of Western and local shops. For example, you can find almost all the same things at a Western mall, so they are an excellent destination for Christmas shopping. Here is a rundown of the Chiang Mai malls most worth visiting.
Maya Mall is one of Chiang Mai’s best destinations for shopping and dining, located on the intersection of Huay Kaew Road and Nimman. In terms of decorations, it probably takes the prize for the best in the city! The huge Christmas tree in front of the mall, as well as the lights and decorations, make for a great picture opportunity. Sometimes, they even have fake snow. As you enjoy a spot of shopping, you’ll hear all the Christmas hits being played throughout the mall, but if you’re lucky, your visit might coincide with a Christmas carol session performed by a local choir. Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center is open daily from 10 am-10 pm and can be reached easily on a bike or in a taxi.
In the competition for the biggest Christmas tree in Chiang Mai, Central Festival Mall might just be the winner. Although a bit out of the center, this mall is still easy to reach – and very worth a visit! It’s the biggest mall in the city, and is located about 15 minutes northeast of the old city. Like Maya Mall, it contains the big brand names, but you’ll find even more of them here. In addition to this, its food court and supermarket at the basement level are much bigger than the dining area at Maya, with even more choice.
Another mall worth mentioning is the Central Airport Plaza Mall, due to its truly unique atmosphere. It boasts a massive Christmas tree in the center of the mall, and has a great Christmas shopping atmosphere – you can even find Christmas elves here!
It is one of the older malls in Chiang Mai, and contains a mixture of some high end shops along with plenty of smaller and more thrifty stores. If a pair of jeans or a sweater for under ten bucks sounds good to you, this is the place to go.
Central Airport Plaza Mall definitely feels more authentic than some of the more modern malls and has a unique Thai touch, especially within the traditional food and craft market on the ground floor.” ~ PM Tours
Filed under Wonderful Things about Thailand
We just had to chase a bird out of the house (after grabbing Monster Cat and putting her into the bathroom and putting Amber behind the gate to the living room.) It took us quite a while, with lots of hand-waving and towels, and fly swatters, going from the pantry to the kitchen, to the dining area, and the utility room over and over, but we did it. I’m still huffing and puffing a bit. The bird is fine, and is back outside. WE are both intact and unhurt. Monster Cat and Amber are with us again, and all hopefully will calm down. NOT a great way to start a morning!
Monster Cat has decided to take advantage of the morning’s excitement, now hiding-in-wait for me to walk past, and then leaping out and wrapping her arms, claws out, around my leg. It’s a very good thing I’m wearing jeans…
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It never did warm up much yesterday, but it’s supposed to get into the low 50’s today. Hooray! I’ll plan to get outside, cut down and mulch a few things in the yard, and try again to get the light bulb camera on the front porch to work.
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I started a new piece in my art room yesterday. This time I’m trying to wood burn a kingfisher. It’s a wonderful escape to go up there, turn on some of my favorite music, and lose myself in the joy of trying to use the wood-burning tool. I got the design onto the wood yesterday. Now I’m doing the wood burning, and then I’ll paint. Such a fun time!
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I hope you have a list of things you can do to bring yourself joy. I’m lucky because I have a whole host of things that allow me to ‘escape’ from the present world and fully relax for a bit.
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I hope your Christmas plans are shaping up. Don’t be afraid to ask those around you for help. This is a family time. Responsibility should be shared as much as possible, from the planning, the decorating, the wrapping of gifts, the shopping for food, the cooking, and the clean up. When you share the work, the joy explodes. BREATHE.
Filed under holidays, Thoughts on a ________
I had a really nice day yesterday. I wrote posts for the blog with short sessions of exercises with weights in-between in the morning, ate lunch and rested a bit, then spent time in my art room, did a session of yoga in the afternoon. My husband and I watched the KC Chiefs/LA Chargers football game after dinner – the closest win yet, with the final kick for a field goal carooming in the right direction off the left goal post for the score in the last second of play.
I LOVE really close games. In fact, I KNOW I would be maimed or killed if I attended a game in person. Usually I tend to change allegiances, rooting for whoever is behind, just so the game will be close.
