Sorta Awetistic

Christmas

A quiet Christmas.  Followed by Boxing Day with friends. The darling pillow was designed by my friend's four year old daughter for her best friend, Joseph. Rachel transferred the drawing, embroidered it, and then finished it off as a pillow. Pretty spesh, if you ask me.

No big holiday projects, but I did make a new stocking for Randy. The old one was sad. And T wanted to design her own. Cheap felt means we could remake these each year. Ha. But T was so happy with hers that I doubt we'll remake it next year.

How was your Christmas?

at random

After a week in which I did a credible impersonation of someone who doesn't have a job, I head back to school Monday where I have NO IDEA what will await me. Will they adjust the finals schedule? Will I actually squeeze in the last of my semester's lessons? Will the kids even care what we do for the four days we're required to get in some "seat time"?

But my thoughts are already into 2008. It's hard to focus on these final days of 2007. And those thoughts? The card above, picked at random, defines the theme, I believe.

But until I have time to dump my depths upon you all, I've got a pile of grading waiting for me to finish, and four finals to write. So no blogging for a few days. With luck, I'll post something from KC next weekend.

Peace to all.

christmas album 2007

I'm in between batches of peanut butter balls--my brother's favorite memory of Christmas with my grandparents--and need to chat again. Sigh. It's been a dry season for my poor ol' blog.

So here's my Christmas Album for 2007: Over the Rhine's Snow Angels. Never had one of their albums, but I love them, so I splurged for this one as the annual contribution to my Christmas music collection. Try "All I Ever Get For Christmas Is The Blues".

Iconic and iconoclastic, quirky, melancholy loveliness straight through. Totally worth your dime.

and let's not forget the reason for the season (cough)

Continuing on my Random Notes from the 'Net theme...

I really like Phyllis Tickle. And I love The Wittenburg Door. (Someone out there HAS to poke fun at the ultra-serious church establishment!) And here they are together. Hallelujah!

And if that doesn't Tickle you (ahem), you might prefer to read the shocking account of a woman who was delivered from the Christmas Spirit. (Don't let the kids see this one, parents. Really.)

And if you're stuck in SoCal, where the weather is not quite frightful enough for your personal Christmas Spirit, you might head into OrangeCo where Jesus will be (with not a little pomp and circumstance) laid in a manger somewhere near John Wayne Airport:

The whole thing is staged to the accompaniment of the London Symphony Orchestra well, a recording of the London Symphony Orchestra, resulting in what would best be described as a combination Joel Osteen/Andrew Lloyd Weber/Branson, Missouri spectacle of the first two chapters of Luke as they would have been envisioned by Aimee Semple Macpherson if she'd known about special effects.

Truly, not an experience to be missed if you find yourself low on your 2007 snark quotient (or have sentimental and religious relatives in for the holidays and don't know how to entertain them.)

Cheers.

a tesla coil christmas tree

What some folks do for a hobby...wow. What aussies will do in lieu of a white Christmas!

Check out the photo gallery for pictures of his other experiments. Or if you want to know more about the man behind the sparks, check out his web site: tesla downunder. You'll see why the man lives in the boonies.

school's out; ice is in.

Our first "snow" day of the year--tomorrow, leaving only nine school days until break. The kids will be thrilled. Unfortunately, we're only expecting ice. Sledding has limited charms on ice.

But a good ice storm brings its own beauty. I awoke this morning to see an ice coated tree outside my window. Its bright, blood red leaves encased in glass--fragile, brittle, bound. Almost like specimens in a laboratory.

Wonder what tomorrow morning will bring?

Sunday craft afternoon

Christmas houses and Christmas presents: Sunday craft afternoon.

the pretend christmas tree

While I'm waiting for the ice to defrost from my car windows, I'll share the Pretend Christmas Tree. Annie had The Garden Deva here in Tulsa make it for her. Fun, huh? T named it.

cheers

getting her requisition in early

It's Santa time.

We've never pushed the Santa thing, but despite our ambivalence toward the Big Man, T's made it clear this year that she knows who he is, what he does, and when he arrives. AND she remembers last year's visit to the Santa House. (She's been calling it "the cube".)

So today we paid a visit to the cube. It's actually a cute little Disney-esque cottage. Perfect for cherished childhood memories. Unlike last year,this year T managed to tell Santa she wanted "all the toys and a clarinet and an accordian". Santa didn't make any promises, but he said with a smile that he'd think about it. He was a good Santa, even had a real beard. And when Santa with a real beard says he'll think about it, you know he will.