GLENCAIRN CHRISTMAS

Oh, the PITCAIRN family CHRISTMAS TREASURES were wonderful. Most were displayed in "THE GREAT HALL", which is aptly named.

Do you recognize any of these CANDIES?? My friend SUSAN remarked that she remembered eating these "PLANTATION" CHOCOLATE STRAWS, which were chewy and stuck to her teeth. I remember that too.

PLANTATION CANDIES is still in business outside of PHILADELPHIA. I just may have to plan an excursion to see the candy production up close and personal.

I was MOST fascinated by the HAND-BLOWN GLASS ORNAMENTS, which started in a small town in GERMANY.  It took me a few minutes to realize that the glass was blown into the ceramic mold (at the bottom of the photo below). When the mold was opened and the ornament removed, it still had the long glass "straw" at the top.

They first applied a base coat of paint, then HAND-PAINTED each ORNAMENT. Lastly they cut the "straw" part off - thus the sharp glass edge under the silver cap that holds the hook for the ornament to hang on the tree. I remember as a kid, being warned not to cut myself on the rough glass edges if the hook cap came off.  

A CHRISTMAS photo of the PITCAIRNS was displayed behind a small tree decorated with GLASS ORNAMENTS.

Additional TREASURES that caught my eye.......... don't you LOVE this miniature STETSON HAT??

And you can only imagine how spectacularly their home was decorated.

The following 3 photos were taken in the older residence on the property - CAIRNWOOD.

I hope you enjoyed this little TOUR and are completely IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by now........  Tune in for my next post, in which I'll share photos of the NATIVITY SCENES owned by the PITCAIRNS, most of which were HAND-CARVED in ITALY.

JOAN

CHRISTMAS DECOR FOR MY WINE BOTTLES

DARN CUTE, aren't they?!!!! All of the knit ones are hand-made. Over 10 years ago, I met the young girl who started the company and I bought several from her right away. Since then, I've found a variety of alternatives to dress up a WINE BOTTLE and occasionally, I can't resist - notice the GNOME SANTA........

I was in THE CONTAINER STORE of all places last month and since PENNSYLVANIA still has restaurants where you can BYOB, these WINE CARRIERS caught my eye immediately.  I placed them on my counter for the HOLIDAYS, together with a rustic SNOWMAN and CHRISTMAS PLATE.

Each time I open a bottle of wine at this time of year, I decide which CHRISTMAS WINE CORK I'll use......... I'm becoming a bit of a "COLLECTOR"........

Now, to go with YOUR GLASS OF WINE, you need a CLOVER!!! story, right?

CLOVER!!! and I were sitting on the couch one evening. I had a glass of RED WINE in one hand and a TENNIS BALL in the other, tossing it to CLOVER!!! in a gentle game of CATCH. I toss it to her..... then she drops or tosses it to me...... 

When the ball landed smack-dab-in-the-middle of my glass of wine, RED WINE flew UP in the air, then down on ME, THE COUCH, THE COUCH PILLOWS and the CARPET (that was cleaned JUST THAT MORNING of course). 

I turned toward CLOVER!!! with a GASP and a look of STUNNED SURPRISE.  She just TILTED HER HEAD and looked back at me with the same STUNNED SURPRISE. 

Naturally, I jumped up to grab a wet towel to clean it all up, but I couldn't help but LAUGH OUT LOUD. This couldn't have happened again if she tried.  

CHEERS!!

JOAN

MY NEW CHRISTMAS WINE GLASS

Since Thanksgiving I've been searching for (during my ongoing shopping excursions) a special WINE GLASS to enjoy during this 2016 CHRISTMAS season. I was "on the hunt" for something BRIGHT, CHEERFUL, UNIQUE and FESTIVE. I wasn't having any luck....... 

But this past weekend, at the GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET in downtown PHILADELPHIA, I found it!!! I fell in love with it the minute I saw it and knew it would be perfect for both of my favored ROSE and RED wines.  

ISN'T IT DELIGHFUL??

It's HAND-BLOWN GLASS from EGYPT (go figure). The vendor was featuring beautiful hand-blown glass ORNAMENTS, but tucked along the side were a few of these wine glasses. Some had gold-colored stripes and some had rose-colored stripes, but all were decorated with dots of gold. PERFECTION!!

I was just getting my money out to buy it when my AUNT MARTA rushed over, pushed me aside (yes, she's GERMAN) and INSISTED to buy it for me. THANK YOU AUNT MARTA!!

I'll close with a tiny bit of CHRISTMAS MUSIC from the GERMAN MARKET for your LISTENING PLEASURE......

CHEERS!!

