Bring it on 2010! A Year for Reflection....

We have before us a New Year, a New Decade and a New Mindset.

I so appreciate a fresh start, and find myself focusing on a whole bunch of goals and new adventures. I'm setting the bar pretty high this year.

Thanks for sharing the past year with me. At times it's been great - at times it's been not so great. But I do look forward to the future - and all the magic it brings!

For today... I plan on spending the day with my family. Talking about and reflecting upon the past and planning for the future. I am a firm believer in RESOLUTIONS. I know many of you do not give them much weight - but I truly believe that planning, setting goals, and monitoring those goals from time to time brings success and a great feeling of accomplishment.

Whatever you do today - make it memorable. Take time to reflect on the past - and plan for the future. Life is good.

Happy New Year!

Gearing up for the New Year....

...Bring it on 2010!






Been conspicuously absent for the last few weeks, I know. Seems my "more accident prone 1/2" met with a terrible accident two weeks ago yesterday. Hand + Table Saw = four less fingers (almost.)



Yep, was working in the shop - his hand met the blade - his left hand - and he's left handed. After 13+ hours of sewing (not me, the doctor - silly) all fingers are secured and working (for the most part.) There was at least one tendon severed, several nerves severed and a joint damaged. He is going to lose some movability, he is not going to have feeling on the outermost sides of his fingers - but they are there, they are working and hopefully he will be more careful.

Ooooh so lucky he is. Really. Time has stood still for the past two weeks, as we waited and wondered what was going to happen. Now that Blaise is on the mend, we can refocus once again and get back to "life."

Now it's onward and upward to 2010. I'm ready, are you? I always love the New Year and the anticipation that it brings. I'm ready for the challenge. I've already mapped out my 2010 Game Plan.


And now - I leave you with the ONLY picture that was taken of me this Christmas. NO this has not been altered. This is the actual photograph my precious daughter took to remember her mother during Christmas 2009. Geeze.

May God Bless YOU.....

and those you love.








Merry, Merry Christmas friends.

Looking forward to 2010 - and all the Health, Joy and Living it brings.



Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.

Starry Night - WIP

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Originally uploaded by Clevelandgirlie

I forgot all about this. A long while back I went to see a
Van Gogh exhibit which inspired me. I dug out this little piece of loose canvas I painted with acrylics and began hand stitching. I like it. I think I'll work on it some more in between Christmas errands!

I Love Christmas Cookies...

and I love making things for people I love.

I've completed four nice projects - one quilting, on knitting, one painting and quilting, and one just painting and mixed media - but guess what!!! I can't show them to you because they are gifts for people who frequent my blog! :( I really want to share them becuase the painted/quilted one came out so cool - but it would spoil the surprise.

Alsa, all is not lost. I do have a present just for "YOU!"
I have a few Christmas surprises to give away to my bloggy friends any day now - so keep checking back. I'm just finalizing the details.

Only 15 days until Christmas!!!

How Many Days is it Until Christmas?????

Only 23 Days Unit Christmas (in case you didn't know!) Thanksgiving is over and now it's time to move on. As we do every Thanksgiving, the Recca family gets up early in the morning, has breakfast and then, husband, son, daughter, corgis (and me) rummage through the attic, basement and closets looking for the boxes upon boxes of outside decorations so we can decorate the exterior of the house - and light up the neighborhood on Thanksgiving evening.

It only takes a few hours, but sometimes it can drag on a wee bit longer - because let's face it -we are not an "all work and no play" family. There's corgis to play with, eggnog to sip and hugs to be had at any given moment - distractions abound. But we did get the job done - in plenty of time to have dinner, clean up, and get back outside before dark.

Here's a picture of Tobie for a change - because, where was Gizmo? He was out back rolling around in the mud. Very naughty corgi. It was bath day anyway - so both corgis enjoyed a luxurious bubble bath in the sink in the garage - before entering for Thanksgiving dinner.

Tonight another tradition takes place. As a reward for all of the exhausting Thanksgiving and Christmas preparation - my husband takes me to a concert during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year we saw the Trans Siberian Orchestra - and we loved it. So we're going again tonight. A nice way to take a deep breath before all the craziness begins. (If your not familiar with TSO - they are really something special. Let me put it this way - they play Metallica - so to hear this particular "type" of orchestra play a Christmas Canon - it's pretty cool.)

Tomorrow I will wake up and it will only be 22 days until Christmas. I better get in gear for there are still have cards to write, a tree to buy, cookies to bake, a quilt to finish quilting, pj bottoms to sew, a scarf to finnish knitting, and those socks - well, they may have to wait until Valentine's Day to get those socks!

But that's ok - because tonight... I'm looking forward to the company of my husband, a pomegranet martini, some shrimp cocktail, maybe a little steak and the Trans Siberian Orchestra! Now go get started on YOUR to do list. Remember - only 23 more days!