A Day In My Life

And so it begins...

We decorated the Christmas tree tonight...and now to find the money to buy gifts to put underneathe it...sigh...

This little ladder with the elf and Santa I have had forever...  the ladder was broken so Nate taped it up tonight...

And the ole toilet paper roll reindeer on the top...it's funny how tradition is so important.  Tonight Scott wanted Nate to put the tree topper up BEFORE we finished decorating so that in the pictures it was on the tree.  Nate almost had a "freak out" (fake one...but still)...there was no way that topper was going up till everything was done, including the Christmas stuffies UNDER the tree:)

This was also the first year that Nate or Lauren didn't either have to be hoisted up by their dad or stand on a chair to put up the topper:)

The "Oh My Word MOM you are NOT going to make us put those hats on and act like we like each other"  picture:)  Tormenting Teenagers...it's all in a mother's job description:)

Just took banana bread out of the oven and pumpkin choc. chip bars coming out soon!

Goodnight all

Dancingly, Denise

Special Order Fairy Jars

In order to be able to spend my holiday season enjoying life, I will only be accepting Special Order fairy Jar orders until this coming Monday December 7 at midnight (EST).  I will continue to accept special orders but they will not be guaranteed for Christmas.  So, seriously folks, if you were planning on having any of these for Christmas with a special picture in it now is the time:)  Right now I have 14 to finish up this week...THAT is exciting!

here are the guidelines again:As you can see I still have the sale price on them...that will stand until Monday at midnight also.

Now, special order can mean two things:

1.  You want me to pick a fairy out of all the ones I have, and place him/her in a "home" of your choosing...for instance; fall, beach, snow, etc.  You pick the jar size and style (if I have it) and we find a fairy that fits your needs.

2.  THIS IS THE MOST POPULAR "special order"...YOU share a photo with me of someone you know and I create the fairy jar.  You can still decide what type of setting, jar, price range...etc.  Now, the photo is what is tricky...

A. I need it in Jpeg form if you are emailing it. 

B. Regardless of email or hard copy it needs to be clear...I do use old pictures, but if they are fuzzy...you will have a fuzzy fairy:)

C.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT...the picture can not be just a headshot of the person.  Imagine a fairy in a jar with no body...CREEPY  LOL  At least a portion of the legs need to be in the picture...and preferably two arms:)  If the picture is not a full body shot I can generally make it look like they are sitting or kneeling...or deep in grass...BUT there des have to be some lower body.

D.  I can generally crop someone out of a picture if you only want the one person.

E.  I can usually put up to three little fairies in one jar (large size jar)

F.  Special orders are priced $10.00 over the amount of a regular jar price...HOWEVER for the month of November they will be priced ONLY $5.00 over the original price.  After that, we will be too close to Christmas (only 46 days right now till Christmas!)

G.  They all come with the Maine Forgotten fairy story on the jar...they are named (you choose the names) and they are numbered.

So pricing is as follows for NOVEMBER ONLY...and ONLY through me...not through the stores the fairies are in:

Extra Large  25.00 + 5.00

Large    20.00 + 5.00

Medium     16.00 + 5.00

Small     14.00 + 5.00

extra small 12.00 + 5.00

Lamps    30.00 + 5.00

Lanterns (2 in stock)  30.00 + 5.00

These prices do not reflect shipping, but I just sent out 8 fairies to a customers and shipping was 12.00...so shipping is not a huge amount.

These prices are only good until the end of the month...and also after the end of the month they may not be guaranteed for Christmas.  If you have questions or want to order  Fairies you can email me at MePURSEnalities@aol.com or contact me through the blog.  I will give out my phone number through email if you want to chat about the order:)

Thanks for all your support!

On BLOG writing...

