Dec 31, 2009

365- Basking

Yesterday we got a foot of snow, today dawned sunny and bright. Although Stuart did most of the snow removal yesterday there was still plenty for me to do today. I worked for several hours thoroughly enjoying the sun. My last place to clear snow was on the deck... ahh, the deck! THE DECK... THE DECK!!

I LOVE the deck... the sun called to me! I pulled out my deck chair (how appropriate), settled it close to the brick, grabbed my soda, visor, sunglasses and book (oh, yeah, and my sweater, which I eventually put on). I spent about an hour and a half basking... soaking up the rays... oh, yeah! The sun was so nice and warm even though I was breathing steam.

365- basking

I think this was a great way to spend the last day of my Project 365... cheating Mother Nature in the middle of the winter... yes... I can like that part!

Dec 30, 2009

364- Snow Removal

Now THIS is the way to get your snow removed! (Another example of DYI-Joanie-style!)

364- stu

It has been so nice to have both Camille and Stuart home for the holiday weekend. Camille left to go "*home" on Monday and Stuart left this evening... but not before he did snow removal duty twice! THANK YOU STUART!

*I'm sure glad that "home" is only 15 minutes away!

Dec 29, 2009

363- Sunshine by the Bolt

I awakened this morning to find out that "Fritz was right" and that we are being treated to snow again. I love the snow, we need the snow, I'm grateful for the snow... but I miss the sunshine.

This sort of snowy-day always makes me want to quilt (or read, or both)... and you know what I realized today? It's because quilting lets me deal with all of those wonderful colors and textures that are so absent in the monotone landscape outside. Fabric is just a little bit of sunshine on a bolt!

And what could be happier than some beautiful, lickable batiks? I don't even want to admit how long I've been working on this quilt (over 8 years... sad, so sad...) But that is the beauty of quilting, it waits patiently for you to come back, pick it up again, add some more stitches until finally it is finished, loved and in use!

363- fabric sunshine

Dec 28, 2009

362- Lighted Trees

Up around the corner one of my neighbors has all of their front yard trees wrapped just like at Temple Square. I've wanted to get a shot of them since I saw them earlier this month. I have one word for night-time low light shots... TRIPOD! (I took 37 shots without said tripod because it was just to cold to haul that up there. I deleted most of them!)

362- lighted trees

Guess what else I found... birdhouses! They are very popular in my neighborhood. Hmm, maybe come spring I need to build some birdhouses!

Dec 27, 2009

361- Winter Sunset Silhouette

Christmas evening I went on a quest... I wanted one more amazing sunset shot this year. I could see that wonderful pink light that I love. I walked down to Canyon Road (in the freezing cold, I might add!) and caught the sun just as it was slipping behind West Mountain. What a beautiful sight!

361- sunset silhouette

Dec 26, 2009

360- Boxing Day

We may have started a new tradition... celebrating Boxing Day in the Lewis way! Gordon had the idea to have our family dinner today because our usual 3rd Sunday dinner conflicted with the Stake Choir Festival and Christmas... well, it's just a busy day with grandkids wanting to play with their toys and visiting other family members!

It actually worked out quite well. Everyone brought something, we got to visit and, most importantly, I got a family photo of the attendees. I guess I'm going to have to work on getting better focus with my tripod-timered photos... but here we are.

360- boxing day

Dec 25, 2009

359- Our Family

Here we are... this is all of the Lewis' left *at home* (and technically Camille and Stuart aren't at home. They both live in Provo but they come all the way home to Springville for Christmas.)

We've had a lovely wonderful day, very quiet and laid-back... just the kind of day I needed.

359- our family

Dec 24, 2009

358-On Christmas Eve in the Morning

The sign of a good teacher is when the student is able to perform at a higher level than the teacher. (I just made that up!) But that is where I have arrived with my Camille. She has proven herself as a master baker! That girl has consistently turned out AWESOME cinnamon rolls and orange rolls this year. I am pleased to pass the potholders to her! You go girl!

358- cinnamon sweetness

In case you are wondering about the title... making cinnamon rolls on Christmas Eve in the Morning goes way back to the early Palmdale days.

The second tradition may not happen this year... taquitos... I'm just too stuffy in the head for all that mess. So sad...

Dec 23, 2009

357- Birdie Condo

This fun little birdie condo lives in my neighborhood. I love the way this turned out in B&W.

