Christmas Past Memories: Rankin and Bass

I was looking at some of our photos before we started blogging. We have some really great Christmas memories! Here are some of our photos from when we went to the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. We went to see the original puppets from the much beloved Rankin and Bass Christmas specials. From what I understand, these are two of the remaining puppets, as many of these miniatures were lost over time. As you can see, they are wonderful creations, and I loved seeing these in person.

Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

Finally I had some time this weekend to put our Christmas decorations up! I put some of my vintage elves and reindeer on our mantle. Some of the decorations are ones my mom gave me, too, or that she made for me. I just love seeing them each year!


















Here are some plush bells my mom made when I was little. She gave these to me last time she came for a visit. They hang on hooks that are stuck in our ceiling in the living room. We left them in when we repainted this room in the summer.


And our lovely fiber optic Christmas tree of joy! I love this tree cos we got it the first year we moved into our house. Raoul said Nilla would eat a real one, but she also will eat a fake one if we let her. We placed our tree up high where she won't jump.


Behind the tree is the Christmas house! We decorated it with some miniature deer, Hallmark ornaments (my family collects these), Sanrio, and peppermint candles. And best of all...


The reindeer on the roof!!


Along with Santa in his sleigh! I think I love these most of all from my Christmas collection. Mom gave me these, too, so that is why I love them.

Weekend Wind-Down #136

Whoa! So...it's been a while since I've posted on here, and even longer since the last time we had a "WEEKEND WIND-DOWN". I was going to post this Monday night, but 2am on a Wednesday is a good a time as any, considering. I have a backlog of images that have yet to be downloaded from the past couple of months, and I'm feeling the pressure to finally get them out of my camera, especially since things are only going to get busier here on out. We've been super busy crafting, making things, packing things, sending things, etc...between craft shows, re-stocking on-line stores and brick-and-mortar stores, and filling out folks' holiday orders, it's been crazy here. Missy's been good about posting and I've been more than happy to take a much needed break. Right now, we're in the midst of getting stuff together for the big CHATTY CRAFTY craft show in Chattanooga, Tennessee this weekend:



















We did take a break last Friday night to attend the STUDENT EXIT SHOW at the LAMAR DODD SCHOOL OF ART at the University of Georgia here in Athens. Needless to say, it was inspiring to see works by bright young talent and it gave us a creative boost:





































FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE PAST MONTH?
MISSY - Thanksgiving...I had fun cooking!
RAOUL - The ICE Atlanta holiday craft sale was pretty fun!

WORST MOMENT OF THE PAST MONTH?
MISSY - Not getting to go home for Thanksgiving.
RAOUL - Finally getting sick and tired of Thanksgiving dinner after having it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner three days in a row...we made a lot of food!

FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE PAST MONTH?
MISSY - Watching Jumbles...everything he does is funny and cute!
RAOUL - A certain story I heard on the RISK! podcast.

WORD OR PHRASE OF THE PAST MONTH?
MISSY - "Superpaws"
RAOUL - "Paddy"

FAVORITE MEAL OF THE PAST MONTH?
MISSY - Thanksgiving
RAOUL - Thanksgiving...of course!

THREE THINGS ON YOUR TO-DO LIST THIS WEEK?
MISSY - Put away socks, draw comic, clean out the rabbits' pen.
RAOUL - Make stuff for the craft sale this weekend, laundry, see Beirut at the Georgia Theater.

THREE THINGS ON YOUR CHRISTMAS WISH LIST?
MISSY - More art to hang on the walls, a light from Schoolhouse Electric for the bunnies' room, a new litter pan for Nilla.
RAOUL - Get some art matted and framed, a buncha DVDs, a buncha CDs.

PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK FOR THE PAST MONTH?
MISSY - Beirut, First Aid Kit, The Softies, Laura Marling, Unrest, The Coctails.
RAOUL - Beirut, Boards Of Canada, LCD Soundsystem, Depeche Mode, Luna, Yo La Tengo, Unrest, The Coctails.

Light Up Night 2011

Last night was one of our favorite events in Athens, the Downtown Athens Christmas Parade! We almost were not going to go, but I am glad we did. It was a little chilly, but we braved the cold weather. I remember when Raoul first moved here, it was super cold outside for the parade. We got to the parade after a late dinner, but we saw all the floats in their full glory! Here are some of my pictures. They are all taken from my iPhone cos we did not have our real cameras.




Habitat for Humanity's float in the Christmas parade had so many lights and looked quite gingerbready!




This is someone from Bike Athens. Check out the tree on their bike!










Nothing says Christmas more than some Star Wars characters! Now there is a Christmas album to remember! I love "Life Day."


This cat is the BEST costume ever cos it is for Athens Humane Society! That is where I got my little kitty, Nilla!




Canopy Studio, the local trapeze and aerial dance school, had fire twirlers, hula hoopers, and roller skaters, not to mention a trapeze on their float!


I saw so many of my friends from Canopy on the float! They all started to say "Merry Christmas, Missy!" when they saw me and we waved and hugged! I even saw my teacher Chris roll by on his skates, but he did see me in the crowd. He zipped over on his skates and gave me a hug. It was so sweet.


And everyone looked so MERRY!






Raoul's favorite are the marching bands. He was in marching band when he was in high school.


And Santa was the last parade float, as usual! He did a countdown...


And the downtown Christmas tree was lit up! It is such a pretty tree. I really love seeing it downtown with all the twinkle lights.