More Love Shack Shots

 Just a few more photos of our trip to the Love Shack.

The weather was delightful, low '40's at night 

and mid '70's during the middle of the day.

We took long walks through the woods and by the stream.

And like two 10 year olds, scuffed loudly through 

every pile of sycamore leaves we saw!

Love Shack Holiday

We have been promising ourselves for years that one Christmas we would steal away and quietly celebrate just by ourselves.

And this turned out to be the year.  We returned to the Love Shack just out of Ojai where we had spent a wonderful weekend a couple of years ago.

Ethereal  quiet, wood smoke from our stove, stars everywhere, a burbling  creek just outside the window.

We brought a few decorations and a small tree.

A stop in Santa Barbara on the way down for a delicious lunch

 and a stroll through the beach-side Art Walk.

And a visit to nearby downtown Ojai to see 

the Christmas sights and do some last minute shopping.

But, mostly just solitude, reading, jouranling, listening to music,

watching candles burn and being together.

Holiday bliss.

Santa Time

From workshop to stocking.

Santa Time

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Santa Time

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf.

From the Bookshelf

This delightful children's book follows a family through the entire holiday season, from baking and decorating, visiting and shopping, from the first sight of red ribbon in a shop window to the boxes of used wrapping and dangling tinsel put out in the dustbins. All through the book are the wonderful pictures of Peter Spier - this is a "true" picture book - no words. And yet, the story is told in the bright, ringing tones of a Christmas bell. Out of print and rather expensive (even on Amazon) you should find a copy at your local library.

From start ...

...to finish!

Santa Time

Love this vintage snap of "Raymond" with Santa and his horse.

Happy Birthday Ludwig!

Happy 243th birthday to Ludwig van Beethoven!

My very favourite piece Symphony #6 known as the The Pastoral Symphony.  Listening to this is like a weekend in the country at the best type of B&B.

Listen, enjoy and raise a glass to a brilliant composer!

Suitcase Saturday - Christmas

photo courtesy of 123rf.com

 Just a few suitcases...

 some big, some small.

photo courtesy of 123rf.com

some full...

photo courtesy of popscreen.com 

some waiting to be filled.

Colourful joy for the season!

Holding my Place

I've been dealing with some health issues for a month or so and haven't been in the studio very much - good to know that my big black cat Mouse is on guard keeping things ready for me to get back in there!