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Today I’m going to try to get the bookmarks I’ve finished so far onto my Etsy site. I’ll list them in the “Small Unique Gifts” section. I’m hoping for a ‘what-passes-for-normal’ day around here.
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I hope that you have plans for the holidays that include family and friends. This is such a beautiful time of the year. One of my favorite things is driving around at night looking at the Christmas lights. Our square in Greenwood has more decorations each day. They’ve put decorations up and down the main streets off the square, too, and a Santa’s House for the kids. I’ll have to find out when our parade is scheduled. I might be able to convince my husband, the Grinch, to go this time.
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Make your day a special one.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
We’re due for a perfect fall day here in Arkansas. It’s 49 right now, the high is supposed to be 69 this afternoon, and the sun is smiling. Just beautiful!
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LINDA’S CRAFTINESS- One-of-a-kind, hand-painted child’s apron. Size is 2-6 years. The apron is 19″ long and 12.5″ wide, not including neck loop or ties. Fun addition for the holidays, making kids feel festive as they help with the food. $14.99 with Free Shipping. Click on this link to see details on this and other aprons on HandmadeHavenbyLinda on Etsy.
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LEWIS MAILBOX DECORATIONS –
When we were going to drive our trash down yesterday, I suggested we change the mailbox decoration. I also had my gloves and hand pruners in the truck so I could cut down some baby mimosa ‘trees’ and some other tall weeds at the bottom of the driveway to neaten up a bit.
I’m trying to convince my husband that we should create a different method for storing the mailbox decorations in the shop. Right now each is on a hook suspended from a bar that runs overhead. This has worked well for years, but now it’s much harder for my husband to stand on a ladder and get the decorations down and back up again. So far, he won’t consider any changes, so I’m now trying to choose decorations that are smaller and lighter to make things easier for him.
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I’m frustrated because the days are whizzing past my head and I struggle to get in HALF of what I would like to do. Either the time is too short, we have other priorities, or my energy poops out at the wrong time.
I’m trying to find a balance between chores, exercising, and doing something fun each day. That rarely happens, but it IS an ongoing goal. So far, doing exercises with my 3-pound weights between things I’m doing on the computer is working out well. I do several sessions each morning in between blog posts, email, research, etc. My afternoon yoga session gets lost in the shuffle a lot, so I’m trying to get into the habit of doing that after lunch and a rest. Hit and miss so far.
I’m enjoying making some new things for us to eat. My husband isn’t picky – saying I always cook good things – unless I try to serve him many veggies we should be eating. Then we get into problems. We’re compromising in a lot of areas. Last night we had shrimp chef salad that was good. Tonight I’m trying a new recipe for a ground beef casserole that is low carb. I’m substituting broccoli for the green beans called for. Hopefully, this recipe will be a keeper. If it is, I’ll give you a link to it. :0)
No big plans for the day, unless another tree has fallen on us. Enjoy yours.
Filed under DIET!, exercise, HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy, Thoughts on a ________
I’ve been having a blast wood-burning and painting wood slices for Christmas ornaments.
They’re 3.25″ in diameter and .5″ thick. They have a red and white attached string for hanging on the tree.
On the back, they have places for personalization – one line for the year and a second for a first name to create a keepsake.
The wood-burning is done first. Then the several steps in painting. After one is ordered, I’ll personalize it and then protect it with several layers of polyurethane spray.
Each is a one-of-a-kind design. My parents gave my brother and me a Christmas ornament that was personalized each year, letting us add it to our tree. When we were grown, they presented us with a box of ‘OUR’ ornaments as a housewarming present, to decorate our tree and start a new tradition.
We are saving our son’s box, since he lives halfway across the world and travels light. When he joins us for the holiday, though, we decorate the tree together, reminiscing about Christmases past as we take out each of his decorations.
I hope that you are surrounded by those you love at Christmas this year. HandmadeHavenByLinda on Etsy
Filed under Blog Repost - Wonderful Posts, holidays, Mother Nature, Seasons, snow people, video
House Beautiful
Soon Christmas will be here. I’m seeing more and more pretty decorations. We have the mailbox decoration, but that’s it.
We have one of Santa, too, and we displayed it when we changed the decoration twice a month. Now we alternate.
