Patina Moon

Champagne and a cheese fondue with bread, apples, crackers... Maybe some people would wonder how I can live in a city like Las Vegas and not participate in the New Year's Eve celebrations on the Strip and Downtown.  When I was younger, I loved the New Year's Eve celebration, parties, and even being at the most crowed place on the Strip with a glass of champagne watching the fireworks from the hotels and bringing in the New Year! Well, those days are just memories.  I guess I've changed.  This year we'll make some cheese fondue at home, followed by bananas foster for dessert, drink some champagne by the fire, and if and only if I can make it till midnight we'll look out the upstairs window and see the fireworks from a distance. Russell making my favorite, Bananas Foster adding a flame, but you can't really see it here. Poured over vanilla ice cream...yum!!! What a way to say goodbye to 2009 Best Wishes Rebecca

and all through the house... not a creature was stirring... not even a mouse! Sweet dreams everyone!  May the Sugar Plum Fairies dance in your head! 

Maybe some of us weren't exactly thrilled about sitting on Santa's lap and telling him all of our wishes when we were this age.  From the look on my face I can't say that I really trusted the old guy, but some how on Christmas day it all seemed magical. I hope this Christmas brings something "magical" your way. This is a framed picture I've had for some time now.  I can't really give credit where credit is due because I don't see a name, but I do love the colors and this image of St. Nick. Only 3 more days!  Have a blessed Christmas.

This time of year brings back so many fond memories of my childhood.  It's funny the things you remember too, like a favorite Christmas ornament, or the Christmas angel that topped the tree.  Each year I look forward to decorating my home and including a few of those "vintage" items that I still have.  (hum, does that mean I'm now "vintage?") Oh well,  I guess if these treasures that I have are now considered "vintage" than I'm proud to still have them and be able to put them on my tree in my home today, and share the memories with my friends and family. Can you find the plastic lighted Santa, and my favorite Christmas ornament? What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?  Do you have any "vintage Christmas treasures" you like to share? Enjoy the season!

Well, this was actually December of last year, 2008.  We don't usually get snow here every year, and this snow was even melted by Christmas, but it was beautiful when it happened, especially at night,  I remember sitting inside at that front window looking out watching the snow falling against the Christmas lights on the house. I just wanted to share these "snow" photos even if it was last year, just because it looks so Christmassy! This is actually what it looked like today, this year, about 62 degrees.  The sun was warm and it felt good to read a book in the sun.  Not very Christmassy, I guess, but typical in the desert.  Oh well, at least I get to enjoy the many beautiful winter photographs from my fellow bloggers from all over the world.

Just wanted to send a big thank you to my best friend, Linda over at www.myhappyplace-linda.blogspot.com for sending me this beautiful card she created.  I love it!  She knows I love birds and as you can see she came up with this beautiful design.  When you have time, hop on over and visit her site to see some more of her beautiful card creations. This is just me trying my hand at a little simple embroidery.  I love the "natural" looking fabrics and simple designs. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek.  I have some time away from my work, so I hope I can post a little more often over the holiday break.

Shatzie Fetzer So, if you didn't already know this by now, I love my 2 cats!  Christmas is such a fun time of year with them.  Fortunately, the only thing they like to do with the Christmas tree is lie under it.  I can't help but have my camera at hand when I see those little eyes looking up at the lights! Hope everyone is warm and happy this weekend!

I've been so fortunate to have the last week off from work.  I was able to decorate the tree and Russ put up the outside lights on the house.  Looks so pretty!  The holidays are usually quiet for us, which is not a bad thing.  We enjoy the quiet time together at home, cooking, watching movies, snuggling with the cats (our kids) and being thankful for what we have. I wish you the warmth, hope and joy of this beautiful holiday season!

