Tag Archive | special

Storytelling – Christmas Express Train Set

Our Holiday Stocking Holder

When my son was little, decorating for the holidays suddenly became more fun. Like a lot of little boys, he loved trains! When he was about 4, I found the perfect stocking holder set, a train! The set has become one of our holiday traditional decorations to put out on the fireplace mantle each year. When we moved from Virginia to North Carolina, we also had the chance to bring my husband’s oldest son into our celebrations. Which meant we needed another train car for the additional stocking. Finding another car to go with our existing train wasn’t easy and we were forced to find an alternative during that first holiday. Thankfully he’s 20 years older than our son, so he wasn’t offended But I’ve made it a mission to find an additional train car to go with our existing set. Enter eBay!

Here’s what I’ve found out about our train set. They’re rare and they seem to be VERY popular! Two things that create challenges for eBay buyers. It means they’re not listed very often. And they’re often very expensive! This year, 2019, there’s an Egg Nog car listed for $325 and the current bids are over $420. Wow! Still I’m determined. I’m hoping to find the Santa and one of the tanker cars to add to my set.

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Green Bean Casserole

Aug30

Sandy’s Green Bean Casserole

GrandMa Sandy’s Green Bean Casserole
A perfect way to spice up your veggies. For Gary’s family, holidays often included this bean casserole that makes every celebration a little extra special.

It’s simple to make and is often found on southern tables for fall and winter dinners, or spring and summer picnics. It’s become a family favorite for the Hollands.

Preparation time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:

2 med size cans of cut green beans
(or 1 lbs frozen cut green beans)
1 can Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup
1/2 can of milk
(use the mushroom can to measure)
1 tsp of black pepper (or to taste)
1lg. container of French’s French Fried Onion Rings

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Pixilated

Jan17

My Favorite Word

Origin of pixilated. altered ; from pixy-led, lost, literally, led astray by pixies, influenced, influence by past participle of verbs in -late (as elated, titillated).

One of my favorite words in the english language is “Pixilated”. I first heard the word in a movie starring Gary Cooper. Two little old ladies are called as witnesses in a court case and asked about the character of Longfellow Deeds. They say “Longfellow has always been a little pixilated.” I’ve been in love with the word ever since.

This morning Garrett and I were talking about the word and I was trying to remember the name of the movie the line comes from. Which was made more difficult since I’m on some heavy-duty pain meds from a recent surgery. And it didn’t help that I remember the movie as a Cary Grant film, which isn’t the right leading actor for this movie. But off to do a search and find the title.

It’s not easy finding obscure things on the internet. After 45 minutes of futility searching, I finally found an interesting site that provides full scripts from both movies and tv. How helpful! Script-o-rama.com.

Armed with the name of the movie IMDB provided the rest of the information. Made in 1936 by Frank Capra, starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur.

“Mr. Deeds Goes To Town”
Longfellow Deeds lives in a small town, leading a small town kind of life – including playing the tuba in the town band. When a relative dies and leaves Deeds a fortune, Longfellow picks up his tuba and moves to the big city where he becomes an instant target for everyone from the greedy opera committee to the sensationist daily newspaper. Deeds outwits them all until Babe Bennett comes along. Babe is a hot-shot reporter who figures the best way to get close to Deeds is to pose as a damsel in distress. When small-town boy meets big-city girl anything can, and does, happen.

Now if I ever need to find a movie quote, I know where to go for help.

By
2016

Faerie Inspirations

Aug27

Faerie Magazine

I admit it, I’m a Facebook-aholic. One of the pages I follow is for the Faerie Magazine. Every now and then they post images of some of the beautiful and magikal places around the world that simply inspire a vision in my head.

Faeries fluttering in the misty woods, spreading their sparkling magik glitter over plants, trees and animals. Leaving behind all colors of the rainbow and groves of mushrooms where they’ve danced in a circle to celebrate their work and play.

I usually comment on the post to share the vision. But for those who don’t have facebook or follow me, I thought I’d share a few of them here.

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Happy International Faery Day!

