Goodbye 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, William !!

"I'm not really sad.  This is my normal look.  It's pretty great because it melts Audrey's heart and she spoils me all the time."


If Jake could talk, I'm sure he might say those words.  He has grown a little, but is still just as cute as ever.  I have to admit he has stolen our hearts forever.
He was the perfect Christmas gift for us to give each other.  Although, the timing wasn't all that good.  The entire month of December has been pretty hectic.  Mom began Physical Therapy this month for her spinal stenosis which has been giving her unbelievable pain.  So, I have to leave to take her several times a week. Jake does not like to be alone and I don't know for sure if it is harder on him or me when I leave.
In the wee hours of Christmas morning, I woke not feeling well.  By mid morning, it was obvious I had the flu.  Having spent the entire day and night in bed sicker than I can remember being for a long time, dear Terry tended to Jake the entire time and sweet Mom (in spite of her pain) managed to put food on the table for she and Terry.  The Christmas dinner I had planned was not to be.
Tuesday night, Mom became ill with the flu. I was up most of the night with her, so I may have set myself back a little.  I am feeling better, but still dragging some and I don't have much of an appetite.  Mom is feeling better today.  Terry has been fighting it, as well, but thankfully he didn't get it as bad as I did.  So, poor little Jake would have been up a creek if we had both been bed bound.
Since December was such a busy and crazy month, I didn't get my Christmas cards done this year. I felt very bad about that because it is the one contact I have with some people.  I decided that I would do New Year's cards instead. Well, the flu pretty much squashed that plan. 
So, December is going out with a bang and a New Year will be upon us shortly.  I look forward to a new and better year in which I hope to make more creative time and write more Blog posts.  2011 was not the best year ~ many challenges and losses ~ but as long as I have my health, my family, and my friends, I am grateful to be alive and that is a beautiful thing.  I've met more wonderful friends this year through facebook and blogging ~ I hope to get to know them better in 2012 and share much artistic happiness.
I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions.  They usually go by the wayside with most people.  I only have one goal for the new year ~ MAKE MORE TIME FOR ART!!!  That's the plan.  If it works, you'll see more posts with finished art work instead of so many works in progress that just don't seem to get finished.  I hope to open my etsy shop in the new year, as well.
Well, if nothing else, this "not feeling so good" gave me time to sit down and write this post.  Jake is squeaking ~ I must go see what he needs.  (:
♥ audrey

~Compliments of Pam Aries

How beautiful it is to be alive!

~Henry S. Sutton

~Photo by Audrey, December 2010

Finding no room at the Inn, Jesus was born in a manger.

Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Joseph and Mary nearing Bethlehem hoping to find room at an Inn.

We three kings of Orient are 

Bearing gifts we traverse afar. 

Field and fountain, moor and mountain, 

Following yonder star. 

O star of wonder, star of night, 

Star with royal beauty bright, 

Westward leading, still proceeding, 

Guide us to thy perfect Light. 

Another Surprise

Another surprise in the mail today!  How blessed am I to have such sweet and caring friends?  Thank you, Pam. ♥ You  helped make my Christmas special this year. This print is such a happy scene ~ something I needed at this particular time.
Visit Pam's Blog, Yoborobo at http://yoborobo.blogspot.com
Pam is Queen Skelly Maker and a talented writer.

A Beautiful Gift

Last December, I posted this photo of our First Snow here in the Roanoke Valley. Ces was inspired by it and yesterday I received this beautiful matted Art Card that she created in black and white.  It is lovely and I will frame it and hang it on my gallery wall of artwork created by friends.  Thank you, Ces.  What a  beautiful, unexpected gift.
If you've never visited Ces's Blog, please do so.  She is an extremely talented artist who paints large oil paintings and she creates magical, intricate drawings in pen and ink. Be sure to click on the photos to get a closer look at the detail.  
http://cesandherdishes.blogspot.com
I apologize for the white scratchy lines on the black mat in the photo.  My scanner has scratches on it and they love showing up in photos. ):

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Isabella !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Holly !!

I wish we were going to Don Pablos tonight ~ we'll have to celebrate during my next Ohio visit.  Have a great day and know that I sincerely wish you a year filled with good things.

Reflection

During this busy time of Christmas preparation, take some time to stop, light a candle, take a deep breath, and reflect on what Christmas is really all about.  Enjoy a few moments of relaxation.  Let some memories of Christmases past come to mind.  Go back to your childhood and those happy memories of days filled with anticipation and then the excitement of Christmas Day.  Remember those loved ones who are no longer with you and think about the Christmases that you shared with them.  Look through your old albums at Christmas photographs. I guarantee at least one smile on your face and in your heart.  One more thing.  Say a little prayer that man will come to his senses and bring Christ back into Christmas.  I hope this will be a merry and blessed Christmas season for all of you.

♥ audrey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Anne !!

Birthday wishes are sent to you ~ a beautiful, strong, fun, and loving lady. My thoughts are with you today as you celebrate your special day. You are expecting this year to be one like no other ~ fighting for your health with your body and mind!!  On your next Birthday, Anne, we will celebrate the end of the fight and your complete healing. ♥

And now there is "Jake"

JAKE

Hello my friends!!

It has been a while since I posted at any length.  Several weeks ago I cut my finger at the knuckle ~ it had a splint on it for 10 days making it difficult to type.  That healed and then a week ago Tuesday I was outside decorating the tree.  Just about to finish when the leg sank deeply into the wet mulch.  The ladder went one way ~ I went the other.  Ouch!!  I am still healing from that fall.  Badly bruised, scraped, and sore, but fortunately I didn't break anything. 

There is good news, though.

Jake!!!

Terry and I had no plans of owning a dog anytime soon.  Last Sunday, Jake came into our lives.  We first saw him Friday night, held him, fell in love with him, and bought him on Sunday.

Jake is a 12-week-old miniature dachshund and as you can see above, has a face that made us want to take him home.

Jake has changed our lives in 5 short days. We are on new schedules, shopping in pet stores, making many trips outdoors, and basically learning how to live life with a dog in the house.

I LOVE this little dog. I love his face... his little body... his personality... the smell of him... the feel of his soft coat of short hair... the little wrinkles on his forehead... the way he cocks his little eyebrows... the way he squeaks when he wants held and loved... his little paws... the wagging tail.  I love how well he's doing with housetraining.  I feared this might be a nightmare process, but he is doing really well in that department.

I realize we have a long way to go with a lot of training ahead of us, but I'm thinking Jake is going to bring a lot of joy into our lives.

I wasn't sure how Mom was going to feel about Jake.  The only pet we ever had growing up was Chippy ~ a chipmunk.  Patrick caught Chippy on a golf course, brought him home, and he lived in a cage in the garage until the day he died.

Well... Mom is smitten with Jake.  I love the photo of Mom's beautiful, loving, 94-year-old hands holding Jake on her lap. 

So... this is my rather lengthy explanation for being absent from my Blog.  Sometimes life just has other things in mind for us.

♥ Audrey

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sierra !

Compliments of Gail Haslett Ragsdale and Yiva Karlsson