December 16, 2024 Monday--5am

Good morning!

I had another sweet, quiet week.  Kind of in hibernation mode and can't seem to snap out of it--lol!  I suppose there's no need to, really.  I have no particular plans, after all--lol!

We had freezing drizzle topped with a thin layer of snow twice this week.  I do love the snow, as you know, but ice!  No thanks!  Falling gets more dangerous the older I get.  I'm grateful I don't have to be anywhere and can just have sweet, quiet days all warm inside with Miss Allie. She keeps an eye on me--lol! :) 

And we are both loving having all the birds out there every day.

Can't tell but there's ice out there on that sidewalk.  Whenever we can't see it we call it black ice.  Not sure where that saying came from, but it is a dreaded one.

I bought myself an electric skillet to maybe replace my stove when I move.  Haven't tried it out yet.  It had very high ratings on Amazon, is ceramic non-stick, and can go in the dishwasher!  Since I have only been using cast iron for several years, I needed some utensils for a non-stick pan, right?

When I saw these bamboo utensils--OMGosh!!  These are so ME.

Besides the usual daily & weekly stuff I have to do around here and along with the Critter Cafe duties...

...I finally made it into the studio to snoop around for something new to try.  I had saved this new book out when I packed because I love wildflowers.

Decided to set up in the kitchen instead of at the studio table (so I can see the partridges when they come by, to be honest).

Playing with some of the new QOR paints (best of the lot that I purchased recently so I wanted to try first).  They wet really well and are quite vibrant.  Ignore my actual artwork--lol! 

You can see where I get some use out of my crazy expensive book holders.  That is the rose gold bee.

I am so out of practice I can't even remember which brushes work well for which effects or which sizes to use.  They vary so much from brand and type.  And then I have new paints I am not familiar with, too.  But it is so much fun to play!  It's like being a newbie all over again.  Would take a lot of practice for me to be able to paint wildflowers anywhere close to what she does, but it is fun trying. 

Christmas cards have been arriving.  This one is the most unusual card I've ever gotten...even spins and plays "Oh, Christmas Tree"!  Thanks, Janie!

I decided to cover my refrigerator this year.  :) :)

Leah had to stop in at Joann's last week for some ribbon.  We haven't been there for quite a while, but I was flabbergasted at the pictures she sent me!  Joann's was always such a nice store--always so neat and clean.  You can skim through the photos (there were even more than this).  The entire store looked like this.

Absolutely shocking!  No signs about them closing or going out of business or anything.  Have any of you gone into an old familiar store and found it to be such a disaster?  Is all the online shopping putting the brick-and-mortar stores out of business or causing them to be so understaffed that they can't keep their stores clean and organized?  Such a shame.  We are still really shocked.

The following photos of the rugs are taken by Ian!  Gramma wanted a picture of the boxes Dagan took home...and they are being used right now to help flatten the rugs--lol!  

Ian did a really great job with the pictures!  

Leah got the new shower caddy and my coffee shelves put together and ready to hang.

She got the custom automatic blinds ordered for my two windows, too.  Next weekend she plans to see about ordering the appliances from a place in town that will deliver and set them up for us.  Such a busy time of year right now.  Things always settle down after the holidays.  But it is a time for being bundled up and making snowmen.

I tried to get a picture at dusk of my lights around my studio window and the patio door...my year-round decorations.  The studio lights twinkle, so it is hard to get them all lit up at the same time.  But they are what I see at the kitchen table...all year round.  *big smile*

Next newsletter it will be almost Christmas!  And then the next one will be the last one for this year and almost New Year's Eve!  Have a really good week and I'll see you again before Santa does. :)