Jun24

Niamh and the Raven
Felted sculpture in the picture is by Lavender and Lark

June 24th Is International Faery Day

May all the Faery’s in your world greet you with smiles and glee,
May you share a laugh, comfort a sorrow and toast with me,
To the beautiful mystical Faery folk who live in the magikal tree.
© 2015

Celebrate by leaving a small plate of fresh fruit, nuts and sweet treats in your yard or garden for your faery friends.

Right about sunset, read them a poem, a story or tell them a tale from your imagination. You can even tell them a dream you’ve had about them. Continue reading →

Storytelling – Air Bubbles

Mar16

Bath-tub Contemplations

Thoughts From The Tub

So I’m sitting here doing some busy work and the boy, who’s home sick, once again comes out of the bath to share something he had been contemplating while his day in tub.

Momma, do you know what a fart is?

Mom: Yes it’s flatulence.

Boy: Ok, whatever that is.
A fart is your butt cheeks applauding your digestive system.

Mom: …can’t stop laughing! Yet another “poofie poofie” moment.

2015

Red Shoulder Hawks

Mar12

Animal Sign

Many different cultures believe when animals cross your path, they’re bringing a message to share with you. The Cherokee belief that Red Tailed and Red Shoulder Hawks are messengers of vision. When you see one of these beautiful birds, what ever it was you were thinking about at the time, is happening around you or it’s going to come true and manifest in your life.

It takes a lot of energy to flap wings and move a large body into higher flight. This is why you often see a kettle of Turkey Vultures soaring in a circle together. They are trying to catch the thermal and use the warm air for lift. Yes a flock of Vultures in flight is called a kettle. While a committee, volt, and venue of vultures refer to vultures resting in trees. A wake is reserved for a group of vultures that are feeding.

Like most large birds, Red Tail/Shoulder hawks look for these same warm updrafts to help them gain lift and rise up into the sky. While it’s common to see Vultures together like this, it’s extremely rare to see three Red Shoulder hawks flying together as they try to catch a thermal to rise up over the landscape. This is known as a boil of hawks (two or more spiraling in flight), where as a flock of hawks is referred to as a cast, or a kettle (flying in large numbers). Continue reading →

Storytelling – The Funniest Things

Mar6

Thinking In The Tub

So I’m sitting here trying to relax from a stressful week. Seriously stressful. I’m watching one of my favorite crime shows when the boy comes out of the bath. He’s standing behind the couch, with a towel wrapped around him, patiently waiting for a commercial to come on. Isn’t that thoughtful.

Then he starts his rambling. At first I honestly have no idea what he’s talking about. But I try to tune in.

“So I had one of those bathtubs moments and it made me think. Back in the olden times, what happened if you were in a suit of armor that was fully contained with your body.”

Ok..there are so many things that I don’t get about that sentence, but I’m imagining said suit of armor all the sudden in my head. Continue reading →

What Is It About Snow

Feb16

Snow Smiles

Snow purifies the landscape with white glistening flakes.
Snow calms the world and welcomes the quiet from its cold blanket.
Snow illuminates the darkness of night and brightens the gloom of the day.
Snow beacons the children of all ages to the nearest hills for sledding and fun.
Snow brings friends together to fashion the years first snowman or woman.
Snow invites the challenge of snow ball fights from home-built forts and hand carved ammunition.
Snow shares a smile as a new puppy or kitten touch the white flakes for the very first time.
Snow captures the wonder of discovery as each person young and old who have never seen it before.
What is it about snow you ask?
Snow is winters reminder to smile and laugh. To appreciate the beauty of all our seasons. Both warm and cold.

By
2015

A New Year’s Toast

Dec31

May you be blessed with prosperity and abundance all the year through

Wishing You A Better
Sparkly New Year

Happy, Happy New Year!
We wish you all the best,
May your work be easy,
With time for relaxing sweet rest.

We wish you much and more,
contentment, peace and abundance,
A brighter, better New Year,
than any you’ve ever had before.

We raise a glass or two,
with laughter, joy and sparkles,
to say good-bye to the old,
and hello to welcome in the new.

Happy New Year!!

By
2015