A New Year 2019

Getting back to the usual day to day.

As I removed all the holiday fare,

and got down to the simple look I now prefer,

 I knew a lot of the holiday

 had to go, as "the purge" continues.

Howie photo bombing 

See my new porch light?

After several years of a black and white 

tree for our main tree, I decided it 

could move on to another home.

I will return to my mercury glass and shiny brites,

and/or my House of Hatten.

After years of avoiding traditional reds,

I'm finding I like them again.

So the un-decorating continued,

and the piles for sale began to accrue.

I sent a photo last night to a pal 

showing her what I was up to;

she then bought all the ornaments.

Well, that was easy.

Now to find a home for all the buffalo check.

Those of you who have been around 

this oldgreymare awhile

 know that I practice what I preach.

In these very uncertain times,

we all need to pause and assess

what we are choosing to do with our lives.

How do we wish to live out our days,

and how are we affecting our planet?

What are the issues we need to address,

 and what appropriate actions will we take.

Who are we able to help?

This is the time of year when I select

my charitable contributions in five categories. 

I'm hoping to still manage my 10% of income,

but medical bills may take a bite, we'll see.

Children's Medical

Wildlife/Animal Rescue

Environmental

Medical Research

Local women/children's Facility

It's time to work my friends.

Need some Ideas? 
(link)

Ben and I will be finishing up my new website

very soon. I'm excited and nervous, 

but he assures me it is as easy as blogger. 

I'm not sure how many items 

I can have in the shop by then, but I'll 

be up in the studio giving it a go.

Stay tuned and I hope you'll follow me over.

Z

News FLASH 

Ben and Helene just called me today - Saturday:
They're engaged!
This mama is thrilled

From my phone as they told me..

Ambiance

Last year I had a lit tree in the den.

With the lights from it and a few candles,

the room felt warm and cozy.

This year I made the number tree,

and it has no lights.

So I was sitting here early evening,

perusing the net,

and realized there was no "Christmas" lighting in here,

other than the candles on the book ladder.

The den just did not have that warmth I need

this time of year.

As I am known to do, when I want something different,

I "shop" the house. I walked outside to the garden,

and literally yanked these two stars out of a tree and

perched them near the ladder.

I have lights, I have ambiance, I have cozy.

I have two more days till Ben is home.

Went to the store for the ingredients for this

MAGIC stuffing of his...$$$$$ YIKES.

Fennel, pears, Italian sausage, red peppers etc..

It had better be dang good!

*******

Everyone please remember all those 

not as fortunate this Thanksgiving.

Even small donations have great impact.

If it's easy to give $10.00 then give $20.00

If 20.00 is easy, give 40.00....

I set a goal 10 years ago, to give to charities 10% of my

 gross income each year for ten years. 

I had hoped to increase the amount as the years went by.

That didn't happen, the economy flipped for all of us.  

This year I will barely make it but I will make it.

I'm selling off a few trinkets here and there to meet the goal.

( as I was typing this a pal called to buy

 some dishes I was selling. WoOt!)

Ten years 

Time to set a new goal.

I live on a very-very small budget but I always find a way.

If your budget is adequate, find a way, set a goal

make a difference.

Be a mensch.

Z