Countdown to Christmas: 5 Days Merry Christmas from The Taylors

This year's family portrait was taken at Albert Pike in Arkansas. Our cat, Storm, didn't make the trip because, frankly, she doesn't travel well.

Besides, we've tortured her enough!

But then Dash had her moments as well...

Countdown to Christmas: 6 Days Countdown to Christmas via FACEBOOK!

I found this great Facebook page! Countdown to Christmas

Since like most of you, I am super busy today! Check out and FOLLOW this page for more great photos, stories, and posts.

And check out Everything Holiday while your are at it!

Countdown to Christmas: 7 Days Beers, Cigarettes, or Toys! How Generous are YOU Feeling This Christmas?

I was so completely unsettled by this article based on a Facebook post I read that I had to share it with you.

Ok...As I was leaving Wal-Mart at 6:30am this morning, I asked the returns clerk did someone purchase these? She responded, those were yesterday's return. I then asked the question; were these gifts? She responded that most likely all of them are gifts from organizations or toy runs. 

I was sick to my stomach with her next response, "folk return them, get a gift card and then buy beer and cigarettes." 

Be aware of your blessing to others in need. Make sure that the organization or individual is truly getting and keeping the gift, especially children. 

These pics are from one day of returns and the clerk said; most of time there's more. Be blessed friends... 
Read more at http://snopes.com/politics/business/walmarttoys.asp#gzfUmoy2oReDt6po.99

The author of this snopes.com article states that this is "Probably False" but for some reason, I don't believe it.

Not to put a damper on anyone's charitable giving this holiday season, but I think it is important you know what you are actually "giving" and you might want to make a few adjustments.
However...

When Katrina swept through New Orleans, many of its refugees came to my town.  I volunteered at the Civic Center. Copious amounts of disposable diapers so generously donated lined the walls of the room where we collected the donations, but we had no babies.  I contacted other shelters, but they did not need them either. Since families, especially those with small children, were at the top of the housing list, there were no diaper wearers in any of the shelters.

My solution?

I sent around index cards asking refugees to let me know of any specific item(s) they needed that we did not have and I loaded my SUV with diapers. Our local Walmart was very helpful and accepted all the diapers and I was able to buy bras, pants, shoes for school children (many only had flip-flops), and other specific items that individual people needed.  If I could not find the item (as in the case of a pair of welder's gloves) I kept the cards by the phone, and when people called in or came by, we asked them to look through the cards and see what they could do to help. Our community really stepped up and most of the much needed items (including the welding gloves) were donated.

I am all unconditional giving all year long. I am only suggesting that you do a bit of research and that you do not participate in or permit the corruption of charitable organizations.

Countdown to Christmas: 8 Days

Countdown to Christmas: 9 Days Nicol Sayre, Another Fabulous Santa Claus Artist

Much like Dee Gann's designs, Nicol Sayre's Santas and other exquisite figures have been licensed by the mass market industry (in her case ESC Trading Company) to make them more affordable for people like me who cherish their talent, but don't have the budget to procure their originals.

Even though there is still a chance to purchase one at a very reasonable price on eBay, I am simply tapped out.

Available on eBay

My mother said something to me today that was rather disheartening. She said that maybe the reason so many fine collectible Santas are selling as such low prices is because no one is collecting Santas right now...and that we (Americans) are letting go of Christmas.

Of course we can blame the economy, but even during the depression era, war, and the most dire times in our country, people pulled together to celebrate in some way.

So, I recommend that we (Americans) no let go of the things you love just yet!

If you do even a quick search on the internet, you'll find people are still collecting and/or using the things they love to adorn their homes to ring in Christmas!

Traditions Year Round Holiday Store

By all means, give us Santa artists a chance to keep on making a living do what we love!

Check out some other Santa artists at The Santamakers Guild and while you're at it...check out Nicol Sayre's blog! There maybe something in there you'll want to add to your collection.

Countdown to Christmas: 10 Days Yet It Still Feels Like a Monday

I haven't done much in the way of Christmas shopping this year. I ordered some gifts off the internet and I've picked up a few little of presents to put under the tree...if only I could just find my tree skirt!

