HOLIDAY MOVIES

Greetings, dear reader! have been busy as the proverbial Cranberry Merchant of late! However, I ALWAYS make time to watch a few of my favorite holiday movies.

Two of the newest (at least new to me) that I LOVED were "Christmas Cottage." A true story about artist Thomas Kinkade and how he became known as the Painter of Light. (The above picture, entitled the same, "Christmas Cottage".) Isn't it absolutely WONDERFUL? I can see me perched beside the fireplace, puppy at my side, hot chocolate with a peppermint stick in hand, reading "A Christmas Carol" by Dickens. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...such a cozy scene, yes? Anyone care to join me?

Another movie I love, along these same lines, "The Holiday" with Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. The basic premise of the movie is that both of these women are sick of their prospective lives (and boyfriends) and decide to spend a week away via a "house swap". Kate Winslet lives in England in a  so-called modest cottage very similar to the one pictured above, and Cameron Diaz lives in LA (or is it Beverly Hills?)  in very posh surroundings among the "rich and famous." Both are excited to discover the charms of each new vacation spot...as well as the charms of new men who happen into their lives. 

VERY heartwarming...

and from The Holiday:



More soon!

Paula Clare

7 DAYS: 7 FUN PROJECTS! DAYS 6&7

Greetings intrepid merry makers! How goes the Christmas shopping and running amuck? I took a car load of friends to see what has become a holiday tradiition in my family: Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Way of Lights. I'll post pictures in the next post or two.... Meanwhile, BECAUSE I was out with said car load of friends, I didn't get to post the Day 6 project...which means TODAY, you get a 2 for 1 deal-o-roonie! WOOHOO! First, as time is ticking away, we are now talking LAST MINUTE gifts, yes? So here's a quick and easy one I think is FAB: Handmade chocolate bar wrappers. The Scrapgirls have a WONderful template you can use...or here are some cute ideas:

I LOVE the idea of putting a photo on the wrapper! For those of you who would rather create your own version...these are great for digital layouts! My SECOND last minute idea is the "MOVIE BASKET". I would LOVE to get one of these!

EVERYTHING (except the bowl) can be purchased at your local video store. Find a great family movie, add popcorn, movie size boxes of candy and soda, and POOF! A fab hostess gift or gift for a family!

Now, lest I forget, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you ALL a VERY "MARY" Christmas...(I can just hear my proofreaders, "You spelled Merry wrong! You spelled Merry wrong!" Nay, dear proofers, I did not...explanation forthcoming) As the Bible says of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, "She pondered these things in her heart..." I would hope that EACH OF US would TAKE TIME to ponder in our hearts the GOOD THINGS granted us in the past year...and offer a prayer of gratitude to the "Birthday Boy" who makes it all possible. We are immensely grateful for ALL that has been given and shared with us in 2007...and as I look upon my 5th decade on planet earth (oh good grief!) I am more and more thankful for each new day...each new gift...each new opportunity. I am thankful for YOU, dear reader, and for this "most awesome" (In the words of Bill and Ted) mode of communication that helps me to stay in touch with friends around the world.

Meanwhile, from the Clouse House to YOUR HOUSE, we pray you have a very MARY Christmas...

THUMPETY, THUMP, THUMP...

Do you hear what I hear? It's the sound of snowmen overtaking the house!



O' (Snowman) Christmas Tree...O Christmas Tree...

The snowmen were hung by the chimney with care...

The Table Awaits The Arrival of Family and Friends...

And the decorating madness continues!

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

I DO love that song...annnnnnnnnnyhoo...

It is the time of year when several things happen around the AltAred Art Palace...such as:

• Snowmen overtake the house
• Yankee Candles (Christmas Eve & Christmas Wreath) are burned from Dec. 1-Jan 1.
• The outside of the house is "decked"
• The inside "halls" are decked...accordingly
• I BAKE!!!! (It's true...it is a cosmic event...the sun, moon and stars all align and you can hear angel choirs singing in the background...)
• Christmas movies run constantly from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day

It's a Wonderful Life - Jimmy Stewart
A Christmas Carol - Alistair Simms
A Muppet Christmas Carol - Michael Kane
Miracle on 34th St - Natalie Wood
White Christmas - Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye
A Christmas Story - Darren McGavin...HILARIOUS!
A Christmas Vacation - Chevy Chase
The Nativity - Beautiful!
Jingle All The Way - Arnold Schwarzenneger, Sinbad
ELF - Will Ferrell
Charlie Brown's Christmas
The Grinch - Cartoon Version

• Cookie Dough is eaten in mass quantities
• Festive vintage Christmas music is played for background music...some of my faves are:

Bing Crosby's White Christmas
Trans Siberian Orchestra's The Christmas Attic
Gene Autry's Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Andy William's It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Manheim Steamroller's Carol of the Bells
Mormon Tabernacle Choir's O Come All Ye Faithful
Celine Dion's Ave Maria

And now off to buy the ingredients for Hot Wassail!