The Lunch Bunch group agreed that it was a good idea to celebrate early this year to avoid the bad weather that is due here Thursday. We’ll celebrate our friendship and exchange gifts tomorrow, rather than Friday. Since our wonderful waitress and friend, Mikey, won’t be there Wednesday, my husband and I will stop by the restaurant on the way back from grocery shopping today and see if she is there so I can give her the present I made for her.
Women’s Health
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A shout-out to Mary Lou and Bill who are having to have their dog euthanized today due to cancer. This is one of the hardest things there is. We’ve had to do this twice, so I wish I could lessen their hurt. They are good dog rescue people, and excellent dog parents, so I’m hoping they’ll open their hearts and home to another rescue as soon as possible. Personally, reaching out to another sweet animal who needs all the love we can give has helped US keep from imploding with our grief, even though we THOUGHT we weren’t ready. Each of us needs to do what is best for them in the healing process. My heart goes out to both of them.
EnkiQuotes.com
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Due to sloth, I didn’t check around outside yesterday as I planned to do. It’s on the list for today. With the temperatures forecast for Thursday and Friday and beyond, I need to get serious about it today.
I wish you a happy Tuesday.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Batesville AR
Batesville AR
The combination of the pretty lights and the water is just a feast for the eyes and heart.
Filed under holidays
I told you that my Lunch Bunch friends couldn’t meet yesterday. I was disappointed, but hoped we could meet sometime early next week or something.
Today two of our friends came to our house to exchange gifts and visit. It was the greatest gift. We really got to talk after exchanging gifts, sharing some things we hadn’t mentioned before. It was truly wonderful. I’m so lucky to have met these people and shared friendship and love for over 20 years now.
Even now, as I type, I’m a bit teary over how lucky we are.
Filed under Friendship, holidays
RJ Bennett-LinkedIn
We did errands first thing this morning and are now in for the rest of the day.
We are having a good, quiet Christmas this year. For the past few days, we’ve been delivering presents and visiting with good, long-time friends. It has been really good to catch up, hug a few necks, talk and laugh together. We’re really rich in friends.
Though our son won’t be home from Thailand, we had a super conference call day before yesterday. We chatted about this and that, and most of all, I got to see his FACE. I truly love his face, and trying to make him smile or laugh. When he was home helping us with my husband’s stroke, he took particular care in filling up my hugs bucket to the brim and over-flowing.
Besides going up to continue cleaning my art room – and then, possibly starting some new projects I have rattling around in my head, I gave myself ANOTHER Christmas present. Recently at the exclusive emporium of WalMart, I found a light pink pullover hooded sweatshirt. It was SUPER soft and a really nice weight, so I bought it. One of the wonderful things was that – for the first time in a LOOOOOONG time – I bought it out of the regular women’s clothing department, rather than in my usual special department for ‘ladies-of-more-generous-size.’ I wore it, loved it, and decided I wanted a couple more.
You guessed it – there WEREN’T any more when I went back. I tried to order more online. I thought I had found them, but when they arrived, they were fleece. Heavier than I want for in the house wear. Today, when we stopped there, I FOUND them again! I bought two more. Merry Christmas to me!
Even though our house is nice and warm, I get psychologically chilled sometimes while watching TV. I get a throw to burrow under in my chair. With the sweatshirts, though, I’m much less apt to feel chilled. :0)
I am ready to cook our small Christmas dinner tomorrow. We’ll have enough turkey breast for the celebratory meal, plus – our favorite – sliced turkey for turkey sandwiches for a couple of days.
Today has been quite enjoyable for another reason – I’ve been on Facebook and LinkedIn, two of my favorite websites, and have connected with a lot of folks. Today has been filled with good wishes, nice posts, and good conversations.
Happy Christmas Eve – and Merry Christmas tomorrow. Happy 2nd day (I think) of Hanukkah to more of my good friends. I hope that you are surrounded with love. If not, I’ll be thinking of you and trying to send hugs your way.
Filed under Family, Friendship, holidays, Thoughts on a ________
Lisa Bearnes Richey
R.J. Bennett – LinkedIn
Manish Sharma – LinkedIn
Filed under Good Thoughts, holidays
“HO, HO, HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Filed under holidays, Lewis Art, Lewis Mailbox Decorations
creativeartworksblog 