Another year older!

Yesterday was my- should I put it in print??? My 47th birthday! We ended up seeing Benjamine Button, and then going to the Boathouse Grill.
The movie was REALLY interesting, although I would caution- take tissue, it's a bit of tear jerker!
As far as dinner goes, it was good, but I think next time it will be a lunch stop- I was in the mood for something a bit more "gourmet", however the crab cakes were de-lish!
It is really funny, my eyes seem to have gotten worse over night! I can't even see the computer without a pair of glasses! I guess that is what happens when you have another birthday!

enjoying my time off

I have been a bit lazy this week! I am trying to destress after the crazy week before Christmas. I even spent one hole day in my pajamas! Wow that was nice! Today I will be going into Rochester to visit my 93 year old grandmother, it has been a while since we visited her, so that will be nice. Then we will be dropping Wils off to have a sleepover with my parents for a couple of days. Don and I will have my annual birthday celebration- dinner and a movie tomorrow. I want to see Slumdog Millionaire, not sure where I want to eat, any suggestions?

A fab holiday!

Here are some shots of my little guy at our Christmas Eve party with Grandma and Gramdpa!
Wils loves the train around the tree.
He found the pickle- again! The game was the pickle prize. The seafood crepes were my prize!
We always end the evening with a group reading of the Night Before Christmas. This was the first year Wils actually read his part!
We had such a wonderful holiday, it is a lot of work, but so special when you have a young child. I want Wils to believe in Santa forever!

Christmas morning!

Don and I got a new video camera from Santa- here we are waiting for Wilson to get up, he is SLEEPING IN ON CHRISTMAS!!!???

A vid for Gary:

The last order is out!

Just in time! My customer will be happy. If there is one thing I can't stand- it is "camo print"!
So when someone ordered a bowl with "my take on camo" (for a wedding gift), I wasn't real excited! But I did it- and I have to admit I do camo pretty well! I don't think it will be a regular pattern in my repertoire, but it looks great on this one bowl.

The Holiday is on top of me! I still have lots of cleaning- I don't know what I was thinking, inviting my parents for Christmas brunch! I still can't see my dinning room table and the pet hair tumbleweeds are drifting all over the place! On top of that Wilson wants to make gingerbread people when I get home from the gallery this afternoon! I am going to take items to wrap with me so I can try to put a dent in that- not even started yet! Christmas was such a magical time when I was a child- it is one big stress ball when you have kids. There is so much pressure to make it a special day. Really when I think about it, Wils is such a great kid he would probably be happy no matter what we did!

Lights, camera, Wilson!

Wilson took a couple of pics of the Christmas tree.

I was surprised to get home last night and see lights on the tree! Don got them up while I was at a Groton Business Association event.
Tonight we pull out the boxes of ornaments and really get to work!
Wils Decorates a tree the way most kids do- hanging everything at his eye level in a big cluster. Good thing we have tons of ornaments that I have been collecting since I was a child- breakables on top!

I did it!

I was able to clear a corner of my very cluttered parlor- the tree is in and actually standing! That took a little muscle (and yelling!) Don will be surprised to see I did it. He always makes such a fuss- and I do the yelling. I even think it is straight. I love when the tree is finally up and all 4 of the cats come out of their hiding places and inspect it. The Christmas tree is a big deal in my house- it does smell good.
I just realized I never mentioned where I get my tree. My Dad's best friend was a Christmas tree farmer. Years ago (when we were very young- 10-14) my brother and I would help Carl plant trees in the spring. Every year a beautiful tree appears at my door all ready to bring in and decorate. I always think maybe this is one of the seedlings I stuck in the ground. Although the trees I planted are probably about 60 feet tall that was so long ago!

Every year I look at my tree and say "This is the prettiest one we have ever had".

My next goal...

This is the beautiful tree we had LAST YEAR! I have my tree, ready to be put up for this year outside- waiting for a spot to become available. My goal today is to have the living room clean and ready for this years tree! Wilson is anxious to have it inside. I looked at the advent calender this morning- ONLY 10 DAYS LEFT!!!!! I am done with shows and openings and now I need to focus on my own stuff.
I came home exhausted and pretty happy with the way things went yesterday at the Temple Beth 'El Holiday fest. I sold a lot of dreidels and a few other pieces. It was a nice show, although a long day. My face hurts from smiling at people.
My montra today- a clean home is a happy home, and we will have a spot for the Christmas tree. Time to go make myself happy.

Could things get any better?

