Monday, December 31, 2012

It is New Year's Eve.

I am all in a tizzy.

Where oh where is my sequined dress?

Where oh where are my stiletto heels?


Where oh where is my ruby red lipstick?



It's New Year's Eve...

...and I don't know where my finery is.

Oh.

Oh.

Wait.

There is no sequined dress.

There are no stiletto heels.

There is no ruby red lipstick.

I've seen the fancy parties on TV and I even went to one.

Once.

However.

Right now...

There is a nice, soft, well-worn flannel shirt...

...and my new favorite jeans...

...and perhaps a slick of Clinique Black Honey lipstick...

...and then I am good to go.

Mr. Jenny and I will do a celebratory meal at our favorite restaurant.

Tex-Mex with a twist.

Lots of smokey pecan and chipotle flavor.

We will dine around 4 pm.

Early bird specials for us old folks.

We will look at the straggler Christmas lights on the way home.

We will talk of the joys and difficulties of the year past...

...and speak of our hopes and dreams for the year ahead.

We will discuss resetting all of our passwords.

And think of silly names for the newest Grandlittle coming into our lives in March.

We will go to bed at 9:30.

And perhaps I will dream of dancing in Times Square wearing...

a sequined dress with stiletto heels and ruby red lipstick.

Or perhaps I will just dream of my life as it is right now...

Flannel filled, Grandlittle filled, Joy filled and busy!

I hope your New Year's Eve is exactly as you dream tonight.

Whether it involve stiletto heels or not!

Happy 2013.

 
I was reading through New Year's posts past.   This one (click here!) from 2010 really hit me in the heart.
 
Okay.   And this one (click here!) made me laugh.  I'm so weird.


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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Saturday Centus - Week 140

Jenny Matlock

Welcome to week ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY of Saturday Centus. 

Hope your year is winding down to a festive helping of Merry and Bright!   I have a weekend free and I'm looking forward to an enjoyable few days of catching up on blogs!   I've missed visiting
you all and I will be by to see each of you in the next few days! 

 

The prompt this week is:   "..you want a resolution..."
Number of words: Up to 104 (including the words of the prompt)
Style of writing: Any
Pictures: Any additional you want to share

The regular restrictions apply: PG, no splitting of the prompt, play nicely and visit the other entries, any style or genre of writing you prefer. Please display my link button or just a hyper-link back to Saturday Centus. Be careful to link your SC URL to the Linky and not just link to your main blog.
 
E-mail me directly with ???'s or ask your question in a comment and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.
 
Feel free to link up anytime between now and next Saturday. post signature

Friday, December 28, 2012

Winter fall

This little poem is linked to week 139 of Saturday Centus.   The prompt is in bold.  To read other offerings using this same prompt, just click here.  I will be catching up on SC reading this weekend!   I'll see you soon! 



I’ve been standing in the winter light,
 
pretending things will be all right.
Frozen in this time and space,
 
this fall is hard.

This fall from grace.
I’ve been standing in the winter air,
 
pretending that I just don’t care.

Suspended in this time and place,
this fall is hard.
This fall from grace.

White snow.  Bright snow,
upon my face.
This fall is hard.

This fall from grace.
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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Painted Alphabet for F

Wow.

What just happened?

Was that whirl of family and lights and sugar and Scotch tape stuck on the end of my fingers Christmas?

Gosh.

I think it was.

I hope things were Merry and Bright at your house...whether you celebrated the holiday or not!

I have three "F's" to share this week.

And, no.

I'm not swearing.

(giggle)

Sorry.

I think that's the post holiday sugar withdrawal talking.

So.

Back to painting F's.

I wanted to paint a fa-la-la-la sign but I ran out of time.

Instead I painted this for my sister:











And this one for a custom order:

 
And this because I was overdosing on red and green.   Sigh.
 
 
12" x 12"
 
This post is linked to Alphabe-Thursday's Letter F.   To read other F offerings, just click here.


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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Alphabe-Thursday Letter F

 

Good morning class. Welcome to round six of Alphabe-Thursday!

Today we will be frolicking with the letter:


Please link directly to your Alphabe-Thursday URL (if you don't know how to do this let me know!) and please continue to visit the five links before and after your link and leave a comment. Minimum of 10 links visited please. You can visit more if you like, of course.

I also want to let you know that each week I visit every blog. I have been particularly naughty over this week of Christmas though and haven't even started reading the letter "E's".   I will be catching up this week!  Thank heavens Santa didn't find out about this.  I would have gotten a lump of coal in my stocking for sure.

