Christmas Cheer

Fishlips will be setting up Christmas decorations around our home this week.  I received a request from the man who shares my life:  real pine garland or wreath so that we have that ‘Christmas tree smell’ since our tree is a fake one for safety and lack of space reasons.

Anchorage has several places one can visit to find real pine trees and decorations.

Bell’s nursery in Anchorage is the place to go for the best real pine decorations. Bell’s is a lovely year-round nursery that is a joy to visit anytime.  They are also the most expensive in town.

Lowes and Home Depot both have super garden areas filled with affordable pine trees and decorations that are lovely and grand also!

Our Tree from 2009

Fishlips admits she is a sentimentalist.  The discovery of this fact as one ages only makes it all that much worse.  Hallmark cards can make me weep.  A sad chick film can me weep.  Looking through old boxes filled with photos from childhood make me weep.  Putting on decade’s old Christmas ornaments will make me weep.  Each of my tree ornaments are one of a kind and each has their own little story.  Each year I look forward to seeing many of the movie Christmas classics; one of my favorites is Christmas Story. 

Fishlips has very fond memories of holidays my family celebrated.  Tradition still holds for my family across the states. I also know this is not the case for many – their holidays were filled with anger, hunger, loneliness, sadness, and other horrors.  Holidays can bring out the worse or the best in any human.

Fishlips wants those around her to believe she is strong and invincible.  I do believe many of my fellow human beings practice this approach as they go about their strides of life. So to those who struggle during the holidays: my prayer for all is simple.  “May your heart have happiness and peace for this moment in time.”

Three Faces of Eve

I’m a sucker for color.  The bold, bright colors fill my thoughts.  When I see an item I envision it in different colors.  Taming colors is not what one should do.  One needs to celebrate the colors within their world.

Modern marvels from my computer:

Digital Enhanced Photo’s altered by Photoshop

‘Three Faces of Eve’

or

‘Baby Face’ 

as I am calling the final one in all purples which is listed at my Artfire shop.

Standing Still While the World Spins

The world spins round and round; folks spin out of control.  

Fishlips thinks it must be the holiday’s that make so many folks turn into crazies. 

Fishlips has been told she is a tad too laid back about the matters of the world’s craziness.   There are moments when I feel I’m standing still and the world is spinning out of control.

I’m totally aware that any second a crazy can jump out of nowhere and destroy the planet in two seconds.  Just reading newspapers, comments on any social network, the evening news on TV can set one’s heart all a jitter.   

I refuse to play into the hype.  One cannot live life with a constant fear in their gut.  It’s just is not healthy.  I'm aware and alert that is all that is needed.

Fishlips also believes folks have vast differences in views of the world.  I can respect yours but remember to give respect back.

I also will not allow anyone to offend/attack me verbally...in my world that type of baloney is not necessary.  I love to discuss the latest issues of the day – I am open to learning new things about the world’s issues; but I refuse to be taunted into a verbal fight.  When that happens: the person who gets so aggressive is either a total nut case or someone who has anger management problems so I step quietly away from them as far as possible.

Fishlips is glad that she can put blinders on when necessary, step away from the problems surrounding so many, and enjoy the sunshine that I see each morning as it appears.  I’m so thankful for the small things in my life: a roof over her head, a warm bed, food each day, and good health. 

 

More importantly I am pleased that in small ways I can help others. 

American Cancer Society of Anchorage received a donation of 4 pieces of my art today for their annual fund raiser that will be held on February 5, 2011.

 

I’m happy to give to several non-profits whenever they ask for a donation. We support a handful.

We help the homeless all year long.  

We give to abused women shelters.  

We give to Toys for Tots.

We are retire folks living on a small fixed income but we have enough for ourselves and thus also affording us to give when we can.

Tiny things that brightens Fishlips small world.  Plus holds the craziness of the planet at bay.

Anchorage had it first major snow over Thanksgiving Holiday.  My world is complete once more!