It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like....

Christmas?!

Really????   Already??????

As far as the weather is concerned here in Central Texas, it still doesn't LOOK like Christmas, but the lights, the sounds, the songs and the shoppers all tell us that it certainly IS that time again!

Even though I grew up in Texas, I spent many Christmases in Indiana visiting family, so I am not unfamiliar with winter weather.

I love snow.  I love how magical it is, when out of the corner of your eye the first few little flakes begin to quietly fall from the sky.  And then little by little the world turns into a larger-than-life snowglobe!

Standing on my parents' back porch out in the country... listening as it falls... yes, there are sounds in the snow.  Whispers of beauty... whispers straight from heaven, as each snowflake gently lands on the tree branches, slowly but surely covering the ground like a blanket laid out by the angels.

One year - I can't remember exactly how many years back... 6 or 7 maybe - we were spending Christmas here in Texas.  I was determined, however, to have some winter wonderland in my house!  I pulled out scissors and white paper and coffee filters.  I sat the kids down at the table.  We folded paper.  We cut.  And magically our dining table became covered in a blanket of beautiful paper snowflakes.  It was only last year that I finally took down those snowflakes from the window.  One of my boys still has his window filled with them.

Memories...so sweet and never too far away to remember the happiness felt in those simple moments together.  And I think it might be time for us to pull out the scissors and paper and make all new ones.  It doesn't matter that they are all teenagers now.

Now, if you don't cherish the thought of trying to pick up a million-billion-gadzillion little pieces of paper (ok, I exaggerate), you can go here and cut a "virtual" snowflake.  It takes a little getting used to how to wield the scissors, but it is so fun...and addicting.  So go....go create a little magic of your own!  Let me know how you like it!

Oh, and for those of you who really would like to try the paper version, here are some instructions to get you started.

Put on some Christmas music, gather around the table, and let the memories begin!!!

Things November: Nov. 9, 2010

Here are a few little nuggets I gathered for today. Enjoy!

Felix the Cat!
The Wonderful, Wonderful Cat!

In 1919, this amazing little kitty first appeared in a series of film shorts called “Feline Follies”. I can’t tell you how many afternoons I spent after school having a snack and watching this cartoon! Ahhh, good memories! He must be why I love black cats so much!

The Wall Came Tumblin', Tumblin

On this day in 1989, the Berlin Wall was opened. Built in 1961, it stood as a stark symbol of the Cold War. Subsequently, the tearing down of the wall has come to represent the collapse of Communism in East Europe.

Talk about ironic…
In 1998, Florida was hit by ten tornadoes while celebrating Hazardous Weather Awareness Week.

Beautiful and frightening all at once!