Well the first one this year- a snow day, and my little "helper" will be with me ALL DAY! that will probably put a glitch in the dreidel production. Hopefully the snow is good for packing- my guy likes to make snow people! The good news is I made double chocolate brownies- I'm sure there will not be many customers visiting the gallery, so I will be sure to eat plenty of "butt spreading" goodies!

It is pretty out with all the snow sticking to all the trees- it looks like the holidays.

UUGGHHHH!

Okay, just when I decided I would have what I have for the Temple Beth 'El holiday show- I find out about this in the Ithaca Journal!
I am really happy about the advert, but I need to produce MORE DREIDELS! I finished 4 yesterday- I'm shooting for 5 today! The family will have to fend for themselves as far as dinner goes. I will be painting!

Taking a poll...

I can't decide which one of these photos to use for my Christmas card. Taking a poll, #1 or #2?

On With The Holidays!

The artwork was fabulous, the food was plentiful, the wine was a pouring, but the crowd was a bit light. I think the weather was a little much for a lot of people to venture out yesterday. It was snowin, blowin, and REALLY cold! Hopefully my wonderful local art enthusiasts will come in to see the "Gifted" show in the next couple of weeks. I feel very honored to have such a delightful group of artists participating in this show, I really want people to see it! I am NOT totally disappointed, the people that did come, did some shopping, and sales were pretty good- but I'm always chasing that "green" dragon. You have to to stay in business. I always say "I'm not in it to get rich", but I do want to make my artists happy and I need to pay the rent.

Thanks to all that came and enjoyed the afternoon, and thanks so much Alice, Werner, Jolene, Dee, and Gary.

Excited!!!!

Today is the day! The final show of the year- and a REALLY good one. Tons of food and drink. Come celebrate the season with us. Meet the artists, share the holiday cheer, and do a bit of shopping in a truly special setting. All are welcome. Gotta go- lots to do!

Gary on display!

Plenty of Gary Rith Pottery on display for Sunday's Artists' Reception. Only 2 more artists to get hung and displayed. Don't want to leave it till the last minute- DEE and JOLENE!!! After that I have to get home and cut veggies, make the vegan olive spread, mix up dips and guac, and make about 150 gingerbread people! I was also hoping to get some painting in- SURE!

Uplifted!

Yesterday we were busy hanging the big wall. Here is Werner making adjustments to one of his mobiles. Alice's birds, clouds, moon and lady fly among the colorful gentile movement of the mobiles. I am SO HAPPY with this wall! It is absolutely beautiful. There are still a couple of pieces to hang. Thanks to my fab artists- it looks incredible!

Are you kidding me?

Okay, I started getting these when I was about 35 years old. Yesterday one of these came in the mail for my son Wilson! Wils just turned 7! I think he has to grow up and get a job before he can join the American Association for Retired People. Retirement is a long way away for me, for Wilson it unimaginable! I thought this was absolutely hilarious!

A sad night...

Yesterday my husband got news that his sister Carolyn had passed away. Carolyn had been very sick in the hospital the past 2 weeks. She had also been surviving cancer for many years (although it never went away).

We are very sad to have lost such a wonderful person. Don was very close to his sister and his best friend Jim, from childhood was also her husband.

Carolyn had a PHD from Cornell in psychology and when Don was in graduate school at Cornell, he and Carolyn were roommates for a year while she was finishing up and he was starting.

Our hearts go out to Jim, and our spirits fly with Carolyn. We will miss you.

Gingerbread people on parade!

My kitchen is being taken over by an invasion of gingerbread people! They are everywhere! The best thing about making these guys is I can do them ahead of time. Gingerbread gets better a few days after it is made! Oh, and no dairy my dairy free friend!

My head is a jumble!

My 93 year old Grandmother is still going strong! She lives in her townhouse in Fairport NY on her own. She will still even venture out to Wegmans, or the liquor store (just out her complex driveway) in her 1986 white Volvo. Grandma always does the "jumble" in the morning- she says it keeps her mind nimble. Anyway, I thought to myself "my head is a jumble" and I started thinking about Gram... I need to take a drive to Fairport, to the Georgetown Commons Townhouse complex and have a nice visit with her.

Martini anyone?

I just finished this pair of martini glasses last night. I think they came out FAB! The thing I love about these is they look as good from the inside as they do from the outside! Might as well have something pretty to look at while your drinking! Although, after a few they might make you a bit dizzy.

The Shopper Ad for this week- I think it looks pretty good. I am really hoping for a good crowd. I went and got wine yesterday. I need to go to the grocery store for supplies so I will have a nice selection of festive munchies. I also have to make gingerbread people this week- and get them decorated. Not to mention rearranging the gallery and hanging/setting up the new work! WOW- busy week!