Ghoulish Fun on Friday Morning

It takes so little to make me happy. This morning

I was actually having fun playing around with a photo I made last January in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

This scene greeted us after we left a hotel, it was right beside the hotel ... the hotel we plan on staying in during Christmas this year. It has always been a fantasy of mine to spend Christmas in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Clint is excited about it, too. Last year we spent most of a day walking the streets and inquiring about rooms. We found a perfect room for us, in town and over a rushing stream. The sounds of a rushing stream were important, we are both Cancers. :-) I even have plans on having a Christmas tree in our room.

Back to today's reality. Lots to do around here. I did get the mural finished and need to work on a blog draft about it. We are very busy planning our BIG family party coming up next month. Sunday we are planning on attending church and in the afternoon attending an orientation class for prospective new members. 

Hope everyone else is having a ghoulishly fun Friday! 

Recent Reflections and Lingering Christmas

Tales 'round the old campfire ... well, in this case the candle light.  Last week
I lit this candle in the living room and we loved the shadows ... they seemed to be dancing
from a very flickering candle. Clint sat across from me and told me some tall tales.  ☺



The day after Christmas, Clint and I attended the "Windows to Heaven:
Treasures From the Russian Icons" exhibit at the McClung Museum
in Knoxville, Tennessee.  The University was closed that day,
no problem with parking!  I was captivated by the history and
style of these paintings!



The masked one has returned, we are growing fond of
our little cardinals. 

Some fun loving people in the museum parking lot at the McClung.  The guy and his wife were shoving
and pushing the man inside from the back and laughing as we walked by.  They saw my camera dangling
from my wrist and
made a joke about a picture.  I took this picture and warned them it might
appear in a blog!  :-)

Last week we visited the oldest city in Tennessee, Jonesborough.
It was a perfect cool and sunny day.

We visited the Andrew Johnson museum and tailor house in
Greeneville.  My grandmother enjoyed telling the story of how
we were related to Andrew Johnson.  Clint reminds me that
he was the first president to be impeached.  ha!

A window display on the streets of Jonesborough, Tennessee.

Jewelry worn by Mrs. Andrew Johnson on April 15, 1865, at the inauguration of her husband
Andrew Johnson.  Johnson was inaugurated after the assassination of President
Abraham Lincoln.

Scenes like like make me so happy I am back home!

A picture made from the car, love this expanse of sky!

Beautiful contrast between the white church and the blue sky. This
church is in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

No relation to Peter Pan or J.R.'s  mom. :-)

Jonesborough, Tennessee



Beautiful old architecture in Jonesborough, Tennessee.



Snow was falling from underneath the dark clouds.

Last week we had some light snow fall.  The snow had fallen
on top of our patio table.

Precious little bird tracks on our deck ...

It has been a long time since we have had quiche and it makes
a perfect supper as it did Sunday.  This is the Southern
Living recipe for ham and bacon quiche.  A good way to use
up a little ham.

The following pictures may seem out of place here.  I had scanned them and had wanted to post them before Christmas but never got around to it.  Since my blog is also part family scrapbook, I am going to include them in this post.

My sister Patti and me, Christmas Eve 1963.  I am sorry to say I can't
recall my step-mother's little dog's name.

Christmas Eve, 1963, I still have the ruby ring that was in the box I am holding.

My  brother Jimmy, Christmas 1961, at my grandparents'
house next door.  He passed away last June 2011.

An excited Cindy and Patti, Christmas Eve 1960.
How do you like that decoration job on that tree!  ☺

We all appear a little somber and sad in this picture.  This must have been around the
time of the ♫ D-i-v-o-r-c-e ♫. 

My brother, Jimmy (Jimbo to us) and Lucinda, my daughter.
Christmas, 1977

Another Christmas has passed ...time to put away all the decorations.









I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."



~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English author. From 'A Christmas Carol'.


♥

Christmas and a Blogging Break



This is one of my all time favorite Christmas cards.  I've not been able
to identify the artist's name.  On the back is written, "From the
Hallmark Collection.  This antique greeting card is a prize-winning design
from the Christmas Card competitions held in the late 19th century
by Louis Prang & Company of Boston and Roxbury, Massachusetts.

(My most common dream at night is floating/flying
above the ground like this.  It is a good way to
escape danger on the ground :-)  )



Written on the back of this card is "The Handkerchief to
Dadie and Mama

Sofa slip to Mama Sherman (?)
From grandma



Love this card with the poet Edgar Guest's name on front and a verse
of his inside:

We are sad when you are sad,
We are glad when you are glad,
Thus we wish all joy for you
So we can be happy, too!





This card was addressed to a Miss Helen Bivens,  Harriman,
Tennessee.  It simply states "Merry Christmas and Happy
New Year, John H. Hart



On the other side of this postcard is written
Hello, Bryan, How are you?  What are you
doing for xmas, When are you coming up here?
There was no address on the card.

My dad made and drew this card when he was in the army, stationed
in Alaska.  I like the way he put the year 1947 on the corners.

My sister Patti and I standing in front of a Santa made
by Mack Seivers.  This photo was made in his front yard in 1970.  Mack
was a very talented artist, sign painter and musician.  I posted
this yesterday on Facebook and received so many warm comments
about all the memories associated with this Santa Claus that Mack made.
Mr. Seivers lived in my neighborhood in North Clinton.

I always adored this Santa Claus!

My wishes go to my wonderful blogger friends that those who celebrate Christmas have a blessed one and that everyone has a happy holiday season.  I am going to need to take a break from blogging, I am not sure for how long.  More work needs to be done here at home.  Clint and I have some travel goals next year and I need to prepare to set things in motion for those goals.  My artwork has been neglected and I need to return to painting.  Maybe my next post will be a beautiful oil painting of the Smoky Mountains hanging over our mantle! ☺ I will be thinking of you all during the holiday season, will miss you all and will see you down the road!

Gaither Christmas Homecoming

 

Clint shown shining his Gaither light.

Last Friday evening, December 2, 2011, we attended the Gaither Christmas Homecoming at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.  As luck would have it, the Christmas Parade was held the same evening in downtown Knoxville. Whew!

The evening was magical and I heard my two favorite songs I had mentally requested before the event:  Beautiful Star of Bethlehem and Mary Did You Know.  I am a big fan of Mark Lowry, he wrote the lyrics to this well known song, Mary Did You Know.  Mark sang it beautifully with such emotion and feeling.

 

Elvis prepares for the parade.

Tis the season ♪♪♪

Still haven't figured out this float's theme

Many different reflections at the event

 

Stunning stage and lighting plus some
of the most beautiful voices in the world

We were "greeted" by the Gaither Vocal Band as we arrived

The Gaither lights are passed out at the concert,
imagine a gigantic arena full of twinkling star lights.

Where are you, Mark?  I have been waiting six years for this
moment!

 

 

Oh, there you are, Mark!


(My heart was thumping)


My night was complete.


☺