357- birdie condo

Dec 22, 2009

356- Creative Editing

Wouldn't it be nice if all photos were just perfect they way they are? Yes, I could like that. But you know what? That is not normally my luck.

But I didn't even take this photo... so what's the problem? I have an ancient, dinosaur scanner with dust streaks on the underside of the glass. We received a very nice photo from Erik and Megan of their family that I needed to scan... yeah... time for a new scanner. (BTW anyone out there know how to clean the underside of the glass on an HP Scanner?)

356- erik's fam
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Dec 21, 2009

355- Mama Bear

So... this is the day... the shortest day of the year. That being the case shouldn't this also be the coldest day of the year? Nope, we are just getting started with winter and today that is NOT happy news. I have a sore throat and stuffy head and pretty much want to be like a mama bear (bet she doesn't suffer from SAD) and just go to sleep until it warms up again! Today winter is looking very long, and yes, dark!

I needed the reminder that even after the coldest, darkest winters spring always comes again. Happy thought!

355- robin

Dec 20, 2009

354- Light

Today was our Christmas program at church. The choir sang, beautifully, I might add. I am a firm believer in the saying that you work as if everything depends upon you and pray as if everything depends upon the Lord (which it does!) I've never been in a ward where there was so much talent and participation in choir.

The choir members have worked very hard, but I've also prayed for those unseen, yet heard, heavenly voices to join us in our praise of the Christ Child. My favorite is The First Noel/Pachebel's Canon. The music just speaks to my soul.

We had two speakers today interspersed with the childrens choir and the ward choir. One of the speakers was talking about the symbols of the season. Do you ever have something so obvious suddenly make sense to you? That was my experience today. The lights that we use to light our homes, yards and trees are a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

354- light

How grateful I am for this wonderful time of year when we celebrate that marvelous event that has changed all of our lives.

Dec 19, 2009

353- O Tannenbaum

When I saw this lone fir tree with colored lights amidst all the white *faerie lights* I thought about O Tannenbaum...

353- o tannenbaum

And for those of you who would like the lyrics-

Deutsch
Tannenbaum
TEXT: Ernst Anschütz, 1824
MELODIE: Volksweise (traditional)

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur
zur Sommerzeit,
Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Dein Kleid will mich
was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Trost und Kraft
zu jeder Zeit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Das soll dein Kleid
mich lehren.

If you want English you'll need to go here. ;)

Dec 18, 2009

352- Main Street

This is the fifth Christmas we've spent in Springville... it always amazes me when I realize that! We've watched downtown make a transformation with a new City Office complex being completed this year.

My nicest holiday surprise was when they put up this year's decorations. They are so pretty, so simple. Tonight I braved the cold so I could capture the beauty of Main Street.

352- main st

Dec 17, 2009

351- Junie B- 1st Grader

I got to go help Miss Camille in her class today. I always enjoy my time there. Today we made the famous snowman ornament again.

These little 1st graders are always so cute! I just happened to be there during singing time again... I love those little voices! It really made it easier as Miss Camille sent them back to the classroom in 2's & 3's to have their hands painted to form the little snowman bodies. After singing time, when the paint was dry, the 1st graders (that is how Miss Camille refers to them!) used permanent markers to add the scarf, hat, arms, face and buttons.

So here is *Miss June B* with her creation.

351- miss 1st grade

Dec 16, 2009

350- Doug and Jessica's Family

Every year Doug and Jessica's family gets these wonderful Christmas family photos. Imaging my disappointment when pregnant-Jess told me that this year she wouldn't be doing a swap with one of her favorite photographers! But never fear! Grammie is here! Jess asked me if I would take their photos.

350- twas the night

I was so pleased once I got the edited photos delivered to Doug and Jessica last night. But I found, again, that I'm a little challenged by portrait-type photos. I'm never happy with my first look through the unedited photos! But as I look a second and third time, do some tweaking... THEN I'm happy.

And now, an artistic shot...

350- bokeh

349- Woodolph

Gordon snapped this of me at Home Depot some weeks ago and I've been saving it for this special time of year...

I present Woodolph the Wed-Nosed Weindeew!

349- woodolph

Dec 14, 2009

348- Snowy Sunset

There is just something magical about the sight of the setting sun on the snow. A few nights ago I looked out when it was too late to take a photo but there was purple snow! It was beautiful.

