MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OREGON

Merry Christmas to everyone! The special day is almost here, and the birthday of Jesus that we all look so forward to!

I just want to do a quick update on my injuries from my fall on November 17th. I'm hanging in there and doing better! I've gone from a cast on my wrist (I broke my WRIST, not my thumb as I first was told) to a brace that I can take off now and then (for showers, etc.).......and that stays on for about 3 more weeks. Boy was it a relief to get that cast off! I do have a little more flexibility now.

I finally got in to see a neurologist. He took xrays again that day right at his office. He did confirm that I have a T8 vertabra fracture (it's squished) "nondisplaced". That means it hasn't really moved outward and he could see no sign of pinched nerves, so he didn't order an MRI. 

It is feeling better and I'm not taking pain pills, or even Advil for the most part..... that makes me feel good. But I do need to take Advil if I overdo, which it's hard for me NOT to do! I'm not supposed to lift more than 10 lbs. or twist and turn, and just be careful overall. I'll have another set of xrays done on January 9th and then "see" him on Jan. 10th via zoom meeting. I'm so glad I don't have to drive to Bend again, which is 100 miles round trip! He wants to make sure it doesn't squish down further. If it has, I don't know what he'll want to do. Say your prayers for me please? that it doesn't get any worse.

We had our first "more than a skiff" snow on December 10th.. about 6 inches. I was worried about driving to Bend 3 days later, but fortunately the roads were mostly clear. It's been VERY cold here, so that same 6 inches is still mostly on the ground 12 days later! We've  had down to about 5 degrees some nights, others maybe 12 or 14.. but I'm very happy to see that our town is keeping the roads nice and plowed.

And let me tell you.......I'm walking VERY carefully when I got outside! I'm paranoid now about walking anywhere that it "might" be icy, even if it looks like it's not. I do have to tromp in the snow sometimes... can't be helped when going out back to feed my community cat.. he lives in a little shed that I heat with a heat light, just for him.. and he also has a heated water pan! I always wear my heavy coat and carry my phone with me!

Snow on top of snow!

The snow was so beautiful... always is.. but at this point, I'd rather have rain! 

We are in the midst of the "big storm" that has moved down from Canada and is innundating the mid-west and northern states with below zero temperatures and high winds... and lots of snow in some places. I'm so so thankful that Madras is just on the edge of it, and we are only getting residual cold temps.. and a little snow (I may be speaking too soon as the snow has just started as I write this!).  It's "only" 10 degrees now so I'm a happy camper.

I so feel for my friends, family and blog friends, who live in the path of that storm. 

Before my fall, I got some crocheted leaves finished for my Autumn decorating and as gifts. I had wanted to make a few more, but with my hand in a cast, no way could I crochet. I still can't.

I hadn't made any of my Christmas cards, and I did manage to get them all finished and mailed out. It was not easy making cards one-handed. I know many of my readers have probably, at one time or another, had a surgery or injury to where they could only use one hand, but it never is easy. It was hard enough when my husband was there to help me out........ it's much harder with it only being me now.

I had both of my wrists done (carpal tunnel surgery) over the last couple of years, but I at least could use my fingers (and I had help from my hubby)......... but with the cast, I could not use them or bend anything!

Here are a few cards from Christmases past (just showing them because they are so pretty to look at!):

...........and a few recent ones from this year.........

I didn't decorate my house, other than my tree, which was a real stretch......and I put a wreath over my mantel and a few little things on my dining table in a wood tray. I'm happy that I at least got my tree up! My son was here for 10 days after my fall, and he kept saying, when are we putting the tree up? and I just really wasn't in the mood, being in pain and all. I'm glad he did set up for me. But then (after he left of course)... I found out that none of the lights worked! I ended up having to go buy lights for it and string those on, one handed of course. 

I do enjoy all the twinkling lights, and I did put up a few of my little fairy lights around the living room, here and there. 

I'm using a table I had put together for my yard sale, as my "wrapping" area and a place to display my cards. It sure has come in handy. I "was" going to sell it at the sale, but decided to keep it, as it's nice and heavy duty. Glad I did.

Once I could craft again (without pain or overdoing it), I managed to make some hot cocoa and apple cider packs, that I took to the shop here in town, where I sell my items. 

I've done a little baking... made some pumpkin bars... who craves pumpkin this time of year? I sure do! I had a store bought pumpking pie at Thanksgiving (spent alone), and now want to make a real pie. I played around with making some mug cakes... this was a gingerbread mug cake - oh so good!

I also made a chocolate one. They are so easy. I just mix up the ingredients right in the mug, and microwave it for around 90 seconds. Quick and easy and no mess!

One more thing I had started, but not finished, was a Christmas Planner. I've never made one before, but decided I would this year, so all of my lists could be in one place! So I finished it up just a couple of weeks ago, and am happily using it!

I love the Shabby papers and colors, and I made it to cover a 5 year period. I'm going to enjoy looking back each year to see what I did.

Won't be  using this section this year! I'm not doing much meal planning!

