Resolutions

The years go so quickly and I go back to recap all of what I have done and to make more resolutions. My first one for the new year is to do more art to share and teach more. This will be my final entry post for 2009, so I shall share how I made a New Year's surprise card for a friend. This is the finished package. I have always been facinated by Origami and hope you will enjoy it too. Here is how the piece unfolds.












Here's some wonderful illustrated instructions for you at this SITE. You can use any size square paper. I happened to use the large 12" sheets you use for scrap booking. As for the center cut out, you can find the figure on a collage sheet HERE.
Don't you just love how it has another hidden surprise? Fill it full of confetti or your favorite medium. A great surpise for any time of year.
The top was a small folded piece and unfortunately I can't seem to find the template at the moment, but when I do and I figure out how to use my new scanner, I will add it. (Note to self... I resolve to be more organized and learn new technology. lol)

The Spirit of Christmas

I never tire of the magic of twinkling lights on a tree. I remember buying this tree when our son's daughter was just 3 years old, which was ten years ago. I have since given this tree to my daughter since it fits in her house much better and we got a smaller one. I made her the tree skirt while my friend had given me the tree topper.



We spent Christmas with our daughter, Kristi and her husband, Dustin, along with the two grand kitties,



Molly




and Murray.




Our tree is always decorated with mostly cat ornaments and kitty stockings. I try to find a new ornament each year. This year, I got one from my friend Norma to hang on the tree:) I love this wooden cat in the boot. Reminds me of the siamese we use to have.



Some cat ornaments are stuffed...




And so are the kitty toys! Biscuit is enjoying her first Christmas! She got all sorts of jungle toy animals and is truely spoiled!
Just too cute as they appear to have worn her out.




This is one of my favorite ornaments since I gave it to my husband when we had Zeker cat. He has since passed over to rainbow bridge. Miss that guy as he was always making us laugh, so perhaps appropriate to have this very amuzing kitty ornament.



We also had a Christmas surprise! On our way to our daughter's house on Christmas Day, we happen to see a rainbow over their house. They recently had to have their 18 year old beloved calico, Chessie, put to rest, so I'd like to say that we saw her spirit go over rainbow bridge too.

May all of you have been moved by the spirit of Christmas.

In the Nick of Time

I have found myself last minute getting things done for the holidays. This quilt is Fran's. It sort of reminds me of Christmas cactus. Perhaps because of the pineapples with the points as well as the coloring. I was glad I got it finished in the nick of time!



With quilts being finished, I wanted to share The Quilter's Night Before Christmas that was given to me by a fellow quilter.

The Quilter's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas,
And the quilts were not made.
The threads were all tangled, the cookies delayed.
The stocking weren't hung, the pantry was bare.
The poor weary Quilter, was tearing her hair.
Stacks of fat quarters, tipped over in streams.
Visions of Log Cabins, had turned into dreams.

When what to her wondering eyes should appear,
But a bus full of quilters with all of their gear.
They went straight to work with just a few mutters,
Sorting and stitching and brandishing cutters.
The patterns emerged from all of the clutter,
Like magic the fabrics arranged in a flutter.
Log Cabins, Lone Stars, Flying Geese and Bear Tracks -
Each quilt was a beauty - even the backs.

Her house how it twinkled, her quilts how they glowed.
The cookies were baking, the stockings were sewed.
Their work was all done, so they folded their frames,
And packed up their needles, without giving their names.
They boarded the bus, and checked the next address.
More quilts to be made, another quilter in distress.

She heard one voice echo, as they drove out of sight,
Happy quilting to all and to all a good night!

Author Unknown

With just today left to shop for a couple of small items on my list, I am finally ready for Christmas. Money is a little tight this year, but I told my husband that it looks like we can still have some luxuries.... Like "fur" instance..... fur lined underwear!
Homemade gifts are the best! LOL



The kitties are all hoping their stockings will be filled. As for Swiffer, she is hoping for a refill and claiming this bag for herself! I once read how to tell if your cat is over weight, and one of the answers was that they become finicky after the 3rd bowl! Yep, that fits our Swiffy cat to a "T"!



For me, it isn't about the gifts so much at Christmas but the quality time that you spend with your families. I only wish that this economy made us so that we could afford to visit our family that is so far away. I miss my sisters and my mom, but I am grateful for telephone as it is certainly the next best thing to being there.

I Has A Bads Hair Day

Yesterday I got home later after having some tests run at the hospital only to find a strange cat all covered in mud at the door waiting to get in! I could only imagine another stray cat but he bounced inside and immediately took over a chair hoping I wouldn't notice him or his shameful deed.

I went into the kitchen and opened a can of cat food . He soon forgot about how he must have looked and came running in. With the process of deduction and other cats accounted for, it was narrowed down. "Aslan, is that you?" My guess is that he had been chasing game or was chased by another cat that had forced him into or he had fallen into the creek bed or the pond. No matter, the results were the same and he's not talking. "Your grounded!" I said in my mommy voice.

"Ah....but mom, it wasn't my fault!" he said. "Don't but mom me.... Eat your supper and we will deal with it later."


Unfortunately he was going to have to stay the way he was, since we had a guest coming over that evening. We banished him to the mud room and by the time our guest left, it was late and both Rog and I were tired and went to bed. I would just simply have to figure out what to do with him the next day.

By morning I started calling around for groomers that bathed cats. Lots of groomers for dogs, but for cats, that was another story. Finally found one 40 min. away in the same town and about the same time frame as I had an appointment with my gynacologist.

A couple of hours later, we both had our "fur" floofed up and were on our way home. ROTFL Only thing was, he got a pretty bow and I didn't! Oh well, the bow didn't last long, but my aren't we handsome?



"Let me show you my bellys" he says,"I'm so floofy!" "



"Well, the $35.00 was worth it to me, but dear boy, you are still grounded, so you better get use to it. It will be a long while before you are going anywhere..........' cause mom says so!