JOAN

CHRISTMAS DECORATING - INSIDE

Okay.......... don't take this photo seriously, I just wanted to give you a hearty LAUGH!!

Last year I didn't decorate much inside. CLOVER!!! was a YOUNG PUPPY and I had NO extra energy. This year the bug bit me early, so I started to make the house look "FESTIVE".

First out - my ANDY SMITH original, mini, CHRISTMAS watercolors. I have 3 of them. ANDY paints one each day, which is featured on his BLOG at 7pm and you have to be the first to call. Lots of pressure to remember to look each day at that exact time at this time of year........ THANKFULLY I already have 3 that I LOVE.

This last painting is grouped with 2 PRIMITIVE, BELL, CHRISTMAS TREES and an ANGEL.

The MANTLE is decorated differently this year, with 2 light-up items and several other treasures.

And what is CHRISTMAS without a few, adorable, stuffed REINDEER?

I won this white one in a sorority alumni GIFT EXCHANGE earlier this month. Soooo cute.

SANTAS on my window sill............

And REINDEER at my front door.

Only $4.50 at a HOLIDAY BAZAAR a few weeks ago (how could I resist??), this rustic TIN STOCKING hangs on a door handle.

This BEAUTIFUL ADVENT CALENDAR is from my sister. We exchange one every year.  

BUT, how is she ever going to top this one?!!

Would this JOYFUL, LOVING, CHEERFUL time of year be complete without something else about CLOVER!!!? She discovered my TRASH CAN DRAWER............

Thankfully, she just ripped up some styrofoam packing material and didn't swallow any of it!

LAST but NOT LEAST, I have to be FESTIVE with my WINE BOTTLES, right?!!  My next Blog post is full of fun photos!!

JOAN

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT HIT ME EARLY AGAIN

NOVEMBER 1st is the date I like to have my CHRISTMAS CARD PHOTO completed, so this year, I had to set-the-stage and cross my fingers that CLOVER!!! would cooperate.  As you can see, it seemed as if it was going to take PATIENCE and TIME to get the perfect SELFIE. Surprise, Surprise. It only took 4 tries this year! This is not the one I'd consider "PERFECT", although looking back on it, perhaps I should have chosen this one. I like it. I LIKE IT A LOT.

Christmas SHOPPING usually begins in August (at the latest) and since I do things now to remove/reduce STRESS from my life, I like to have all gifts purchased and most wrapped by THANKSGIVING, when I deliver them to my sister's house in MD.

Mission Accomplised.

Since most people decorate outside over the THANKSGIVING weekend I felt the pressure to do so as well. I already have a beautiful wooden ANGEL to hang on the front door, and decided to stick with that theme this year. 

I purchased a lighted angel for the front yard.  But when I got it home, I realized it had to be put together.  DUH.  It wasn't that hard, but you know those little sparklies?  They make a BIG MESS!!

But the end result is beautiful.

I also bought 2 DOVES for the ground beside the angel, but one arrived defective and the other, once assembled and placed in the ground, caught CLOVER!!!'s eye and she made off with it, breaking the electrical connection. So that's the end of THAT!

Instead, I added a CHEERFUL, lighted FA-LA-LA. That ALSO caught CLOVER!!!'s eye........  She literally stole the LA from FA-LA-LA. And again, broke the electrical connection, so the LA wouldn't light up anymore. Hello TRASH and goodbye $56.

Time to start decorating inside............

JOAN

HONEY and EBATES SAVE YOU MONEY WHILE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ONLINE!!!

My goodness. Has it really been 2 months since I wrote something? I know you've been wondering where I've been....... hahahaha..... Well, how about I tell you that I was in ITALY for 2 weeks in October. PUGLIA - the heel of the boot. LOVED IT THERE. But, the "out-of-this-world" homemade pasta and wine twice a day was a deal-killer when it comes to weight - I came back with a few extra pounds and BAD EATING HABITS. UGH. "I'll start Monday".......

OK, you're gonna hate me, but I'm already finished with my CHRISTMAS shopping. And wrapping. YUP. I CAN'T STAND "STRESS", so I start very early (like August), taking advantage of every possible SALE that I can. It annoys me to pay full price on anything but groceries, so I SHOP and COMPARE. Clothing for the littlest ones is the last thing I buy - on BLACK FRIDAY and CYBER MONDAY.  