But here is tonight's snow.

348- snowy sunset

Dec 13, 2009

347- O Holy Night

Today I had a wonderful Sabbath, made better by some extra special things... I got to sing with *my very own sister* in Sacrament meeting today! (But did I think to get a picture of us looking all musical and pretty... nope... I forgot!)

347- o holy night

I was scheduled to sing a solo today but when Ann called Saturday afternoon to say their plans had changed, because of our snow storm, and could they spend the night and go to church with us I jumped on the opportunity to sing once again with my sister. We sang "O Holy Night"; one of my favorite Christmas hymns.

The arrangement I have comes from this book of Mom's costing $1 in 1949! After Mom passed away I asked if I could have this small book of music that we sang from and, then later, I sang from with Vivian when we moved back to Greenville after I was married.

One of our favorite things to do when we were growing up was to sing around the piano with Mom playing and the three of us (sisters) singing. It just gives me a warm feeling inside to remember those days. It reminds me of just how lucky I was to be born into a family where there was so much love and big sisters "who prayed for me!"

Dec 12, 2009

346- Baby Toesies

I just love baby toesies! Today I did a family photo shoot for Doug's family for Christmas cards. I'm such a lucky Grammie to have this wonderful family just up the road from me. I will probably post my favorite family photo in the coming days... but today... Roxie's toesies!

346- roxie's toesies

Dec 11, 2009

345- Friend Nativity

This is one of my favorite Nativities because my bestest friend, Auntie P, made it for me years ago. Some years I've let it live on the front porch for all to see, but this year it is too snowy to live outside.

345- friend nativity
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Dec 10, 2009

344- Tracks in the Snow

On Monday and Tuesday this week I went outside to *blow-snow* (boy, that sure is easier than the back-breaking shoveling). We live on a corner lot (again... what is with me and the corner lots?) and are responsible for snow removal on the sidewalks around our property (yeah... and cleaning off the road so the mail-lady can get to our mailbox).

But I digress! I have this whole sequence of snow blowing so I only have to move it once instead of twice. I often wonder why I clear off the sidewalk that runs up the side of our house that no one walks on except me. Today I found out why... it is for me... and for the neighborhood deer. There are only my tracks and the deer. (my track is in the upper left corner)

344- deer tracks

As I was out for my walk today I noticed a fat little quail walking on the snow but it wasn't until my return trip that I saw he'd left behind little quail-snow-angels. I love how you can see his walking tracks, then he started to use his wings, more, more and finally... take-off with one last little faint wing print and little foot print. How beautiful!!

344- quail angels

Finally on my way back into the house, there on the deck steps, one last little set of birdie tracks... what a fun explore in the arctic air.

344- bird tracks

Dec 9, 2009

343- Ice Skating Anyone?

It's Wednesday, Temple day. We have about a foot of snow on the ground so I knew I would want to leave early and give myself plenty of time. I went out to our rather cold garage and asked Beatrix if she was ready to go. Sad, sad, sad... Beatrix was so cold (-6 F) she just couldn't get her motor goin'! Hubby to the rescue! He drove me to the Temple and the was able to coax Beatrix into starting to pick me up at 4.

When I left the Temple today I saw that the fountain closest to the Temple was frozen. Now that's cold~!

343- frozen fountain

Dec 8, 2009

342- Quilted Nativity

The year we moved here to Utah (Jan 2005) my daughter-in-law told me about the Jim Shore Nativity. I went right online to scope it at my favorite online collectibles store and ordered right then... yes, in January. I just love all the colors, textures and little murals that he has worked into his art.

342- jim shore nativity

Now here is the funny part about my order... Cherrylane is located right in Provo (10 miles from my house) No wonder it got here so fast!!

Dec 7, 2009

341- My Happy Decorations

The older I get the less important *things* are to me. I used to love to decorate the whole house for Christmas, but now all I want are my Nativity sets.

This is one of my favorites...

341- willow tree nativity
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Willow Tree Nativity

Dec 6, 2009

340- First Snow

This morning I woke to quite a surprise! There was a foot of new snow on the ground that wasn't there last night!

I just love the first snow of the season. It is so clean, soft, and quiet. Have you ever noticed how snow brings a blanket of silence with it?