Every time I pick up a new issue of Artful Blogging

I take time out to think about WHY I write a blog.  AND what I can do differently.  Right now I feel like I am on the waves of something new and exciting...I feel more creative than I have in years...and I am more excited about it than I can express.  But with that comes questions, concerns, thoughts...and THAT my folks is why I write a blog.  My feeling is that if I am going THROUGH or AROUND something than others out there are too.  In my blog writing I have found so many new people...and so many people who I have known forever.  They don't always comment, they don't always read...but they are there.  Some people are too shy to comment on my blog so they email me privately to say they understand...OR they DO NOT understand:)  I don't share the negative in my life very often...YUP folks...the Field's Family house is not always a happy one...we come with our share of problems...some are BIG and painful and frustrating...some are small and generally work themselves out.  I do tend to share the smaller ones...and of course one of the big ones MY addiction to food.  I do nOT share the ones that directly affect others in my house...that is for them to share with who they need to share with.

So, I TRY to keep my blogging upbeat and positive.  I like to share with you what my kids are doing.  In the past I have shown you my before and after ways out of clutter and folks, let me tell you THAT is an uphill battle.  My friend Judy said at the beginning of this year NO MORE PICTURES OF YOUR MESSY DINING ROOM TABLE!  She will have to close her eyes, because it is truly time to cycle through the decluttering again!

Recently I have share a great deal of my art work and what is going on creatively with me...I believe that will continue, but in the meantime my blog is to document the ups and downs of that.

AND that brings me to a great point about blogging...it is a record of what I hold dear to me...MY LIFE:)  I can look back and see what I was doing this time last year...and the year before.  I LOVE that.

And then there are days I don't blog.  On those days, life seems to mundane to share with everyone OR life is so crazy I dare not share.

So, why do I blog?  For so many reasons...the biggest is the connection with the outside world(cyber space and beyond) and the connection with my inside world (family and friends).  You will see some changes coming in my blog...nothing HUGE, mostly design changes.  AND many of you have discovered I have a second blog at 

Maine PURSEnalities(and more) ...there I will be sharing my art and work that is for sale.

So with that...here are some pictures of the weekend... Some skates i worked on and are up for sale:

and some primitive dresses that are in both SILKWEEDS (Searsport) and Re-Imagined (Houlton)  and on my other blog for sale:

and of course a couple of shots from the NUTCRACKER...we were in Caribou this weekend:

I love this next picture I believe Lauren is thinking of Nate not getting up and going in the morning (he makes her late) as she is playing this role:

Well folks...I am off to start another adventure...actually that sound exciting...what I am off to do is clean the tornado hit dining room so we can decorate the tree tomorrow:)

Have a great day...

Dancingly, Denise  

 

Our Thanksgiving Portrait:

Naw...just kidding:)  I couldn't resist though.  Have I told you we are planning a trip to Disney this May, 2010?  It is my most favorite place on earth, and we have decided that if we are going as a family, we better go...with Lauren graduating in June, things will be different!

So here is the real family dinner...we go to Scott's brother Ralph's for Thanksgiving each year...sometimes there are close to 30 people there, other times not so many.  Today there were 15 of us and only two small children.  Sometimes there are a TON of little guys running around:

So, before they could eat...I am putting together another Gratitude album.  I did one several years ago, with just the Fields family and gave it to Ruth (MIL)...but this time I am going to catch all the family and friends I can...and make one for us!  Everyone was good natured about writing what they were thankful for BEFORE they could eat:

 
And ofcourse Uncle Ralph and Nate had to show who was strongest (Uncle Ralph won AGAIN;)

Have a Happy Thanksgiving...and may we live with an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE everyday of the year 

Happily,

Denise 
 

Nutcracker Season

 
After watching TWO performances of the Robinson Ballet's NUTCRACKER...I am starting to feel like the Christmas Spirit MIGHT have pinched me:)  This post is HEAVY on picture of Lauren in the Nutcracker...enjoy:)

 

 That was lauren as one of the "domestic staff"

Now...Lauren the Soldier

This one is funny...as Lauren has come full circle...when she was about 4 she was one of the "mice" and she was up on one of the soldiers backs:)

Lauren the attendant.

Now lauren the Chinese Tea

Mother Ginger:)

Usually the dancers don't have so many roles, but Lauren was in the right place at the right time:)  She started out as a soldier, attendant and Chinese...the domestic staff was a fill in when one of the dancers quit...and Mother Ginger was a "fluke".

