1.  Christmas Eve was my birthday, and we had family and some friends over.

2.  Even though we have a small house, we got eleven people seated and fed!

3.  Loved all the birthday greetings from Facebook!

4.  We gave tickets to “Cirque Ziva” to most of the family — it was the gift I was most excited about giving!

5.  Nate and Andrew, my G-Sons, painted a canvas for me — a Christmas tree and a heart — best present ever!

6.  My daughter-in-law fixed us a delightful Christmas breakfast feast!

7.  Nate and Andrew happy with their art supplies and books.  Hooray!

8.  Almost got to see Lucy Anne, but a blizzard interfered — it’s nice to know she is in the same town though.

9.  My happy small poinsettia is holding up well.

10.  Church was wonderful and festive on Sunday.

“The Voice” did an amazing and tender tribute to those who were killed in Newtown — here on youtube.

1.  Tom making his famous spaghetti dinner

2.  Pa and Maribeth coming for supper

3.  the new amaryllis growing

4.  my shelf full of plants

5.  an indoor Winter blossoming garden on it’s way

6.  making plans for Christmas Eve dinner

7.  finding just the right gifts

8.  starting the Christmas lists (where would I be without them?)

9.  stained glass flowers in the window

10.  pink and red poinsettia – small and cute

1.  cherry jelly beans

2.  double dipped malted milk balls

3.  lunch with my feisty Papa

4.  sleeping in

5.  finishing up the notes from a project – 19 pages, yikes!

6.  meteor showers tonight — hope to see some!

7.  snow people figurines that “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”

8.  cobalt blue collection

9.  doing a Zentangle (see www.zentangle.com) in commemoration of 12-12-12 at 12:12 p.m. with my friend Jean

10.  cold better, thank heavens!

1.  I was minding my own business, on my way to buy a book

2.  when I opened the bookstore door, and fell in LOVE with a purple Christmas tree!

3.  Called my husband to check in — another weird Carol scheme!

4.  Couldn’t help myself, even though I am more of a Christmas traditionalist.

5.  You should see how my old and new ornaments pop with energy against purple glittery branches!

6.  And I am all about Christmas tree celebration.

7.  I have photos of my grandsons at all ages

8.  Ornament photos of friends and other family

9.  Pink flamingoes, Snoopy, and Betty Boops

10.  My favorite ornament is one my daughter brought me when she was around three years old.  It was all wrapped up in tissue and she insisted I had to wait until Christmas morning to unwrap this green ornament with Mom spelled out in glitter — that was over 35 years ago, and it still holds a place of honor near the top of the tree, accompanied by a photo ornament of Maribeth when she was about three.

I could tell you many more stories about the ornaments on our tree, as I am sure  you could tell me about yours!

1.  the cutest little poinsettia — pink and red

2.  amaryllis bulbs for my Dad, my friend Denise, and me – so fun to watch

3.  a gift card to give to a garden store — Spring will be coming!

4.  listening to my friend sing Christmas Carols

5.  I am a Christmas Carol!  born on Christmas Eve!  Hooray!

6.  found the fun Santa rug for in front of the recliner

7.  love the colorful wreath over the mantel

8.  one whole section of the dining room wall with Christmas counted cross stitch

9.  setting up the stained glass nativity that I had given my sister, Barb, long ago

10.  cheerful Santas, snow people, and holiday houses!  Yippee!

1.  Watching grandson, Nate, play basketball.

2.  Getting to sit with my daughter, daughter-in-law, and husband at the basketball game.

3.  A new bag of  Tootsie Rolls — yummy!

4.  Finding a new twig ball for my indoor fairy garden.

5.  Getting winter clothes out and ready.

6.  Organizing ribbons.

7.  Finding name badges for tomorrow’s facilitator training.

8.  Getting the extra markers for the training.

9.  Friend Jean not sick any more.

10.  Trying a new restaurant in the neighborhood.

A list of things that are on my kitchen table right now:

1.  Two bags of little Tootsie Rolls for a training I am doing this week.

2.  Two new bracelets — shiny and fun!

3.  A Zentangle inspired art that says, “take time to restore your soul”

4.  A gorgeous stole with a peacock on it

5.  My new leather dark pink purse

6.  A box of Kleenex

7.  Today’s newspaper

8.  Two ballpoint pens

9.  My Zentangle kit

10.  A shiny lucky penny

1.  loving that a dear friend notices when I don’t post here and even sent an email reminder!  hooray!

2.  my friend Kristin who helped me take down the Zentangle Show

3.  packing up my treasures along with newly bought Zentangle art done by my friends

4.  one of my new Zentangle acquisitions by my friend Sharon says “take time to restore your soul”

5.  going to see Jean sing in a choir last night

6.  Maria and her daughter, Sophia, came over tonight to do Zentangles

7.  Sophia is fun and interesting — as a matter of fact, she was commenting on something tonight and said,  “that’s a little TOO interesting!

8.  Linda, Kathy, and Rose surprised me at lunch today with a birthday party complete with balloons, presents, and merriment (my birthday is not until Christmas Eve, but they didn’t want it to be confused with the holiday season)

9.  Liz, my friend from Washington State, texts me or calls me almost every day!  Yippee!

10.  friendship shows up in my life every single day — I am so blessed with wonderful, fun, creative, amazing friends!

1.  the promise of pens of all kinds

2.  Jane’s Krazy Mixed Up Salt

3.  paper — all kinds

4.  fun envelopes

5.  books from the library

6.  orange juice

7.  new jeans from the thrift store

8.  doing some Black Friday shopping on the internet — no lines!

9.  Laughing Club laughing happy birthday to my son Kevin today for his birthday, and leaving it on his voicemail

10.  my fabulous son, Kevin — happy happy birthday!