Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year


Out with the old and in with the new.

Remember this: "You are never too old
to set another goal or dream a new dream."
~C.S. Lewis

Happy New Year, everyone! Dee Dee

Monday, December 30, 2013

December's Garden Roses

This December morning 
seemed unusually pretty.
The small 
Knockout Rose 
I cut completely back a 
month ago,  is once again in
 full bloom.

Winter blooms seem to have 
darker and richer colors.
You can see what I mean in
this photo of beautiful
cascading Roses.

Morning shadows across the pool
are made by long palm fronds....

Have a beautiful day, everyone.  Dee Dee

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Tea At Downton


Well, now...get out your loveliest 
tea cup and saucer....

Use all your best tea pots and serving
dishes for lovely cakes and biscuits.

Imagine your seated at the table with
Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of 
Grantham.  She is pouring your tea....



You are nicely readied to begin 
watching season five of 
Downton Abbey....
beginning next Sunday, 
January 5, 20l4.

I do so wonder whatever will
be happening to Lady Mary and
that sweet child....and of course
each character has a special place
in all our hearts.
I can hardly wait!

A sweet way to begin the 
new year.....don't you think? 
More tea?  Dee Dee

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Images Of That First Christmas


Mary visits Elizabeth....



Christ is born....


Mary and Joseph bring
Jesus to the temple to see
Simeon.....

Merry Christmas!
And may God bless you, everyone. Dee Dee

Monday, December 23, 2013

Jesus, Holy Child


Church of the nativity, in 
Bethlehem. 
 It is believed 
this was the place where
Jesus, the Savior of 
the world, 
was born.

Blessings for all, this 
Christmas eve.   Dee Dee

Christmas Week


Along about now, everyone is
finalizing all their preparations for
Christmas. 

My packages are all wrapped,
and I'm on the last few rows of
a scarf  I'm making for a young
grandson. Today I will be at the
grocery store, along with every 
other "lady of the house," looking
over my list for the grand ole'
traditional Christmas meal.  

We're hoping for a cold front 
to move in....today the temps
here in Florida
were in the low 80s.  Ugh!
It's beginning to look a lot like
Christmas, but it sure doesn't
feel like it.

Never-the-less, we have joy
in our hearts, as we recognize
the true meaning of this
blessed holy holiday.

Have a blessed day....Dee Dee


Sunday, December 22, 2013

The Russian Village


A favorite by Chagall....
A Russian village on
 Christmas eve.
One can almost 
hear 
the quiet
disturbed
 by the ever so slight
 jingle of bells
 from
 Santa's sleigh.

Have a blessed Lord's day....Dee Dee

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Baking Day


Hot coffee and Christmas goodies.....

I'll be busy in the kitchen this weekend
making all the family favorites.  Once it's
all said and done, all the hustle and bustle
is over.....sigh, I'll have that good
feeling of well done contentment.

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone. Dee Dee

Friday, December 20, 2013

A Winter Morning


One of my favorite photos was
taken in upstate New York's
village of Cooperstown.

An early morning sun,
 is seen rising above the 
Adirondack mountains,
casting shadows over a 
fallen night-time snow.

Smoke from the fireplace 
chimneys is billowing over
the snow covered roofs,
 hanging heavy in the 
cold air.

There is nothing more 
magical than these 
first moments of a 
winter morning.

Christmas blessings.....Dee Dee

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Clarence AS2


Clarence: I'm Clarence Oddbody, AS2
Angel Second Class

Clarence: Strange, isn't it? Each man's
life touches so many other lives. When
he isn't around he leaves an awful hole,
doesn't he?

Clarence: Remember George, no man is
a failure who has friends.

Clarence: Every time you hear a bell ring, 
it means that some angel has just gotten
his wings.

George Bailey: Atta' boy Clarence.

"It's A Wonderful Life"

Christmas blessings for all....Dee Dee

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Adoration Of The Magi


One of my favorite paintings .....
Bassano-Francesco

Linger for a while and study
each face and detail......
so beautiful.