If you have any difficulties with your link, please make sure to include the number of the link when you e-mail me. It is really difficult for me to find you easily otherwise.

If you have any questions about Alphabe-Thursday or problems doing your link just post it in a comment or send me an e-mail. I'll do my best to help you as quickly as I can.

The McLinkey will be live from 1:00 pm MST time Wednesday afternoon in an effort to assist our lovely "friends across the pond" and continue through 10:00 am MST time Saturday morning!

And remember.... link back to this post, you need to be registered as a follower of my blog, PG posts only, and visit at least 10 other students (perhaps the 5 students before and after your post). The links will stay live after the final post deadline has passed so you can even wait and visit over the weekend or whenever you have more time.

Please share your fanciful F post now!



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Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas


The tiny church was a bit shabby.   Perhaps the paint would be refreshed during the verdant green months of summer.   Perhaps the cracked and crazed varnish on the tall vestibule doors would be carefully sanded and varnished accompanied by the drone and whine of fat summer flies.
 
In the early evening hours of this particular glitter-filled winter night, the shabbiness was forgotten.   Nestled beneath a canopy of ancient bare winter branches, the simple architecture and arched windows gilded the snow covered lawn with warm golden light and welcomed all.
 The small vestibule was cluttered with nervous children.
 Tonight was the children’s Christmas program.   We had been prompting, cajoling and practicing with squirmy children for weeks.   Tonight the congregation had gathered to enjoy our hard work and effort.
 My friend, Connie, and I had created the little program together.
 She, the costumer and teacher of lines.
 Me, the writer of music and lyrics. 
 Our grand finale involved 25 little children dressed in white robes with wings walking up the church aisle in song.
 
The children were carrying little candles imbedded in small aluminum pie pans to catch the drips.
Twenty-five years ago with extremely limited budgets, the robes were hand made from sheets and the wings fashioned of glittered construction paper.   Pipe cleaner halos fought to escape their confinement of dozens of hair pins on each small head.
Seated with my guitar on the altar, I remember catching my breath when Connie turned most of the church lights off.
The glow from the candles flickered from the vestibule.
I strummed the opening chord and a little stream of innocence marched two by two up the stone aisle toward the altar.
All the little eyes were intent and serious…on the flickering candles, on remembering the words to the song...
They walked carefully.
And we sang.
Oh, how we sang.
Our word echoed through the arches of the church.
The congregation held their breath.
And when the last note fell away I realized I had seen something as close to heaven as I could imagine.
Innocence.
Music.
Love.
Joy.
It was a beautiful Christmas program.
I wish you could have seen it.
A few days ago I dusted off my guitar and dug out the music from this program.
It’s been a long time since I’ve played.
 
My fingertips hurt tonight.
 
And I'm pretty sure my guitar isn't quite in tune.
 
I have a cold.
But I was determined to share this Christmas song with you.
Alas, I am technically challenged.
Instead of sharing the music all I can share is some of the lyrics:
My candle is shining so bright so bright
On all who gather here.
My candle is shining tonight, tonight
To show that Christmas is near.
See the baby Jesus.
Sleeping soft and sweet.
Mary and Joseph gather around
With angels at their feet.
My candle is shining so bright so bright
On all who gather here.
My candle is shining tonight, tonight
To show that Christmas is near
Say a prayer inside your heart
For peace and love tonight
And I will share my Christmas songs
I will share my light.
Thank you for all the blessings you have given me by your many kindnesses.
Dear friends.
Merry Christmas.
May your candles shine brightly this day and every day.
 
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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Saturday Centus - Week 139





Jenny Matlock

Welcome to week ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-NINE of Saturday Centus. 

 

The prompt this week is:   "White snow.  Bright snow."
Number of words: Up to 104 (including the words of the prompt)
Style of writing: Any
Pictures: Any additional you want to share

The regular restrictions apply: PG, no splitting of the prompt, play nicely and visit the other entries, any style or genre of writing you prefer. Please display my link button or just a hyper-link back to Saturday Centus. Be careful to link your SC URL to the Linky and not just link to your main blog.
E-mail me directly with ???'s or ask your question in a comment and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.
 
Feel free to link up anytime between now and next Saturday. post signature

Friday, December 21, 2012

Santa Grump


I wish I had a nickel

For every time I’ve heard that song

They play it on the radio

And they play it all day long

Five golden rings and la, la, la

Lords a leaping and all that stuff.

