Serenity Sunday...week 31

Never are voices so beautiful as on a winter's evening, when dusk almost hides the body, and they seem to issue from nothingness with a note of intimacy seldom heard by day.
Virginia Wolfe

What now?

Thanksgiving is over, save for the wonderful leftovers. I came home with the makings of delectable turkey sandwiches, hot and cold, from dinner with my family.

I live in a somewhat rural area and my parents live a scant eight miles from me. So driving from my small town to theirs takes in some beautiful scenery that changes from day into night. Old farm houses and acres of wooded land cover most of the drive. In the evening, I can see into those old homes (not in a weird way) and through the uncovered windows it's comforting to see the families gathered around a table or in a family room. Driveways and roadsides are filled with vehicles and it just gives you a warm feeling knowing that so many families are celebrating the holiday of giving thanks, together.

(A painting that I did a couple of years ago.)

So, now what? The oven is off, the leftovers are in the fridge and the tradition of Thanksgiving has been fulfilled. The attic door will open, the decorations will start trickling down. I put my lights on the garden arch over the sidewalk that leads to my porch door, last night while the weather was warm. Traditionally, I like to light the outdoor decorations on Thanksgiving night. I use all white lights and other than the arch and something on the porch, I rarely do much more as far as lighting goes. I used to light the tree (s) in the front of the house, but they are just too big for me to do now.

(Photo courtesy of the world wide web. I've had it for years and sincerely don't know where it's from.)

I looked through the ads last night and nothing jumped out at me, or at least enough to make me want to get up at 4am and join the many shoppers in the stores. I have been there and stood in line for an hour to shop on black Friday many times. Honestly, its kind of fun and a great kick -off to the Christmas season. Standing in line, people are ready for shopping, they are sharing ads, sipping coffee and usually, freezing cold, but in a jolly mood none the less.

(I love this photo of a winter cabin that I found online last year. Kind of cozy, huh?)

(Photo courtesy of Countryliving magazine online.)

(Photo courtesy of Countryliving magazine online.)

Our first real snowfall happened overnight. I woke to (only) about 1 inch, which has vanished already. We had a dusting of snow a couple weeks ago, but it didn't happen at the airport, so it wasn't measured for the official snowfall total. We are so late for measurable snowfall. Yesterday the temps were so warm that I really only needed to wear a light quilted vest. It was just a little weird not having snow. I don't mind so much, but know that later, we'll certainly pay for the lack of snow, with big totals later in the season. It's just how it works around here.

(My own backyard a couple of years ago.)

I've already looked online to get a concise and printable schedule of all the Christmas TV shows and specials. Heaven forbid I miss "Christmas In Connecticut" (with Barbra Stanwick) or "White Christmas"!

(This and the following are photos taken from my porch door last year.)

So, in conclusion, this season promises to be a busy one. I have a few parties to attend (one next week already), lots of days working at the shop, shopping and a little decorating as well. Let's try to remember to keep the holiday magic working, the patience of the Saints and good will in our hearts.

Happy Turkey Day!

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of my friends, some old and some new, a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Serenity Sunday...week 30 Happy Thanksgiving

"We tend to forget that happiness

doesn't come as a result of

getting something we don't have,

but rather of recognizing and

appreciating what we do have."

Frederick Keonig

"We cannot do great things on this Earth,

only small things with great love."

Mother Teresa

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

to you and yours!

With much appreciation, Tami

Serenity Sunday...week 29

One doesn't recognize the really important

moments in one's life until it's too late.

– Agatha Christie

AND THE WINNER IS....

AND THE WINNER IS.......

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 74

Result: 40

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Mindy from

Primtiques 'n Poetry!

A HUGE Thank You to everyone who left a comment, posted, and signed up to follow. This was so much fun!

I met a bunch of wonderful people and visited a bunch of new blogs!

Mindy, email me your address and I'll get these out to you ASAP!

GIVE-AWAY LAST DAY TO ENTER!

Last day to enter the

Christmas Box

Give-away!

Includes:

Eight hand-painted (by yours truly) glass tree balls,
4-silver and 4-pearly white, with pink roses,

Two pair of rusty jungle bells,

dusted with mica snow and

tied up with sage green ribbon,

Magical Santa Key with original poem.
Hurry on over to this post

and comment to enter!

Give-Away...3 More Days to Enter!

Only 3 more days to enter for the

Christmas Box give-away!

We're celebrating my 75th post...

so tell your friends to hurry and enter to win!

