Christmas Tunes

This time year Christmas music is heard from my stereo, radio, computer...  My mother had quite a few Xmas LPs (which my dad still has, probably unbeknownst to him, in a closet; I know where they are), and every December we would play them over and over.

What is your favorite Christmas song?  So many good ones out there.  You can't beat Bing Crosby or "Charlie Brown" music.  I don't think I could pick a favorite.

Here is a sampling of the "real" Christmas music, as opposed to MP3s, I have in a variety of formats.  I wonder how I escaped the 8-track phase?

Christmas getting a bit overbearing?  Give Bob Rivers a listen.  Guaranteed smiles, possible chuckles.

And just to prove I'm not a dinosaur (yet), here is a recent playlist on Itunes on my computer.

I'm linking to Mockingbird Hill Cottage this Saturday because Christmas music is a favorite thing of mine-- in December anyway!

Enjoy!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Okay, look at these:

Now, look at these:

So what's wrong here?  Hint #1: All of the above pictures were shot on December, 3, 2012.  Hint #2: All of the above photos were shot in the upper Midwest.  Figuring it out?

What a delight for a few days!  But yesterday was back to near-reality.  But, hey, 40 degrees in December?  I'll take it!

Enjoy!

Gurley Wednesday

A smallish, but tallish Gurley candle today.  And why this steeple hasn't snapped in 60 years is beyond me.

Enjoy!

TT/Winter Landscape

I can't take much credit for my Tag Tuesday tag this week.  Since the theme is "Winter Landscape," I thought of an old Christmas card I had.  I purchased a packet of these cards on Ebay about 12 years ago.  The image was so perfect, I didn't feel I needed to improve upon it very much.

I added paper to the right and left sides, a couple snowflake sequins, the "winter" letters on the bottom, and some gesso to the snow (which is hardly noticeable).  The wild trim is a fringy yarn I bought at a thrift store.  Knew it would come in handy someday.

And, no, I didn't put up my Christmas tree yet.  The tag is hanging in a yew bush outside!

Enjoy!

Little Fur Family

Since I posted a grown-up type book yesterday, I thought I would share another of my childhood books today.  Little Fur Family is by Margaret Wise Brown who also wrote the popular Goodnight Moon. It is a simple story, perfect for bedtime reading. This copy was printed in 1970 and was purchased by me from the very fun school bookmobile.

The illustrations were always my favorite part of this book.  Nice colors and good detail for a picture book.

I noticed there is a "deluxe hardcover" edition available at Amazon which also means this is considered a classic now.  Gee, I had good taste as a child.

Enjoy!

The Image Makers

I haven't posted one of my "Hollywood" books in quite a long time so here we go. The Image Makers is one of my older books-- received in 1983 from my folks for Christmas. A great coffee table type book with tons of photos.  I used many of these famous faces in this book to draw ebony pictures years ago.  I was a portrait artist in another life.  

Here is a small sampling of the wonderful photos:

 Marlene Dietrich on the cover

 Hedy Lamarr

 Ann Sheridan

 Charles Chaplin

 Rita Hayworth

 Jean Arthur

Marlene Dietrich

Enjoy!

Advent Calendar 2012

Since this is December First, I am sharing the annual Advent calendar at my house. My mother always bought one for us kids, and I carried on the tradition even before I had a kid.  This year's comes from Bronner's online store.  Love the detail!  It's fairly big too, about 10" x 14".

I'm sharing this lovely calendar with "A Favorite Thing" at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

Do you have an Advent calendar this year?

Enjoy!