For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6
Jesus is the reason for the season...wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas.
The house is all decorated...the gifts are made...the presents are wrapped...Christmas cards have been sent.
I don't ever remember a time when I was this ready for Christmas...four days and counting...really five days...we are celebrating on the 26th because Brea is working on Christmas Day. Is it because I'm older and wiser and more prepared!?!
NAH! Just no kids at home with a zillion things to do during this Christmas season...no recitals...no sports finals...no Christmas programs to attend...no cookie exchanges...no Christmas class parties...no baking of cranberry cream cheese bread for the teachers.
Do I miss it? No...I don't miss that type of hustle and bustle...yes, I do miss having Brea and Sean around all the time.
The poor Christmas tree is up and full of lights but there will be no decorations this year...Brea won't be home till late on Christmas Day. It's tradition in our family that we decorate all together...oh well.
My dad and step mom arrive from Yuma today. My auntie Rene' arrives tonight from Hawaii...the family hustle and bustle starts...that's the kind I like...the gathering of the Roberts and Simpson Clans...laughing...music...cooking of favorite recipes...talking story...food...gathering around the tree and the dinner table...remembering those who have gone home to be with the Lord...watching movies...playing games...more food...
but most of all gathering together and thanking the Lord for the birth of His son, Jesus Christ!
Wishing you...
I love shopping in Monterey. I guess I should clarify...I love antique shopping. Pacific Grove has the Cannery Row Antique Mall and Salinas has Halltree Antiques. I usually find goodies in both places. Just down from the Halltree Antiques is a great Mexican place called Mi Tierra. Their tacos pastor, asado and carnitas were to die for. I would have tried the lengua but they were out that day I went.
I'm not much of a Carmel shopper...it's a little too high end and touristy for me. My favorite store is located out in Carmel Valley...Tancredi & Morgen.
This shop is filled with so much eye candy and French antiques. Marsha, the owner...is a wonderful paper artist and decorates her shop with her creations to purchase.
Marsha also makes beautiful pillows from French linens...I especially love the ones filled with french lavender!
Tancredi & Morgan is a definite must see if you are ever in Carmel. Thank you to Marsha for allowing me to take pictures so I could share with all of you what a wonderful magical place her shop is!
The flights were too full on Monday...so Sally got to stay an extra day to play. We packed up...we had to box up Lola to be sent home...went to eat breakfast...a trip to the Barnes & Noble for magazines to read while we had our pedis...what a treat!
Tuesday, Sally was flying back to Portland and I was flying up to San Jose to meet Scott. This is our usual November schedule with Pebble Beach being the last tourney of the year. Love being up in Northern California...the sun is usually shining and who doesn't love the beach scenery at Pebble Beach...
walking back to the car I saw this man playing the guitar...
yes...that is a rabbit on his head! That is a first for me.
I have my favorite places to eat...Patisserie Boissiere in Carmel...the best SHEPHERD’S Pie.
Always have to check out the displays at Anthropologie...
They are very inspirational!
The Saturday after workshops was a day to relax, clean up, pack and go antiquing. We drove to Matilda's Mouse's monthly barn sale. Sally found this great watchmaker's case and told me I had to have it...the price was super and it was quickly scooped up and loaded into the back of my car.
We drove up to Los Angeles...we had a dinner date with my son, Sean at Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles Restaurant.
We ordered chicken and waffles...what a surprise! The meal was delicious...the best tasting waffles ever! Loved the potatoes smothered in onions and gravy!
It was good to see Sean...he is in his last semester at USC. He'll be looking for a job when the 2010 arrives.
Sally and I drove to Brea's condo and crashed there for the night. We are the crazy girls who get up at 5 am to get to the flea market at 6 am. We arrived at the Long Beach Flea Market at the crack of dawn! It took us four hours just to get through the first two rows...we were finding way too many treasures!
Antique French wedding crowns...
Victorian wedding crowns...
More antique wedding crowns...
Here's all the treasures I found for the day...
Old wooden bird cage...french doorstops...old silver hand mirror with "C" initial...french cemetery plaque...crucifixes...victorian red feather fan....
old clock, old bottles, vintage chains, crosses and religious metals...victorian pins...
A domed Globe de mariee...old zinc french bottle dryer...old gasoline chart...
yummy vintage rhinestones...vintage christmas ornaments...old red velvet jewelry box...