Christmas carols since November 1

Is really a little much

I wish I had a nickel

For every time I’ve heard them play

‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’

‘cuz then I’d be on my way.

To Jamaica or Hawaii,

Or someplace really fine

On the thirteenth day of Christmas

A zillion dollars in nickels would be mine!
 
Sigh.
 
Yes, this is a grumpy prompt interpretation. 
 
BUT.

I've been babysitting 3 sick Grandlittles all week. 
Tonight I have taken a 10 year old Christmas shopping for a dog, cat, Mom, Dad and two siblings.  Said shopping trip involved three stores, all the while repeating approximately 213 times, i AM NOT MADE OF MONEY. In addition to the aforementioned trip, there was also a trip with a 6 year old which involved two stores and the great desire for valium.   For myself.  Valium for myself.   She as too excited about wanted to buy weird things for everyone on her list.

I'm not gonna tell you stories (cuz Santa might overhear and cut me off, but after Christmas...I'll be able to go into more detail.   Mwahahahahahahaha!

To read other less grumpy posts,  click here.
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E is for Easy Peasy Quilts.

Yes, huh.

Peasy is a real word.

I'll look it up in the dictionary later to prove it.

So there.

Because I am alphabetically challenged I actually painted some "F's" for this week.   Then, alas, I realized that E actually comes after D.  

I thought briefly of writing one of those strange rules...

...you know, like...

I before E except after C (weird, right?)...

...but frankly...

I'm too busy trying to be elf-like here at the Matlock house.

So.

I give you pictures of four easy-peasy quilts. 

The first two are pinwale corduroy.   The last two are flannel.

 
 



 
Sorry about the sideways but they pretty much look the same from all angles - ha!

I have three more in the 'to finish' pile but that's gonna happen this weekend.

Hope things are feeling pretty Merry and Bright at your house.

And I hope that you know that E comes after D in the alphabet.

Sigh.

This post is linked to Alphabe-Thursday's Letter E.   To read other E offerings, just click here.


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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Alphabe-Thursday Letter E


Good morning class. Welcome to round six of Alphabe-Thursday!

Today we will be elucidating about the letter:


Please link directly to your Alphabe-Thursday URL (if you don't know how to do this let me know!) and please continue to visit the five links before and after your link and leave a comment. Minimum of 10 links visited please. You can visit more if you like, of course.

I also want to let you know that each week I visit every blog. If it appears I haven't visited your blog by the following Thursday morning, please let me know!

If you have any difficulties with your link, please make sure to include the number of the link when you e-mail me. It is really difficult for me to find you easily otherwise.

If you have any questions about Alphabe-Thursday or problems doing your link just post it in a comment or send me an e-mail. I'll do my best to help you as quickly as I can.

The McLinkey will be live from 1:00 pm MST time Wednesday afternoon in an effort to assist our lovely "friends across the pond" and continue through 10:00 am MST time Friday morning!

And remember.... link back to this post, you need to be registered as a follower of my blog, PG posts only, and visit at least 10 other students (perhaps the 5 students before and after your post). The links will stay live after the final post deadline has passed so you can even wait and visit over the weekend or whenever you have more time.

Please share your eloquent letter E post now!
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

All is calm...

...all is bright...
 
For some reason the canned music inside the auditorium was stuck on a loop of Silent Night.
 
I watched the little children file in and I struggled hard to keep back my tears.
 
The third graders...dressed in bright shades of red, lime and holiday green...filled the bleachers.
 
I counted.
 
Twenty-five innocent faces filled one section.  The children wiggled in excitement and enthusiasm.   So much energy and joy contained in those animated little beings.
 
I counted the children again.
 
One whole section of the bleachers...and more...gone.
 
My Mother's heart wept.
 
My Grandmother's heart wept.
 
I don't know what has to happen to protect our lovely children.
 
But until it does...
 
None of us will truly again know the meaning of...
 
...all is calm.
 
...all is bright.



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Saturday, December 15, 2012





Jenny Matlock

Welcome to week ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT of Saturday Centus. 
 


The prompt this week is:   "On the 13th Day of Christmas..."
Number of words: Up to 106 (including the words of the prompt)
Style of writing: Song lyrics
Pictures: Any additional you want to share

The regular restrictions apply: PG, no splitting of the prompt, play nicely and visit the other entries, any style or genre of writing you prefer. Please display my link button or just a hyper-link back to Saturday Centus. Be careful to link your SC URL to the Linky and not just link to your main blog.
E-mail me directly with ???'s or ask your question in a comment and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.
 
Feel free to link up anytime between now and next Saturday. post signature

Friday, December 14, 2012

Bah! Hum squirrel.

This squirrely little post is linked to week 137 of Saturday Centus.   The prompt is the picture.   To read other uses of the prompt, just click here.
 

It was a totally innocent remark.
 
"Chatter, chatter,” I said.
 
And then she said, “Chatter, chatter, chatter…”
 
So, I go, “Chatter, chatter, chatter, chatter?!?”
 
And then she said to me, “Ccccchhhatter…”
 
“Seriously? And in that tone of chatter?   Can you believe that? She actually stutter chattered. Holy nuts! The nerve of some squirrels! Hardly in the Christmas spirit at all.”
 
Mutter, mutter, mutter, chatter, chatter….
 
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Thursday, December 13, 2012

D is for...

The first thing I thought of for the letter D was Dunkin' Donuts!

Sigh.

No wonder I'm a little ... ummm... fluffy.

But...

I digress.

I have a few more C's to read but I'll be by tomorrow.

Pinkie swear.

In the meantime, I have a few painted D's to share with you!

 
I like this.  It's little.   But mighty.   8" x 8"
 
I painted this sign for me. 
 
 
 It's 24" x 16".   I think it's quite delightful.  Even thought painting the sleigh was anything but.
 
This last sign is Definitely the 'reason for the season'.   That's why I included it in my little D post for this week.
 
 
16" x 15"
 
I'm definitely having fun painting these days.
 
And I always love sharing what I do paint with you here!
 
Thanks for stopping by!

To visit other links to the letter "D", just click here.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Alphabe-Thursday Letter D


Good morning class. Welcome to round six of Alphabe-Thursday!

Today we will be discussing the letter:


Please link directly to your Alphabe-Thursday URL (if you don't know how to do this let me know!) and please continue to visit the five links before and after your link and leave a comment. Minimum of 10 links visited please. You can visit more if you like, of course.

I also want to let you know that each week I visit every blog. If it appears I haven't visited your blog by the following Thursday evening, please let me know!

If you have any difficulties with your link, please make sure to include the number of the link when you e-mail me. It is really difficult for me to find you easily otherwise.

If you have any questions about Alphabe-Thursday or problems doing your link just post it in a comment or send me an e-mail. I'll do my best to help you as quickly as I can.

The McLinkey will be live from 1:00 pm MST time Wednesday afternoon in an effort to assist our lovely "friends across the pond" and continue through 10:00 am MST time Friday morning!

And remember.... link back to this post, you need to be registered as a follower of my blog, PG posts only, and visit at least 10 other students (perhaps the 5 students before and after your post). The links will stay live after the final post deadline has passed so you can even wait and visit over the weekend or whenever you have more time.

Please feel free to discuss your dynamic letter D now!
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

It's not that I have writers block...

It's that I have...

...sick Grandlittles...

...sick Mr. Jenny...

...Christmas cards to finish...

...Christmas boxes to get out...

...Christmas orders to finish painting...

...a great need to deck my halls with boughs of holly...


 
...there's laundry and dinner and re-piling all the piles of things that have become un-piled.

...and somewhere in that list I still need to find time to pee.

Speaking of which...

Gotta go!

(hee hee!)

Hope your Tuesday is terrific! 
 
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Saturday, December 8, 2012

Saturday Centus 137





Jenny Matlock

Welcome to week ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVEN of Saturday Centus.  I apologize for the weird formatting here.   Blogger is really being difficult tonight. 
 
Picture prompt this week!   Some of  requested silly and/or crazy.   Here you go! 

HOWEVER,  please note the STYLE of writing for this picture prompt!

Hee hee.

You don't want me to be tooooo easy, do you?




Number of words: Up to 100
Style of writing: FIRST PERSON ummm... I mean...FIRST SQUIRREL (mwahahaha!)
Pictures: Any additional you want to share

The regular restrictions apply: PG, no splitting of the prompt, play nicely and visit the other entries, any style or genre of writing you prefer. Please display my link button or just a hyper-link back to Saturday Centus. Be careful to link your SC URL to the Linky and not just link to your main blog.
E-mail me directly with ???'s or ask your question in a comment and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.
 
Feel free to link up anytime between now and next Saturday. post signature