AAM Monday: Farewell December 2014

This week I plan to start on my 2015 Project Life or whatever I am going to call it this year. I see that a lot of digi scrappers are ready to break out of the traditional PL format and either go minimal or very free form. Of course a lot of the 'free formers' are Creative Team members who have to push product. I don't have to do that so I'm  going to see what goes this year. I do like the PL formats because they are variable and I can use different patterned papers as backgrounds. The project will evolve I know so I'm just going to start and see where it takes me. Just be open to the process.

December 2014?

It was a good end to the year. How about you? are you done with 2014 Project Life?

Travel With Me Tuesday...Where Ever I May Go

No, no post about the never-seems-to-be finished trip down the Rhine and Danube. The trip of November 2012.  I'll get back to it some time but as I missed the week of scrapping while on vacation last month I have to let that 2012 trip go for a bit. I'll finish my Project Life for this year and then see what 2014 brings.

So where am I not going this December?

Well, I've decided I'm not doing a December Daily this year. I'll do some pages of old Christmas memories but nothing day by day. I just can't deal with that. Not this year. We are doing a minimal amount of decoration for Christmas and both of us are content that way. It leaves me more energy to go places at the drop of the hat and socialize with people and cook for them. I'm not sure what I have less of...physical or emotional energy for the whole Christmas to-do but I suspect it's probably both. Focusing on Hospice work also gives me a different way of looking at what I think is important. Important for me right now.

Where else am I not going? Well for much the same reason, I'm not going to be taking the Adobe offer of Photoshop CC and LR5 for $9.99 a month for a year. I have LR5 already and really, when I look at all the things I want to do and really need to do, dealing with a new software program that I truly don't need isn't something I want to add to my plate. It wasn't easy saying No, but it feels right. Somehow it was one of those things just like seeing something at the Mall, like winter boots with a 5in heel,  that all the 'cool kids' have and almost buying them but stepping back and thinking ....I really don't want them and they sure don't suit me but still being pulled to get them.

But I am traveling, and expect to travel weekly. I will be off today crossing the Bay for my first 'real' session at Hospice. They are going to train me to write condolence letters. I feel that it won't be a great struggle as I'm rarely at a loss for words  but getting back on a PC has me a bit spooked. Uh...I love my Macs and when I've had to use a PC keyboard my fingers balk and my mind says...For chrissake, this is a clumsy bit of gear! and a tethered mouse??? so 1990s.  But, I'm hoping that I may be able to bring one of the resident Macbooks over and work on that with templates perhaps? We'll see, and if I do have to work with a PC, it will help me get back to being 'bi-lingual' i.e able to work on two platforms, even if one is 2nd rate in my prejudiced opinion.

Anything else? Well, I'm going to take some time and do easy things like those canning jars with the rosemary and candles. Simple, using things I have and restful to the spirit. A peaceful December I hope.  I hope your December journey fits your soul just fine.

Wordless Wednesday

NABLOPOMO

So. I've taken on a new project for December. nablopomo.

What does all that mean? National Blog Posting Month, and for me I'm starting in December. A post a day, 31 in 31 days. I expect to be home almost all of this month, and godwilling and FIOS keeps working, I will have my trusty IMac and power.


So...a post a day in December. That isn't the hard part. The hard part is making it worth my time in writing and your time in reading.We'll see how we go, ok? Stick with me peeps, I'll do my best! If the idea strikes YOUR fancy, jump in and join the crowd. Or think about it and go for that upcoming short month - February. Any or every month can be nablopomo for you. But remember - 1. Fun and 2. Blogging without Obligation. Those two can exist with this project. I know they can.

Paper or Plastic?

Live or fake?

DH and I are still mulling over the 2008 tree issue. I left this comment over at Ginny's Small Studio and decided to expand and blog it. I am still up in the air about Will we or Won't we.

Trees have been a source of disagreement in our house since dh and I married. With just a bit of his furniture, there really isn't room for much of a tree and he had no interest in one to begin with. However... I prevailed the first year or two and went with other friends to a tree farm. He groaned but did the lights and I loaded decorations. And cleaned up needle after needle after needle.

Then I broke down and we got a fake tree, back when the idea of items being Chinese was only cresting the horizon and not the tidal wave it is now.

We remodeled

and that year the fake tree drowned in a basement flood.

We got a skinny fake tree with less mumbling from me. It was ok for a year.We saw this in Napa last December and once again the (prelit...well half lit) fake tree went up. We discussed getting a really good (read expensive) one. I considered what else that money could buy.

Then we redid the furnace ducts in the aforementioned basement and that fake tree was ruined.

Now, DH said, why don't you get a live tree this year? I wondered. Do I really want to go thru all the hassle, expense, etc etc again?

We planned two December vacations.

So now, I have joked that we have no tree and that is fine with me. Mostly. Almost. Well..

We still really have no room and so I suspect I will end up using my mil's 60s gift to me of the homemade ceramic tree. I laughed at it then but it's a lovely part of my current holidays. I think I will be content with that little tree and have a pine scented candle, and be happy with simple in 2008.

I think...