Yeah to make you even hate me more........ EVERYTHING is wrapped and already delivered to my sister's house, where the family spends CHRISTMAS together.  TEEHEE

Now that I have you shaking your head and breathing hard, I have some GREAT NEWS to share with you about SAVING MONEY when shopping ONLINE. Just as I told you about EBATES a few years ago, which I continue to use (see the last paragraph here in my August 30, 2014 post - EBATES), last week I found out about HONEY.  It's an online "gadget" that checks for the lowest price on AMAZON (purchase, shipping and tax). AND on other sites, it checks for available online coupon codes and applies the best one to your checkout basket. IT WORKS. Yesterday it saved me an unexpected 20% on an order. WOW.  

Click here ----> HONEY  to read an article and get the link to start using it!!!

THINK CHRISTMAS JOY!!!

xoxo

Joan

SECRETS TO READING MY BLOG POSTS

Not everyone follows Blogs so I thought perhaps you'd be interested in SEVEN "Blog-Reading-Tips"........

YES, YES, YES, you can certainly just read it and be done with it, but there is so much more!!  

Check it out.......

1.  HIGHLIGHTED WORD(S) (not just bolded) - 

• If you click on it/them, you will be taken directly to the website referenced. Go ahead and try it now ----> "The Lake House"

2.  "LIKE" THE POST - 

• If you enjoyed what you read, just check the box next to the "I LIKED THIS POST" button at the bottom. 
• You can also let me know if you didn't like it. But keep in mind, I'm sensitive......

3.  "COMMENT" ON THE POST - 

• Sometimes you just can't resist, right?  At the bottom of the post you can leave a comment or ask a question.  
• Click on the word "COMMENTS" (it may say "No Comments" or "2 Comments" etc.). 
• If you DO comment, be sure to FIRST (so you don't forget) click "NOTIFY ME" in the bottom right corner of the comment box, and when I or someone else responds, you'll be "notified" by email, so you don't have to check back on your own. 
• DO NOT click on the "SIGN OUT" button.  
• When you're finished your comment, click "PUBLISH". 
• Oh, and sign your name if you're registered as ANONYMOUS, if you want me to know who commented. 
• Of course, there is NO need for you to leave a "Comment" for the world to see, but if you feel compelled, there you go!

4.  FOLLOW MY POSTS - 

• You DON'T want to miss anything, right? 
• On the right side of the page, a little below my photo, you'll see a tiny, rectangular open box that says "email address".  Type yours in, click on "SUBMIT" and VOILA! 
• VERY IMPORTANT - You'll receive an email within moments (check your spam folder) asking you to VERIFY that you're a real person and not a robot trying to sign up. There will be a link to click in the email and then a few letters/numbers to retype AND submit. 
• I don't think you can do this from a cell phone, but you certainly can on the computer or iPad. 

5.  READ MY EARLIER POSTS - 

• Scroll down the right hand side to "BLOG ARCHIVE", below which you can pick any month/year to locate and read posts that were previously published, which you may have missed.

6.  SEARCH BY KEY WORD - 

• Below the "BLOG ARCHIVE" is a space to type in a word(s) to search my Posts.  For instance, if you type in the word "Lavender" today, 4 posts will be listed that include that word in it.

7.  EMAIL THE POST TO A FRIEND (FEEL FREE!!) - 

• If I happened to share something that you feel would be meaningful or entertaining to one of your friends or family members, you can email it to them.
• At the bottom of the post is small ENVELOPE with an arrow in it.  Click on the envelope. OR there is a small box with an M in it, to the right of the Pencil. This is an additional email option.
• You'll be prompted to fill in the email address to whom you want to send it.
• The other boxes to the right of the Pencil give you the ability to share the post(s) on Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I hope you picked up at least one little nugget. Yeah, I know, I have so many SMART friends, you probably knew all of this already.....

OK, OK, on to my next Post......

JOAN

ANDY SMITH - WATERCOLOR ARTIST AND FRIEND

I was asked to write something for my artist friend, ANDY SMITH's Blog.  He has an extraordinary talent for watercolor realism and he is inspired everywhere he goes. We traveled last year to Europe together - this photo was taken outside of Amsterdam (duh!).

In 1976 LINDA and I met. We were both recently separated, became immediate friends and then roommates the following year. Shortly thereafter she started dating ANDY. His personality then, as it is now, was engaging, warm, honest and thoughtful. He also had impeccable manners (and still does), which really impressed me.

ANDY'S natural skill for realistic watercolor painting always fascinated me. I was an Art Education major in college and then taught HS Art for 4 years. I had the appreciation for ART and was a born teacher, but watercolor painting was one skill I could never even wrap my mind around. Andy made it look so easy but I simply couldn't understand how he did it. His "thumbnail" sketches, in themselves are each a work of art - just as you'll notice from many of the Great Masters' thumbnails housed in museums around the world.

