Happy New Year

"the best way to get something done is to begin. "     -unknown

Once again, we begin a new year.  I can remember as a child thinking about the year 2000 and how strange it sounded and how far away it seemed.  Now, I think about how fast the past 11 years have passed and how the years beginning with 19__ sound so far ago.  I thank God for my blessings and look forward to a new year and new beginnings.

Giving

The challenge issued by the Diva this week was to create a zentangle and give it to someone.   Boy, did this challenge cause me to think!  Thus, this will probably be the longest entry I'll ever post to my blog.

Blogs are interesting, and for the most part self-indulging and ego building - that's my thoughts anyway.  When I started blogging, I intended that my blog would be different.  I wanted to "share" with others the things I create - quilts, knitting, greeting cards, jewelry I make, etc.   When I discovered zentangles, my blog became filled with daily tangles.  I also share a daily quote.

Quotes are a part of me,  I can remember quotes told to me over the years by my mother, husband, friends and others.  My mother had  two in particular which have stayed with me:  "It's not the climb of the mountain, it's the grain of sand in your shoe."   and "Red sky at night, sailors' delight, red sky at morn, sailors' be warned."    My hubby shared a quote when we were first married which opened my eyes, especially since we were self-employed:  "Time is money."    My paternal grandfather even posted his favorite quote on a hand-lettered sign in his bedroom:  "From the time of my birth til I ride in a hearst, there's nothing so bad that it couldn't be worse."  My brother once told me, "If you pay peanuts, you get monkey's". 

Other quotes which have become my favorites are:  "The mind, once stretched, never returns to it's original size."   "Loose lips, sink ships".   "Do unto other's as you'd like them to do unto you."   "A stitch in time, saves nine". "Life's what happens while you're making other plans". 

My quotes have also rubbed off on my daughters, as often I hear them repeat some of the above quotes.  I like it when I realize that my kids do listen sometimes.

So, as another year is quickly approaching I, like others take time to look back on this year as well as memories from other years.  I'm getting older quicker as the years go by.   I only hope you've enjoyed some of the creativity and quotes I've shared with you.  I also now realize, that even I have fallen into the trap of my blog becoming self-indulgent and providing me with an ego trip.  I love it when you, the readers share your comments along the way.  And thank you to my "follower's" for signing onto my blog. 

During 2012 I will try to keep my blog full of more quotes, inspiration, creativity, recipes, etc.; and I will try not to become too egotistical. 

Diana



 

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If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it's another nonconformist who doesn't conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.
-Bill Vaughan

Santa

There are three stages of a man's life: He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus."


- Author Unknown

I love this quote!  

Christmas

Norman Vincent Peale


Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
 
 

May you and your loved ones enjoy this Christmas season with joy and love.

Toffee cookie crunch recipe

TOFFEE COOKIE CRUNCH RECIPE:

4oz. saltine crackers ( 1 sleeve of crackers)
1 cup stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 oz. choc. chips or white choc. chips (your preference)
3/4 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in single layer

In a saucepan combine the sugar and butter.  Melt, then bring to a boil and boil for 4 minutes.  Immediately
pour over saltines and spread to cover the crackers completely.

Bake at 400 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes.  Remove from oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top.  Let set until chips are soft, then spread chocolate and top with chopped nuts. 

Cool, then break into pieces.


This is so easy and people rave about them.  I love them!  What a surprise when you tell them that the recipe contains saltine crackers. 

Joy of Christmas

•John Greenleaf Whittier


For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.

The Christmas Tree

Burton Hillis, Better Homes and Gardens


The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
 

As a grandparent, Christmas is truly best celebrated when my children and grandchildren gather in my home.
This year our celebration will be on Christmas Eve and I am so looking forward to the gift of my family.

Dr. Seuss Christmas

Dr. Seuss


And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?

I knitted both my girls Christmas stockings and as they were growing up filled them with all kinds of treats and small gifts.  I really enjoyed shopping and making gifts for their stockings and it was fun watching them dump them out with such enthusiasm!

Another Christmas tradition is to purchase or make them a new Christmas ornament each year.  As adults, they still look forward to their new ornament.  One Christmas a few years ago when I'd had a hectic and financially difficult year, I told them that I thought I'd discontinue the tradition of Christmas Ornaments.
Both girls exclaimed that it wouldn't be Christmas without an ornament from me.  So, the tradition continues and I must admit, I'm so glad it does.  

Both these traditions are special memories for us.  But the memories are not so much the ornaments as much as it's the tradition of showing love by creating a tradition which bonds us together. 

White Christmas?

Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it 'white'.


Bing Crosby

christmas

Somehow, not only for Christmas


But all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others

Is the joy that comes back to you
 
 
 

Merry Christmas, zentangle, quote

Janice Maeditere


Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts.
 
 

Breanna's Birthday

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.


e. e. cummings

My granddaughter is growing up and becoming a lovely person both inside and out.  

Happy Birthday Breanna!

Christmas, quote

Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell government what they want and their kids pay for it.

Challenge #51

There is no harm in repeating a good thing.


Plato


The challenge this week was to create a zentangle using the new pattern called "fife". 

The Nutcracker ballet

My mother said, Don't worry abot what people think now. Think about whether your children and grandchildren will think you've done well.
Lord Mountbatten

Can you believe the fact that I had never seen the Nutcracker Ballet until yesterday?
Our granddaughter Corey danced in the Nutcracker performance at Ft. Wayne.  It was wonderful and she was beautiful!

Zentangle Picture, quote

If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.


Jim Rohn

 
 
Bob likes dragonflies, so I drew this zentangle picture for him.  It's a 9 x 12 size.