November 26, 2015

Plan B

Our tradition is to put up our Christmas tree on the day after Thanksgiving.  This year we had to switch to Plan B.

My husband had a bunionectomy several weeks ago.  He's limping around with a huge boot on his foot.


We store our Christmas tree and other seasonal decorations in the garage attic.  There is no way he could get up that ladder and pass things down to me and I'm not good with ladders - thus - Plan B.
I bought some wire wreath forms and garlands - JoAnns had a big sale yesterday.  We strung the wire wreaths together hanging them on a dress form.  (I come up with the brilliant ideas - my husband helps me implement them.  He's a very good sport.  Also, he's been bored to tears since he cannot move around very well.  This turned out to be a welcome diversion.)



I was anxious to take photos.  I'm sure she will look delightful at night when the houses lights are off and her skirt is all aglow.

The addition of lights on the necklace and red ornaments filled out the skirt better - I'm calling her done now.

 I doubt if I can find a Christmas stocking to cover his boot...

Linking to:
Sweet Shot Tuesday
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday
Wednesday Around the World



November 10, 2015

Blue Bird of Happiness...

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair…Chinese proverb

The symbol of a bluebird as the harbringer of happiness is found in many cultures and may date back thousands of years. One of the oldest examples (found on oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty, 1766-1122 BCE) is from pre-modern China, where the bluebird was the messenger bird of Xi Wangmu, the 'Queen Mother of the West' who began life as a fearsome goddess and Immortal. By the Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE) she had evolved into a Daoist fairy queen and the protector/patron of "singing girls dead women, novices, nuns, adepts and priestesses...women [who] stood outside the roles prescribed for women in the traditional Chinese family". 



How I did what I did:






Linking to: