Unexpected News, December Skies And a House Full of Christmas ~

Well, it's been quite a week so far.

So much Christmas happening everywhere.

Right in the middle of decorating our own house, we were hit with some unexpected news...

My husband was laid-off.

It was unexpected, but not really a surprise.

Just the fact that he was laid-off during the holiday season gives you an idea of what type of company he worked for.  Need I say more?

So, we are trying to stay positive and look at this as a blessing in disguise.

In the meantime, I need to put my art shops in high gear.

So, if any of you have been thinking of purchasing something from one of my shops, now would be the best time ever!

Gerushia's New World on Etsy

Gerushia's New World on Zibbet

I'll be working extra hard in my shops so that I can bring in a bit of money to help us get through this turn of events.

I refuse to let this ruin Christmas.

I am looking at this as a positive thing and 2014 will be fabulous!

After all, there are still hundreds of Johnny Appleseed skies to be seen.

Pinks ~ 

and purples ~ 

December is a month of transition.

A change from warm autumn days and orange pumpkins,

to wintery reds and jolly garden gnomes.

Christmas pumpkins ~ 

December is my birthday month.

Lovely birthday flowers were delivered ~

Every year just around my birthday, there's another gift...

The Cedar Waxwings fly in

I watch for them every year.

There were 50 or 60 of them flying all around my yard and birdbath just before my birthday.

They're quick and I was only able to snap a photo of these 2 beauties.

Nature's birthday gift to me ~

December always puts me in a frantic mood.

It's Christmas, I tell you....Christmas does it to me every year.

So many decorations and boxes of traditional goodies to go through.

Decorating, decorating, decorating.

Decorating the mantel ~

Decorating the dining room hutch ~

Filling Moe Howard's head with candy canes.

A Christmas Stooge ~

Noooo...he's not really Moe.  I bought this mug for my husband because he's a "Three Stooges" fanatic and I thought this guy looked like Moe.

Decorating the family tree ~

Putting the lights on the BIG tree ~

Decorating the BIG tree ~ 

Awww...looks like one of the puppies has some new Christmas pals ~ 

Decorating

Decorating

and

More decorating.

My favorite ornaments.

This was the first set of ornaments my mom and dad bought after they were married.

They are the last ornaments to be placed on the tree,

and the first to be taken off and put safely away at the end of the season ~ 

This year, I am happily decorating my studio.

Just a little bit.

I found these lovely black tabletop trees ~

Just perfect for my studio cabinet.

Did you know that black is the new evergreen?

So, time marches on.

Things change.

Jobs come and go.

New opportunities present themselves.

Good and bad.

Light and dark.

Shadows and highlights.

We need the whole spectrum to make this life a bold and textured painting.

Until Next Time:

Kim

Gerushia's New World

P.S.  Don't tell anyone that my husband loves "The Three Stooges."  It's a dirty secret!