The Snow Sledding Boys

Our two grandsons and their dad are sledding on the east coast near their home. They continue to have snowfall and as you can see, the boys are having a blast in the snow wearing their snow buntings, snow gloves and snow shoes. It is so lovely to see. We are having warm temps here. Is it snowing where you are? Hope your Christmas was wonderful, like ours.

Photos for Blue Monday

Here are 5 children's books I recommend for some snow fun:

 Fancy Nancy: There's No Day Like a Snow Day (Jane O'Connor)

Snow Treasure (Marie McSwigan)

The Snow Globe Family (Jane O'Connor)

Snow! Snow! Snow! (Lee Harper)

The Snow Queen (Hans Christian Andersen)

 Photo Editing

I added some hard lighting, along with some radiance and then painted the canvas. I love photography and I'm a novice at playing around in Adobe Photoshop Elements. I have found a professional mentor on line and look forward to learning more from Lori this new year.

Photo for Mandarin Orange Monday

Wishing everyone a blessed and Happy New Year!

Warmly,







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

Kid's Choir

Last Sunday we attended the children's Christmas Sunday School program. Their performance included 4 songs and I was able to make a video for you with Ryan singing his favorite song, Joy To The World. Which one is our grandson? Well, #17 of the San Diego Chargers! Hope you enjoy the music clip, especially watching the girls on the right hand side not singing and the boy in red jumping off the step, next to Ryan during his debut. It's so much fun to watch the children perform.

Do you remember participating in some type of musical event at school or church?

Kid's Choir Video: Joy To The World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdgmR-R0DK0



Photos for Blue Monday

On top of experiencing a wonderful musical morning, we were delighted to see the San Diego Chargers winning their next couple of games. We have Charger Fever! Have a favorite team?

It's so much fun to see the individual classrooms at church. Thanks for visiting my blues!

For Mandarin Orange Monday, I chose the same kid's choir photo and added just a few steps.

Photo Edit Process

1. Water texture effect
2. Subtract image overlay


Have a wonderful Christmas season!







 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

Oh Christmas Wreath

Our granddaughter is coming here for a visit over the holiday. We've begun to decorate the house. Our tree is up with all of it's pretty decorations and lights. Now it's time to put up the outdoor lights and hang a Christmas wreath on our door. Because our Flora likes pink, I've colored Elizabeth's beautiful illustration in her favorite tones in Photoshop.

My editing steps are:

1. Nature texture
2. Light overlay
3. Blush Tones
4. Green Paint
5. Orton effect

For more wonderful entries, visit Coloring Page Tuesday.

Working on the project reminded me of the lyrics to the song, O Christmas Tree

"O Tannenbaum" ("O Christmas Tree") is a German song. Based on a traditional folk song, it became associated with the Christmas tree by the early 20th century and sung as a Christmas carol. For more information, visit O Tannenbaum.

Here are the chords for guitar and piano:

  C
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
    Dm            G7      C
Thy leaves are so un-chan-ging;
  C
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
    Dm            G7      C
Thy leaves are so un-chan-ging;


[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/m/misc-christmas/198016.html ]
C        A7         Dm
Not only green when summer's here,
G7                 C
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
  C
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
    Dm            G7      C
Thy leaves are so un-chan-ging;

http://www.guitaretab.com

Have a wonderful Christmas season!







 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

A Christmas Kitchen

'Tis December and I've already started to plan our Christmas dinner for 21 people. No, this is not my dining room but I wondered what your kitchen and eating room looks like...

Photos for Blue Monday and Mandarin Orange Monday

Photo Credit: Free Digital Photos

Of course, Christmas tea sounds delightful in the cozy blue teapot and a crock pot filled with hot apple cider. I can just smell the cinnamon in the air! A cousin is bringing sparkling apple cider for the children. Whether permitting, we'll be enjoying the outdoors as well. 

Photo Credit: Gracey

This charming blue doll house brings back memories. I remember having a miniature china dish set as a child. I would play "kitchen" each and every day! Did you have a doll house or kitchen set to play with?

One Christmas awhile back... well, we had purchased a wonderful kitchen set for our granddaughter. You pull it up and it expands and gets higher as they grow. It remains in her home but when she comes to visit us, I just had to make a cardboard kitchen for Flora to play with, along with these pretty blue plates. Isn't it amazing what things you'll find around the house for children to delight themselves in?!

With 5 grandchildren running about, we'll pause for a "reindeer sandwich."

Whatever you decide to cook for that day (I'm thinking barbecued turkey/honey baked ham), I wish abundant joy and everlasting peace for the coming holiday.

I just love the song, Christmas Time Is Here. If you're interested in the chords, I've posted them, here.

Have a wonderful Christmas season!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis