White Christmas

Tis that time of Year 

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

Posting will return in January 2026

Ye Olde By the Wayside Bin

By the wayside goes ideas, projects, lists, enthusiasm. For example, years ago I began making a cloud ID folder using my own photographs. In my early digital camera days, clouds were a favorite subject.

Often, I put the camera on top of my head to take the picture of what is directly over me. When I see a weird sky photo, I know what it is. 

Cirrus cumulus is my first thought about the cloud type in the photos below. More searches, stratocumulus undulatus shows up in Image searches. They are low level clouds at 2000 to 7000 feet above ground according to Wikipedia. 

The Cloud ID Folder once again is on my agenda. The old photos are on a flash drive. 

Stratocumulus Undulatus

Day 339 of Week 49 December 2O25

 Merry Holidays!

Blog graphics under construction*

Looking for a new template

for 2026 that is simple and outdoorsy.

Nothing much going on here

Finishing organizing holiday 

decorations is on my list.

Fun recent discovery, summer clothes 

put in bags got mixed up 

with laundry bags. 

I put huge suitcase 

back in the closet

because I thought it was full. 

Bonus…less laundry to catch up on.

The eye surgery and dental work 

took a couple of weeks out of my

moving around much.

Cleaning off my desk

is progressing well.

Have a Clean Weekend!

Tell your boots a fun story

Bake a blueberry pie

Read about reindeer

Browse sleds online

Sing to your comb

Think about summer

Draw a pine tree grove

* Staying with this template. 

I’ve confused myself enough. 😂

Holiday DIY Tomato Cage Tree

• String of 100 lights
• Upside down tomato cage
• Outdoor garland
• Twine and or rope
• Outdoor planter with opening to fit bottom of cage; and filled with soil to anchor the display

Secure the tomato cage’s 3 ends at the top.

Wrap the garland around the cage 

Wrap the lights over the garland, taking care to have the female plug opening facing down inside at the top. At the bottom secure the male plug with twine. 

Drill 1/4 inch holes in planter a few inches below the rim and above the soil in the planter.

Secure the cage to the planter with twine or rope.

How Far Away Is the Future?

This is how the news headlines nowadays read to me. Somebody I’ve not heard of did something I don’t ‘t know anything about. 

In business and politics, I believe, that is the nature of the beast. It still leaves me feeling disconnected, questioning what does the 4th Estate engine look like. 

Right now, grasping the magnitude of what AI

is doing to life as we knew it, is very important. What will happen has left the station. The what  via AI is transforming now. I opt to read the AI search blurb more now because I know it can deliver.  Business is doing the same.

A big what to me is, after businesses using AI cut costs by eliminating people jobs, what power does consumers without jobs look like? Where is the balance going to happen when unemployment funds run out? Add in that robots in industry have replaced people, and the reality of scary becomes more real. 

As consumers, do we have any power over how far AI in business goes? I for one, do not want to buy goods transported by driverless trucks.

Will AI replace us with consumer robots? Now that is scary. 

Reflection Monday December 2025

Thinking about 2025, are you feeling the beautiful memories over the imperfect ones?

Life is textured by emotions

over the structure of events.

Start your day with

Faith, Love & Purpose

One More Day, Farewell to November 2025

November Done

Think about it. There is a whole new year with a new number to look forward to. There will be another spring, another summer, and another autumn. Where do you want to be?

Of course, everyone can name places they don’t want to be. It is easy to name places where you want to be. Can you make  being there happen?

For me, the answer is a hard no. Planning my life is like my fat pointing finger, missing the right letters on the keyboard. I can change that by being more careful. 

Making positive use of personal power also needs caution. Select a location within practical reach. Take one step in that direction and keep going as far as you are able, and still get home safely. 

Day 332 of Week 48 November 2025

A jar of food coloring in water adds
light to a decorative lantern

Farewell to November this Sunday increases the energy of a New Year approaching. What will 2026 bring? Not keen on resolutions, but I have thoughts.

Many people, I believe, not just Americans, need relief from current events’ turmoil. Absorbing the positive vibe of possibilities from a new year need not be wasted because there is so much going on to feel bad about. 

A family tradition we started decades ago, is to not argue during the holidays. It is not as easy as it may sound. The atmosphere created by that mind set makes the air feel lighter and positive.

Have a Hygee Weekend

Mix a mulled cider recipe

Browse waterproof wind pants online

Sing into a big bowl

Decoupage a tray

Bake chicken Parmesan

Draw a pinecone

Read about sleighs

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

🌲🫶🙏🏻🌎🦃🍁🍽 🥧

As we transition to Ho Ho Ho,

be good to yourself,

do no harm,

no arguing until 2 January 2026,

 sing, dance, pray 

and

raise a glass to World Peace.

Thoughts About the Holidays.

🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃

On this American Thanksgiving, I’m not celebrating the traditional way. I roasted a turkey a few weeks ago. Besides, I don’t have a fireplace, can’t play tag football, and, there’s no dinner I must attend. I will, however, partake in pumpkin pie and dressing with cranberry sauce. Not able to chew just yet, easy food is appreciated. I have fun projects planned. 

🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

The season of donate, donate, and donate begins. Add that to the constant news about holiday sales, the joy of the holidays can be smothered under it all. Donating is good anytime of the year. Supporting businesses is always important. 

How do we create a balance that leaves us room to enjoy without guilt trips and worry our economy will collapse? 

Blend. Allow all the aspects, the parts of the season to be wrapped in joyful emotions. Let the oh-no-not-again feeling wait until January. Plan your happiness. Create new traditions and embrace the old ones. Attend  concert, a craft sale and or watch holiday movies.

November Winds

Chasing the Dust

The November Woods
Carlisle Massachusetts

Thanksgiving this week is a mind shaking event when I realize that Christmas is only 29 days and 10 hours away (as of this posting at about 2:25 PM EDT).  

Do we ever tire of noting how fast the months are flying by? Methinks not because I myself post about it so often. It is a community whine that must be maintained to round out how we share things with each other. An element of cozy it be.

So, what has been going on around here. Cataract removal healed, dental extractions healing, catching up with laundry, and decluttering is progressing well. Instagram provides entertainment as my YouTube video enthusiasm wanes.

And there's a rub. I notice that on social media it isn't easy for algorithms to catch the hint. You can have a good line up and then it changes to stuff you don't care much about. I care about feeling connected. That is a benefit of social media.

I'm there to laugh, enjoy seeing art and how life moves on for others. It matters not to me if the image is AI generated. It does matter when events are AI generated, and videos are staged to gain attention/numbers. 

When the humor is good, it is good. A favorite is the face-off between the cat holding the ball staring at the dog that wants to play with it. If you ever want to see a face that defines determination on the No Scale, then that cat rules.

On YouTube I'm into watching Christmas ornaments being made. I love crafting ornaments, especially from natural materials. The majority of videos are good tutorials. However, some of the things made are downright ugly. There is nothing cute about a toilet paper flower tree, IMHO. 

Most of my time is spent chasing dust. Last night as I looked across the room, I thought to myself, minimize! Removing things where dust can fall will decrease the surface areas dust can rest on. With holiday decorating this Friday, it will be easy to bag up and box up things. 

November Photograph

 Early Snow

Crafts

Sunlight on Vase

Hello to a bright sunny morning here in Vermont. 

In contrast, the sunshine obscures the vacuuming that I did yesterday by showing every grain of dust. That will be fixed when I wash the floors. 

Anyway…

This winter, I have the feeling that  crafts will be a go to entertainment. Lining up projects that push away cabin fever is a yearly fun activity. Reading is top on my list. Fiber crafts is right after painting and writing.

I bought a cool swing arm extension clamp on desk lamp from the thrift store. Add that to a small one bulb shop lamp, I’m set for lighting. 

I’m hoping my desk/craft table will be cleaned off soon. There’s been cause to pile stuff up there. I’m keen on painting again and making the felt holly garland I found on a link in the blog, Magpie’s Mumblings.

Are there craft projects you have lined up?

Mug Hunt Season

 Yesiree, it is time to browse around for a holiday and/ or winter mug. 

Over the years, I am proud to report that I have bought more mugs than I have broken. This year, I’m into chipping  instead of breaking it up. Three of my mega mugs, (for multiple marshmallows in hot chocolate [and for hot toddies]), have tiny chips.  I might be able to repair them using ceramic paint. 

By Pfaltzgraff, Holiday Cheer pattern was discontinued in 2007. I think that’s sad because it is a lovely and simple design. There are dishes to match. I was lucky to buy two mugs and a salad plate at a local thrift store. Perfect for munching off my holiday snack tray, a tradition with me since 1975. Wow! That’s will be 50 years this December. 

Tip: Fluid fabric paint. I used it over liquid sew to repair my black puffer coat. The repair shows but isn’t nasty looking.

Processing Before the Canvas

Mt Abe from Addison Vermont

At it again, I’m back to the easel soon with a changed attitude. A few weeks ago I had a cataract removal procedure done on one eye. Light changes, becomes brighter when cataracts are removed. Think filter gone.

No kidding, I grab my underwear out of the drawer, and thought they must have been mingled with something left in the washer (shared laundry room). I look, no, they are really mine. What a nice color.

What about my artwork? How will mixing colors work? 

I don’t know if my paintings will change beyond seeing clearer colors. 

At the Dead Creek visitor center lane, there is an area where you can see the mountains clear of trees in the foreground. I drove too far into those trees for the view I wanted. I have other pictures with the mountain view. The road image, I think it is meant to be a painting. 

Addison Route 17 
 

It’s About Attitude

Do you ever get tired of not feeling well, not free of aches and pains? m

Once, many years ago I had to take a strong pill that I usually always refuse or insist taking no more than 2-3 days. I’m not big on pills, never have been. For the day I took that medication, I was shocked that all my usual aches and pains were gone.

It was that one time I had the opportunity to feel the contrast between my daily 24/7 life versus feeling good. Like tinnitus since early childhood, I became used to aching because it is part of me. 

Humans are fascinating creatures in how we adapt to all sorts of things in life. 

In answer to the question, yes, I do get tired of not feeling well. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t do things well. Life is a lot about attitude.

Blogger YouTube Link Has Porn

Signed into my gmail account

Upper right dots open and select YouTube not only tells me I’m not signed in, the page is full of porn. 

There is one video of young girls cheerleading in a very inappropriate pose. I found no report button

Instead, you are given a Feedback page to submit. 

It is disgusting.

Thoughts About Holiday Decorations

 An idea drifted by this afternoon about how to make the holidays feel cheery-ish instead of sad. 

Decorations.

A themed holiday may be a distraction that creates a sense of control. The project can get one out and about purposely searching for things. Surrounded by one’s accomplishments can be uplifting.  

What if you aren’t into decorating because it reminds you of happier times? Themed holiday decor can replace old reminders with the new one of you making the effort to feeling good. 

First, decide on a style, traditional, one color, plaid, rustic, shiny, nature, steampunk, old West, modern, beaded fruit, candy canes, Santas, musical and so on. 

Second, set a budget and source materials

Lastly, have fun decorating!

November Photograph

 Foraging Squirrels