New Day, New Year

Here we are, already 9 days into the new year! Can we believe it? Will January go fast??? Yes! I must admit, it's always kind of a letdown after Christmas, following all of the hustle and bustle, and after the final NEW YEAR'S EVE excitement. Although I really don't do anything 'exciting' for New Year's Eve, it's the anticipation leading up to midnight that gets me every time. And then, New Year's Day, I kind of crash land! Is it like that with you?

So....... the first few days of 2026 have been a little "down" for me. I don't seem to have much motivation for anything. I think I used up ALL of my motivation the last couple of months of 2025!

Looking forward to Valentine's Day crafting.

My decorations are still up. I put them up so late (December 24th), I'm going to keep them out awhile, as I so enjoy the pops of red, plaids, and lights at night. I wait until dusk to turn on my tree lights... it's always something to look forward to. 

My Maddie kitty has a new friend - she loves sleeping with him!

My Daphne is blooming!

A surprise for me is that my Daphne shrub, that I planted the summer of 2024, is blooming again! I thought they only bloomed in the early Spring! But no... it's been full of flowers since early December! Before my son and Terra came over on Christmas Day, I picked a bunch and put two flowers in little glasses, all over the house!  Such sweet fragrance.

One day right after the 1st of January, I decided to start making my Christmas cards for next year! I got about 12 cut out and ready to paste and decorate, but that's about as far as I got. They still sit in a pile on my dining table. They're from some gorgeous new Christmas papers (Christmas, from Carta Bella Designs) I received as a gift from my sister. I just HAD to work with them now, and not wait another year. I'm happy to say I DID get my dining table all cleaned off and most of my Christmas papers and epehemera, ribbons, cutouts, etc. put away to free up my space for more seasonal crafting.

Made a special card for my nephew's 40th birthday.

Of course, had my cup of tea - tried out the new honey sticks I received from my sister for Christmas.

I'm enjoying walks around the mobile home park where I live. There is a stand of very very old giant Cedars that greet me every time I walk down the path. They are so stately. I can imagine when someone planted them as seedlings, so many years ago. So far (knock on wood) the high winds  haven't knocked any down!

It's time to get back to "work" on my two part-time jobs! One.... photographing and listing jewelry in my daughter-in-law's Etsy shop, Terra Stones Astoria. 

Her jewelry is exquisite! Her Etsy shop is having a 10% off sale this month, on total purchases of $100.00 or more. I think her brick and mortar store in Astoria is having an even bigger sale! 

And I need to be entering new digital items in my own Etsy shop, Rocking Horse PrintsUS. Time for making new Valentine's Cards and St. Patrick's Day cards and all the fun stuff! Here are a couple of cards I already have in my shop, ready to cut and print.

 

The work never ends it seems.................

Hope everyone is recovering from the holidays, and safe and well and healthy.

Marilyn

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Countdown!

Only 2 days to go until the celebration of Jesus's birthday. I think I'm just about ready, and I've enjoyed every minute of preparations.

Made my cards, and some "Sasquatch" cards for the shop where I consign my paper crafts.

Made some Hershey Bar pockets for the shop.

Put my Christmas bedspread on my bed and a few decorations in my bedroom.

Finally set up my tree and a few decorations. So pretty. I love the lights at night. So cozy.

Maddie says hi.

She likes to be right in the middle of things! Sits on my table while I create!

Played with Gemini AI on my phone to make some digitals, just for fun.

Drove down the road to see if the little creek has flooded. We've had all those "atmospheric rivers" in the last few weeks. New name for an old weather pattern, HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING, which has been going on here forever! 

Yup it has flooded.

More decorating and a snuggly night watching Christmas movies.

A couple of more cards I made for my neighbors. (Sorry there are 2 of one, and turned sideways!) I'm posting on my phone and it won't let me rotate them or delete the extra one - good old Blogger)

Played with my new toy, the Cricut Joy Xtra cutting machine. I can use it to make stickers! I've wanted this for a couple of years. Will play and learn after Christmas.

I am so grateful to be living close to my son and his fiance. They are coming over here on Christmas Day. We'll have a little feast and open gifts. We are having a "slimmer" Christmas this year, which is as good thing. Being with my son is the best gift of all!

MERRY CHRUSTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD 2026!

Marilyn

Getting Ready

Well friends, I've let Fall pass me by without posting. I just can't seem to keep up with Father Time. He moves way too fast for me!

When I visited my sister in Terrebonne, Oregon, I drove home over Mt. Hood and took time to stop at some fruit stands. I was looking for fresh peaches, although it was October and  past the season.

Still some beautiful Fall colors in October, up near Mt. Hood.

After 3 fruit stands, no one had any. I was so disappointed. But what do you think I found over in Oregon on my way home at a little produce stand in Clatskanie, about 20 miles from my house? Fresh Hood River peaches! How ironic is that?

I managed to take a stroll through our local nursery, Blackberry Big Farm, right before Halloween. Oh it was so pretty!

Went on a mushroom hunt/photo shoot with my daughter-in-law. I'm amazed and fascinated with these red dotty ones around the outskirts of Astoria. We took some of her little fairies and elves to pose for us!

Hoping to use some of my photos for Christmas cards.

And I took a quick drive over to the ocean on a gorgeous, unwindy day.

Everything looked purple! No I didn't do any editing of this photo or add color tinges.  Wow.

And now................... I'm getting ready for Christmas!

Father Time, I'm going to catch up with you, I really am!

How is your Christmas planning coming along?

Hugs..........Marilyn