A Christmas Carol

Well the Christmas season is in full swing! When I was coming home from work on Friday night, I saw the first Christmas lights, twinkling away merrily! I love Christmas lights!

What traditions do you observe that you created with your family? For me, one that I still observe, even though my children are grown and gone and I live alone with my animal family, is watching my favorite version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". I do not understand my fascination with this story, as it is probably the creepiest story that was ever penned when you really think about it.

About a gazillion versions exist and I have seen many, but my perennial favorite is George C. Scotts'.

Patrick Stewart, Bill Murray, Henry Winkler, Albert Finney, Michael Caine, Jim Carey and a host of other men cannot hold a candle to George C. Scott when it comes to being a mr grouchy pants supreme...

(If I met this on the street, I would turn and RUN!)

 

The supporting cast was superb and I have yet to see anyone who played a better Janet Holywell than Caroline Langrishe.

 

 

Such a tiny supporting role, but in the end of the movie, when Scrooge comes to beg pardon for the things he said about Christmas to his nephew Fred Holywell, her subtle facial expressions alone should have won her an academy award .

 

I think I have watched this movie at least 100 times, if not more! (7 of them were this weekend.)  But today, as I ran the movie while I was decorating and cleaning my little house, (the wind was like 50 miles an hour outside, so no outside time for me today!), I found myself, as is usual, pondering the message that this movie, and the book it was based off of, brought to my mind.

 

The ending words of Fred Holywell rang in my ears......."It was said of Ebenezer Scrooge that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge."

 

Do I do that? 

 

Oh so many times I do not! I, like Scrooge, get bogged down in the mire of everyday living and I forget to see the daily miracles that God provides! I whine. I complain. I want. I compare. I hate. I procrastinate on good I might do. Oh the list goes on and on! Must it take something scary and tragic to open my eyes to the loveliness of life and my purpose in it?

 

(I almost have to change my pants when I see this poor Marley with all his chains!)

 

How many chains do I carry? How many have I forged? I am not sure I want to know, but I do know that through the power of the Holy Spirit, I CAN break those chains! Does not 2nd Timothy 1:7 tell us, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline!"? (emphasis mine) I do not have to be bound by those chains that I forged in the past! I am a new creature in Christ! (If only my heart would believe what my mind knows!)

 

We have all had bad things happen to us. Bullying, abuse, unfair accusations and lies told about us, an unsupportive mother, father, or family. But here is the truth. We can allow those things to define us or we can allow them to defeat us. It is OUR choice!



 

The past can no longer hold me! Let it go! (No. I am NOT singing that song!) Remember the good, let go of that which you cannot change and learn from it! Let it haunt you no more...

 

(The Ghost of Christmas Past. Creepy when she smiles.)

 

I need to see the miracles that God put in front of me and help them to happen if it is within my power to do so! I need to not miss doing good when I have the opportunity!

 

(Anthony Walters was the creepiest Tiny Tim ever! He really convinced me he was on deaths' doorstep!)

 

I need to remember what God placed me on this earth for.......to help others as much as it is within my power to do so. And hopefully, if I fulfill that, I will never, EVER have to see some tall ghost pull back his robes to reveal THIS...

 

(The creepsters, Ignorance and Want!)

 

And heaven forbid that I should ever forget these important lessons so that I have to face THIS, because I would totally need Depends Adult diapers...

 

(The WORST creepy thing, the Ghost of Christmas Future!)

 

I am glad that Mr. Dickens wrote this story. I am glad for the lessons within. I am glad I will never have to see those creepy things in person and can put them safely away in the cabinet once the Christmas season has passed, but I want to keep the lessons of love alive within my heart and mind throughout the coming year. My hope for myself this year is that I too, will, "know how to keep Christmas well" throughout the year that is given to me.

 

And as Fred Holywell stated,

 

"May that be truly said of us and ALL of it!"   

 

Merry Christmas, my friend.

 





 







 









 



  





The Bestest Ever Early Christmas Present

One week ago, a man came into the facility with a small animal carrier that held 3 tiny kittens...way too young to be away from mama!

One of them obviously had a spinal cord injury and would need to be taken to the vet. I don't think there was any saving this kitten and my heart just broke. The other two were tiny and scared and hungry and while another of my co-workers grabbed at the little gray tabby, I snatched up the little Siamese looking kitten and carried her home with me that night.

Kitten replacement milk, kitten chow and kitten wet food on the way home, purchased from the local PetsMart and the kitten clawing its' way up my shirt the entire drive home. She finally settled down when I got food into her.



I was a little scared of what Maximoose would do. Although he was also a rescue dog, I haven't had any additions to the family since getting him 3 years ago. Silly me. I needn't have worried!

And so I am sharing photos of Maximoose and his new kitten. Look closely, because in some of the photos, their coloring is SO similar, you can hardly see 'Scooter'!



 

 

 

And so it begins. Training and growing, spaying and loving a new family member. How did I ever get so blessed to have such a wonderful family? My blessing cup runneth over...

