Florida Christmas

 

I needed a sweater because we have been in a freezing cold 10 days. Freezing in Florida is a low of 45 and high of 68. Kid you not, we FREEZE when it drops below 70. 

I stepped into a winter wonderland, Florida Style in Bealls Outlet store. It is only 6.10 of a mile from my home and is next door to Publix and Dollar Tree.

This is what I saw

If you saw my painted Christmas Card yesterday you might recognize what I used as my subject to paint the card.

all but one small table were pastels and shades of aqua and pink... Enjoy!

and the only red was this most precious Pup and my Favorite.

Santa and Rudolf are in Florida on Christmas Eve

Santaville

There once was a painting of Santaville

That hung on the wall of a cozy old mill

But every December, the painting would change

And show different scenes that were funny and strange

Like Santa on a surfboard or Rudolph in a dress

Or elves playing soccer or snowmen playing chess

The painting was magical, no one knew why

But it always brought laughter to those who passed by

a poem & photos by Bing AI and THE MadSnapper of Florida

After setting up my Santaville for the holiday, I decided to see how AI would do . do you have a favorite? Mine is divided. I love the deer above and the Santa below.

 

Reaching for the HO HO

49 degrees at 6:45, walking Big Boy, I dressed for success, Christmas leggings, fuzzy socks and my black coat sweater, yes, I wore shoes, but they were to worn/dirty to show....

when I slipped off the shoes, I aimed cell down at my feet, and thought legs look to fat,then I bent from the waist, held the cell for a BLINDSHOT....yelled KINCHEE and the legs were a little thinner.
(Kimchee tells La Phone to take a picture of whatever is in front of the lens.)

You might want to Put this in your memory bank for future reference. IF stripes go around ANY portion of your body, they make that portion look fatter.... Gnome sayin??

Merry and Bright

The Nook is Merry and Bright and Full of Light!

I took these photos at the same time, same camera.

Please tell me what I did that causes the candles to look like different colors. What color do you think the candles are?
scroll down below last photo for answer.

The candles are white, non scented. I am allergic to scents. the only difference is the angle I shot from, gold step to left, pink step to right... 

Dog Proof Tree

New plaid fleece throw. Wal-Mart $5.00... not for Big, this one is mine.

My tiny 15 year old tree is dog proof decorated with unbreakable decorations bought at the Dollar Tree. All the ornaments cost a total of $3.00. It sits by the window.

It was necessary when we had 3 dogs, Big Dogs....
So Far Big has not knocked it over and has not even noticed it.

 The lamp that sits there has been downed several times by Big Boy. Anything in front of a window is fair game.
Climbing Santa is a candle climber I have had for 35 years.
Now he climbs the Charlie Brown tree.

Saint Nicholas came the day after Thanksgiving

My Saint Nicholas is one of my favorite Christmas treasures. He is 25 years old, and was a gift from my sons wife. These are not the first or the last photos I have taken of him over the years.

To me the sun enhances his beauty.  He is 2 feet tall and made from paper Mache. He is in his place of honor on the kitchen counter.

I sat him next to sleeping Big Boy. for more of Big Boy go to his blog Fourpawsetc HERE

Two Trees up or Two Trees Down?

Twas the day after thanksgiving, 

the whole world was shopping.

I said to myself, I am not stopping

Not even for mopping,

until that Charlie Brown Tree

is standing tall and free

In The Nook.

I grabbed the bag from on high on the shelf,

thinking this is so easy, I don't even need an elf.

I sat staring and rocking,

thinking you all  might be mocking me

and my one cute, but tiny little  tree.

I ran my hands through my hair in despair,

and jumped right up from my rocking chair.

I grabbed for the bag with another small tree,

this was really easy you see,

The ornaments and lights, reside on this tree,

and is removed fully ready, to be plugged in by 

ME.

So now you have to decide. 

Try not to be snide.

Did MadSnapper 

Put two trees up, or is she 2 trees down?

I hope this leaves you with nary a frown.,

Accidental Holiday Header

I dragged out a header I made a couple of years ago, featuring Santa Bob on the Beach,

 Decided I did not really like it.

Found a wreath and some other junk, 

added to an old Santa Bob in his rocking chair header from a year ago.

Still not happy, I found another wreath in Sketchpad.

Messed around with it, still did not like it

Deleted Big and myself and sat starting at the wreath. I

 decided to fiddle with the blend mode, clicked on HARDLIGHT 

and Wow! I loved it

When I came to from the fog of playing in PicMonkey,

 I ended up with the header you see today.

There is no method to my Madness, 

I just play and drag and click on buttons until I find something I like. 

Be glad I did not post ALL the creations here.

I may have Madly Clicked on every blend mode in the software.

Unlike a coloring book, I can back out of anything at anytime.

NOOK is done

Each year I decorate less and less, the NOOK is now the only place except for one Santa on the kitchen counter.

Santa Preview to be continued

Shadows in the Nookery

Can you guess how I made the shadows? answer below

I used Bob's new LED Flashlight... I was shining it on the ceiling to test the light and ACCIDENTLY shined it on the tree and WOW... 

she Snapped!!  

Again!!!

And AGAIN!!!!

The NOOK..ready for Christmas 2015

This photo for you Linda Chapman

A force with whom I did not want to reckon,

The glass in the NOOK continued to beckon’

Remove the glass

Wash the glass

Dry the glass, Alas.

The wall of mirrors had no gleam,

That wall was next on the list to clean.

With thoughts of the list for naughty or nice,

I quick decided to take the Bloggers Advice.

I climbed on the ladder,

Thinking is would not matter…

OW! OW! Oooeeee OUCH!

I climbed down and fell on the couch.

With a whine and a cry, I thought I might die.

But without the TREE, all I could see in that mirror was ME.

With Aleve and sleep, the next day I arose,

And laying my finger beside my nose

I took Gails Advice….. which was Work five minutes, Rest five minutes

Until the job is done.

I turned on Hallmark Christmas movie and decorated during the commercials only… 

The tree is up, the Santa’s are out, that 2nd tree, this year is OUT.

Did you hear me shout????  

 THE NOOK IS DONE and so am I.

Baby Update and Christmas Bloopers

Find MadSnapper

All my decorations are in front of a mirror, and hard to photograph during bright sun days. Find the bloopers day.

Find Madsnapper again

BABY UPDATE: Baby is doing much better, she ate a half can of food yesterday and a quarter can for breakfast today. So far so good.. And last night we both slept a full 8 hours... YIPPEE

For those of you who know my friend Rich, he was at deaths door and is now on the mend. Yesterday he was back to his positive happy self, he still has a ways to go and will spend the holidays in the hospital..

Find the remote and the Emory boards.

I would like to tell all of you how much it means to me that you are all there for me with prayers and reaching out through email to comfort when there is a need.

The amazing thing to me, is the comments and emails come from all over the USA including Alaska and Hawaii, and from Ireland, Bosnia, Sweden, Africa, Italy and the United Kingdom and Canada... For all the caring Thank you to my blog land friends. I think I named all the countries. Let me know if I missed yours.
UPDATE: I missed Australia..

find the match box

And Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate and Happy Holidays to all of you and I wish you God Speed and Well Wishes in the coming New Year.

I love you ALL