Christmas Past, Present and Future

I have been feeling pretty good and on top of things this Holiday.  My daughter is happily married, my job is going well and my family is well and healthy.  I got my tree up early this year.  In fact it is the first year I have had one up in a few years.  These are a few of the ornaments that I have made over the years and I always love getting them out and seeing them. I love all the ornaments I have collected over the years. Many are hand made by friends as well.  Its neat to remember each ornaments story.

Every year my friend Judy and I get together and make the Snowmen  "candybars" for our friends and coworkers.  Its a whole afternoon of fun, watching Christmas movies and eating!

But its been a quiet weekend.  I have been watching some holiday shows.  The sad news has been heart breaking and I cant stand to watch the TV coverage or be on Facebook. I get angry at some of the posts.  The election process was bad enough.  I honestly think it is time to just turn it all off for now, sit quietly and keep these families in my thoughts and prayers.   This is my favorite ornament of all.  My pink Angel.  We got this when I was about 6 years old back in the 60's. The same age as most of the little Angels that were lost.  I hope these families find some Peace in the coming year.

     

April and Mikes Wedding

I just got home from my daughters wedding.  What a whirlwind Thanksgiving weekend.  Aprils new husband Mike made the Thanksgiving dinner and this guy is no slouch in the kitchen. (Way to go April :) )  The wedding was today and it was just beautiful.  The weather was perfect and the location was so pretty, you didnt even feel like you were in the desert!   (( Warning, lots of pictures ))

Their wedding was held at the Wright House in Mesa and the grounds are just beautiful.

Its a victorian house and the room for the Bride to get ready in was pretty.

    
This is all of my kids.  I love this picture.  My two daughters and son n laws and the three grandkids.  I thought this was such a cute photo of Mike fixing Mikeys shirt for the pictures.

A few pictures of the day.... April with her Dad and Mike with his Mom, my beautiful Mya and April and her little man.

AND last but not least, the cake table and reception. April made the banner that says YOU and ME on the picket fence. My sister painted the tree for the guest book.  The guests put their thumb prints on it and signed them.  I thought it was cute and VERY April :)

Thanks for sharing my familys big day!      

Aprils Wedding Flowers

My daughter April is getting married this friday the day after Thanksgiving. She is marrying Mike, and he is a wonderful guy and I believe he has the patience of a Saint. Its always nice to have a new family member in time for the Holidays :)

April asked me to make her flowers.  I have made many of the fabric flowers in various styles, but have used them more as embellishments.  I am not a floral designer at all, BUT I took the project on.  We were looking online and saw some pretty things, but they were about $250.00 for the bridal bouquet. I was being rather full of myself and saying that I may be in the wrong business.  Well, let me tell you,  they earn that money!  This was very labor intensive, it took hours.  And not only that, I do not have the temperment to work with Brides, so I will be keeping my day job after all :) .  I know its your very special day, you are spending ALOT of money and deserve everything to be just as you have imagined it since you were a little girl.  It takes a very special person to work on the other end of that scenario though, and I am not it! lol  In the end though, I am happy with them, and more important April is happy with them.

She is going with more of a nature theme, birds, birdhouses, twigs and the such.  Instead of a traditional ring bearer pillow she is using a birdnest.  :)  They will have the traditional Unity candle and will be lighting one for my grandson Mikey too.  I love this idea.  (By the way, we seem to have an over abundance of Michaels in our family and it keeps things interesting and funny)  So, here is a sneak peak at what I have been up to this last week. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, I am wishing ya all good health, happiness and peace in your Home.      

This Was A Lot Of Fun

This was such a fun day.  Meri is a friend of mine and has host the Arizona Bloggers Luncheon for the last two years.  She does an amazing job and we have so much fun.  We have a wonderful lunch, we have a fun time playing games and we even get gifts!!! Meri knows how to throw a party.  But the best part of all is she always has a project for us.  This year we made Christmas wreaths from vintage ornaments.  Her studio is adorable and full of vintage things.  I think you could be there two weeks and not see everything! 

Meri is an amazing artist.  She creates so many amazing things, but I love her paper clay sculptures.  Be sure to visit her blog and see more of her art.  Here are a few photos of our get together, Meris blog and a few of the wreaths that were created.  Mine is the pink and aqua colored one.  ( suprise suprise )

     

A Fun Little Purse :)

I have been wanting to learn how to make purses using the metal frames.  On Sunday my friend Judy and my sister got together and tackled this cute little coin purse.  The purse itself is simple but the frame part took a little patience and practice.  Now that I have made one I am pretty sure they will be much easier. It was a lot of fun and I cant wait to make some more.  Mine is the cherry one and the blue print is Judys and my sisters is the leopard print :)

