Our Christmas Card, Tree, And A Message For You!

In the Spirit of the season, I would like to wish all my blog followers a wonderful time enjoying their family and friends. This also includes the many followers of my newest blog called, "The Queen's Table" that has been striking a chord in many people this past year. That makes me very happy! I feel blessed to see the results not only for myself, but also for those who I meet that are experiencing positive changes to their mind and body as well! It is a pleasure to share the good news of health through whole foods! It warms the heart to help awake those like me, who had been living in the blind world of processed foods and prescriptions. It is my goal to help more people transition into healthier food choices and patterns over the coming years too.

I would like to share with you our Christmas card for 2012, which was made with a combination of ephemera, photoshop brushes, and a few scrapbook elements. The photo was taken at Faerie Con a few months ago. So much fun to have a hubby that enjoys the world of fantasy too! The card got sent out late since the printer was not so quick in getting it mailed to us. Plus the printed verion came out a tad darker too! This digital version is just as I meant it to look.

Yes, much has happened this year... wonderful changes in my health, a cancer diagnosis, major weight loss, Hectic Red's 25th Anniversary, and recently moving to a new home. I was not going to super decorate for the holidays as I have had my fill of emptying boxes.  Easier said than done for me! I still wanted the grandchildren to get joy from the lights and decorations. So I did the quick tree decor that I wrote about here, and added the pieces from the fairy chandelier that I had to take apart when we moved, to the tree as well. It is a sparkling beauty.

There is still a corner full of boxes that need a new piece of furniture to hold them, so I covered that area with the folding screen I painted. A few presents arrived for the grandchildren today and they look so festive under the tree!
 

Having grandchildren to enjoy always brightens any day. Grandparents out there, know the feeling of cherishing these moments that remind us when our children were toddlers and babies at Christmas. When you are young, trying to make your way in life, raising your family and learning life lessons, you don't generally have the gift of time and experience to reflect upon. When we are older we know how fleeting time really is.... 

This is also the time when souls may many view the world with a lighter Spirit, and that is a good thing. Let us try to incorporate those feelings into how we view all the moments everyday... with wonder, awe, compassion, and the open heart of a child.

Since 2012 marked the year that in the land of time and space, begins the awakening towards a new vision, 

may the next year fill you with the magical light of love!

Thank you for all the kind words, good thoughts,

 and cheer you have brought into my life!

Credits: Cover of Book - Magical Reality Lost Treasures, Elements - Joelle Old Winter Valley,

Attack Of The Santas! and Snowmen! and Elves!

It was a dark and chilly night like any other night in this small country town. I was sitting at a teensy-tiney table at a cozy little bar on the east side of town, watching my hubby play acoustic guitar. Suddenly a large band of ruffians entered the room hooting and hollering. They were pushing forward and filling the small bar in all directions including the outside porch. Dressed in red Santa suits, Santa dresses, Santa mini-skirts. elf gear, Santa hats, and glowing lights, the space filled fast. There was even a giant abominable snowman!

Accompanied by a pair of polite Marines carrying a donation bucket, this sudden invasion was the 3rd annual Santa Pub crawl organized to raise money for the 'Toys For Tots' program in our area.

Ben continued to play classic rock tunes rallying the crowd into sing-a-longs! They gladly participated, singing and dancing with their merry little selves...or elves. Song requests were made and played. The donation bucket was passed around in the ensuing frenzy.
"Santa Is In The Building!" a large Elvis Santa exclaimed! And so he was, and quite a jolly ole' fellow. Since I only had my teensy-tiny phone camera with me this past weekend, I did my best to capture the magnitude of the massive Santa attack on this venue. The Santa people just kept streaming into the bar. It was red Chaos! So how often do you see "Frosty" drinking a beer? Or Santa? Or a gaggle of Santa's drinking for that matter?

Unfortunately the Queen had to quickly vacate her teensy-tiny table due to a flock of young chickies who started to fill the Queens table with their drinks as if the Queen was not present. They were so busy squawking, texting, and taking photos of each other, they were obviously unaware of their rudeness. The Queen's Guardian Angels whispered to "get out now!" "Something is going to happen!" I quickly scooped up my belongings from the table and shoved them into my precious fairy bag. As I stood and turned to leave the area, the foreign drinks on my table began falling over and spilling in all directions. I was thankful I heeded the message to vacate the area, other wise my notepad, me, and my bag would be a sticky wet mess. 

Then the rude girls who caused this minor incident, turned their backs, and ignored my requests to pass, so that I could go sit by my hubby up front. Since I have encountered this behavior in other venues with young women before, I wonder if parents teach their children kindness and consideration anymore. Not the first time my dining table in a club has been used as a trash bin for young adults drinks. I say get your nose out of your phone, come down from your "me, me, me cloud" and notice what's actually happening around you, in the now, little teensy-tiny girls! I also notice they will often ignore each other, to text someone else, that they are having a wonderful time...doing what?....texting?