At first I could only afford ONE of Andy's PRINTS here and there, and then finally a larger print "THE STAR BARN", purchased at the MT GRETNA ART SHOW. What a marvelous building and ANDY really captured its essence for me. My niece inherited it not long after I started to collect A originals and it continues to proudly hand in their home.

My first ORIGINAL was "SUNNY SIDE". It pained me to pay the price for an original, BUT I've never looked back nor been disappointed in any of my purchases. My love for "windows" continues to this day and attracts me when taking photographs during my travels. Andy's unobstructed window made me want to climb in there and see what was inside (still does). Perhaps ANDY was also wondering what was inside and his intent was to draw the observer in. I'll have to ask him....

One of my next ORIGINALS was also a window (of course), surrounded by a brick wall. His brickwork astounds me. Who can have the patience? ANDY. And the shadows.... I love his shadows...... (sorry for the glare on the photo).

Most recently I've been mesmerized by ANDY'S MINIATURES and all of the detail he can share in such a small space. An avid reader, my favorite author, JULIAN BARNES has my heart because he can tell a full, very detailed, engaging story, bringing the reader into his world in under 200 pages. Succinct yet an abundance of detail. ANDY and Julian Barnes BOTH have this gift.

EVERY DAY I stop and look at ANDY'S paintings placed throughout my home. They bring me great JOY. They make me SMILE. They make me appreciate the God-given talent that ANDY is committed to perfect every single day. His dedication to his work is part of his soul. 

ANDY has my total RESPECT for his work-ethic, his talent, his Christian belief, his love and devotion to his daughter ABBEY and to my best friend, LINDA. I feel quite blessed to have been a part of their lives for the past 40 YEARS and to have had the opportunity to watch both ANDY grow and perfect his talent and LINDA creatively and tirelessly run their business, while allowing ANDY the freedom to follow his dream. Does it get any better than that?!

JOAN

STEM CELL THERAPY FOR MY HIP AND KNEE???

Exploring PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT SURGERY in my KNEE and HIP.......

Five years ago I was told I am "a candidate for" a LEFT KNEE replacement.

Last month I was told that I am "a candidate for" a RIGHT HIP replacement.

I'M FALLING APART!!

For the past 5 years, I've been having my knee treated with Orthovisc injections and cortisone shots. So far, so good - until I did a "face plant" in France last September for no reason (nothing broken thankfully) and then fell again this past June (again in France) landing on my hand/fingers, (thankfully nothing broken again - but still "healing"). The most recent "stumble" made me think, when I turned abruptly each time, perhaps my knee gave out. I certainly don't need any broken bones, SOOOOO..... time to explore my options.

Being a real BABY and NOT wanting SURGERY, I decided to explore STEM CELL THERAPY to regrow the cartilage that's wearing away from OSTEOARTHRITIS (hereditary) in both my knee AND hip. Perhaps this would buy me a few years before surgery.......

The INTERNET - what a beautiful thing....... hours and hours and hours of researching and reading and compiling my findings recently, so I could come to a decision about the effectiveness of STEM CELL THERAPY.

This week I attended a STEM CELL SEMINAR, met with my PRIMARY PHYSICIAN to discuss the pros and cons and spoke to a nurse at BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL in Boston. I also had a discussion with a friend's sister who had stem cell injections in her knee - that didn't work.

From what I've read and heard, the younger you are, the more dramatic results you'll probably have, because younger cells replicate faster. Injuries, rather than "wear-and-tear" might show better results too. But that's just what I'm gathering.

Seems that there is not enough "SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE" yet, therefore NOT many MD's are recommending it, but there ARE CLINICAL TRIALS going on. I'm energized by the future of REGENERATIVE MEDICINE and have high hopes for its future use. However, currently STEM CELL THERAPY seems to be administered mostly by Alternative Medicine MDs and Chiropractic offices. Most are using stem cells from AMNIOTIC FLUID, donated by the mother after child delivery - the stem cells being harvested and frozen in a lab for sale to practices who will administer the shot later. Not covered by insurance, I can pay out-of-pocket $3,000 - $5,000 (in the USA) for ONE KNEE with no guarantee of results, IF I want to try it.

If you want to use YOUR OWN STEM CELLS, they must be harvested from your fat cells via liposuction and/or from bone marrow in the hip. These procedures add an element of risk too, of course. And at my older age (64 - ok, is that really possible?!!), they would mix my own stem cells with amniotic stem cells that will multiply faster for the regrowth process. EMBRYONIC stem cell usage is ILLEGAL in the United States, THANKFULLY!!

My knee doesn't have "POTHOLES" to fill, it needs "RESURFACING". Stem cells seem to work best when "filling potholes" for cell regrowth.