As I write this, it's Thursday, December 22nd. I'm still busily finishing up a few things, and wrapping a few more gifts for family I'll see on Christmas. I'm enjoying the feeling of being "almost" ready for Christmas Day.  

I may or may not spend Christmas with my sister and her husband. They live about 30 miles away, and it depends on the weather, plus he has been sick. I'd just as soon stay home and not catch any germs! I've bought a small ham just in case, plus a yam, cranberry sauce, cheese spread for my celery, and will make deviled eggs. Hopefully, I will also have a homemade pumpkin pie!

I'm not going out anywhere tomorrow (Friday) as it's supposed to snow or ice all day! (Update: on Thursday night, we only got about 1 inch of snow.. and got down to 4 degrees. Easy peasy! Was expecting way worse weather!)

I'll be happy and cozy inside. I pray none of you are too hard hit with this big storm. I know alot of it has hit the midwest states already.

May each and every one of you have a Blessed Christmas, and I'm wishing you love, joy and happiness. I pray this country, that I so love, will find some peace and "coming together" in 2023. I don't doubt our people.. there are SO MANY wonderful and loving people in this country.. it's the government that I pray for. 

~Marilyn~

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Having fun with the Green!

The Green is coming! Are you ready???

I discovered a sweet little gift shop here in town called The Hummingbird Junction, just blocks from where I live! I stopped in a few weeks ago (had already been many times), and took some of my crafty creations there to ask if she'd be interested in carrying some of my cards and albums, and she was! So I've been busy making cards, treat boxes (green of course) and teapot "cards".  Whatever she doesn't sell, will go into my Etsy shop.

Every year, I find myself wanting to know WHY we and so many other countries celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I always (kind of) forget. So here is info from Wikipedia if you're interested. I just love Wikipedia when I want to look up anything!

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick"), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion(especially the Church of Ireland^[4]), the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland,^[3] and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.^[5] Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilís, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.^[6] Christians who belong to liturgical denominations also attend church services^[5][7] and historically the Lentenrestrictions on eating and drinking alcohol were lifted for the day, which has encouraged and propagated the holiday's tradition of alcohol consumption.^[5][6][8][9]

St Patrick's Day, while not a legal holiday in the United States, is nonetheless widely recognised and observed throughout the country as a celebration of Irish and Irish-American culture. Celebrations include prominent displays of the colour green, religious observances, numerous parades, and copious consumption of alcohol.^[8] The holiday has been celebrated in North America since the late 18th century.

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival.^[12]

Here are two of my more "fancy" as I call them, cards. I used vintage images for all of them from The Graphics Fairy

Handmade double bow, handmade rosette, layered (digital) papers that I printed out from my printer (purchased from Etsy), and I had to make a special "box" envelope to hold the card.

Inside there is a pocket that holds some cute tags and an Irish Tea teabag.

I gold glittered the images. Isn't she the sweetest image?

I decided that these fancy, layered cards with pockets inside, and a teabag, were too labor intensive to put into a shop who takes 50% of the profit! So I made some simpler cards.. just as cute in my opinion.

Each card has a decorated envelope.

I made the paper bows using my We Are Memory Keeps Envelope Punch Board. I LOVE that punch board!  You can make so many things with it!

I made the tags that I put on some of the cards, using an old photo program (The Print Shop) that I have, where I can easily "collage" clip art images. I gathered together a top hat, some flowers, an old pocket watch, a hummingbird and a piece of lace (all clip art) and collaged them onto the tag.

I made all of the "word" tags using my photo program.. then backed them with a piece of white or green cardstock.

This fancy flourish behind the vintage image is a die cut using some gold glitter paper.

I made the circle "Happy St. Patrick's Day" tags and printed them out, then punched them out using my 1" paper punch. Then punched a scalloped circle to put behind the little tag.

Another handmade tag. This is an easy way to make cards!

Here are the tags I made:

I know this post is photo intensive, but also want to show you some darling little "teapot" cards I've made, following a YouTube video by Rejoice and Create.  Here is the link to her video: Mother's Day Teapot.  These are just darling! The card opens at the top.

Each card has a little stand I made, so it can sit up to be displayed. 

The top of the "card", where the gold clip is (or the ribbon bow) opens up and inside, there are 2 teabags, a fancy tag and a plain tag for writing on.  I had such fun making these and want to/will make some for my Etsy shop (soon I hope). I did also make a St. Patrick's Day teapot card, but forgot to take a picture of it.

And one more thing I whipped together - some tiny little treat boxes. Each one holds one little Ghiradelli chocolate square. These are in the shop in town now... and if they don't sell, I'll take them back and eat all the chocolates! 

Look at the darling little alpacas clip art I found on Etsy! 

I think I'm all "greened" out for now! 

We still have a good foot of snow on our ground and I'm SO ready for it to be gone (we DID have 2 feet, but some has melted and settled) - at least gives me an excuse to stay in the house and craft (except for having to go out and shovel every couple of days, we we kept getting more... and more..... and more)!

Have a good week everyone! Oh... and Happy St. Patty's Day!

~Marilyn~