Eventually the Queen was able to take refuge from the claustrophobic red velvet crowd on a bench near the hubby. Safe from the invasion at last! No it is not the first time I had to save myself from over zealous young people. Once a girl decided to do a cheer-leading flip onto some guy and kicked me in the side. Never a dull moment on the road! Even on a teensy-tiny one!

The crowd was having a great time singing with Ben and that was fun to watch. Even the owner was dancing with the Santa girls. He then thanked Ben for doing a great job of uplifting the crowd, and making great music for everyone to enjoy. The long line of Santa's trailed out and into their yellow school bus, a bit happier than when they came to this bar...and the Queen let out a teeny-tiny sigh of relief. Ho! Ho! Ho!

A New Baby To Love!

Welcome Liam Patrick! It's been a whirlwind of a week! This little guy came a few days earlier than my daughter expected and everyone was scrambling to take care of baby biz.  Liam weighed 9 pounds, just like his big sister Aowyn! He is officially the family's Christmas present this year! How cool is that!!!???!!!

When Aowyn first saw her little brother Liam she exclaimed "Baby!"  The following day when Aowyn saw him she said, "Another Baby!"  Of course Grandpa is thrilled to be experiencing a little boy too.

Aowyn was so gentle and just wanted to constantly pet Liam's little head. She spontaneously and gently kissed his forehead too. At two and a half Aowyn still has to learn not to lean her weight on him, and to be calm and careful. Tapping on Liam's clear bassinet in the hospital and calling out to him was a fun game for our girl!

When Liam would make any crying sounds Aowyn would say, "You okay Baby?" "It's alright baby." Then she would look around and make sure the adults were noticing the baby needed something.

Our little guy Liam is so alert and constantly looking around, even though we know his vision is limited to up close faces. Which is why I just love this photo of him concentrating on Grandpa Ben!

 

While my daughter and Aowyn's daddy stayed at the hospital with their new baby. Aowyn stayed with us. Grandpa and Grandmum got full days and nights of Aowynisms and her non-stop energy. Watching Grandpa read her bedtime stories was so precious! Took me back to when I read books every-night to my two babies. Good times.

I hope your holidays are filled with good surprises and awesome presents! We are feeling thankful and blessed that everyone is doing so well. Life is good at the Castle. It's easy to see why Grandmum and Grandpa will be having more years of adventures in toddler land!

Frames and some backgrounds: Coffee Shop Blog, Textures: Shadowhouse Creations, Other Backgrounds: Eledhwen, Manu Designs, Bottle caps: Paula Kesselring

Quickest Christmas Tree Ever!!! Plus A Magical Fairy Chandelier

So here it is... the easiest tree I have ever decorated for Christmas! Usually it takes two full days and evenings to light and fill my tree with all the meaningful and delicate German glass ornaments I have collected over the years.  This year due to the combination of a medical problems that cause fatigue, and a toddler who has hit the terrible twos, I had to create a safe and easy tree. Using floral vines leftover from our wedding wrapped around a pre-lit tree, plastic bubble balls, a bit of sparkling hard rusty ribbon and a few glittery butterflies....Wah-lah! Done in an hour or two and will come apart in minutes! If you need a quick tree fix...this is it. Long floral vines make the process easy and elegant! Plus they can be purchased in many color combination's to suit your decor.

Oh I know... now you want to see that Fairy Chandelier up close...

I made this Chandelier last Christmas because our Mucha Foyer deserved something magical! This year I added the white flowers. 

Pulled together from sparkly twigs, an old glittery wreath turned upside down, a beveled glass tree topper and some other sparkly bits n' bobs. This was all attached to wires hooked to those three screws that are on flush mounted ceiling lights. I suppose I could keep adding flowers, twigs, moss and feathers all year long, spicing it up according to the seasons. If I do this I will document it and let you see what becomes of my hanging Faerie world luminary. Yea! I never took apart last years outside front door garland, so I just hung it from the mantle.  Now everything looks festive with little effort.

Have a stress free, easy and enchanting Holiday! 

Do you have any ideas that worked for your quick tree decor issues?

The Season Of The Elves

Holidays are for reminding us of the wonder and awe we felt as children. Our goal is to live that way everyday, and take the time to enjoy the world through the eyes of a child. Our little fairy grandchild is the perfect reminder, and we are grateful for her lessons of love. Being surrounded by family and friends this season was a blessing. Plus, the snow arrived at the perfect time! What a wonderful time to have a birthday! So I did! For all of our friends online and in Lothlorian, here are two holiday cards I made featuring our little fairy elf 'Binx.' I used Photoshop Brushes from a great web site called Graphics-Illustrations.com