Happy New Year!

May health, happiness and prosperity be yours in the New Year.

Sunrise

Finally, on the last morning of this year, an attention grabbing sunrise.

Fog

Fog rolled in.  It was as if a cloud settled over the land.

Sweeps of Color

The amazing artistry of Mother Nature.

SUNSET--WINTER TWILIGHT

Sometimes Santa Drives a Tow Truck

This morning…with high winds a-blowing...I hopped in my car (at the Post Office).  And…it wouldn’t start. Key not turning. Ignition locked up. No amount of pumping, wiggling, kicking ,or jumping up and down, worked. Stuck, stuck, stuck.


Did you know? Auto mechanics don't work on the Saturday before Christmas?  Or, if some are working, I couldn't find them.

Finally, located a working tow truck.  Hooray!

While waiting, the Post Office closed and the tow truck arrived to an empty parking lot (except for me and my little car). A scruffily-bearded man hopped into the car.  He hit the inserted key with all his might.  And...BAM! Eureka! The car started.  Wow! 

“What do I owe you?”

“Nothing.”

NOTHING!?!?!!!!!

“Nothing.”

Another WOW! 

So…my dear friends, if you ever wonder where Santa is, he is alive, well and may occasionally be driving a tow truck in NC.

* * * * * * * *
Merry Christmas one and all.....and...a very Merry Christmas to Santa! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank You Note Image

What a lovely gift....thank you very much.  Your thoughfulness brightens our holiday and our home.

 

From the Porch

Straight from the camera...VanGogh revisited?  Surprise!  It is what it is...strange...that is what was out there.  What we see is what we get, or should I rephrase that and say...how we see is what we get?  If this was a Polaroid shot, I would swear someone had fooled with the emulsions. 

 

Deeply Saddened By Tragedy

My heart is breaking.  I reach out to those grieving in Connecticut and send them love and healing.

Happy Holiday!

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Hope you have a fabulous holiday season.

 

Portfolio Arrived

A draft copy of the printed Portfolio arrived last week; made revisions and re-submitted. I am extremely happy with the draft and looking forward to receiving the final product.


Antique and Estate Purchases

What a week!  Went to an estate sale last Friday and stumbled across this tin in the basement.  It is in excellent condition and I was drawn to its Renaissance style.  The border design around the sides appears to have been taken from a woodcut and the image on the top is a scenic including early European architecture.

LAMBERTZ COOKIE TIN 1996



GERMAN COOKIE TIN --LAMBERTZ 1996

Then, yesterday I acquired a horse box from Needful Things.  A few months ago, I saw this horse in a cabinet near the checkout counter and was interested in it.  I had never seen anything like it before.  It seems, at that time, the horse was homeless.   The owners did not know which dealer owned the horse.  It had lost its tags.  Yesterday, I stopped in and asked about the horse...lo and behold, they had found its owner and it was still there waiting to be sold.   So.............of course I bought it.  I suspect this is something super nice (a museum-quality piece) but beyond intuition, I don't have a clue.  If anyone has any information about this box, or knows of something similar for comparison, please let me know.

Update:  Found a similar (similar but quite different in the decoration details) item listed on eBay as an antique trinket, or snuff box.  I suspect this may be a medieval item handcrafted by one craftsman with each horse being unique.  I could be wrong, but hope not.  Will continue researching.  The research (the hunt for information) is half the fun. 

ANTIQUE BRONZE HORSE BOX



Drafts for Card

Bear is BEAR LANCELOT from the Boyds Collection, Ltd., Gettysburg, PA (©1990-1995)

and the Santa candle was purchased for my parent's first Christmas.  To see Boyd's Bears:  http://www.boydsstuff.com/

 

BEAR LANCELOT--A BOYD BEAR ©1990-1995

FINAL

Third Draft