My New Years Resolutions More or Less

 Thank you  
so much...

Hellooooo

 for peeking in on me this past year !!




2011 is about to end in about 29 hours!!
Here come 2012   WOW!

I have been thinking about my new years resolutions 

think,  think,  think!

quite a bit today.

Even though I have never really made a big deal about resolutions this year I
am setting some goals!  








 And..... Here they are!

More showing joy                                    Less hiding tears
More positive thoughts                            Less dwelling on the negative
More serious weight loss via WW           Less colas and iced mochas
More art work for art sake                      Less overtime at work
More time for fitness                                 Less making excuses not to workout
More organization at home and work    Less confusion and lost items
More spiritual                                           Less profane
More singing                                             Less yakity- yak
More tranquility                                       Less frenetic moments
More Blogging                                          Less ummm.... not bloging


                               So My Dear Friends- 
                                I Want to Wish You 

                A  Very Happy and Fulfilling New Year!
Hugs,
Mary 

Faux Marble Finish

TaaaDahhh!!

It is finished!

What do you think?

The finished altar

Or 

"What I did on my vacation"

All for now

Hugs

Mary :O)

And cooking I did!

Gee... I had a lot of fun tonight doing a bit of baking!

I found a very easy updated version of a recipe for these tasty little pastries

called rugelach

The filling is brown sugar, raisins and walnuts.

I made that recipe last night and everyone loved it!

So,  tonight I had some fun and before 

adding the raisins and nuts etc.

I spread on Nutella 

and added cherry

Then I rolled each slice up 

 (• I used ready made pie crust)

Brushed egg yolk on the top of each little roll...

and baked the pan for 12 min. or so at 400'

Cool those babies down a bit and

then shake Confectioners 

sugar over them...

Yummmmmmmmm

My goodness!! A little time baking in the kitchen did wonders for my mood!!!

I am my happy little self once again!

Cooking + Creating Art  = Happy Mary

All for now!

Hugs :O)

Mary

Gone Missing!

Hi all!
Another Beautiful Christmas has come and gone.
I do so hope all of you had a lovely Christmas as well!


The weather has been quite lovely up here.  I am certainly
not missing the snow or icy weather!
 Tonight may be a strange one weather wise-
we are to have thunder storms and high winds! Just one week ago we had loads of
crazy rain and lots of thunder and lightning!!!


Well...incase you wonder what the title of this post means...
Seems someone has taken off with one of the 3 kings.
I'm sure it was just a prank but Im so very sad that he hasn't been
returned...

You know how thrilled I was with the nativity set I repainted this year.

It seems silly but I am really crushed.  My only hope is that someone will find him or that

the surveillance tape will give the police a lead.  Until then I shall just have to wait and see...

Think I shall go do some baking to lift my spirits!

Later Gator

Hugs :O)

Mary

A "Marbleous" Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas my friends!!
Here it is Christmas Eve!!!

 We had a Christmas get together with
half the family last weekend. It was a wonderful get together
 at Cookie and Eugenes home! Sasa and Uncle Bert were there.
And so were Eugenes parents.  It was a fun, relaxing totally lovely weekend.

I did miss having Lil Sandi & Carle with us.
 Of course I sure wish my Mom and Dad and my Brother and
his family could have joined us as well!!!
It has always been a little hard to get us all together in one city these
past 6 or so years.

This week I have been recouping from a nasty rotten cold which
sadly now hubs has caught!  We canceled further travel plans and are staying at home.
I did go out to my studio several times this week to work on a Faux Marble
altar for the new school chapel...
 Here are some pix :O)

There are 2 fairly large wooden rectangle shaped boxes for the base
and one large rectangle box for the top.

First Renee helped me sand and paint the base coats-primer etc.
Then we sponged white and a light golden yellow, plus a darker yellow paint

Hmmm... My photos came out so grainy.
I should have used the flash....

Tee hee ...Did you notice in the first photo my bag of "Honey Dew"s?

I am addicted to the raspberry twist sticks.

NO not  a good Weight Watchers choice!

And

Voila! I am finished!

Can't wait to see it with varnish and all put together!!

Of course I will post some photos as soon as it is done!!! 

Well, my friends have a lovely evening and keep an eye out for Santa!

OH...Wishing my Jewish friends a very happy Hanukkah!!! 

•Especially my dear friend Jaylee and

her sweet family!!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Hugs,

Santa Mary

Last minute odds and ends.

Hello!

I am certainly enjoying my days off from work!

There are always some last minute details

 and projects to do the week

before Christmas!

I painted on some canvas blocks.

Just some fun things..

With heart felt sentiments!

Now, I am off to do a little baking!

My mug of tea awaits!

Gonna crank up the music 

and let the hot oven scent 

my home with cinnamon and other 

delightful spices!

Have a pleasant afternoon and drop by again soon!

hugs,

Mary

The Finished Product

Hello again my friends!

As promised I have taken some photos of the nativity I repainted 

for work this year.

I hope you like the way they turned our!

"I painted my best for him- Pa Rum Pumpum Pum...."

And...Finally....

     In the Center where He Belongs....Baby Jesus.


Hugs,
Mary 

TGIF

TGIF!!!!

I may say it often
but today
I REALLY MEAN IT! Tee hee
As you may have noticed
I was having some problems with the background of
my blog but now I think I may have it under control!


Everyone seems to be delighted with O Tannenbaum!
It is a thrill to have people drop in and say how beautiful it is!!!


I don't know if you noticed the poles in the gallery?
Each one had its own tin soldier!
Or Nutcracker?

 

I must take time to mention and to THANK my dear friend Rene for all

her help in making the nutcrackers and helping

set the entire show up!

Thanks Rene!!!

In my spare time for weeks now I have been

repainting the figures for our creche here at school.

They are very old and had been very chipped and worn.

Even so....They were still gorgeous!!

 

Poor Little donkey!

 

OK All for now :O)

Next Time

I will share the after photos!

Have a great FRIDAY!

Hugs,

Mary

Easter? Ooppps....Technical diffulculties

O Tannenbaum

    Hello and happy Thursday!
December the first!
After lots of planning and running around busy as Santa's Elves...

My students and I Present
O TANNENBAUM!



WELCOME!

Side View

Mrs. W. and I check out "Frosty"

                                                                        
                                Drawing & Paintings "Grinch"

Graphic Designs 

"Walking In A Winter Wonderland"

3D Design

"Jolly Old St. Nicholas"

                                   Bye Bye!

                                          Come back soon!

Hugs,

Mary