The last step in my "research" - I have a call in to my Orthopedic doc at the ROTHMAN INSTITUTE (Dr. Good), asking if he thinks I'm "a candidate for stem cell therapy". Dr. Tucker at ROTHMAN INSTITUTE in Egg Harbor, NJ administers it.

If Dr. Good says I'm too far gone (typically if replacement is recommended or if you are already bone on bone, you are too far gone....), then I guess I'm going to have to "bite the bullet". At his suggestion I would replace the hip first, probably next year.

BUT naturally I will have to coordinate any surgery with my beloved travel schedule..........

JOAN

REMEMBERING MY FRIEND, BETTY ANN

Let me start out by saying that I'm VERY SPIRITUAL. I believe in GOD and ANGELS and our SPECTACULAR, MIRACULOUS, MYSTERIOUS, EVER-PRESENT, RESPONSIVE and GENEROUS UNIVERSE.

I've always had an aversion to "organized religion" for myself, but I totally understand the need and desire and commitment for others to be a part of something that provides not only spiritual comfort, but inspirational readings, music, consistency and a social aspect as well. My HEART and SOUL are FILLED with all of these aspects (ok, maybe not "consistency".......).

I've never read nor studied the BIBLE (nor any other sacred religious book). I've been encouraged to read excerpts through the years and have taken them seriously and am often "moved" by what it says.

All of this is a preface to my short story about a BIBLE reading at a service I attended this week to celebrate the life of my friend, BETTY ANN at the 1-Year Anniversary of her death. BETTY ANN started this family tradition on the 1-Year Anniversary of the death of her son, BART. She wanted a "CELEBRATION" of his life, despite the family's ongoing grief and the hole in her heart that would never, ever heal.

So, this week at the CELEBRATION of BETTY ANN'S LIFE, I was truly moved by a BIBLE passage that was read by her oldest of 4 sons, BRAD (Philippians 4:6-9).  He told us that his Mom repeatedly reminded BRAD of this passage when he needed it most, many years ago.

Interestingly enough, a 11/17/2014 HUFFINGTON POST article points out:

• "According to data released by AMAZON about the most highlighted passage in Kindle ebooks, the most popular passage from the BIBLE is one on reducing anxiety and finding trust in GOD. (Philippians 4:6-7)" 

A few verses longer, here is the passage BRAD read to us, which I DO try to put into practice every day:

• "Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
• And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you."

I miss my friend BETTY ANN, one of the smartest and most gutsy women I've known.

JOAN

OUR MORNING (TRUE STORY)

My 12 year old grandniece, GRACE is staying with me for the week to attend CAMP at the local YMCA. Showered, dressed, fed and packed up, GRACE asked to take "the other car" to camp today. Sure. No problem. Of course, CLOVER!!! joins us for the ride each day. The Counselors love to pet her, etc. Normally cars line up and a Counselor checks GRACE in and takes her from the car to her camp group. This morning we arrive to find that check-in is inside (threat of rain) - which means we have to park the car, stand in line and enter the building to check her in. UH OH..... we have CLOVER!!! What do I do? There is NO leash in this car (my bad) and it's far too hot to leave her in the car for even 5 minutes. Time to get creative....... We took GRACE'S TINY bathing suit top and tied it to CLOVER!!!'s collar, to act as a leash. That should work, right? OK - it's unfamiliar territory and CLOVER!!! is not particularly well leash trained yet (clearing my throat - "we're working on it") and she started out like a rocket, pulling on the bathing suit top, stretching it to the max (can you visualize this???). Unable to get her under good control, I decided pretty quickly that this was a bad idea. In addition, I worried about standing in line with all of the kids and adults (CLOVER!!! still jumps on people when she gets excited - We're working on that too.......). Oh my. Back to the car for a PLAN B. Let's untie the bathing suit top from CLOVER!!!'s collar first. Well, at this point, because she had pulled so hard on her "leash", the knot is IMPOSSIBLE to undo. Searching frantically for a sharp object to assist, we came up empty-handed. UGH. Finally, it's 10 min past the drop-off time, so I drive right up to the building, to the "NO PARKING SIGN" and park (RULES BREAKER!!). No one is in line anymore and kids are already dispersing with their Counselors. GRACE ran into the building and brought a Counselor out to the car to have me sign the check-in. Good security there - I like that! It's all good. CLOVER!!! and I are home, the bathing suit knot is now untied (thanks to a Phillips screwdriver) and it's only 9:30 AM. Who needs COFFEE with a start like that, right?!! ENJOY YOUR DAY! JOAN PS Do NOT ask why I didn't get a picture of this!