Hope you enjoyed the pictures...

Dancingly, Denise

Signs of Hibernation...

I put the electric blanket on the bed tonight...

I have applesauce cooking in the crock-pot:

One of my favorite fall candles going:

Hot Vanilla Chi tea in my Big Girl panty cup:)

Flannel cooking on the stove:

WHAT?????  Flannel on the stove?  Okay...that is not a sign of hibernation...probably more of a sign of craziness:)  I am tea dying some flannel for a project...honest I fed my family spaghetti tonight NOT flannel:)

I am headed to snuggle in and watch So You Think You Can Dance and then GLEE.

Lauren didn't go to dance tonight as she was not feeling well...and I am still not feeling great, so it's time to lay low...

Good Night

Dancingly, Denise

   

Busy weekend=Lazy Sunday

This weekend has been rather busy...so today was just a lazy, lazy day.  Even all the teenagers in my house were pretty quiet:)  I spent the day...in my jammies...looking at all the beautiful studios other women create in.  If you missed mine it is in the post right before this...here:A Day In My Life: Where Woman Create...BLOG PARTY!.  I have gotten so many new ideas for redoing my studio a bit...and I want to thank all of you who took the time to stop and check out mine and leave a comment!  It was awesome.

So I split my day between looking at others studios and watching Law and Order with Scott...also making meals for everyone hanging around here.

So let's see...Friday night we scrapbooked...or atleast we talked about it alot:)

Saturday I went to my Dad's family reunion with Bonnie and my sister.  I didn't know many people there...but it was a nice way to remember Dad...I regret that I didn't go to any when he was alive:

 Nate went to a birthday party for his friend CeCe and then spent the day down to the festival...here he is with CeCe:

Scott and I went down later and met up with Scott's Mom, his brother Ralph and wife Joette...and we stumbled on Mom and Ralph...poor Lauren had to work all day and evening:

and we ended the evening by wathcing the Fireworks...Ruth hadn't seen fireworks in years!

 

So you see, today we just needed a well deserved rest:)

I hope you all had a great weekend...

Thanks again for all the great comments...

Dancingly,

Denise

Merry Christmas to all...

and to all a Goodnight.

BEWARE:Tons of photos!

Hello...I guess Let's start with today and go backwards:)

THIS is what we woke up to:

 

Pretty?  Well, if you like the COLD I guess it is.  Nate was pretty excited!  Lauren however woke up in the middle of the night throwing up (the kid has NEVER been able to make it to the bathroom:().  Scott and I got up and threw all of her bedding and her two favorite stuffed animals into the washing machine, got her settled and headed back to bed.  She woke me up again at about 1:00 and had been sick again...but this time thankfully had used the bowl I had set beside her.  She hasn't felt good all day...poor kid.  I seem to have a cold and I will admit I have been in my PJ's and on the couch watching Christmas movies and Harry Potter all day.  My stomach doesn't feel great, but hopefully it's just sympathy pains.

YESTERDAY, December 6, we had Lauren's birthday party.  We woke up to snow that day too, but luckily it cleared up before the party.  I want to show you the birthday cake.  A week or so ago, Lauren and I were discussing what type of cake she would like me to order (I NEVER make a cake for their birthdays)...and she said..."You know mum, I don't like cake, BUT I liked the white raspberry cake you made a few weeks ago.  Why don't you make one of those?"  So I said to myself, "Self, why not".

