Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas at Tennessee Valley

I love these shadows!

John and I took a morning stroll through Tennessee Valley to begin Christmas day.  Our first sight was two deer near the parking area, and further along, several more.  There were very few people when we started our hike, which was nice.  Today is another “Spare the Air” day, and the air quality was horrendous, about the worst I’ve ever seen (there were "God Beams" in the smog).  Still, it was good to walk off a little of that Christmas dinner and get some partly fresh air.

Cheers!

Deer in the Valley


John's "Stonehenge" on the beach

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas in San Francisco

Just a few photos from my holiday stroll downtown with John today.  Wishing you and yours a bright and warm Christmas and Hanukkah.

Union Square Christmas Tree
I would have given all my Christmas presents to adopt this sweet dog at Macy's.
John going up the escalator at Macy's
            
                   Santa taking a break.


A balmy Christmas eve day.
Giant ornaments at 101 California.
It looks like King Kong dropped this from the top of the building.
Ice skating at the Embarcadero.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Christmas Jewelry


I’ve been wearing a variety of Christmas jewelry since I was a kid.  And since I don’t throw anything away, I enjoy those pieces year after year. 

The present above is a pin.  I remember begging my mom to buy it for me at the 5 and Dime.  As a 6 year old, a sparkly gold present was the perfect symbol of Christmas.   The funny thing is that I still love this pin and wear it every year.  It still holds an exotic allure for me, and it is made out of plastic!


My 3rd grade room mother gave this Santa pin to me!  Every student in class got one.  I think this was the same year we also received crocheted ghosts and pumpkins.  So cute!  I love explaining where it came from.  I don’t remember who made it, and wish I could thank them for all these years of enjoyment.  


The item above came from Cost Plus over 30 years go.  It’s a pretty cute little item.  It is a Christmas tree box; the lid is a pin, inside is a tree necklace and there are two earrings attached to the pin/lid.  I don’t wear it so much but love the novelty.  How come I don’t see these everywhere?


I make these snowman and snowflake pins.  When I was a classroom teacher I’d have the kids make an ornament out of Wonder Bread dough every year (Wonder Bread mixed with Elmer’s Glue).  One year I had a lot of leftover white dough, so I got crafty and made these pieces.  On occasion I wear them, but I don’t’ like being poked by those stick arms!



I made the snowmen and tree earrings about 12 years ago when I just started to get into making jewelry.  The snowmen are lamp worked glass, and the trees are made from Swarovwski crystal beads.  I love the trees, small, light, playful and sparkly.


This is the rest of my holiday stuff; a necklace of tree lights that glow with the help of a battery, other non-glowing tree lights, and more.  Wearing these makes me feel like a kid again.  What I love most about Christmas is the lights, and feeling connected to family through following old traditions.