After church this afternoon I took my camera outside to get some good shots in the sunset light of all the beautiful drifts of new snow... and what did I see? Hiding under a snow-cap was this little, miniature rose, perfectly dried and still on the bush (does that give you a good idea how dry our climate is?) I just couldn't resist snapping it for today's photo.

340- faded rose in snow

But I also had to record that I am still not to old to make Snow Angels. I made this one this morning before choir!

340- snow angel
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Dec 5, 2009

339- Incognito

My backdoor neighbor's sons trimmed his fruit trees and a few branches fell over the fence into my yard. I dutifully picked them up (no, I didn't even consider chucking them back across the fence into his yard). As I was walking them to the trash I looked at them and said, "Ha! Reindeer Antlers!" And I just happened to have a willing model.

Doesn't he look so cute?

339- incognito

If you want to read more about my little friend go here.

Dec 4, 2009

338- Ryan & Nikki

Last year I started a POTD (picture of the day) project for the month of December. That was the catalyst for my tackling my Project 365. So even though I still have the rest of this month to finish up my current project I've posted a photo a day for the last year, with only a few misses.

One of the things I wanted to do last December was post a photo of each of our family. I asked everyone to help out and get me their photos but somehow I missed Ryan and Nikki. So it seems fitting to me that this December I start with them.

338- Ryan and Nikki
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Hopefully, this year I will be able to round off my 13 month photo project with a photo of each of my loved family.

Dec 3, 2009

337-DYI Joanie's Way

Sometime in the last few years I've been able to make a wonderful shift... now DYI means *call one of our sons and they come and do it for me*! (this give the term *how hard can it be?* a whole new meaning!) Whee-haw!

We've had an unsightly grating, left over from when we still had a swamp cooler, since we got our air conditioning in May 2008. Ryan is the man of the hour this time. He came down today and in no time at all had that hole all patched up and lookin' good. Then he replaced the trim around the crawl space door that was all cracked and gnarly.

337- ry

Ryan brought in our compressor to run the finish nailer... but look what Harley thought about that! "Help me Mamma... it's going to get me!" He came in and hid under my sewing machine where I was patching Ryan's designer jeans. (OK... here is a Mother's Rant... why do they pay $100+ for jeans that already have patches on them and other places that need to be patched?? That's what I want to know!)

337- harley hiding
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Look at that poor worried little face!

But my happiest new is that Ryan & Nikki put up heat tape on the front gutters and downspout... no more skating rink on the front steps and walk! (Some years I've had 1-2" of solid ice out there!!)

Dec 2, 2009

336- December Full Moon

Yes, I know I just had the moon on my blog two days ago... but, come on... who could resist a shot like this! I just love the *light of the silvery moon*. And wouldn't you think that the light would look the same no matter what season it is? But, no, it changes with the seasons. Can't you just feel you nose and toes getting cold? I promise mine were!

336- dec full moon

Dec 1, 2009

335- Christmas at My House

It is interesting how our perspective changes as we grow older. As a child I was always so anxious for Christmas. I could hardly wait to see that I'd gotten in my stocking and from my family! We always had a silver-tip fir for our Christmas tree. Mom would wrap the trunk with tinsel (the same strand each year) and we would hang on all of our ornament; some having belonged to her mother. It was a happy time.

As a young mother I usually made myself crazy, stressed, and frazzled trying to make Christmas just perfect for my family. I've always made most of my gifts. I would spend hours sewing pajamas, coats and the like.

When my kids were still home decorating for Christmas was always a big deal. I have 14 (count them... fourteen!) large plastic storage containers where all of my decorations live. The kids and I would put on Christmas music and *deck the halls*. We loved it. Then sometime after the 1st of the year we had to take all of that down again... and the kids didn't think that was so fun.

About 8 years ago I decided I wanted to have some themed Christmas trees so on Black Friday I bought a set of 3 trees on super-sale and got different decorations for each one.

For several years we had our big tree and then the little ones as well; but I find that as I get older somehow the work just sucks all the joy out of decorating. Last year I had the bright idea to carry my trees, completely decorated, down to the dungeon. They have lived there happily all year and were just waiting to be carried back upstairs again. Yay... I found a way to take the work out of decorating.

335- my home
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So for today... the 1st of December, I *put up the trees* and hung my bush lights on the 3 little Christmas trees that grow by my house. I love the look... but most of all I love the fact that there is no craziness, stress or being frazzled.