Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
With Winter Solstice several days behind us, the evenings are gradually growing shorter and the days longer. This holiday season has been filled with contrasts in many ways including impossibly beautiful sunny, warm days following some truly cold and dreary wet ones...and back again. For me and my little family, the Christmas holidays officially began by replacing some lost Christmas ornaments and topping the Norfolk pine we call Charlie with the most unusual, and somehow perfectly appropriate, white poodle tree topper.
With Winter Solstice several days behind us, the evenings are gradually growing shorter and the days longer. This holiday season has been filled with contrasts in many ways including impossibly beautiful sunny, warm days following some truly cold and dreary wet ones...and back again. For me and my little family, the Christmas holidays officially began by replacing some lost Christmas ornaments and topping the Norfolk pine we call Charlie with the most unusual, and somehow perfectly appropriate, white poodle tree topper.
Along with the busy work of everyday life, we made time for Christmas concerts at the Clarion in Clute and more than one holiday party. The Brazosport Fine Arts Council celebrated our wonderful docents with a catered breakfast and a gingerbread house building party on December 10th. (I took my house home and put it in the freezer to munch later.) Special thanks to Mallory for pulling this party together! (Check out the fun and some of the sweet creations, below.)
On my short list of things I have really wanted to do since moving to the Brazosport area is visit the Freeport Historical Museum. Founded in 2009 by the late Historian and WWII Veteran Nat Hickey, the Freeport Historical Museum is located in Historic Downtown Freeport, Texas and focuses on over 300 years of history and Freeport's impact on the Texas Coast.
The museum was closed for awhile due to damage from Beryl, but recently had a grand re-opening. On the morning of December 12th, they hosted a lecture about the founding of Freeport in 1912. This seemed like the perfect time to visit!
When my son and I pulled into the parking lot, we were greeted by some fabulous tropical holiday inflatables. They served holly jolly with beachy flare!
In addition to the lecture, the museum also had an exhibit about Freeport's Christmas' past. We had a wonderful time and I'm glad we went. A couple of hours did not do it justice, though. We'll have to return when we can spend more time especially in their library. I am hoping they will have some old news clippings and information about my Dad from when I was a little girl growing up there. He was a shrimper and Freeport holds an important place in my family's history.
BTW, You might be interested to know that Freeport Historical Museum features original artifacts and bilingual interpretive panels that guide visitors through Freeport's rich and diverse history. The photos below will give you just a small taste of our experience during that visit and what this museum has to offer.
The museum was closed for awhile due to damage from Beryl, but recently had a grand re-opening. On the morning of December 12th, they hosted a lecture about the founding of Freeport in 1912. This seemed like the perfect time to visit!
When my son and I pulled into the parking lot, we were greeted by some fabulous tropical holiday inflatables. They served holly jolly with beachy flare!
In addition to the lecture, the museum also had an exhibit about Freeport's Christmas' past. We had a wonderful time and I'm glad we went. A couple of hours did not do it justice, though. We'll have to return when we can spend more time especially in their library. I am hoping they will have some old news clippings and information about my Dad from when I was a little girl growing up there. He was a shrimper and Freeport holds an important place in my family's history.
BTW, You might be interested to know that Freeport Historical Museum features original artifacts and bilingual interpretive panels that guide visitors through Freeport's rich and diverse history. The photos below will give you just a small taste of our experience during that visit and what this museum has to offer.
Just two days later, I packed up the dogs and headed off for a dazzling display on Surfside Beach. Under a full moon and misty skies the annual Surfside Christmas Kites was well underway when we arrived @ 6:30p.
Maximus the Poodle service dog was off work for the evening, so he was happily spinning and jumping on the sand. While he was very excited to be there with other people and pets, it was a bit much for Poco the Chihuahua who preferred to view the entire event from his backpack.
The word I think best describes this experience is SURREAL. I have posted some photos below for you to enjoy, but there's a lot you can't see. For instance, there were kites that did NOT have lights and they appeared against the moonlit sky as dark, eerie shadows. Also, the lights on the kites that had them were PULSING. The effect was mesmerizing, but my phone is not letting me upload the videos here. Look for them on my fb page:
www.facebook.com/STUTZStudiowerks/
I would definitely go again next year. Take a look and let me know what you think!
Maximus the Poodle service dog was off work for the evening, so he was happily spinning and jumping on the sand. While he was very excited to be there with other people and pets, it was a bit much for Poco the Chihuahua who preferred to view the entire event from his backpack.
The word I think best describes this experience is SURREAL. I have posted some photos below for you to enjoy, but there's a lot you can't see. For instance, there were kites that did NOT have lights and they appeared against the moonlit sky as dark, eerie shadows. Also, the lights on the kites that had them were PULSING. The effect was mesmerizing, but my phone is not letting me upload the videos here. Look for them on my fb page:
www.facebook.com/STUTZStudiowerks/
I would definitely go again next year. Take a look and let me know what you think!
The party to end all Christmas parties was held in the Brazosport Art League Gallery on the evening of December 19th. Delicious food and beverages were plentiful as was good cheer. Door prizes, games, sing-a-longs and delightful conversation. So many nice people that I feel blessed to know.
(There's a slideshow below, but if you have an older OS on your phone and cannot see it, let me know. I'll text the photos to you.)
(There's a slideshow below, but if you have an older OS on your phone and cannot see it, let me know. I'll text the photos to you.)
So, about a week and a half after the BFAC Docent Party, I decided to take the gingerbread house I made out of the freezer. (See photos below.) Isn't it pretty? Might have made a nice decoration for a few days...but we ate it! Haha! The temptation was too great. It sure was tasty, though!
I'll be heading up A Cure for Christmas Chaos at the Brazosport Art League Studio on 12/26 @ 10a., so I made these samples of Mini Collages a couple of nights ago. The glue was still wet when I took the finished photo. I had fun making them and I think our young guests will, too. If you live in the area and have kids age 3 - 18 years, stop by and join in the fun! You can RSVP HERE.
Christmas Eve my little family and I relaxed, listened to Christmas music and counted our blessings...
Typically, I do not include extremely personal content in this blog. My goal is to share our mutual love for the arts and tips for fun things to do that art lovers and creative folks might enjoy. But, I'm going to break that tradition for a moment...
Earlier this month we called Justin's grandma Joanne and had a nice chat. She lives far away and it was good to hear her voice. A couple of days later we learned that she had been rushed to ICU. At 92 this was a serious concern and it was hard to decide if we should stay or go. My experience has been that when too many people rush to an elder loved one's side, it can interfere with their recovery and the outcome is not good...so we talked it over and decided to stay. It was hard. There were many phone calls and texts back and forth with family to keep us up to date on our dear one's progress. Often it was two steps forward and one step back.
This morning, we were able to call Joanne. She has been out of the hospital for five days, resting and recovering in an assisted living center near her home. She is doing well and that is the best Christmas gift of all.
From our little family to all of yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Earlier this month we called Justin's grandma Joanne and had a nice chat. She lives far away and it was good to hear her voice. A couple of days later we learned that she had been rushed to ICU. At 92 this was a serious concern and it was hard to decide if we should stay or go. My experience has been that when too many people rush to an elder loved one's side, it can interfere with their recovery and the outcome is not good...so we talked it over and decided to stay. It was hard. There were many phone calls and texts back and forth with family to keep us up to date on our dear one's progress. Often it was two steps forward and one step back.
This morning, we were able to call Joanne. She has been out of the hospital for five days, resting and recovering in an assisted living center near her home. She is doing well and that is the best Christmas gift of all.
From our little family to all of yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!
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