And A Happy New Year

Hello Everyone.

A few bits here to round out the old year and help usher in the New. Everything has been mailed and in some cases re-mailed. sigh... This includes a CARE package to Hong Kong. What the...?

AND the Sketchbook Project will be over in a few days, the 4th of Jan to be exact. As soon as its deadline is past, I will be putting up the images/art on the other little blog I have, Candace in Athens. I'll keep you posted, as the saying goes.

Captions underneath the photos and away we go...

"Say Uncle" is the name of this -- 3 x 2 on bristol and in coloured pencils and ink for Travis and his Nephew, Devon, whom some of you may or may not know about. In this shot, Michelle was less than a week away from having this totally great kid. If I had had 0ne of these, I would have wanted one like Devon. T said, "Are those Devon's hands or the Uncle's...?" Good question. What do you think?

An experiment in coloured pencils and Crayolas. Will show the Full Monty later. She's a big girl, believe me.

Getting a leg up on Self Portrait Wednesday. A Fish Eye Christmas Photo from last Friday!

This is a card from the talented Anne Gaal. I had asked about how a dragonfly might look on one of her cards and presto, chango! I can't help it, as much as I love dragonflies, it makes me think of Jeanne over here.

Get More of What You Love. Starting Friday, I hopefully will be "Journaling In January" with Misty Mawn here. Check it out!

Candace in Athens.

Happy Boxing Day!*

Hello Everyone!

Somehow I managed to talk Miss Jeanne out of this shoulderbag from Covent Garden... sigh. I owe one of her cousins a favour, I'm sure. But isn't this a great sight on Boxing Day, however?


Below is the beginning of another Paper Lady Brigade. As The Year of The Ox winds down, and as the Colour of the Year (Mimosa) has a last spin around the runway, this lady seems content indeed. Well, if I were Kuan Yin of The 1000 Hands, I suppose I would be too!

Take care -- Old Man Winter is not done yet!

Candace

Love and Joy Come To You

Candace in Athens.

And How Was Your Week?

Hello Everyone!

The Three Musketeers at the Royal Peasant. Lifting a glass to one another.

My week was a celebratory time, going on through part of the weekend as well, when I happily visited with my family after a few hours' work -- ick. Work and holidays just do not seem to go together. Ever. And thanks, Paulette (Beedeebabee), for that great card, too!

So, Miss Jeanne (not this one, another totally different one) came to Athens on Tuesday where we happily made short work of a bottle of bubbly as soon as she got in the door! Last year, I visited her during her first holls away from home. She was very happy to be Stateside and we were happy to host her, as you can imagine. I also served boeuf bourguignon.

We stopped by the Globe the next day, to hook up with another coworker/friend and the love of his life --

t he Globe is such a cool bar and grill and once upon a time, upstairs was home to the original 40-Watt Club, made (in)famous by REM, B-52s, etc. I promise to get a photo of that some time for you all. Not at all what most folks imagine.

We went shopping -- of course -- dig those groovy Dutch white bedroom slippers!

I managed a Self Portrait Wednesday in the store, with T mugging in the background. Jeanne cleaned out Old Navy --

and that's when we hopped over to the pub to enjoy some (almost as good as the real thing) pub food and drink.


Jeanne also forked over these nifty gifts below which I just could NOT believe. This sturdy plastic bag (which is the front? Which is the back?) is from her trip to Paris with her grandmother. I met Missy a couple of times when Jeanne lived in Atlanta, and let me tell you, that is a terrific grandparent by anyone's standards, bar none.

This card is a totally fun piece of artwork Jeanne picked up. She knows I do art, mainly drawings, etc.

We saw "Zombieland" Thursday, which was fun, featuring a hoot of a cameo by Bill Murray as himself, then got up early the next morning to take Jeanne back into Atlanta to meet relatives for a ride down to Missy's for Smithmas. Time was running out and we had just started!!!

Where else would we have gone for lunch but to Mary Mac's Tea Room,

an Atlanta institution on Ponce de Leon for the last gazillion years?! How I managed to never have gone before is beyond me. But because we were all virgins -- metaphorically speaking -- we were each treated to a cup of complimentary pot likker and a cornbread muffin with cracklin's. YUMMO.

Jeanne totally approved of this little tidbit.

Look at all this food! It's like Thanksgiving at your mom's house -- huge portions. Yes, I had to get a to-go container.

Jeanne says Southern Fried Chicken, except for KFC, does not exist where she is now. She has been craving it, so why not treat one of my best friends to one of the best Southern restaurants in the state? Not to mention myself and T.

The week was over way way too soon. We handed Jeanne over to Barbara and Chuck and waved goodbye. And on a happy note, guess where T and I plan to go next September? Assuming we don't have to work any Saturdays -- sigh.

Happy Everything, Everyone.

Candace

And The Last One In Is --

COFFEE MESSIAH! Visit this site for a walk in a wonderland that knows no season, trust me.

Gee whiz, I hope your Winter Wonderland Pal brings you many years of delight, CM. When she arrives, check out that bag she’s carrying! I don’t think it’s a cosmetics bag … If you would, please send me your addy at canwiggins@gmail.com, and she will be on her way pronto!

Now, Class, before the rest of you start giggling about CM getting what may be considered a gender-specific gift, I want you all to remember that we are all equal in the eyes of Old Man Winter… Who has belaboured so many of you in this Brave New Whiteout. I am thinking about all of you getting pummelled in one way or another, and hope all is well.

My last post till just before The Big Kahuna will be this one, because My Big Holiday Shenanigans start tomorrow. Yep, taking a few days off because MISS JEANNE is visiting from London. Can. Not. Wait. The boeuf bourguignon awaits! Then I’ll be going to visit family and friends in another state.

I hope you enjoy some of my shots of The Tree. Yes, it's a prelit, but it's also better than the nothing we've had for several years. I miss the scent of cedar which is what I grew up with...

Do you have a list? Have you been naughty or nice? Both? Neither? How I love some of these old fashioned ornaments. This is the 20th year for some and I do not tire of them. What is that about, I wonder?

Birds and cats and deer adorn my tree as do other "trees" ... homage to the year-round beauty and grace that's here in The Classic City, esp right here at my own doorstep.

And of course, this ornament reminds me of that song that tells us, once you cross Toyland's borders you can never go back again. Even as a child, I thought this song was melancholy.

This fella is brand new, and has a partner on another branch, all dressed in green.

Get More of What You Love.
Candace in Athens.

A Long Winter's Nap

Hello Everyone!
Just look what came in the mail -- from Beedeebabee's talented self. If you've not seen or visited her blog, I highly highly highly recommend it for an eyepopping and cheering experience. It's great on any day but especially on those days that cloud up on us occasionally -- and I don't mean just the weather, although that's included as well.

I named this brooch "Pearl" in honour of the Dutch white T fostered/sponsored for a while. And did you notice --? It's UGA's colours. Ha! Much appreciated, Paulette.

And as you can see below, from the arch inside my big old scary kitchen, Dutch whites are one of my favourites!

Are you making Advent Calendars this year? You might consider checking out Sarah's Circles of Rain because she is too! As is Nathalie over here. All are delightful...

And it's that time of year for the Athens Indie Craftstravaganzaa Holiday Market, too. It was fantastic last year and held in late November. I missed the Spring Craftstravaganzaa so it's been a whole YEAR since I've seen/chatted with these folks. Can't wait!

Speaking of long winter's naps, I see Molly is ready for hers. Trust me, it's too chilly for "Bonesy" to go out tonight.

Happy Weekend to All and to All A Good Night.

Candace