Monday, December 24, 2012

Monday-7:15am: Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!  
Where did this year go?
I got a couple more handmade cards.  
One is from a new blogger friend, Dianne...
...and there was an envelope attached on the inside cover...
...that held ten stamps!!  That just tickled me!  Thanks so much, Dianne!
And this one is a delight because it is from Leah's dear friend, Amber, who never made cards before she saw Leah was making them.  
Leah and Amber made her wedding invitations together.  I got a kick out of the dog stamp that represents their Blixie--cute! 
Now, I haven't actually bought a card for many years.  These aren't handmade, but they blew me away!  Have you guys seen cards like this?  They are made to be taken out...
...and unfolded...
...so that they can become a sitting decoration!  This one is from Pat, my BFF in high school.  A snow globe, do you believe it!  Cool!
And then I got this Santa in his sleigh from Diane (I think she moved away when one of us was in fifth grade).  I had never seen these unfolding cards before.  I don't know if you should even call them cards--LOL!  Really fun!  Thanks to everybody for all the cards and well wishes!!  This has been the most amazing holiday season--starting in the end of November!  ;)  Wow!  
On Friday...
...it was a kind of pastel pre-dawn.
Dagan came over in the early afternoon and we headed over to PetSmart where I got a new hood for the ten gallon...
...half a dozen new live plants...
...(notice how happy my four tetras are)...
...three ottocinclus (of which I couldn't get a picture that wasn't blurred) who will eat snail eggs...
...and a blue dwarf gourami...
...who, I was told, will eat baby snails.
Everyone looks very happy...except the snail population...which is dwindling rapidly.  Well, not that they're unhappy until the moment they are eaten.  They seemed to leap upon the new plants with great joy.  
****
Dagan thought it was silly that I was trying to save as many snails as I could off the underside of the hood when I had just purchased fish for the express purpose of diminishing the population.  I tried to explain to him that it felt like the difference between the circle of life and my killing them myself.  Dagan took on the hood responsibility and I took on the burying snails in the gravel while planting new plants responsibility.  Between us, I know we were the cause of much snail carnage.  But the population had been cycling (didn't know that these little plant snails don't live that long) and there were more and more empty shells on the bottom of the tank as the larger ones died.  If the new fish survive, might not have many or any snails in a few months.  
****
I only bought the one blue gourami because I found out they only sell males!  Back when I worked pet shops (and actually ran the fish department a couple of times) you had to order them in pairs.  They're territorial and the males fight, so you'd lose a few of the males and have extra females--who are not as flashy and colorful.  So--I mean I can understand why they would sell only males these days, but I found it quite upsetting.  What do they do with all the females at the breeding farms?  All these males are destined to live alone.  If you bought more than one you will probably end up with one in the end--unless you had a really large tank.  Maybe one of the two privately owned pet shops in town might have a girlfriend for him?  I plan to call them after the holidays.  Should probably make sure these new fish stay alive for at least a month first.  Anyways, the tank looks good and the fish all seem quite happy.  Thanks Mom and Dad!  ;)
**** 
   I finished the wall art this weekend!!  I went over all the colors with appropriate colors of the Silks acrylic glazes and I love it!  The colors really popped!  
They came alive...
...deep and rich...
...with a bit of shimmer.
I added some gold highlights, too, with a palette knife.
For once, something came out more like I had in my head!  I wanted just abstract bright colors like this. Yes, reminds me of tie-dye.  ;)  But that is just what I wanted. 
****
I got it in the frame yesterday and set it down while I went to get the hammer and a nail.  Karma went nuts over it!
Pawing...
...smelling...
...and rubbing...
...while she purred and purred and tried to scooch up even closer to it.
I actually remembered to take a short video!
She literally didn't want to leave it...
...pressed her face up against it...
...and fell asleep.
But later, after Karma finally left, I put it up on the wall in the kitchen where it used to be in its former life as a clock.  ;)
I am really sooo happy with it!  There's a dozen colors of Silks on this.  May not be anyone else's cuppa tea, but I am grinning from ear to ear every time I lay eyes on it.  Talk about changing from my old victorian decor, eh?  I plan to gradually add some bold and colorful accents around here.  This is the first step.  
****
Tonight, Karma and I have some presents from Tori in England to open.  We were always a Christmas Eve night present opening family.  How did you do things in your family?  Any special traditions for the holidays?  Whatever your plans--enjoy!  Let everybody know you love them!  Merry Christmas from me and Miss Karma!  :):)
****
"Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store."
Dr. Seuss

27 comments:

Shelly said...

Those cards are amazing, and as always, Karma is her delightful self! I wonder if she'd actually like to create something, paint something, herself...

The merriest of Christmas wishes to you~

Furry Bottoms said...

Never knew a cat to enjoy a painting so much! :) That was adorable!! Merry Christmas, Rita and Karma!

TexWisGirl said...

art appreciation! hilarious!

love those cards - all of them! and glad you have a happy, healthy tank again!

Anonymous said...

I'd never seen a "snow globe" card before--I love it! MERRY CHRISTMAS to you & your furry roommate!!

GrandmaG said...

We've always celebrated on Christmas Eve, also. Looking forward to spending time with the whole family tonight, opening presents and feasting on a ham dinner. Happy Christmas Eve, Rita!

