Do You Hear What I Hear? (348/365)

 
As long as we live, there is never enough singing. 

Martin Luther (German, Monk, Priest, Theologian, Initiator of the Protestant Reformation, 1483-1546)

TIME:  4:34 PM
PLACE:  Bradford Place
SUBJECT:  Gouldian Finch

StellaDella’s Girl Scout troop and MonkeyBoy’s Webelos den went to an Independent Senior Living Center after school to sing Christmas carols and hand out Christmas cards and cookies to the residents.  MB brought his saxophone and serenaded them by playing a selection of Christmas melodies.  The men and women enjoyed the kid’s singing and MB’s playing.  I wondered how many Christmases have been celebrated collectively by these older folks and how many more they have left to experience.  It didn’t surprise me that I got tears in my eyes thinking about this as I am an emotional wreak anyway.  To collect myself and get in control of my tears, I decided to study the huge finch aviary that was by the common area where the kids were singing.  Most of the birds were flying and flitting around the enclosure, but this one just sat there and seemed to be listening to the caroling.

Mmmm…Sprinkles (347/365)

 
"Think what a better world it would be if we all-the whole world-had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap.”

Robert Fulghum (All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten)

TIME:  1:43 PM
PLACE:  St. Paul’s UCC Church
SUBJECT:  Cookie with sprinkles

StellaDella had a Daisy “Winter Wonderland” program from 1-5 pm today.  They had face painting, sang Christmas carols, decorated cookies, had a snack, made a craft, played games (soda bottle bowling/winter dress up relay/beanbag toss) and watched a movie (The Polar Express).  HandsomeHusband and MonkeyBoy went to another Meat Shoot and DramaQueen had a birthday skating party.  Of course, I had laundry to do and I even tried to do a little straightening up in the dungeon of doom basement. 

This week is the last week of school, then it’s Christmas break for the kids.  I can’t believe that there are only 18 more days left in this year and Project 365.  I’ve been thinking about what to do for 2010 – I'd like to keep this up but do it a little differently. I’ve several ideas and if I ever get a chance to sit and gather my thoughts together, I might even be ready to go by January 1st.   I’m thinking of a week of a certain color/subject/technique.  How about you all…are you going to continue with a picture a day in 2010?  Will you change how you approach your photos?   I need more ideas!

Orange You Glad (346/365)

Knock, knock
Who’s there?
Banana
Banana who?
Knock, knock
Who’s there?
Banana
Banana who?
Knock, knock
Who’s there?
Banana
Banana who?
Knock, knock
Who’s there?
Orange
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn’t say “banana”?

StellaDella’s favorite Knock-Knock joke

TIME:  7:34 PM
PLACE:  The kitchen
SUBJECT:  California Oranges & Mandarins 

One of my favorite things about this time of year is oranges.  I love, love the California Cuties Mandarins.  I can eat a whole 5lb box all by myself.  Today, a friend of HandsomeHusband gave him some oranges that he brought back from a recent visit to California.  We had Chinese take out tonight and these were perfect for dessert.

It’s Curtains For Me! (345/365)

 
Fall the deep curtains,
delicate the weave,
fair the thread.

Hilda Doolittle (1886-1961), U.S. poet. "Archer."

TIME:  8:37 PM
PLACE:  The kitchen
SUBJECT:  Cabinet curtains

I just finished making these.  Last November, I painted my kitchen "Roasted Squash."  If you look to the right in the second picture of the post, you can see where the doors were taken off of the cabinets for painting.  They were never put back on.  I liked having the open shelving (and not getting irritated each time someone left the doors open).  However, I could never arrange the dishes Martha Stewart-y enough to suit me and it just didn’t look very nice.  I found this outdoor fabric at Joann’s about a month and a half ago, and thought it would go nicely with the orange walls.  I had issues deciding how I was going to hang them.  I wanted them inside the opening and knew that tension rods were not going to hold them up.  I finally decided on a wooden dowel and closet pole sockets.  I quit procrastinating, got off my duff and sewed them up tonight after dinner.  There was no ripping involved and minimal cursing during the sewing.  I cut the wooden dowels myself with the power miter saw (HH was already in bed) and I still have all my fingers - a plus!  Now, that’s what I call a successfully completed project. 

Book It (344/365)

 
The greatest gift you will ever receive will never be found under a Christmas tree. It is far too valuable to be stored in any other place but in the depths of your heart.

Unknown

TIME:  9:11 PM
PLACE:  The study
SUBJECT:  Laura's Christmas Star

This year for Advent, I had DramaQueen pick and wrap 24 of the many Christmas books that we have accumulated.  She also numbered them so that "The Night Before Christmas" is the final book to be opened.  Each night, StellaDella unwraps the appropriate numbered package and we sit and read the book before bedtime.  Tonight was "Laura's Christmas Star" by Klaus Baumgart.  I think I like this way to countdown to Christmas more than any other Advent calendar we have had in the past.

Starlight Mints (343/365)

Buddy: I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.

Elf (Will Ferrell-actor, David Berenbaum-written by, Jon Favreau-director, 2003)

TIME:  9:12 PM
PLACE:  The kitchen
SUBJECT:  Starlight mint pyramid

Well, even if the calendar says we have 12 more days until winter begins, I’m thinking that it arrived today in my neck of the woods.  The wind was blustery, the temperature dropped into the teens and we had flurries.  No snow accumulation though.  Do you want to hear my snow theory?  Well, even if you don’t want to hear it, I’m going to tell you.  My snow theory is that if it is going to get cold like this, then it needs to snow, otherwise it’s just wasting my time.  Obviously, Mother Nature doesn’t think much of my opinions.

I love Starlight Mints.  Walgreens had them on sale last week, buy 2 bags for $3.00 and get a bag free.  How could I resist?  Plus I needed wanted some to fill up one of my PartyLite Naturally Modern Votive Holders.  I was playing around building a pyramid with some extra ones, and thought that the pattern they made was a good subject.

Sharp Dressed Man (342/365)

 
Clean shirt, new shoes
And I don't know where I'm goin' to
Silk suit, black tie
I don't need a reason why
They come runnin' just as fast as they can
Coz every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man…

Billy Gibbons, Billy; Hill, Dusty; Beard, Frank. “Sharp Dressed Man.” Lyrics. ZZ Top. Eliminator. Warner Bros, 1983.

TIME:  7:54 PM
PLACE:  Junior High Cafeteria
SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy

Tonight was the grade school Christmas program. Since we have a small gym/cafeteria, the school uses the Junior High School gym for the performance.  Sunday, DramaQueen and I went shopping at the mall for a new dress for her – she said she had nothing to wear and actually, she was telling the truth!  MB and StellaDella needed new clothes as well.  If they would just stop growing, all their clothes would still fit, but they don’t listen to me.  MB is still easy to shop for, he will wear whatever I purchase.  I bought him these new shoes, pants, shirt and a real tie.  HandsomeHusband tied it for him tonight, but will be teaching him how to do it on his own.  He thought he was stylin’ and I thought he was too!