The holidays are a fun and magical time, but they're also filled with memories. Family and friends who aren't
with me any longer and friends who are fighting cancer right now,
these thoughts are all mixed in with visions of sugar plums dancing
in my head.
I guess I'm mentioning this because yesterday when I interacted with
an obviously very angry man in the aisle of the supermarket, at
first I was feeling pretty upset with the guy, even caught myself
thinking, 'What's his problem? Why is he being such a nasty person,
especially around the holidays?'

But then I reminded myself that life is complicated, especially this
time of year. Life goes on like any other day, people lose their
jobs, families are split apart, folks are feeling lonely because
this is the first Christmas since their spouse passed away, and
others are worried their parents might not be around to celebrate.

I had a good cry--and now I feel much better. I sure hope
the man I met in the supermarket gives himself that gift, too.


Can't help remembering when my grown-up children looked like this. They probably don't even remember.

 

Just wanted to share some of the Christmas around our house.  
"Joy to the World" and "Joy in my heart"

With all the storms out there and people traveling and clogged up in airports......there sure isn't much peace in the air.  I'm so glad we stayed home where it is tranquil and quiet.

I'm spending my time baking and knitting.

Here is a bag I hope to finish.

The SPA Paletteers met Wed. Dec 15 at Corkhill Palms at 9:30 am. We exchanged these beautiful Christmas cards that we had painted.  

Here are a few for you to see.

 We also painted Christmas tree balls. 

 

Aren't they delightful?  We had such a jolly good time!  We missed the ones who couldn't make it. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!  

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

Coachella Oasis Preserve

Went for a walk today out in 1000 Palms Canyon.  Coachella Valley  Preserve it's called....there is some water and ponds, lotz of palms and sand.  It was hot on the hike about 85 degrees.  We walked a mile out...around the pond and back to the parking lot.  Blue skies smiling on our backs.

Several years ago hiked there with Lynda & Seth.

I would like to come here to do some plein air painting sometime.
 

December Plein Air

I had such a good time at Las Casuelas Mexican Restrauant on Dec 8th.  Six of us met at 9:30 am and walked around choosing what we would like to paint.  It was difficult choosing as there is so many beautiful things to choose from.  Lotz of structure and statues, etc. 

I was intrigued by the brick around an outside fountain...

 Then of course we all ordered our salads and enchilades, etc.  We sat on a sun-dappled patio and painted to our hearts content.  So-o-o-o much fun to paint and chat with friends in new places.

I’m Tired of Being a Christian

I’m Tired of Being a Christian

Boy is it windy today

Poor little birdy can hardly hang on......

 Hummingbirds have a hard time zeroing in

wind blows the door carpet all askew

 can't get the door open

trees blowing







Golfers can't get their balls to go straight down the fairway.
But after the storm the sun comes out beautifully.

So here I am in the present...right here in Thousand Palms. It's not Paris.  It's not Morocco.  It is not even Oregon or New Mexico.  It's windy ol' Thousand Palms...and I love it.  The sun is shinning and the sky is blue and all the clouds are fluffy and have silver linings.  Wish you were here with me.

Artists roam the earth with wide eyes, cultivating artistic inspiration as they amass found objects and other materials for their artwork.
I have a huge bullitin board my husband mounted for me in my hobby room. On it go all sorts of found objects & art.

Most of us do not need much for inspiration to begin blossoming ---

fallen leaves 

sound of the ocean

Children laughing

and even the rusting objects found on parking lot floors.  All this is enough to send an artist back to their studio for hours.

Today is Pretty

Today is so pretty....I want to look for yellow things.  Yellow is such a happy color,  I can't believe how many things I found just around the house......

Goldstar Bush at the corner of patio.

 Little miniture rose

Yellow fallen leaf

Some lemons to squeeze

My center piece on the patio table

Some sunflowers

A collage of stuff on my kitchen counter

Dandylion

Quilted daffodills

Threads in my sewing kit

Rickrack in a jar

Snowwhite and 7 dwarfs music boxes

Box of Glad bags

Cup in my cupboard

Pull cord on lamp

Pillow where I like to nap
on the patio







Sometimes life is so darn pretty I just have to write a post or snap a photo in order to prolong it and give myself the time to look at that moment long and from all sides.  Hope you can take a quick peek or stay a little while relishing in the pretty moments too.