Anonymous said...

Your wall art is fabulous! And you got some amazing cards too.

betty said...

I love those homemade cards! Very nicely done, especially that snow globe one! How neat that Leah's friend "discovered" the fun of making homemake ones herself!! Sounds like it was a great holiday season for you and Karma, Rita! I do hope you enjoy the rest of the celebrations in the days ahead, however they are celebrated!

Merry Christmas!

betty

Darla said...

What great cards, both the handmade and the folding ones. Karma is now an art critic? She seems to have given your new piece a rave review.

Happy Holidays!

Darla

Janie Junebug said...

The Hurricane and I watched the video. Hurricane said that Karma is so cute and funny. I knew that without being told. We were always a Christmas Eve gift opening bunch. Last year things got screwed up because of someone who will not be mentioned. This year we are back on track for Christmas Eve. The Hurricane has volunteered to cook. I'm allowing it because I know that if we were in the kitchen together we would have some sort of nasty food fight. That's how it is when one's child turns out to be a devastating Hurricane. Hurricane and Favorite Young Man and the Z-Boys and I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I am so grateful to know you and so ashamed I couldn't send you some fancy handmade card. I have no talent whatsoever.

Love,
Janie, who now feels quite sorry for herself because of her lack of abilities

DJan said...

Karma knows what she likes, doesn't she? It did turn out really well, Rita. And it looks like your Christmas is also turning out to be exceptional. Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a merry New Year! :-)

Beth said...

Merry Christmas Rita!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

WOW, that snow globe is a real treat. I've seen sleighs before, but never that snow globe. What a gem. And I'd take stamps any day, too.

I can't understand Karma. It must be the scent, because cats are colorblind and only see in black and white.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a joyous time tomorrow.

Farida said...

May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter.

Blessed Christmas, Ms Rita! *warm hug

Jenny Woolf said...

Thank you for sharing your wonderful silks, and I can see why you like the wonderful colours. They're just what is needed at this time of year though your sky is also a wonderful colour.

Have a lovely holiday season Rita and I hope that 2013 is good to you!

SandeeNC said...

LOL, ok first I am amazed that you fed the snails to the fish, I didn't know you were growing them for fish food! lol I loved the video of Karma the art critique! CUTE! Merry Christmas, waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

carol l mckenna said...

Had a wonderful family Xmas ~ both Eve and Day ~ love your post and hugs to you and Karma who always steals the show ! ~ wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year ^_^

Far Side of Fifty said...

Merry Christmas! Love the painting..it turned out really cool! LOL on the snails..poor little guys saved only to be fish food:):)

I hope you had a good day..and the aquarium looks really pretty all those green plants:)

Unknown said...

See what I mean Rita, I got one of those snowglobes too and never even thought of blogging it as a crafty topic LOL. Hope Christmas went well.

Unknown said...

Your post is beautiful, filled in so many good things. Your art is amazing and so creative and cute. Thank you for sharing

Hilary said...

Karma is a hoot. Nice to know she loves your work. That first photo of her lying in her bed makes me smile. Her three black spots (well, her tail and two spots) are so perfectly spaced, that she looks like they were fanned out that way intentionally. She kind of resembles a sea shell in that little bed.

AliceKay said...

Those are really cool cards. I've never seen anything like them. Loved the globe card.

Your aquarium looks warm and inviting. Could sit there and watch the fish swim around for hours. It can be very relaxing.

Karma really loved your art
work. :) Looks very nice hanging on your wall, too.

I felt well enough to go to Christmas Eve Mass with Terri. My sister and her family went to that Mass, too. We usually all go at some point Christmas Eve. I finally got our tree decorated later that night.

I just love "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". One of my favorite Christmas shows. I can remember decorating our tree at my parents house when I was younger while watching that show on TV. Been on the air a long time.

I hope you and Karma had a wonderful Christmas. *hugs*

(i'll have to go backwards to catch up on your blogs sometime...not been feeling the best lately)

Dana said...

The colors on the wall art are amazing! Love them!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. :)

ChicagoLady said...

Sounds like you had a nice Christmas. Hope you have a wonderful 2013!

Last year, my boss at work got each of us in the department one of those stand up globes. Half of us got penguins and the other half got something else. I kept mine and put it out again this year. They are cute, aren't they?

My cousin came to Christmas with a hacking cough and now the rest of us are all sick in some way. His mom has bronchitis, his fiance is sick, his aunt's caregiver is sick, and I am getting a cough too. Makes you wish he'd just stayed home, even though it was Christmas.

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

BEAUTIFUL textured tie-dye!!! wow, that turned out awesome rita!! karma agrees!

your fish look SO happy!!

seeing the hand made cards makes me realize that i MUST make time for myself...somehow...to be creative...more...in 2013!!

i've seen those pop up cards!! so cool!!

happy new year rita!! xo hugs!

Crystal said...

Happy New Year! :-)

Intense Guy said...

You truly had a wonderful Christmas! The fish tank looks marvelous!

*giggles at Krazy Kat rubbing against the artwork* I guess she thought it was HER present!

Anonymous said...

Oh I love the video of Karma admiring your art! How cute!