Types of Wine and Wine Glasses

With New Year's Eve coming up I thought this guide to types of wine glasses would come in handy.


And here is a basic list of the most popular wine types just to start with.

Christmas Memories-Part 1

I thought that since Christmas is only a week away that would share some past Christmas memories of mine this week.
I think my earliest memory was when I was five or six years old and was in my hometown of North Wilkesboro, NC. We were in the parking lot of a grocery store (probably a Piggy Wiggly) in my grandmother's Chevrolet surrounded by all the shiny decorations that were so popular in the sixties.. I remember looking up and seeing a light going by in the sky. Being just three I just knew it was Santa and that he was going to my mammaw's house and that he would leave without delivering presents because we were not there. That upset me bad.
Of course, it was a plane, but my youthful, Innocent self did not know that. My grandma explained to me that Santa would come back because it was still early and he had to go to other kids houses, too.
What did I get that year. The only present I remember I got (though I'm sure there were more) was a red cowgirl outfit complete with hat and boots (my favorite song that year was These Boots Are Made For Walking by Nancy Sinatra) and a pony. Yes, I really did get a pony. I named him Silver after the Lone Ranger's horse even though he was brown.

How about you? What is your earliest Christmas memory?

It's Time For One World, One Heart 2011

It's time to gear up for the 5th and final One World, One Heart 2011 blog event. Just click on the badge below to see all the particulars of this event. I hope to see many of you my blog friends join in.

The First Happy Monday

I want to start out the year thinking good thoughts, so I am starting a new weekly post. On Mondays, to start out the week right, I will blog about something that makes me happy. This first Monday of 2010 I want to blog about books. In particularly art books.
I love getting a new book showcasing the artwork of others, especially mixed media arts. When I need inspiration they are always there for me to look through for ideas. Every artist should have at least a book on design and composition, as well as books in mediums that one does not use. Inspiration can be found there, too. Even though I am a painter and a mixed media artist, I find inspiration in pottery, papermaking, and printing.
My newest book was delivered on Christmas Eve from Amazon. It’s sort of a birthday present for myself. It is Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed Media Artists by Ann Baldwin. I love it. I have already gotten ideas from it. She’s a great artist.
So, going to go use some of those ideas now.
Later

The Beginning of the Holidays

*sigh* Halloween is over and things quiet down. It is three weeks until Thanksgiving Day. This year with Mom gone I will NOT be cooking. I have informed my sister that I will be at her house for dinner this year and it had better be eariler than 7:oo. (She's bad to have dinner ready late.) Before then I'll just watch the Macy's Parade and rest. Paint some. Drink coffee and write. The weekend after that is the offical start of the holidays (for me at least). The Bristol International Speedway opens it's annul Speedway in Lights on Friday night. The whole track and around is decorated in thousands of lights. You can find out more here...

http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/events/autotrader_com_speedway_in_lights/

Of course Friday is also Black Friday which I am so glad I have to work. I went out on Black Friday once and saw way too much craziness. I'll never do it again. I don't need to save money that bad.


That Saturday is the Johnson City Holiday Parade and I always go even alone because I just enjoy it so much. Watching the faces of the little childern tickles me so. This puts me in the mood. After this I visit friends and we go out.

Sunday is decorating day. I drag all the outside lights out and start testing and stringing and chasing off the neighbors' dogs and doing more cursing than I should.

Oh, yeah, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a very business time for me.

I LOVE it!

October 31! One of My Favorite Days!

Myspace Halloween Comments & Graphics

I been making these bulbs to sell for Christmas. It was my intentions to decorate the outsides as well, but after doing the painting part inside I hesitate to do so. I feel it will ruin the beauty of the ornaments, losing the unique patterns the paint made. What do you all think?

Fireworks, Watermelons, and Rain

This July 4th I was forced by the economy to make a decision has how to celebrate. I’m sure a lot of people had to make the same decision. How to celebrate…or more to the point how much to spend to celebrate. I only had so much to spend. Did I want to have a great spread for the family picnic? Or did I want to have a fireworks display? How about a little of both…a small backyard cookout and lesser fireworks? In the end I opted for the fireworks. Why? 1-Because the only ones to show up for a cookout was my sis and her crew and they couldn’t be there until late because her man had to work late. So what was the point? 2-because I’m an unabashed firebug. I love playing with fire and explosives and fireworks. 3-because of the kids in my neighborhood. I wanted them to have a great fireworks display without their parents having to have the hassle of trying to get to the downtown display. So with my fireworks and the display of the neighbors on either side of me we had a great street wide fireworks.

Afterwards I cut up a watermelon for my niece and nephews and we ate it on the deck in the rain. Such fun!

It rained all night and is still raining. This always happens after fireworks around here.

A New Calendar

The best part of January 1st is discarding the old calendar with it’s year of joys and pains over and hanging the new one with all it’s hopes for a better year. I always feel a lifting of my spirits as I do that. It is like a new beginning for all things in my life.

According to my new calendar which features the poems of Rumi and the artwork of illustrator Matt Manley, January’s stone is the garnet and it’s flower is the carnation, both deep red-the color of movement and passion. So it is fitting that January is also the International Month of Creativity and the National Celebration of Life Month. Life and creativity go hand in hand. It is the act of creativity to make life and the acting out of life to create. In the cold days of winter ahead people will be stuck indoors, creating-either with paintbrush, musical instrument, pen(or laptop), new recipes, or just making babies-people will be creating, rejoicing in the act of life, dreaming of Spring.

Maybe January’s dance should be the Salsa.

So, in honor of the month of January, I’ll will be concentrating my artwork on images of life, home, passion, and new beginnings.

Christmas Comments | Online Mall

Twenty Things To Be Thankful For During The Holidays

1. Mistletoe with someone special under it.
2. Finding a holiday party dress that's just right.
3. The combined smells of baking cookies, a real tree, and spices.
4. My soldier boy and his comrades.
5. A hairdresser that gets me.
6. and shoes that look sexy and feel great.
7. My neighborsbor kids' laughter as they play.
8. Finally knowing what the teens in my family want for christmas.
9. My friends who are sometimes closer than my family.
10. Getting my christmas tree up and looking good without much fuss.
11. My nephew being here even though I want to slap him on the back of the head sometimes.
12. Everyone getting together for the family party.
13. and everyone when they leave the party.
14. Watching snow showers and knowing that it won't be deep enough to prevent me from going to work.
15. I also grateful that I have a job to buy christmas presents with this year.
16. Having my health this year.
17. 24 hour stores.
18. Crisp, clear winter nights with a full moon and the smell of pine and woodsmoke on the air.
19. The promise of Spring.
20. The Promise of my Lord and Savior.

First Snow and Christmas Past

Looks like we might have a white christmas this year. It's snows just alittle bit here every other day. I would love to see some snow on Christmas Day. Just not enough to keep me from getting to work later on in the week.

I really don't remember having a white Christmas in-well-decades.

I do remember one Christmas when visiting my grandparents when I was a child it snowed on Christmas. I can still see the white blanket glistening under a bright sun as we traveled familiar roads to reach their house, excited about seeing them, knowing there was all kinds on goodies awaiting us. Grandpa always had cream drops for us and Grandma baked cookies. They weren't rich and usually their presents consisted on coloring books and crayons, bubble bath, maybe night gowns that Grandma had made us girls. It was enough. Just being there with them at Christmas was what we wanted.

Thanksgiving Dinner

http://www.southernliving.com/southern/foods/0,13362,1854958-1,00.html