Decorating has been rather challenging for me lately and I think it is time I come to the realization that neither my husband nor my two sons are going to be much help with this either now or in the future.

It looks like it is time to pay a college kid...wait a minute...I HAVE a college kid...to help me retrieve boxes from their hiding places.

It saddens me that my family doesn't care to participate in the decorating, the cooking, the cleaning, organize the family portrait, etc...voluntarily. Even worse, they won't do it for money.

As if the arthritis and fibromyalgia weren't bad enough.

HOWEVER...

I did a little shopping therapy today, and something that I've been wanting finally came available on eBay at an affordable price.

The really strange thing is that it did not come up under a regular search and it is amazing I found it at all.

I do love Dee Gann Santas and I am inspired by her talent.  I found two reproductions this year that I was able to purchase and today, I found a third with Dee's signature that had a starting bid that was in my budget but I got this feeling (and I've learned to listen to that "feeling") that if I did not just go ahead with the buy it now price...I would regret it.

So, now I am waiting for this fellow to join my other two!

He's actually very different from the Santas I usually collect. His coat is rather formal.

I do with my Dee Gann Santas the same as my other Santas by "adding" things to them. Basically, I love Dee's faces. All of her Santas (and other figures) have such great expressions. So, adding a few more vintage trinkets and toys doesn't take away from her work...it just makes him more special to me.

Christmas to Countdown: 11 Days Next Year I'll Have to Start A LOT Earlier

I found the lovely blog, Always Robin's Egg Blue while looking up images of Dee Gann Santas.

Always Robin's Egg Blue

Always Robin's Egg Blue

As I looked through the blogs she followed, I found 52 Flea this charming post about Paula's Christmas Cottage

I'm starting to think that I'm not going to pull my own home together before Christmas.

Countdown to Christmas: 12 Days Dorothy Dodge Robbins Guest Speaker and Co-Editor of "Christmas Stories from Louisiana"

Dorothy Dodge Robbins was the guest speaker at both NOLA STARs (North Louisiana's Chapter of Romance Writers of America) and Grave Expectations (Shreveport, LA Chapter of Sisters in Crime) guest speaker for the December 13th meeting.

Dorothy Dodge Robbins is co-editor along with her husband, playwright Ken Robbins, of four volumes of seasonal literature, including Christmas Stories from Louisiana (University Press of Mississippi 2003), Christmas on the Great Plains (University of Iowa Press 2004), Christmas Stories from Georgia (University Press of Mississippi 2005), and Christmas Stories from Ohio (The Kent State University Press 2010). She served as volume editor for Critical Insights: Mrs. Dalloway (Salem Press, 2014). Dr. Robbins is the Charlotte Lewis Endowed Professor of English at Louisiana Tech University where she coordinates the Graduate Program in English. In addition to her work as an editor and a scholar, she teaches courses in Twentieth-Century British Novel, Virginia Woolf and Bloomsbury, and Mystery and Detective Fiction. As caretaker of the university’s Shakespeare Garden, and an avid amateur gardener, most weekends she plays in the dirt.

Available on Amazon

She did a wonderful power point presentation for NOLA STARs reminding us of historical Christmas stories, romance (even with corpses), murders, and the ghosts and supernatural spirits who have played key roles in winter tales.  She offered autographed copies of her books, Christmas Stories from Louisiana being the most popular, and inspired us to create Christmas themed stories. 

Plus, she included a bit about her cats, Miss Marple and Colonel Mustard.

In the less formal setting of Grave Expectations, she settled right into to the group of ladies and entertained as well as educated us on delightful way to kill someone off during the holiday season. Just kidding...well, maybe just a little. But mostly, she lead a delightful discussion of how murder mysteries were so popular during the holiday season. 

I met Dorothy years ago while taking playwriting courses from her husband; however, when I see the two of them out at Louisiana Tech events, it is usually Ken I converse with, so I truly enjoyed her agreeing to come speak at my groups and this occasion to get to know Ken's "better half" :) 

Countdown to Christmas: 13 Days Santa's Little Helpers...American Horror Story "Coven" the Holiday SpecialS

Who knew?