Have a blessed day....Dee Dee

Monday, December 16, 2013

First Camellia Bloom

My Camellia bush has hundreds of
buds on it.  In years past, they 
begin blooming around the first
part of December.  They're a
little late this year and I've been
concerned. The weather has been
warmer than usual, so that might
just be the reason for smaller buds
and late producing of my much
anticipated gorgeous 
Camellia blooms.

So....I was pleasantly surprised to
see the first Camellia bloom of the
season this morning.  
By Christmas day, 
we should have enough for
 a nice table arrangement, and a
few blooms to share with family
and friends.

Have a blessed day......Dee Dee

Lots Of Red

The theme for Christmas this year
seems to be Poinsettias, bringing
in lots of red to our cottage decor.
I found gorgeous fabric for the
new pillows....the black background
makes the flowers pop.

I had these beautiful Poinsettias
in our family room for a while 
and they were not happy about
that at all........leaves were turning
yellow and berries were dropping
all over the floor.


I brought them out on the porch
to enjoy the cooler nights, watered
them more often  and now
they are thriving.  I'm very happy
that they are happy.

Lots to do today....
more gift wrapping,
a tiny baby girl dress to return 
and a trip to Baby Gap in
the mall.  I'm sure to find many
other shoppers.
 We'll be, shoulder to shoulder.....
but I will survive.

Sweet Christmas blessings......Dee Dee

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Wrapping Gifts

I brought these photos from my
archive ...Christmases of yesteryear.

I managed to find beautiful 
wrapping papers 
this particular year.
I love the unusual or 
unexpected....the recipient is 
always pleased, judging from
well received compliments.




Today I will be wrapping gifts
with a very different kind of 
theme.....will post soon.

Christmas blessings for all....Dee Dee

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Valuable Lessons

Christmas week my grandchildren watch
The Chronicles of Narnia series
with their parents.
Learning valuable lessons
taught by C. S. Lewis, is a 
good way for children to face
life experiences.
 It's a beautiful
thing to hear them recall the
characters with such familiarity.


Lucy Pevensie: Will you come and visit 
us in our world?  Aslan: I shall be watching
you always.  Lucy Pevensie: How?
Aslan:  In your world, I have another name.
You must learn to know me by it.  That was
the reason why you were brought to Narnia,
that by knowing me here for a little, you 
might know me better there.

Christmas blessings....Dee Dee

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Road Map


Did you know that God has given
us an owner's manual....the Bible.
It's a road map for life......

Have a blessed day, everyone.  Dee Dee

Friday, December 6, 2013

Poinsettias

When I shopped for Poinsettias
this year, I wanted something a
little different.  So many colors
and varieties to choose from.....

These looked as though they had just
bloomed...so healthy and fresh.
The growers in Florida have 
done an amazing job this year.


I'm using lots of red and green
all over the cottage....
These poinsettias I have placed
in the family room.
They are, of course taking 
center stage.

It's beginning to look a lot like
Christmas, at least around my
place.  The weather is not 
cooperating in the least, however. 
The thermometer registers
81 degrees here today.
I'm thinking lots of Canadians
are at the beach, enjoying 
themselves tremendously.

Have a sweet ole' day.  Dee Dee

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Winter's Small Animals

Ever wonder 
how it is 
that small animals 
seem
to cope during the
cold winter months?
While drawing 
and painting
these small creatures, 
last year,
 it occurred to me,
that they did so 
quite nicely.
Small field mouse....

Chipmunk....

Red Fox.......

This is the time of hustle
and bustle.....I am, as usual
sewing and creating many of
of my Christmas gifts.

Therefore, I thought it a
good time to pull out 
previous Blog post images.

Good Christmastime blessings.....Dee Dee

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Paperwhites


It's that time of year again.
I'm gathering up containers
for a variety of bulb planting.

Hopefully they will be blooming
by Christmas.

The photo seen here was
taken a couple of years ago.
Bulbs need very little 
encouragement to grow.

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee