The Life of Mrs. Miles

Let it Snow

NEW DOWNLOAD LINK

I know that the link is experiencing difficulty - just found out, and am re-loading, this time to 4shared, but the link is slooooowww... so sorry... please check back in a short while, and I will have it reloaded as quickly as I can. I will also be posting Olivia's lovely LOVELY giveaway too! Thanks for your patience!

I hope you all don't mind me dusting off some of last years kits for giveaway! Seems like there is so little time this year, to be creating. I (and AmyW) have been mentoring my friend Olivia in Photoshop and the time just gets sucked up! Its totally worth it tho as she is coming along terrifically, in fact, the student shall surpass the teacher at this rate! She's just finished two amazing kits and she made me a giveaway for all of you tomorrow, to say thanks for all the hard work I've put into her! So be sure to check back tomorrow – it will be well worth it. I'm using Yousendit today because no matter which way I tried, 4shared would not let me publish my file - said it was a copyright issue or some such thing... anyone else experiencing difficulties?

Melanie Strings the Lights

Well the little Charlie Brown tree is all decorated, thanks to my dear friend Melanie. She's a whiz at stringing lights, plus her father is a fireman so she did it all with safety in mind. Me, I'd probably set us up to fry ourselves here...

I was extremely fortunate to find a bunch of wonderful vintage ornaments at the Thrift Store – Shiny Brites no less! They look wonderful. They go perfectly with the old Tulip Bubble lights passed to me by my Mother in Law. Warms my heart to know Miles would have enjoyed them growing up.

There's nothing like those vintage bulbs!

We keep getting snow, then it melts. Kinda nice for oh, bout a day, then it gets all slushy and then gone. Hopefully we will get some enough to stick. I've been trying to get outside to run a bit – I shouldn't, due to my knees but I love running – and I try to go on soft ground and slowly. I also think its important to get outside and get fresh air during these bleaker months too. Its easy to assume that because its winter conditions then you have to stay inside. Sure, folks who ski and snowboard etc get out but I'm talking locally. I was very interested to read an article at NPR about Jill Homer of Juneau, Alaska, who is training to ride 350 miles in the human-powered Iditarod. The race, which starts in February, follows the same route used by the famous dog sled teams – ON A BIKE.

Jill lists several pointers for riding a bike in the snow. Hmmm, gets me thinking! To read the article yourself (or hear it in audio) just click HERE

Another interesting thing that was featured, were NPR listener letters – where they are debating where the saying yada, yada, YADA comes from. Nope, I won't tell you here, you have to go listen yourself – just click HERE – its the second article on the audio file.

Anyone recognize this neat decoration?

I would like to thank blog reader Gayle, for pointing out to me that our vintage stocking (photo previous entry) says XMAS on it. Truly, I was not aware of this – amazing hey, you can walk by something every day and not catch something big like this? I personally never use the word XMAS and so it surprized me to see it. So, I had to do some research about this. I found out that The X in Xmas is actually the greek letter Chi, which was a common abbreviation of Kristos, Christ's name. It is interesting to note, however, that the American Heritage English Dictionary does have the following Usage Note: The abbreviation Xmas has been used for hundreds of years. In modern use it is considered informal and appropriate only in such commercial contexts as advertisements and signs.

The Miriam-Webster dictionary also defines the X as Christ too.

So.... I always choose to use Christmas on anything that I make or send – and should I see something with XMAS on it I'm going to assume its being used as a (poor) substitute. I won't get up in arms about it for I know that most people think the same way. I think this is a great opportunity to start talking about keeping the Christ in Christmas – for what if all the people who don't necessarily believe in our Christ chose not to use the word Christ in Christmas, and to only use XMAS ... there might be a lot less Christmas things around! I think, with love, we can win some XMAS'ers over – like me, they may not have thought about it too much before. What about you – do you find this terribly upsetting – or could you find it a way to open up talk?

I found out this this is a Noma Tulip bubble light!

I'd like to share a beautiful hymn by Joseph Addison:

The spacious firmanent on high,

With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,

Their great Original proclaim:

The unwearied sun, from day to day,

Does his Creator's power display,

And publishes to every land,

The work of the Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,

The moon takes up the wondrous tale,

And nightly to the listening earth,

Repeats the story of her birth:

Whilst all the stars that round her burn,

And all the planets, in their turn,

Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.

Speaking of Christmas Carols, I'd not thought of NEW ones... but there was an article on NPR about some new carols – there is actually a contest for them. They are really glorious! If you would like to listen, just click HERE.

I will leave you with this wonderful clip from I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.