‘Tis the season for the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar!! This is the 37th year of the Bazaar. If you go, you can find local artists showing and selling their wares (over 150 artists this year), live music on a stage in the center of the hall, and food/drinks to fortify you as you make the rounds. If you are anywhere near Austin between now and Christmas Eve, check it out.
While I was there tonight, Marcia Ball and Kimmie Rhodes shared the stage from 8-10pm – great music! Here’s the obligatory shot from the floor…
One of the most well-padded packages I’ve ever received arrived today, containing a lovely gift from friends Teri & Jim… a hand-made sailboat ornament. L.O.V.E. I.T.! 🙂
Here’s to friends, family and fun. Embrace them all, every day!
While I was in Seattle a week or so ago, I took a glass fusing class with my sister. We made 5 glass ornaments. I had to leave them there to be fired in the kiln, and then they’d mail them to me. Today they arrived.
Here’s the “after”:
After firing.
And here’s the “before”:
Before firing.
The copper metal hangars and accents oxidized and turned red in the kiln. The way we made them was to use 2 pieces of glass cut approximately the same – one piece of glass serves as a base, and then the decoration is placed by putting pieces of glass and metal on top of the base, with a little glue, if necessary. And then the 2nd piece of glass is put on top, sandwiching the decoration in between. During the firing, all the glass pieces fuse together. The result is a single piece of very smooth glass with the decorations baked inside.
I had a lot of fun in the class. I’d like to try it again.
I felt like playing around a bit, so I created an animated gif to capture the transformation of this year’s Christmas tree from bare to decorated to twinkling.
To make the animated GIF, I used the web-based tool Picasion.com. Note: before I created the gif, I reduced the size of the original images down to the size I wanted (i used the width of my wordpress theme as the target image width). Then I created the gif w/ Picasion.
We went to Laura and Arnie’s Christmas party tonight. It’s become a tradition, and a most fun one at that. Everyone ends up gathered around the piano belting out Christmas songs. Some scenes from the evening:
Julie took her last final of Fall semester today – and is headed home for the holidays tomorrow. Tonight we went to Painting with a Twist to create a work of art. This is my version. Not bad. A little festive. Probably worth hanging on the wall for a week or two (?) 🙂
Today Noreen and I went to a glass fusing class in Tacoma. We each made 5 glass Christmas ornaments. I have to wait another week or two to see how they turned out… until they are fired, and they’ll mail them to me. But we had a lot of fun.
Afterwards, all my sisters and my brother met to spend some quality time together and yuk it up a bit. I had a really nice time. I have lived away from home for over 30 years, and though we get together every now and then, it never seems like enough. I’m glad we spent today together.
We ate lunch in a bar / restaurant loaded with Seahawks paraphenalia. They play tomorrow, but I’ll miss it – since i’m flying while they’re playing. I hope they make the post-season, so I have a chance to watch them on TV from Austin. Go Hawks!
After work today, Noreen and I met up with Francine to watch one of her soccer games — they can play year round in a really nice indoor facility. Fran’s been playing soccer since she was a wee lass. 30+ years later, she’s still playing, and turning her kids onto it as well. Pass it on…
When I was growing up, my mom would make Chex party mix every year around Christmas time. I spent many a New Year’s Eve playing board games with my family – and there was always a big bowl of party mix on the table.
Though I rarely make it, it’s something I identify with the holidays. Today mom and I made a batch.
Here’s the recipe that’s made the rounds in our family:
Mix ingredients in big brown paper grocery bag. Melt butter on low heat on stovetop and stir in worchestershire sauce. Place dry ingredients in shallow pans. Pour melted mixture evenly over dry ingredients.
Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes. Sprinkle with garlic salt between stirrings, to taste.
Mom and I set up her tree today. It looks nice. I took several photos of it, hoping for one to post here. On this one, the autofocus was a bit whacky. And it turned out blurry. But I like the bokeh effect of the lights. So… this one is the winner.
For inquiring minds: here’s a definition of bokeh on wikipedia
Last night my mom and I went over to Noreen and David’s for dinner. Colleen and Jake drove over and joined us. After dinner we all sat around just telling funny stories for a couple hours. It’s nice to laugh like that. Everyone in my family is a comedian it seems…
Instead of driving all the way back to Seattle, Colleen and Jake slept at my mom’s, as we were planning on going to Francine and Art’s in the morning to watch the Seahawks game… a rare treat for me, since in Texas all that is usually on the networks is the Cowboys or the Texans (ho hum).
When I went out the front door to get the paper I was greeted by this stunning view of the Olympics. They seemed particularly white today.
Francine whipped up some biscuits & gravy and mimosa’s — breakfast of football divas 🙂 Noreen and David came over after church and we all cheered and screamed at the refs until the Seahawks won in overtime. Awesome!
My mom has been on my mind lately, so earlier this month I decided to make a trip to spend some time with her before the Christmas bustle. I can work from her house there and spend the evenings with her.
So today, after work, I hopped on a plane. It is pouring rain here, and is expected to do the same all week. I wish i could bring some of this water home with me…
I’ll also have a chance to see my sisters and brother while i’m here. An added bonus. Noreen gave me this beautiful leaded glass piece that she designed and made just for me. Celtic knot… love it! She does beautiful work. I can’t wait to pick out a place to hang it at home.
A day of thanks. And family. And friends. A feast. And fun.
Every year my birthday falls near Thanksgiving, and every few years it falls on Thanksgiving. So, when I was a kid, my birthday cakes and decorations always had pilgrims on them. This pair of pilgrims are ones that my mom sent me several years back. I just had to break them out today. I hope each of you had a wonderful day.
We certainly had a great day. Julie, Marty, Sue, Laura and Joe joined us. The menu included roasted (brined) turkey – 2 of them, to make sure we had leftovers, absolutely heavenly mashed potatoes, delicious and sweet squash fest, cranberry relish, green beans, the (awesome) brussels sprouts dish, and homemade yeast rolls. For dessert we had monte’s apple tart, a birthday cake, and homemade vanilla icecream. Woof!
After the delicious and nearly debilitating dinner, we had to move around a bit, so we played games inside and out until the cows came home.
I am thankful for all the blessings I have been given, great friends and family. I am truly blessed.
And, one more thing to be thankful for: thanks, Marty and Sue for the pretty vase!
Birthday tulip from Monte. Birthday vase from Sue & Marty. 🙂
Sheila365 