Even though half of our vacation looked like

this
v v v v

it cleared up gradually and by the end of the week

we had some sun! Ugh. How predictable that we

would visit California during one of the biggest

storms in memory.

We've been forgiven by their Highnesses at home, 

although there was some initial pouting

and we had to promise not to do anything so 

thoughtless and self-centered again. 

I hope all of you are having the merriest Christmas,

or Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or

Winter Solstice/Yule celebrations.

Yay! The days are getting longer!

At least for us in the Northern Hemisphere...

I'll be back later when things are more organized

around here...

I'm taking a slight blogging break while I visit family

for Christmas. I'll be back December 28 or soon thereafter!

I hope all of you have a splendid holiday

no matter what, when, or where you celebrate!

I feel bad I've not visited my blogging friends much lately

but I have been rushed right off my feet 

in the last few weeks.

I'm looking forward to having more time soon!

I'll leave you with some old Christmas pictures.

I love old pictures!

 My grandmother at the top, whom I lost when I was nine.

Yep, that's a Chatty Cathy doll in the second pic.

My brother saying 'how's my hair. I hate it when

they make me wear this hat'.

Third pic - a cowgirl outfit was the hot ticket that year. 

Bottom pic - my Nana, 

and Dave of the whiskey bottle fame.

Happy Holidays!

Weekly Challenge at Inspiration Avenue

If only the whole world could put Peace

above all else on their holiday wish list.

No matter what holiday is celebrated.

But I feel like the little angel, sad that it's

probably not to be, even for a day.

Still, we can hope,

and do the best we can to make it happen!

"We shall find peace. We shall hear angels, 

we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds"
~Anton Chekov

And of course we can always remember this:

"In acceptance there is peace" 

Visit Inspiration Avenue to see

all the entries in this week's challenge. 

You have until Sunday Dec. 12 at noon est 

to enter your own creation depicting "Peace".

Each entry makes you eligible to win the

monthly giveaway, which is a beautiful framed

painting from Priti Studio!

Might as well...

welcome winter! 

It's coming anyway like those out-of-town guests

that show up in Christmas Vacation, one of my favorite movies.

Not that I have any of those guests mind you.

In fact, I'm going to BE one of those ~ 

we're going to California for Christmas, yippee.

I HATE flying, HATE leaving my kitties,

but LOVE getting out of the cold,

and LOVE seeing my family. 

Haven't spent a Christmas together in lots of years.

So it all evens out, I hope.

It's snowing today, seems a little early...

The phantom smell in the house is GONE.

No idea where it went, 

and I know it'll be back someday.

Had a chimney guy investigate this time.

He told us the ventless gas fireplace in the  bedroom 

should not be used (we never use it anyway)

and our chimney is falling down.

Never use that either, all of the thingies that

vent, vent someplace else.

So we're good there.

But he had no idea what the smell could be. Ugh.

New reason to hate Blogger:

I changed my background to something a little festive,

and now am unable to change anything in my layout,

like FONT COLOR! 

So if you're wondering why you can't read

the titles in my sidebar, that's the reason.

Think I'm coming down with something.

Sore throat, yucky feeling.

So if I can, I'll work on my entry for

 the Inspiration Avenue challenge,

Once Upon a Time, and be

happy I got ANYTHING done today.

Enjoy the day!