Blog Archives

Paper Chains

12/31/2021

So Naomi sat down at the table to help finish the paper chains....

"I always loved making these when I was little..."

The children hung on her every word....

"My grandmother first taught me how to make them."

"I've always enjoyed making them as well. Sometimes I think we should just save them from year to year, but where's the fun in that?"

Then Ringo wanted to know.....

"Did you really make these candy canes?"

"Yes, I did...."

"But how? Mom always orders ours from the Bake Shop in the village. I really love them, but they only make them at Christmas."

'Well, I have a special book full of recipes, and it has instructions on how to make them."

"The cookie recipes are in there too...along with lots of other things Baron and I enjoy."

"So...then....you could make them any time you wanted, and not just now at Christmas...."

the Children

12/30/2021

Baron left with Lawrence, leaving Naomi alone with the Queen and the children....
"Where are my manners?"

"I should introduce the children..."

"This is Paige, our eldest..."

"...and David....who has already introduced himself."

"Then there's Nami, and our youngest..... Ringo..."

Naomi curtsied...

"Your Highnesses..."

"I have never met such a lovely group of Princes and Princesses...."

"...as the four of you...."

"...and I hope we can all become good friends..."

With the official introductions over, Monica invited Naomi to help finish making the paper chains for their tree....

...and Paige laid out some of Naomi's treats on a big platter, for everyone to enjoy...

Just a quick post to share about the 'fire' that's now in my fireplace. Back when I was shooting the Storyteller, I needed a fire in his fireplace, so I cut some clear and coloured cellophane into flame shapes and hot glued them between some of the logs I had pilled in the fire grate. Then I suspended a tied up bunch of 'warm white' Christmas lights down behind it to make a 'fire'....

However, I felt it could still be better, and with Christmas photos coming up, I wanted to make some improvements. I thought maybe a set of really tiny lights might look more realistic, so bought a package from the Dollar store. It was a string of ten tiny lights operated by batteries. Then I trimmed the cellophane 'flames' down some, and cut holes in the fire/log unit, and inserted the ten tiny lights, securing them with hot glue....

The battery pack fit nicely in the grate behind the flame & log unit....

However, once installed back in the fireplace, the ten tiny lights didn't seem quite enough.... although I did like that there were finally some 'glowing embers' at the bottom...

So the string of Christmas lights was suspended down behind them again....

So now I have two options when it comes to the size of the fire in the background.

Of Cookies, Candy Canes, and Horses

12/29/2021

As the adults were getting acquainted, the children opened the gift from Naomi....

It was full of cookies and candy canes, that Naomi had made for them...

"Wow! These look delicious!"

"Look Mom!"

"Candy canes!"

"...and cookies!"

Ringo turned to Naomi....."Did you make these for us?"

"Yes, I did. I remembered how much I loved candy canes and Christmas cookies when I was your age, and hoped you would like them too.."

"These are my very favourite!"

But Lawrence seemed a bit preoccupied..

"Just before you arrived, I was about to go down to the stables, and check on the new foal that was born last night, to see how it's doing. Maybe you'd like to come?"

Baron turned to Naomi....

"I realize we just got here, and I hate to leave you here on your own, but I'd really like to go check on the new foal...."

Monica realized that Baron had unintentionally put Naomi in an awkward position. She had just a arrived, and didn't really know anyone yet, but she also couldn't very well say 'no'.

"You two go ahead...."

"The children and I will keep Naomi company..."

"...and we can get to know each other better."

Introductions

12/28/2021

Baron put his arm around Naomi....

"I'd like to introduce Naomi...."

"And these are my good friends, Lawrence and Monica..."

"...our King and Queen."

Naomi curtsied....

"Your Majesties..."

Lawrence took her hand....

"The Queen and I are so pleased to finally meet you..."

"Baron has told us so much about you, and we both hope we will all become good friends."

"Yes Sire, that is my hope as well."

Then Monica reached out to Naomi....

"It really is wonderful to meet you, Naomi..."

Arriving at the Castle

12/27/2021

The children were busy making more paper chains for their tree, but when Baron and Naomi arrived, they ran to greet him....

"Uncle Baron!!"

He wasn't really their 'uncle' but they called him that out of love and respect...

Naomi was touched by how much the children loved him, and how good he was with them...

But Ringo was feeling a bit shy about the strange lady that had arrived with his uncle....

Prince David approached Naomi.....

"May I take your cloak Miss?"

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Please...."

"...just call me David."

Naomi had brought a gift for the children...

...and she knew just who to give it to....

"This is for you, and your brother and sisters..."

the Nutcracker

12/26/2021

Muffy Mouse was thrilled to be chosen to play the part of the Sugarplum Fairy in this year's Nutcracker....

But who was going to be her Nutcracker Prince?

"Which of you is my Prince?"

Finally one stepped forward....

But he turned out to be a rather'wooden' dancer.....

'To think I took all those ballet lessons for this!?!?'

Merry Christmas!

12/25/2021

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!

A Christmas Story

12/24/2021

It's Christmas, and I wanted to revisit my favourite Christmas story - the one I put together after last Christmas. I had thought about doing it for years, and finally did it. It turned out to be the perfect time too, since much of it needed to be shot out in the snow, and we rarely get snow in December like we had last year. It would have been impossible this year.

A Christmas Story was the longest story I'd ever attempted up to that point, and it can be found in Favourite Photos 2021. I just want to share some of my favourite photos from the story, in the form of a very short synopsis, and will put a link at the end.....

Princess Elora leaving to see if she can see the baby in the manger at the village Inn...