I ended up making this...it is three layers...white raspberry cake, with the raspberry frosting (Sorry sis to tempt you again) and it is three heart shapes:

 

 

Yesterday morning as I was frosting it Lauren said "Mum, you should be a cake baker, that is awesome".  Talk about the highest compliment...from an almost 17 year old!

and a picture from the party:

 

Now, here was a problem, my sister Cheryl wasn't there to SCOOP ICECREAM!  Bonnie stepped in for her (i think she liked the job as much as you do Cheryl:)

I also took our annual "what the heck are we going to use for a Christmas card photo" photo yesterday.  I expected it would take about 100 tries, as Nate usually goofs off...but he didn't, so i got a good one the second picture, so I won't show it to you today...since several of you will see it in a card:)  I also took some pictures of Lauren and Joe and this one was adorable:

 

Now, the day before would be Friday December 5...Karen came up early so that we could spend some time together and get the cookie book cut out before everyone got here.  First off...we send out invitations every year and Karen and I usually work on them together, but with all that has been going on...I was a slacker and so Karen made them and we got them sent out...here is the invite...but it is already attached to the cookie book...more about that later:
 

 

so the invite is the red apron...minus the white book with black binding behind it...isn't it adorable?  Thanks Karen!

Now...it was a COOKIE SWAP...and we each needed to make 5 dozen cookies and package them in 1/2 dozen packages.  Thursday night I made my cookies and I made two unsuccessful attempts...the ones on the left were suppose to be "stained glass" cookies...the ones on the right (my 2nd attempt) were candy cane cookies...I was beside myself...and exhausted!
 

Later that night Nate and I found a recipe for "Brownie crackle cookies"...I made them and they were delicious!  PHEW!

So here we are at the swap:

 

We had a potluck, cookie swap, worked on making the books to hold the cookie recipes in and swapped gifts.  You will notice that there is a tree in the background.  I , and my family, need to thank Lisa for that (and Karen for helping me get it).  I am trying so hard not to be a scrooge, or a Grinch...but my emotions are so up and down right now and the whole tree thing was really getting to me.  We have a tree that Scott pulls out every year...puts together and then we decorate it.  Last year, EVERY morning, I had  to put the tree together because the full grown kittens...pulled it apart.   I know I am not up for that this year, and so Lisa offered us a tree, all lit, from her store.  It's all put together...looks great in out corner and I am forever grateful to her for the loan.  Scott's eyes lit up when he realized we were going to borrow one...I guess he is feeling like me this year.

Back to the cookie swap:

We started putting together our books...and once again I was a slacker so Karen did the design and the work on it...we will all add pictures to it,, ribbon, etc:

 

and here is a collage of each one of us with out cookies:

 

AND...just when you THINK you know someone, you find out they have another hidden talent.  Nate brought out his accordion and we found out CONNIE can actually play it, really well!:

 

amazing!

So...to end my blog tonight I want to show you this:

 

It is my Mimi and Bampie's...it sat in their living room for ever since I can remember.  Months ago, Dad and Bonnie asked if I might like to have it.  Today, Scott and Nate went over to help BOBO do somethings and they came home with the desk.  I am so thrilled...I KNOW things don't bring people back, etc.  BUT I have to say...I feel like Mimiand Bampie are HERE tonight...in MYliving room.  I am going to have it refinished and it will have a place of honor here at the house.  I can't not express in words how much it means to have the desk here. Thank you BOBO.

And that's all folks... I anticipate being home with my baby girl tomorrow as she still feels lousy.  I have been "working" down at Silkweeds, so if I can't go tomorrow I will have to find another day to go down...cuz i really like doing it!

Goodnight all

Denise

Phew...

Clean house+CCookie Swap+Birthday Party+3-layered birthday cake=a very tired Denise!

My thoughts right now?  GO TO BED and sleep!!!!  I will be back tomorrow with tons of pictures...I promise!

My to do list tomorrow?

Sleep in

Blog

Write Thank-you Notes

Do Christmas card photo order

and that my friends is it (oh yeah I will have to feed the family, etc).

Thoughts in my head?  Too many to speak of..but

*Lauren will be 17 on Friday!

*I love the people who come to Lauren and Nate's parties...their are some that always come and then some that come when they can...and always a new one or two.

*We missed my Dad today at Lauren's party...he is always there...BUT we are very lucky that we have Bobo with us.  It's hard to explain, but when Bobo is there it feels like Buppie is too and that feels good!

*My house is quiet...everyone is tired!

Goodnight

Denise