I decided to catch up on the season of American Horror Story "Coven" that I refused to watch on television because I am sick of commercials.

Did you get that TV executives! SICK of them!

I'm a bit spoiled to Netflix and I am pretty sure I can no longer follow a weekly show because I would probably forget most of what happened the week before and be like "HUH?" especially with the complexities of this show.

The American Horror Story series are not only wonderfully written with outrageously developed characters who are superbly portrayed by amazing talent...the cinematography is spot on! It is so visually appealing (or unappealing) that I find it very difficult to decorate for visual "happenings" taking place. In fact, I had to turn OFF the TV so I could blog. I don't want to miss a frame!

But is is the appropriate source of entertainment one should indulge in while decorating the house for Christmas?

Probably not!

But, I just love it!

So, KUDOS to my favorite ladies: Kathy Bages, Jessica Lang, and Angela Bassett! You did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life.

I'd hate to offend theses lovely ladies by saying they are perfect for these roles but Damn, guurrrllzzz! you are all so incredibly skilled at your "craft" (just trying to be punny) and I am really enjoying this series.

Countdown to Christmas: 14 Days Celebrating the Holidays with Public Schools in the South

I have two jobs that both involve my visiting different schools in different Louisiana parishes.

One thing I have come to notice is that these schools don't worry about what is "politically correct" or "sensitive" to the religious preference of their students. They just flat out enjoy the season.

Sitting outside the office of one particular elementary school was an artificial tree decorated with colored lights and sparking ornaments. Beside the tree were bikes which I assume was an incentive for some sort of fundraiser. Caucasian Santa and Mrs. Claus mechanical dolls poised on a table, loomed over the sign up sheets in their lethargic, hypnotic way.  (You'd have to read my previous post about white Santas and the irony that this was a predominantly non-caucasian school)

Albeit, there was no Creche nor religious symbolism, the spirit of the upcoming "Winter Break" was well depicted.

However, when I entered a high school in another parish this morning, Christmas hymns were being piped over the intercom system and "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing" greeted me when I walked in the door.

I loved it!

Of course, I'm up for celebrating ALL holidays and educating our young people on all religions and customs.  Choosing a preferred religion is a personal decision, but respect is a public responsibility.

So, whether you are for spreading a little holiday cheer in public spaces or vehemently against it, remember the overall effect that is being sought...

Countdown to Christmas: 15 Days Santa's Little Helpers...Guardians of the Galaxy and Other Fun Times with Family

Guardians of the Galaxy

Sometimes you just need a little help getting through the Holiday Season filled with Joy...and I'm not talking about the dishwashing liquid!

Well, I had some fun watching Guardians of Galaxy with my sons. Of course, they didn't offer to take me when it came to the theater! But snuggled on the sofa with a fire flickering the gas fireplace made it even more special!

This is a great family movie. With the exception of some--how did they put it?--cartoon violence, it is action packed with awesome effects and very likable characters...with the exception of how-they-say-it-in-the-biz...a seriously undeveloped antagonist. Plus, the writers could have done more with Drax and his dialogue. If you have a character who speaks so profoundly, then by all means, let him speak! Groot had more dialogue than this thesauric character. (I made thesauric up, so I should get credit for it!)

But Rocket is my favorite! Not that Chris Pratt doesn't bring it! I am just a bit biased.

When I was a little girl I had a pet Raccoon named Raquel and I have to give kudos to the CG Arteeests who really captured the constantly moving hands and curled up nose of Rocket's facial expressions. Bradley Cooper deserves an Academy Award! 

Thank you Oreo and friends for making this possible. 

"WHO?" do you ask is Oreo? 

Read the credits! 

Thanks to all those involved who brought Stan Lee's characters to life. If you weren't familiar (as I wasn't) with the Guardian of the Galaxy comic book series...well, now you know at bit about it. If you are a diehard fan of the series, please...let us newbies just enjoy a fun family film. 