 



 

Welcome home, Scooter!

 



Preparing for Christmas

 

Preparing for Christmas

 

I know, I know....it isn't even Thanksgiving yet! But for me, the week before Thanksgiving always begins the Christmas Season! (At least I haven't changed my blog background to Christmas stuff yet!) But I love EVERYTHING about Christmas! Even the hustle and bustle of shopping for those perfect gifts!

I love the REASON we have Christmas most of all. My biggest desire during the Christmas Yuletide would be that we all remember why this holiday came into being and especially remember the wonderful and unfathomable gift that was given us. May we never forget, during this season or throughout the year the true meaning of Christmas!

C. W. E. Dietrich (1712–1774)

 

This year I am truly starting over with gathering Christmas decor. Due to the loss of all of my lovely Christmas ornaments and decorations collected over the last 40 years, I am beginning again. I would like to have some words of wisdom here such as, "It is just STUFF. You can always get more STUFF", which is the line I have used numerous times throughout my life, but the fact is, there are some things that cannot be replaced and those are the things I am missing just now.

 

Still, as tragic as this event was, this means I can let my imagination and creativity out to play! Design and create whatever my heart desires and THAT, (even though it will be expensive to gather again), is indeed a call I have always loved! So I am beginning with a tree.

 

I LOVE Christmas trees! No matter what kind or how they are decorated, I LOVE CHRISTMAS TREES!

 

So vintage!

 

Winter elegance!

 

Traditionally country!

 

Made up of childhood dreams!

 





Ultra feminine and PINK!

 

The list and photographs can go on and on! I have always favored a Victorian edge with my Christmas decorating and I cannot go back on that which my heart longs for, but nor do I wish to create what I had created before. I am a different woman now and tastes mature. I LOVE pink and know I want that as a large part of my décor. So what will it be this year?

 

MOST definitely FLOCKED. I have longed for a white tree ever since I can remember but have never gotten around to having one. The most I have done is throw fake and sparkly snow all over and then having snow in the vacuum cleaner through July, (at least). So this is what I have decided upon.....

 

I really covet like this tree, however if I can afford it is another matter altogether. I may just end up flocking a less expensive tree myself. There are tons of tutorials all over Pinterest and while the Ivory Soap and water or the shaving cream and cornstarch recipes do not thrill me or give the effect I desire, I think I can pull it off using paint and tons of glitter. (If I do go this route, I will post pics of the mess  project).

 

Going scouting and shopping has been fun, albeit on a very limited budget. It is odd how some items just tug at you and others SHOUT at you and you KNOW, even if you had decided on the opposite, these things are supposed to come home and be a part of your life. A while back ago, around Halloween,  I scouted some snowflakes down at our local KMart. They were lovely and would look super with pink and gold, but alas! The only ones they had were on the display trees and not for sale. Bummer. But I went back a few days ago and low and behold, they were finally stocking the shelves with ornaments and there they were!

 

 

They only had 10, so....I bought them ALL. The photo really does not do the ornament justice! These things have more angles then the Vatican roofline and throw sparkles just EVERYWHERE. I love the way they pick up whatever color is in their immediate vicinity and shine it in rainbows throughout the room!

 

I also picked up some purple and gold ornaments, (even though I had decided to go pink), but everything was on sale and if I didn't get them now, they would be gone when I'd had time to decide whether or not I wanted them. 

 

LOVE how the snowflakes pick up the purple hues!

Gold is always so elegant!

 

My KMart haul...

 

I have had a difficult time finding the correct pinks I want, but I have some bids out on ebay. I had the winning bid on this star for the top of the tree! I am WAY happy about that! Cannot wait to see it in person! Time will tell if I win any more bids. EBay is so weird...you think you have something and then WHAM! Someone who has nothing better to do than sit all day and bid on your chosen item comes along and steals it. Personally, I think they are probably millionaire hoarders. Would LOVE to see the inside of their house with all my EBay bids sitting there...

 

 

Other than those purchases, I will be making the rest of the ornaments to hang on my tree this year and will begin the collecting again throughout the coming year now that I am somewhat settled in a new town, home and job. Below are some ideas I found on Pinterest. I think the links are done correctly, if not, just hit Pinterest and type the ornament in. It will be there in a flash along with a gazillion other ideas!

 

I need to start drying roses now, but I have a TON of vintage lace I can use with these!

I think I will do the poinsettia in gold though to match the rest of the tree

I LOVE the music sheet ornaments tutorials I am finding! SO very vintage looking!

Coffee filter roses and German mica glitter! So magical!

I am going to be busy for the next few weeks happily crafting in my spare time! Happy Thanksgiving and most of all, may you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas this year!



 



 







 

 



My dog family

Just looking though the files and lovin' my Scarlett, Rhett and Maximoose! Happy Hump day y'all! It is all downhill to the weekend, so spend it with those you love!