Happy New Year!

 Sending all good wishes for a very Happy New Year! 

May you stay well, happy and content in 2023.

November Books -- and Anniversary Drawing Reminder and Link

Boy, I had a tough time reading in November. (And even a harder time writing about it in December so you'll get two book posts this month!) I dumped one book about five chapters in; tried picking up another WWII bio I hadn't finished and it was too heavy for me. I'm all for the Resistance but I have to be in the right mood to read it. 

Then I quit another after the introduction deciding I didn't want to read the diaries of Anne Morrow Lindbergh during WWII, when her husband, aviator Charles, was advocating non-involvement in the war and anti-semites like Father Coughlin were on his side. It reminded me too much of the situation in Ukraine and the increasing signals from the incoming House of Representatives here that we should cut funding. 

Maybe it was the delightful distractions of November that made reading hard. Who knows? I finally settled on two that were well worth the time and one that wasn't. (And face it, the upcoming holiday preps, physical therapy and not feeling my best  didn't help much either!). 

So, the books!

Lots of Christmas!

Happy In-Between Week! I hope your holidays have been as full of fun as ours. There was baking, a road trip, a visit to Rick's ancestors' final resting places, fun with little grands, music, merriment -- and an epic fail in the dessert line! Grab your tea and a Christmas cookie and settle in!

My house was decorated, literally one step at a time as I slowly brought up things from downstairs step by step due to a challenging back problem. 

But I couldn't resist bringing up as much as possible. These are the things of memories. I want to use them all -- or as much as possible -- before the inevitable downsizing. 

We Wish You a Merry Christmas -- and Drawing Reminder

This Christmas Day we trust that Rick, his mom and I will be back home after several fun days celebrating the holiday with Kevin, Molly and the boys. The big snowstorm kept Greg, who has much farther to travel, away but we'll catch up with him later. (Note: Yes, we made it back safely -- and it was a very nasty road trip. Be careful out there!)

I'll have more on that soon (it was such fun!), but for today we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and if you are traveling, please be safe, especially if you are in regions affected by winter storms. 

Celebrating 15 Years! And a GIveaway!

On December 20, 2007, I published my first post here on The Marmelade Gypsy. I'd just learned how to blog in an afternoon workshop that my then-boss held for those who were interested in blogging. Having already followed a few art blogs, I thought I might like to join in. This image was my first header, my Marmelade Gypsy.

Who could have imagined that 15 years later I would have overshared so much of my world! That deserves a little celebration and yes, a little drawing for some sort of thank you gift. More on that below.

A Little House Tour

Finally, I'm as decorated as I'm going to be! (That's not true. I will probably be bringing things upstairs till Twelfth Night when I start taking it down again!)

Join me on a little home tour! The nice parts, not the cobwebs and piles of stuff. Come on in! (Cue the Music!)

Keeping It Real

I share these moments of angst in the spirit of keeping it real. Because I have a feeling I'm not the only person going through some sort of pre-holiday frustration and I feel your pain. I've heard it all: "Don't do so much." Duh. But maybe you've experienced some of this and even if you are way more together than me (in real life, not what-I-see-on-your-blog life) I also have a couple of fun video links you might enjoy if nothing else! 

And yes, sprinkled with a tree or two throughout -- just to show you that I am making progress!

Cork Poppers Celebrate Wines of South America

Mix a little (OK, a lot) of wine, a little food, 14 people who haven't seen each other in awhile and you end up with a delightfully chaotic and fun day. Yes, it's the recipe for a Cork Poppers gathering, this time tasting the wines of South America!

Our gathering started with a lot of conversation, even before the first sip! Then it was on to the wines, three whites and five reds. 

Easy Ornament Craft for Kids (or Adults!)

I really wanted to have a little craft time with the grandlittles when they came. But what project would be easy enough for a four and five year-old with a minimum of mess and easy to complete before they moved on? I opted for easy matchbox ornaments and they were a hit.

Over the River and Through the Woods

Thanksgiving blew for us it was a whirlwind! A quiet Thanksgiving day and several after-days of fun! (Cue the Music!)

It was just me and Rick for Turkey Day itself (although we opted for roasted chicken, honey/ginger carrots, potatoes, cranberries and dressing!)