Countdown to Christmas: 16 Days Letting My Community Down

I attended an annual Christmas party at our local museum.

I had just come from work two hours away, and after trying on four "holiday" outfits that no longer fit, I changed back into my rumpled, non-festive work clothes, added a Santa pin, and headed to the party.

There is always great food at this particular party and I must admit that the yearly membership dues are well worth the bellying up to the trough to support our museum.

I live in a relatively small and close-knit town, so I tend to know a lot of people through my previous involvement with my community.

But as I visited with other guests that I literally had not seen since last year's party, I realized that my participation in my community was seriously laking.

I haven't been to church in a few years. Really, since my father died. Just a few days after he passed, I sang with my church's choir as we performed Handel's Messiah. Some of my choir members were surprised to see me there so I told them I was doing this for my father.

Shortly after that, hot flashes made being draped in a polyester robe unbearable and the fibromyalgia and arthritis pain made sitting in the pews equally distressing.

To make matters worse, I began to loose, not only my voice due to chronic bronchitis, but my spirit as well.

I would sit there in church disagreeing with most of what my pastor was saying. This was very upsetting to me and I was really having a hard time sorting it all out. Without proper "spiritual" guidance, I simply drifted away.

Then there was the occasion where our congregation were prompted to read aloud a promise of our financial support for exorbitant building funds  on what I deemed an unneeded addition to our church.

From my perch in the choir loft, I looked out over something I felt had been conjured from of a demonic horror film as the congregation droned out some form of a Gregorian chant that completely unnerved me. This was the same congregation that I had observed from a seat in the choir loft just a few month before, that held aloft small glowing candles, there faces lit like a chorus of angels as they sang Silent Night at the Christmas Eve service.

I stopped going to church after that.

My lack of church attendance went unnoticed by my pastor, but the occasional email and phone call from my choir director was really the only encouragement I had to return. However, when I did show up for an Easter service...I looked over at my husband and told him that I could no longer be spiritually lead by this particular pastor. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, the pastor resigned shortly after that, but I still have not returned to my church to meet our new pastor.

My involvement with my community dwindled because most of the people I volunteered with were also church members or of that ilk that would quickly criticize my fall from Grace.

This was a journey and I had to take along.

I just wish someone could have stepped up to help my youngest son.

I learned the hard way that no matter how much you do for your community or church, when you need THEM...

This isn't the best way to embrace the Christmas holidays and attending a wonderful gathering at our museum should not leave me feeling so forlorn.

But this is how it is for so many people during this time of year.

Be kind to one another. Offer not only merriment to the poor, but to those who are poor in spirit.

Countdown to Christmas: 17 Days Unraveling the Christmas Tree

We dragged our artificial tree from its eleven month hibernation yesterday and spent the majority of the day unraveling one strand of pre-lit twinkle lights because half the strand was out.

And no, it did not need a new fuse. My husband checked. Or maybe it DID just need a new fuse and I should have checked it.

Let me put it this way.

I asked him to find something I could use to pry the tiny fuses out of the plug. Instead, he went out to the shop to get his fancy multi-meter and upon "checking" the strand with his fancy multi-meter, he declared it dead. He NEVER did as I asked (to change  out the fuse) however, he did go on and on with his thesis about how a mulit-meter works, etc.

So, after painstakingly removing NOT only the strand of lights but the also  the entire row of lower limbs (because we did not have a strand of lights that matched plus the lower limbs are so low that they are a pain anyway) with a Dremel tool and unwrapping the next row seven limbs and rewrapping a remaining strand of lights of allow for the branch (yes, I said "branch" as in ONE branch) that had no lights...there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth!

I keep envisioning some eight year old Chinese girl tiny fingers clipping millions of those little green horseshoes to attach the strands of lights to the limbs.

Thank goodness for National Lampoon's "Christmas Vacation"!

We'll be the hap-hap-happiest bunch of assholes this side of the nut house!

One of our holiday traditions is to watch Clark "Sparky" Griswold demonstrate everything his father taught him about exterior illumination. It is one of those inspirational films that kicks of the Christmas season reminding us not to set out goals or expectation too high!