Time To Sneek Away For Some Last Minute Shopping

Time for me to sneak away today, over to St. Augustine, Florida, and do a little last minute shopping.  Getting my crazy jingle jangle bracelets on, my oh so short sleeve Christmas shirt, cause it is going to be in the 80s today and I'M LOVING that warm weather!  Have to get ready for some baking also, and cooking.  Plans are to pick up my 14 yr old grandson from the airport on Saturday, then Christmas Day, head to my Mom's in Tallahassee Florida, with 3 grandkids in tow.  I'm sure my Mom will love all the activity, but probably thankful it will be for 1 night only!  Have to get back home for work on Tuesday. 

Hoping to find some crazy fun stuff today!

I Can't Get Away from Tradition!

Well, it is for sure, I cannot get away from my traditional "wait to the last minute" to get things accomplished before Christmas!  The shopping isn't finished, the baking hasn't begun, and I still have to cook several dishes to take to my Mom's in Tallahassee, Florida.  But one thing is for sure...obviously things are not out of the ordinary for me right now! LOL....seems I'm always running behind at Christmas time. 

Today I'm babysitting 2 of my grandchildren so that their Mom can do some last minute things herself.  I found myself getting short tempered with their interuptions and finally just put all my work down, walked out on the porch, and decided to give those kids some undivided attention!  It worked...they are great, just needed to know Grandma was there for them. 

I have so many ideas running through my head, that I'm looking forward to January for new beginnings and lots of creativity flowing around here.  However, I still have some major organizational things to finish, giving me more room to bead, design, and draw.  Moving to a smaller place has been difficult for this old pack rat!

Holiday Preparations

It has been a long time since I've posted here on my blog.  So many changes and things going on in my life!  But....I'm back a little at a time.  Am I ready for Christmas?...."NO!"....but slowly getting there.  I have suffered a creative lull for the past 3 months, and hope that the first of 2012 finds me working away on new designs.

My oldest son Travis, did make Chief this year, in the Navy.  We are very proud of him.  He is currently deployed and will not be back in the States until April of 2012.  He received his orders recently to report to San Diego, CA once he returns, and that transistion will begin.  It is bittersweet news to me, as we have had him on the East Coast for 10 years, and have been so blessed to be near him.  We will just have to make it a plan to travel to the West Coast at least twice a year if possible.  My youngest son Ben and his family are still in Oregon, so we will at least get to see both.  Very hard to have your children 3000 miles away and not be able to hug them, but we still can love them wholeheartedly and stay in touch by phone, email, text, etc.

This Christmas, we will not get to spend it with them.  But we are very thankful for their health and pray for their safety and prosperity for the upcoming new year.  So I guess that explains me having my "tinsel in a tangle" for sure.  They are so loved and missed.

We have tried our best to downsize our "things" since my arrival here in Green Cove Springs, Fl.  I have had 2 yard sales with my Mom, and 1 with my daughter-in-law.  I had 2 before I left Tennessee.  I still have a shed full of "stuff"....and plan on getting rid of what I can emotionally part with early in 2012.

On Christmas Eve, our 14 year old grandson Tristan, will be flying into Jacksonville, FL.  We will pick him up that night, and then travel to Tallahassee, Fl on Christmas Day, to spend it with my Mom and Paul. I think if I had to speculate on what I've learned through this move to Florida, and the transistions, mistakes and problems that resulted, I would give everyone of you this advice that you have heard before.  "Don't Sweat the small stuff, and don't stress over the big stuff!".....It will all work out!  So MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Oh, and by the way!  My brother's barn/apartment combo burned down over Thanksgiving.  We lost our tractor that was in it, and goodness knows he lost so much more property and contents than us....BUT WE ARE VERY THANKFUL no one was hurt, no pets, no lives lost, and grass will grow and be greener underneath the pile of rubble where the barn once sat. 

I have some photos to share in my next post, but trying to resize them and arrange them for you.

FALL Autumn Halloween Changing Leaves Empty Birdhouses

I feel like I have been in Florida for a year now, but it has only been 4 months.  Not even sure where summer went, but now it is offically Fall.  I have seen some trees turning in color, but mostly we stay pretty green all year.  I did see a sweet bluebird flittering around the back yard, and wondered if my birdhouses in Tennessee are all empty now, and everyone gathering up to snuggle in for cooler weather or headed out in their migration pattern.  I love birds. 

Tonight as I was winding down from a full day, I began playing with some bronze wire and blue beads, and created these two bird nests.  They fit perfectly on these filigree based bobby pins.  So sweet. You'll find these in my etsy shop.  http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/

The Skeleton Key Altered Repurposed Assemblage Necklace

This morning the air is so much cooler, so no excuse not to go outside and get some photographs done of some of my creations today.  I love old skeleton keys, and keep them on an old circular wire, tucked away in an old field desk from the Civil War Era.  A little hiding spot just for me. 

One of these Victorian relics has now been embellished with a piece of vintage olive green crinkley seam binding ribbon, vintage filigree brass and an old teal flower cabachon.  A sweet vintage inspired necklace.  A generous amount of ribbon, so you can tie it to the length you would like. 

The key measures 3 inches long, and this vintage assemblage can be worn with casual as well as dressy clothes.  You'll find it in my Etsy shop:   http://www.pumpkinmoonstudio.etsy.com/

Now, to go enjoy more of that little nip of Fall in the air.

The Backyard Garden Flag and Snake Event

Well, I really haven't felt good for the past couple of days, but slowing getting better.  I have been filling orders and going about my daily chores.  We did have a venomous snake, a Moccasin, come crawling into the yard.  I was surprised as it was, when I walked out on the back porch and see it only 5 to 6 ft away headed to my steps...YIKES!...I was on the phone with my sister.  Well, my old 14 year old Jack Russell was under the porch staying where it is cooler in this Florida weather, and nothing I could do but kill that thing before it went under there and bit her.

Only thing handy enough without us both going in different directions, was the garden flag.  Ironically, Gary had not hung it for me yet, since moving here.  So, slowly I ease my arm out and then the fight was on!...WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK!  I missed more times that I actually hit my target, but enough to take care of that horrible thing.  When it sensed it was in danger, the crazy thing flared out his neck like a cobra does, only not as round in shape.  I was shocked.  My sister was on the phone and she said all she could do was think about people who go berserk and won't let up you know? Rosie, who is deaf felt the vibration from the beating the ground was getting and came out from under the deck.  As soon as she saw that thing, she pounced on it.  Well, it was by this time dead, but she gave the thing its last dose of life, swinging it back and forth in her teeth.  I was screaming at her to drop it....remember I said she's deaf....LOL...but the neighbors aren't, so I'm sure someone heard the action.  I brought her in, and now will have to be very careful out in the yard.  Hot weather, rain very much needed.  Needless to say, everytime my hair even swished past my face or a blade of grass brushed my leg, I jumped all afternoon. 

At least I forgot how sickly I was feeling.  Adrinaline took over for awhile. 

FALL come Quickly

Now that I'm living back in my home state of Florida, I love the warmer weather.  Yes, even when the highs are in the 90's and 100's.  However, it is taking its toll on my power bill...LOL....so hoping for cooler weather.  I know that is a long shot this time of year.  I do love Autumn/Fall,  and being that Fall is my favorite time of year, and after encouragement by friends and family to paint, I finally finished a vintage looking primitive folk art painting that I'm offering on Ebay, that is vintage Halloween in style, 8x10 on stretched canvas.  I love primitive and vintage findings, and thought this turned out pretty cool, or should I say, ghoul?  LOL
It is in my Ebay store, pumpkinmoonstudio.