My Favorite Things

views on the run

Something you may not know about me is that my absolute favorite hobby is running.  I have been doing it since I was 12 (I am much older now ... he he he).  What is so great about running, is that you can do it in absolutely any weather.  And I usually do. Over these past almost 30 years, I have seen some amazing landscapes.  When you are covering ground on foot, you tend to notice things that might not stand out if you were driving in a car or even riding a bike.  

When I was out for a run a couple of weeks ago, I decided to try to capture some of the images that I see along my way with the little camera on my cell phone.  As much as I would love to lug my Cannon Rebel around with me on my runs, I decided that would be a titch impractical!  So, what I give up in picture quality, I gain in the achievement of my goal.  My goal is to capture in picture, scenery, that for years I have wished I had gone back and photographed after the completion of my runs.  But really, once I am done with a run, my mind has moved on to the next thing for the day, and the need for the picture is but a distant memory.  So, throughout this next year, I am going to try to take time to make some quick stops along my runs to photograph some things that catch my eye.

 

Even though this pastoral scene cannot be fully appreciated because of my camera, I just had to make this my first photograph.  I have run down this road so many times and through so many seasons, wishing I could photograph this barn and its surroundings.  I love witnessing the change of the landscape throughout the year!

  

I was the first one on this path after the snowfall.  To me, this represents in picture, the solitude that so often runners experience out on runs.

One of my favorite things to look at this time of year are the tree branches encased in their icy shell.  It is just beautiful!

I don't know if this photograph collection is of any interest to anyone but me.  But I am looking forward to adding to, what may turn out to be, the first journal I have ever created ... finally!

till next time,

melissa

valentine treats

I have been busy over here crafting away some goodies for Valentine's Day.  I am participating in two valentine swaps, which I will share pictures of later.  I also made a few items for my little etsy store.

These are my valentine conversation coin purses.  They are lined inside with fun fabrics.

Nothing says valentine to me like ruffles and scallops!

Drop by my store and take a peek.

till next time,

melissa

  

choosing joy

I just added an adorable "choosing joy" button that I borrowed from the blog of my sweet friend the Jen. She posted about how for the new year she is choosing joy.  She has a great post on the 3 things she is choosing to focus on this year.  You really should go take a look!  So, as a reminder of what she wants to focus on in the new year, she created a button for her sidebar that she would see every time she opens her blog.  I thought that was a fabulous idea, and since she offered that anyone could borrow the button, I went ahead and did just that!

Have a very joyful and blessed day.

till next time,

melissa

it's time

I just love Christmas, and I have a hard time wanting to pack everything away once New Year's Eve has passed.  I know it's time when my husband finally looks at me and asks me how much longer I am going to leave the Christmas decorations up.  Well, that time was today.  So, tomorrow I will begin the process.  

But before I do, I wanted to get some photos of our decorations to share with you.  I had been meaning to do this before Christmas, but it just didn't happen.  Better late than never ... seems to be my life motto :)

Our tree is covered with ornaments that I had as a child, ones our children have made, as well as new ones.  There are such memories with each one!

This is our advent sock wreath.  I just made the wreath this year, but we have celebrated the countdown to Christmas with the socks for many years.  In past Christmas' I have attached the socks to a ribbon.  A different child opens a sock each day to find little goodies.  My oldest is now 18, but she still looks forward to the advent socks!

My angel collection.

I collect some of our Christmas cards in the pocket on this vintage stocking.  My mom hung this stocking every year when I was a little girl.  I love carrying on holiday traditions.

Finally, this year my youngest daughter and I made a gingerbread house!!  I have been telling her every year for the last 3 years that we were going to make one.  And then Christmas would come and go so quickly, and sadly no gingerbread house was made.  But not this year ... we were victorious.  

I participated in 2 swaps this holiday season.  One of the swaps was a one on one swap I did with a sweet friend that I have gotten to know through Silver Bella the last 2 years.  Jen and I decided to each make a stocking for each other filled with all sorts of goodies.  Just look at the amazing stocking that Jen made!

I just love the attention to details.

I adore how she embroidered her name and the year on the back of the stocking.

And just look at all of the fabulous goodies she stuffed the stocking with.  I was absolutely giddy with delight as I opened the stocking.  Jen also sent me some precious vintage wallpaper and some yummy homemade peppermint chocolate candy.  I was very spoiled.  

Unfortunately, as I often do, I neglected to take any photographs of the stocking I made for Jen before I mailed it off to her.  But, if you go to visit Jen's blog, you can see some photos that Jen took of the stocking I sent her :)  

The other swap I participated in was a Secret Santa Swap.  We were given a name of a person that we were to send some small goodies to, and then in turn our name was given to someone else who sent us a package.  I received my treasures from Sarah.  I adore each and every one.

I had to include the adorable owl paper she wrapped everything in ... sooo cute.  

And of course, in true Melissa fashion, I did not photograph the goodies I sent to my assigned swap partner, Sandy.  But, she did post a picture of what she received over at her adorable blog.    

Well, that wraps up the Christmas tour 2009.  Now I can move on to my next favorite holiday ... Valentine's Day.  I have all sorts of crafting ideas brewing.

till next time,

melissa