Serenity Sunday...week 28

Along the streets,

I found weed-grown lawns

and rotted stumps
where grasses and
poplars once were,
and I wept.

copyright

Tamara Egan

9/5/00

Help me celebrate my 75th post! A give-away!

It seems there is a tradition among bloggers (at least most of those that I read) that invites the readers to help celebrate milestones of different kinds or anniversaries etc.

Now it's my turn to host a give-away!

Announcing

South Street Shabby's Christmas Box

to celebrate my 75th post!

It took a while to get the ornaments (any other time they would be in the stores long ago, but because I wanted them, they didn't turn up until last week.) and then they had to be put together. The rest of the pieces I gathered pretty easily and so here it is...

The box will include the following...

St. Nick's Magical Key

An antique skeleton key on a gold ribbon. The key is attached

to an original poem that explains the magical key and how it will

allow Santa to enter your home on Christmas Eve Night.

St. Nick's Key

On this magical night,

with his reindeer high in flight,

Santa flies from house to house,

and fills all the stockings, quiet as a mouse.

Those with no chimney,

don't need to worry,

this special key and magic words,

will help Santa do all his Christmas work.

Close your eyes, so you can't see,

say these words and count to three...

"I believe with all my might,

on this special night of nights,

I've been good and I've been nice,

There's Christmas magic in my heart tonight."

This magic key will open the door for Santa on Christmas Eve Night.

Christmas bells!

Two pair of rusty christmas bells, dusted with mica snow

and hanging on a mossy green satin ribbon.

...another view (pic not so good)

...another view of the (two pair) rusty bells...

Ok...the best part...

Eight hand-painted original glass christmas tree ball ornaments.

Four are silver glass with pink and white roses and rose buds and the remaining four are pearly-white glass with pink and white roses and rose buds. They are all tied atop the ornaments with a mossy green satin ribbon. I paint and sell tons of these every year and they are great as hostess

gifts, hung on a tree, placed in a cut glass bowl as shown, hung in windows or over mirrors.

(close up of a pearly-white ball)

(silver ball on the left and pearly-white on the right)

(shown in a cut glass bowl)

(glass bowl not included)

How to enter my give-away:

1) Leave a comment that tells me where you are from and your favorite Christmas decoration or tradition. (This will be one entry.)

2) Complete #1 and become a follower. (This will be your second entry.)

3) Post a link about my give-away on your blog and send me an email (tje4481@aol.com) telling me that you did. (This will be your third entry.)

** You may enter starting now and entries will continue through Saturday November 14th at midnight eastern time.

**The winner will be drawn and announced on Sunday November 15, 2009.

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!

Another couple of hints....

What do these have in common with the

other objects in the previous 'hint' posts?

Stay tuned later this evening for the big reveal......

Heads up! There's SNOW in them thar' hills...

Central NY and the Syracuse area in particular, is known for it's snowfall averages. There is a 'competition' among the cities in NY called the Golden Snowball Award. It's a friendly contest and kind of fun to follow. Syracuse has been the winner, hands down, since 2002-2003 season. Our total last year (2008-2009)...a whopping 149.6 inches!

SO....let the games begin!

Syracuse
Max: 192.1 inches (1992-93)
Min: 59.4 inches (2001-02)
Average: 116.9 inches

Stay tuned later today for the answer to the riddle and an announcement!

Just a hint 2...

Hmmmmmmm..........

still not sure?

...it seems there is somewhat of a tradition among bloggers....

When a milestone or some kind of special occasion

is upon the writer ...

the readers celebrate...any ideas?

* Sorry for the bad pictures, but no time to redo them, it's kinda late here....:-)

Just a hint.......

Riddle: When you put this.......

with this.....

what do you get?
Stay tuned later this week for the answer.....

This Is It!

I saw it Sunday afternoon...if you are a FAN...I recommend you hurry on over to see it before it's over!

Serenity Sunday...week 27

The following is a public service message from South Street Shabby.....

A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation. ~James Freeman Clarke, Sermon

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. Franklin D. Roosevelt

According to the U.S. Census, the most common reason people give for not voting is that they were too busy or had conflicting work or school schedules. Jeff Miller

**Be a role model for your children...

Exercise your right to vote...

Tuesday, November 3, 2009**

***********************************

Note to any Central New York bloggers or blog readers: Leave a comment and tell me who you are and where you're from. There are a couple of bloggers (myself included) that are curious if we have a lot or just a few locally. So...anyone remotely close to Syracuse, even a couple of hours away...say hello!