I wish everyone a very healthy (because without it you're good for nothing), happy (everyone needs to be positive) and a prosperous (doesn't have to be monetary) New Year!

Reflecting back on the old year, I can't complain. The country is not where it should be but we've been there before, everything is cyclical. As we age we realize that there are other things that are more important, to me it's health first and then family because if you're not healthy, mentally or physically then you can't be there for your family. I've been very lucky in my life and am very appreciative of that, of course we also make our own luck. My choices have always been very good, not 100%, a couple of little bumps on the road but we all need those so we can grow. When I was in my late teens and early twenties I had a boss who would always say to me "youth is wasted on the young", it was kind of hard to understand until I reached a certain age and OMG I've reached it - yikes!

So I say onward and forward and make lemonade out of lemons! Happy New Year!

Okay you guys and you know who you are.....I am on Book 4 now! I am so into it that if I am reading and Pete has the television on I put in ear plugs because I want to be totally into it, I don't want any disruptions! What great timing none of my shows are on now so I try to get in my bedroom early and start reading and I pick up the book as soon as I wake up unless Pete is still sleeping and I have to take care of Shadow and make coffee, drat, how dare he disrupt my reading time. Of course I am wondering how will I go on when I finish this one..........Damn you Twilight fans!

This was one of mom's Christmas gifts. These are her colors. She really loved it.

By the way, great news.............our trip to Italy is booked so this girl is finally going to Europe in the middle of October! I can't tell you how excited I am, this is a trip of a lifetime, no we're not taking Rocky, this is to celebrate our 25th anniversary which was last October. I am getting lots of tips from my boss and others at the Festival who have travelled there many times. Well, I'm sure I'll be writing a lot more about this later in '09. Ciao (hey, I'm speaking italian already-lol!)

I made this little rock n roll album for Rocky
Stockings all filled up

Pretty from my pal Margret in Las Vegas.

Aunt Laurie sent Shadow some special treats!

The Christmas cards

Christmas eve.........

The aftermath!

Look what he got!

Here it is, Aunt Laurie & Uncle Tim gave him the tee shirt.

Breakfast, Pete made waffles (thanks Anita).

Teresa; Marketing

Venessa, Brenda, Sharon; Marketing and Devo

Karen Delsman and Deb Small; Devo

Peter Thomas (my boss), Marylee Oddo and Karen; Devo

We had a pot-luck in our building (Camps) on Monday afternoon, a lot of people were not around but the few that were bought some great food!

My dear friend Linda usually gives me these Analee's.
My front door

Rocky's little tree, I bought when he was a toddler, the base has a tree and it goes around.

Made this from the leftover greens

My slippers!

Made this a while ago..........

Love this Santa!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

(A few of my favorite things)

Snow pictures from tuesday...................Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

Tired.........tired. I spent all weekend baking!!!!! 3 pumpkin rolls, 2 batches of sugar cookies, 1 batch of chocolate mint cookies, 1 batch of peppermint cherry tassies, 1 batch of fudge, 1 batch of coquito and I made Split Pea Soup on Saturday. I actually finished the sugar cookies and piping the icing last night. This girl is hurting! I gift a lot of my baked goods for Christmas. Now all I have left is to finish a gift for someone at home and wrapping, but it's just wrapping for us since I mail out most of the other gifts.

I'm tired.........tired............tired..........hey but good news, my boss gave me the day off tomorrow, gotta love that!

And with the holidays come the inevitable "White Elephants". Here is a photo of Rocky's treasure from the Scout Christmas and White Elephant party. There were more accoutrement's but he decided he just wanted to share the numb chucks and the hat.

Another "Believe" book made for a dear friend that is "in the mail". This one is definitely done in a different motif, not very Christmas-y but still pretty.

Here is one of the Christmas presents I just mailed out to a very special friend, I won't mention names in case she happens to go on my blog!
The top photo shows the back which is very dark. I had a hard time finding a backing that would go with this since the neutrals are taupe, it's so much easier if it's a warm base. My friend, Eileen gave me the pattern. It's all (except for the border) made of 2 1/2 inch strips, it was sooooo easy and fast!
Tune in tomorrow to see what else I made.

Yikes, my tree does not like the cold! Pete discovered that all the branches had drooped and the flowers it was producing starting falling out. I had him bring it in to the garage and today it looks all happy again.

having fun
Good shot of Melissa

Laura took these photos, good shot!

Great shot!

Nice shot of Diane

For the love of god and all that is holy; a monkey????

GF Laura

Great shot of Amber and Brooke

Laura uploaded her photos to Snapfish and I stole a few of them for my blog!

Well, I forgot to give out my little hostess gifts, sorry! They were on the entry table but I didn't go to the door with everyone when they were leaving - bad hostess!