Just a quick hello to say hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday! I wanted to try my hand at making a greeting card.  I usually find that task rather challenging, so to get some ideas, I visited my friend Linda over at  www.myhappyplace-linda.blogspot.com  Linda always makes the most beautiful cards, so her blog helped inspire my creativity! I love to stitch on paper and "coffee dye" ribbon & cheesecloth to give it a vintage feel. Thanks for the inspiration Linda, I think my Mother in Law will like this one.

These are just a few photographs I took when I was in Tacoma, Washington visiting some of their antique shops.  These antique stained glass panels were so large hanging in the store front.  I just had to post them to show you...Aren't they beautiful?

It seems like lately I've been so focused on living somewhere else, that I haven't really taken a closer look at my own surroundings. This skinny little tree in my yard that I'm really not too fond of and I've also dubbed "the Charlie Brown tree" stood out to me the other day so I took a closer look. I've been posting photos of places I've been and want to live, and how much I love the Fall colors that I never really looked in my own front yard. I know it's not really much of a tree, but it was like it was saying "hey look at me" "look at my colors too!" It really will be a "stick" when all those colorful leaves fall off by Christmas, but maybe this year I'll decorate it like the Charlie Brown tree...maybe it just needs a little love. So for now... just trying to remember to "live in the moment" Hope everyone had a relaxing weekend

"Change" What does that word mean to you right now? Maybe it's a change of seasons, or a change of pace. Change could mean a new job, or a new city, or something as simple as to change the channel or change your clothes. Are you ready for a change? "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction" Winston Churchill "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower" Albert Camus Hope the end to your week is great and you enjoy a restful weekend! Becca

I just had to share this photograph again of my little cousin in Oregon. I'll never forget "trying" to capture this "fluttering" butterfly on film while my cousin, Bindi was trying to "chase" it. Everyone watching was worried she was getting in the way of my shots. Wow! Thank you Bindi, I'll remember this moment forever!

I love canvas collage! Canvas is such a fun medium to work with. Paints, papers, gel medium, molding paste, oil pastels...fun, fun, fun! One of my favorite mixed media artists, Kelly Rae Roberts has a wonderful book out called Taking Flight. Kelly shows you some different techniques to help you create your own work. In the book she gives you thought provoking quotes along with encouraging stories. One of the things I find most difficult is learning to "face your fears." You see from my photo that I haven't started the face yet...(my fear). This is a great book. Even if her art is not your style, like it is mine, just reading this book will lift your spirits and give you the push you might need to "Take Flight" www.kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com

This has to be my most favorite of all the Charlie Brown holiday specials. My favorite part is when Snoopy is on his doghouse fighting the Red Barron. The music in this film is the best! Listen to the flute solo when Snoopy is playing with a falling leaf. Beautiful!

Well not exactly the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. I guess I just really like the sound of the word and to me October in Las Vegas is really when things start to cool down and you can really enjoy being outside again. Since we don't really have much of a change of seasons here and the colors in the city are minimal, I just love to decorate with pumpkins and containers of mums and pansies. This little Fall Festival at a local middle school was fun for all. The kids enjoyed pony rides, train rides, a pumpkin patch and even a small petting zoo, not to mention lots of yummy eats like funnel cake! Wow! rabbits and chickens and goats & sheep More Fall weather goodies later. Thanks for stopping by!

Who is this guy? A Praying Mantis? I think he's been hanging around here for a while. I wonder, what does he think about being caught on film? What is it about my garden that he likes? I only "pray" he's here to eat the spiders that I hate.

I used to love to collect anything "Coca Cola." Then over time, my interests changed and my collection dwindled saving only a few cherished pieces, one of which is an old, vintage metal Coke sign that my cousins gave me. They were using it as a sled and thought I was weird for wanting it "just for looks." Now, it has it's place in a new collection of mine I call "garden junk." Here's another Coca Cola item I cherish. Mom's Classic Coke Cake recipe. Well, I call it Mom's recipe, because it's in her handwriting and I always remember her making it, but you can just Google Coke Cake recipe and its everywhere! This delicious cake is very easy to make. Not sure what the Coca Cola does, but it sure taste great!