Saturday, December 27, 2014

Last Last Little Bit



 
We had spent the day decorating the Art Hus windows with white tempera paint and just could not stop ourselves, so when we got home, we started on the sliding glass door. It was a bunch of fun! I love what my daughter contributed at both places.
It was a special year because it was our first big family tree. We always had to get a very small one to fit on top of our kitchen table and under a ceiling fan. It was pretty exciting. We had to get it before a big storm hit. It was a good thing we rushed to get it because all the trees blew over in the storm.

 Our favorite thing to do every year is to drive around and see the lights. It is just so magical! And the last stop is always the Rescue Ranch where they have Sooooooo many lights everywhere! Even Santa was there. I had fun making Christmas cards this year, but they took longer than I had hoped. I think the last 2 or 3 years I had them made and now I remember why. I did really enjoy making them all though. It feels good to make stuff that others might enjoy.




 It was another wonderful Christmas. Always so much fun decorating and wrapping and making gifts. And even better to relax and hang out with family. Always miss my sister when she is not with us, but she was having a once in a lifetime amazing good time on safari in Africa!!! Amazing!!



 Selfies while making my boyfriend's famous tamales...pretty silly. I am not good it selfies, but it was fun and the tamales were so very yum!

 Happy Holidays everyone!!! The New Year is coming! And a little bit more time off!!

At Last a Little Relaxing for the End of the Year

 Spent the rest of November celebrating all over with family. First stop was Ventura to meet up at a beach cabin with the McNutt family for our favorite Thanksgiving at the beach! It was a beautiful sunny and warm day. Even the ocean was warm.
 It was a negative tide and the tidepooling was awesome! We found so many creatures! Such a nice way to refill the soul.
The whole family got to explore. We all felt like kids.


 Awesomeness!!

The next day we left on a train trip to Seattle to see my sister. It was my daughter's first train ride. We got a sleeper car. It was quite an adventure. I highly recommend it! The views were fantastic and the private room was perfect. My daughter got sick on the way there and was not well again until we were on the return home.
 There had been heavy rain and Oregon was so green that I had to draw a picture.

 I made a new journal just for the trip and wanted to fill the whole thing on the trip. I got pretty close. I will finish it up with some printed photos and doodling. It felt really great every time I could pull it out. The leaves were beautiful!

I made a journal for my daughter as well. It was so awesome to watch her use it. I had planned many occasions that we would sketch in them, but her being sick cut that down a bit.
 Pike's Public Market was wonderful, as always. I wish I had my journal with me that day!

 We had to go to the Asian market to refill some of my pen collection. I love their stuff!!
 My sister took me out on the town for a very nice break. We went out to sushi!!! I loved all the special rolls and nigiri so very very much! My sister knows her stuff!!

Yummy specialty drinks at one of her favorite hangouts. It was really great to get out for some adult time. Then it was an amazing Thanksgiving feast overlooking the bay from my sister's amazing apartment in the sky after an inspiring run around downtown Seattle.
 My daughter started to feel much better as we got back on the train back home. We all journaled and relaxed. It was very nice.

 Here was my daughter and my Fall display on our table at home. It was nice to be back.
 
December started off with a lot of stress and preasure to get stuff done. I had so many projects I wanted to do and then there was way too much work at work and I felt a bit out of control. I guess that is the norm for the holidays.