The CPA firm I work for is called the Tax Goddess Business Services.  We are a small firm but have big hearts.  We are all animal lovers.  For the fourth quarter we are having an event to support the local Arizona Humane Society.  We are collecting towels, wet dog food, and buckets for water.  But in addition to that, if you "like" our facebook page, Shauna the owner will donate $1.00 for every like up to $2,000.00.  Soooo, if you like ,,,, please "like" us.      http://www.facebook.com/#!/thetaxgoddess

I Have A Story To Tell

I have been experiencing something very interesting.  It is either very awesome, or nothing at all.   It started a couple months ago while online hopping from blogs to pinterest to everywhere magical in between. I dont even remember where, but I can along a post about Angels and white feathers.  I said if a white feather falls at your feet, it is to let you know your Angel is watching and protecting you.  I have never really thought much about Angels.  Not bad or good,  just hasnt came up in my thoughts often and had not formed any particular beliefs.  This passage must have stuck somewhere in the back recesses of my already over crowded mind.

My first experience was early one morning while I was pet sitting.  I was out on their covered patio.  The dogs running around and me deep in thought.  I was contemplating my job.  I love love love my job, but to be honest I was needing to make more money.  While I was sitting there, out of the blue a small white feather came floating down at my feet.  I did notice it, but didnt give it too much thought until I got to work.  One of my co workers was giving her two week notice.  I was so sorry to see my friend leaving us, but it left me with the opportunity to get a raise.

My next experience was concerning my sweet cat Annie.  She got sick very fast and within two days I was taking her to the vet to be put down.  The vet wanted to run a couple tests first. Turned out Annie was very diabetic. Her blood sugar was over 600. They put her on glucose and IV's and had me leave her there until 5pm.  I had a perscription for insuline and she was perking up.  I had car problems and was waiting on a tow truck to get me to Discount Tire so I could run these errands and pick up my little Annie.  I was getting frustrated with the tow truck, they were very late.  At 2pm I went outside to see if maybe they were driving around looking for me.  I looked at the clock and know it was 2pm.  As I walked out this white feather floated down and landed at my feet.  I picked it up and put it in my purse.  While sitting at Discount, the vet called me with some bad news.  She said at 2 oclock Annie started having respitory problems, they had her on a ventilater and giving her CPR. I had to let her go.

The third time was this week.  At work, we have a Marketing/PR lady in our office who has been swamped. We were toying around with the idea of me helping her out part time.  I was driving on an errand for work, thinking about if this would really be too much.  We are swamped at my job too, and I am missing creating so much and want to find time for new designs.  Sitting at a stop light, I kid you not,  I see something falling out of the sky.  As it got closer, it was a white feather floating down and landed right by my car door where I was sitting!

I see white feathers almost every day now. This is just three stories. But they make me happy.  I dont see these as "good luck" or "your wish came true".  Its simpy the thought that no matter what happens, good luck, the loss of a loved one, just know someone is watching over you.  I put the feather that floated at my feet when Annie went into respitory failure at 2pm in this cylinder and made a necklace to always remember.

I am something of a paranormal geek. I dont speak much of it often.  You never know how people will react to a different way of seeing things.  But taking some photos this morning I was out back.  I took a picture of the cats at the screen door.  I see this face!!! It is probably the dirt pattern on the screen, but its kind of cool. Soooo,,, Angels or a lot of pigeons!!! That is the question?                  

I Am Back

I cant believe how long its been since I have posted.  Its been crazy busy with my new job, well kind of new.  I guess I have already been there for 6 months.  I am so amazingly lucky.  I love my job. Never mind getting up and going in.  I used to spend my whole Sunday miserable because I new I had to go to work the next day. But not anymore.  Sundays are awesome.  I work with awesome people too.  But the one piece missing is creating.  I have been working hard in my mind, but havent done much of it in reality.  Its now time to start again.  And what better motivation???? I got my daily email from HSN for the Todays Special, back on August 2.  This Singer machine is not on the market yet.  The mfg retail price with the added feet will be 979. But they had it for 379. AND offered it with 5 flex pays of 75.  I didnt wait 1/2 second to order this deal.  This was in the middle of the day and there was still a lot left, but the next day I got the dreaded "Back Order" email.  I was devastated.  I had given up all hope and got an email friday that it had been shipped!!! Happy Dance.  I had it delivered to work and waited for the UPS man like a kid waiting for Santa Clause.  Just as soon as I got in the door I had it unpacked and reading the manuel.  There is a open toe foot and can drop the feed dog so I can do thread painting soooo much easier and with much more freedom. There is a gathering foot, a serger foot and many many more.  I cut out a blouse for myself this last weekend and cant wait to sew it up.

My sister crocheted this afgan for me and my new living room decor:)  I love these colors.  They are my favorites.  I will always be a "70's" girl. So,,,, I wont be away for long, I hope to have so much to show and tell soon.