Crafts, Clouds, Curry and Comfort

Yesterday was my favorite kinda day -- a pajama day filled with crafting possibilities. (Pretty napkins helped dress up these painted coffee cans.)

While clouds made their way across the sky all day long ... (the sun is in there somewhere)...

I was inside doing things that bring me true pleasure -- blogging, crafting, cooking.

Vegetable curry and parantha is one of my favorite meals. When I think of comfort food, this is the kind of food I think about. Real food that is good and good for you.

It's hard to believe that this is the last day of December. This last day of the year for us has started out windy, dark and cloudy with a bit of rain.

I am sending wishes your way for a healthy, happy new year. Wishes for peace, comfort and joy the whole year through. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Simple Pleasures: Possibilities

A new day filled with possibilities.

Spray painted cans waiting to be decorated.

Plastic rings waiting to be turned into Dorset buttons.

Little notebooks waiting to be altered, inspired by Jan's gift to me.

Yarn from a friend waiting to be turned into something wearable or usable.

New things to try.

You are full of wonderful possibilities. Do something with them. The most painful regrets, those which never go away, are regrets of things not done, things never attempted. ~ Ralph Marston

Please vist Dayle at A Collection of This and That for more simple pleasures.

Friendship blessings, Tammy

A Simple Gift

Meet my friend Shereen.
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That crazy girl would not cooperate for the camera at all. Last nite we met for Indian food, hubbies included.

Shereen is very good about writing thank you notes and sharing little gifts from the heart.

I love quotations so enjoyed reading through this little book she gave me last nite.

"Life is not made up of great sacrifices and duties but of little things; in which smiles and kindness given habitually are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort." (Sir Humphrey Davy)

Wishing you joy and comfort in these final days of 2010! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Warm Wishes

Many of you are experiencing wild weather at the moment.

Blizzard like conditions. Lots of snow. Winter wonderlands.

I hope you enjoy a bit of comfort food while you are staying safe indoors.

Sending warm and cozy wishes your way. Friendship blessings, Tammy

May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you. (Irish Blessing)

Gifts from the Sea

My oldest son collected these shells for me while spending two days at the beach with a friend and his family.

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach -- waiting for a gift from the sea. (Anne Morrow Lindbergh)

A simple little cross-stitching entitled Serenity.

As we head into the New Year, I hope this last week of December for all of you is filled with cheer and sweet serenity. Friendship blessings, Tammy
Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, filling it with a steady and perpetual serenity. Joseph Addison

Not Your Typical Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Zack climbed a tree.

Yep! He's wearing shorts. Our afternoon temps are in the mid 70's.

Skies were blue!

This is the second year hubby has treated an employee and his wife out to lunch for Christmas.

They are from India and I am quite certain they have never, ever stepped foot inside a Japanese restaurant before. Well, now they have.

We walked a bit afterwards and then came back home for tea and gifts.

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas. (W. C. Jones)

Our oldest son was away with a friend and just came back home today. Another Christmas come and gone. I hope yours was filled with all things merry and bright! Friendship blessings, Tammy

From Our Home to Yours

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to all of you who stop by my little corner of the world. I am grateful for your visits, your comments and your sweet friendship. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! ~Author Unknown

Friendship blessings, Tammy

Simple Holiday Crafting

While visiting Kathy the other day, I browsed through her December issue of Martha Stewart Living and saw the cutest idea for wrapping store bought chocolate bars. I made up a bunch of them last nite and will be giving them as gifts when we return to school in January.

You can find instructions on making these cute snowmen or even a Santa by going here.

From my Pottery Barn Christmas catalogue, I made up a bunch of envelopes and filled each one with a holiday peppermint patty and a crocheted snowflake. These were handed out as little favors for everyone who gathered together for Melissa's cookie festival on Monday.

With a frame I had on hand and holiday felt stickers my Aunt Elaine sent, I now have a simple but sweet holiday gift using the cross-stitching I made a couple of weeks ago.

Have you heard of Snowman Soup? I have made up many of these in the past for gifts. Usually I just print the online graphic for this craft, but since our home computer is on the fritz, I wrote and drew my own on index cards.

Hot chocolate, marshmallows, chocolate kisses and a candy cane all bundled up in a mug for the perfect holiday treat.

And finally, I found plastic rings so that I could make more Dorset buttons. I completed this one last nite off the top of my head. I was glad I still remembered how to do them. I thought they would make great little ornaments on the tree when done up in red, green, white, gold, and maybe some royal blue.

I wish you joy, I wish you peace and I hope you find a bit of quiet time to get crafty in the hustle and bustle of the season. Friendship blessings, Tammy

Another Visit with a Friend

Yesterday I spent several hours with my friend, Kathy.

She has a beautiful home, is very creative, and as you can see, has a gorgeous Christmas tree.

Glass ornaments on display, made by a friend.

Kathy has a great eye for finding unique items at Friday Market. I got this jacket that she picked up.

And she gave me this cross from New Mexico that is made from cholla and turquoise with rafia for hanging.

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving,
make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!"
~ Amanda Bradley

Happy day to one and all! Friendship blessings, Tammy

Cookie Festival

This is me and my crazy best friend Melissa.

She invited a group of us to her place for a cookie festival today. Lots of food ...

games ...

... and 19 different types of cookies for everyone to take home. (I feel a sugar high coming on!)

When she first told me her plan, I thought she was out of her mind. I've heard of cookie exchanges, where everyone bakes up their favorite recipe and brings it along to share. But this girl took it upon herself over the past week to bake up 2-3 batches a day in preparation for this day. Did I mention she is crazy! ??? That's why we love her!

I hope your week is filled with the sweet gift of friendship. Peace and blessings, Tammy

Brunch and a Movie

Some people just have a knack for preparation ...

and presentation.

A delicious Spanish frittata, roasted tomatoes and cheese muffins.

Shereen invited me to her place for brunch. Gifts were exchanged yet again and she was so pleased to see her beautiful holiday napkin used to upcycle a coffee can.

Dessert was chocolate hot pots with cream and strawberries ...

and lemon pound cake.

While we ate our dessert, we watched Miracle on 34th Street in color.

Such a heartwarming movie and wonderful time spent with a friend.

Hope everyone is having a beautiful, peaceful, joyful day! Friendship blessings, Tammy