Sally found a new playmate for Lucy & Jean-Luc back at her studio...meet Lola. She was a steal! I also found Lucy's long lost sister, Lily. They were separated at birth and one day we will have them reunited. Long Beach was excellent this time around. I had been to this flea market two previous times and hadn't found as much as I had today...maybe it's that Sally luck!
I just finished another set of glitter girls...just in time for Christmas.
These necklaces are longer...
Lots of rhinestones & links...
Lots of shine and sparkle for the holiday season and beyond...
Check them out on my Etsy...
Click here...Inspired Relics
This necklace is simply magical...love the bird shapes and the surprise is that the centerpiece spins...oh la la!!!
The morning started off with Sally's special collaging techniques to make the backgrounds we would be using for our pieces. Love her prompts and working quickly without thinking about the art...everyone is always amazed at what they can do when they free themselves to creating. Lunch was those delicious Panera sandwiches and I had my Veggie again...yummy...and darn those "too good at adding those pounds to my bum" toffee cookies....wish they weren't so delicious!
Everyone working hard soldering their pieces together.
Alicia & Jolene
My daughter, Brea and Michelle
Brenda
Jill
Jody
Wendy
We celebrated Gwen's birthday...taking Sally's workshops were her birthday gift to herself and she flew all the way to San Diego from Memphis, TN.
Here is our whole group...our last workshop for this session. I loved hosting all of the beautiful women who came to play with Sally and me. It does my soul good to be surrounded by creative women and connecting with those who live close by. I felt very bless to have you all come and share together. Special thanks to the following girls for their thoughtfulness...
Susie & Dana...for the gorgeous red roses that you sent...they graced our snack table with beauty...how did you know that red was my favorite color!?!
Juli...for the new Swell Season CD...love the music and the yummy "red" tea cup and Starbucks tea...perfect for those cooler evenings this winter.
Carolyn...for the delicious Hawaiian goodies...makes me homesick!
Gwen...for the beautiful handmade book...love it!
Erin, Sheryl & Helene...for the lovely flower hair band...so comfortable & perfect now that I'm growing my hair out!
Alicia...for the beautiful glass cupcake & cherry ornaments...the cherry one is hanging from my chandie & for the special cHanukkah song collection...so precious!
Vickie...for the beautiful white roses...please don't give the cover another thought! I mean it! *smile*
A special thank you to all who purchased my mermaid necklaces and bracelets...it meant so much!
For those of you who put your name on the list for the longer dolly necklaces...they are almost done and should be up by Sunday night...I will send you an e-mail.
The biggest thank you of all to my BBF, Sally. Thank you for coming down and teaching your workshops at my home. It's been a long time coming but it came and passed too quickly. We had too many giggles, Cosmos, shopping, lots of talking, watching The Ugly Truth and all of Gerry's interviews...I know he's starting to grow on you! LOL!!! And just doing all the things BBF's do.
You are the best and can't wait till March 2010 for your return engagement!
Check here for information on Sally's March 2010 San Diego Workshops!
Another beautiful day in Southern California...another great day for a Sally Jean Virgin workshop.
Sally is modeling the necklace and still wearing those antlers.
Here's a close up...love the house shape! It definitely got my creative juices flowing. We spent the morning collaging and deciding what we wanted to put under glass. We copper taped our pieces before our Panera sandwiches arrived...my new favorite is the Mediterranean Veggie...oh and those toffee chip cookies...just slap a couple of extra pounds on my thighs!!!
Here is Christine, Priscilla, Cari & Wendy
After lunch...Sally instructed the virgins and not-so-virgins (several students from yesterday came again today) how to solder and everyone was off to the races.
Gwen...came all the way from Memphis, TN...and Tina was from Fallbrook.
Kelly...from Long Beach...thanks for the delicious cookies you brought! JoAnn drove in from Phoenix, AZ and Tracey from Mission Viejo.
Mona and Phyllis from Temecula.
Everyone was working hard to finish their necklaces.
Here's Cari's beautiful necklace.
Here's the whole group of lovely ladies. I have been to many of Sally workshops...I am always amazed at the creative, talented and fun girls who come to take Sally's workshops. We always have a great time together!
Cheryl...Jody...Christine...Jennifer...Sally
Thank you Jennifer for bringing & sharing your mom's delicious & too die for scones & rocky road candy. It was definitely heaven in each mouthful!
