M is for More Merry Memories...

M is for More Merry Memories...

Girly~Whirly is back at college...

Heartbreaker is back at college...

Don't have a photo of them back at school...

but I do want to share this photo of Heartbreaker wearing the wonderful Knucks that I ordered from Jen!

Thanks Jen!

They are perfect for when he plays his guitars and banjo :o)

& here are some photos taken at their Thanksgiving dinner with their big sister :o)

Girly~Twirly & Heartbreaker

Mr. B and I were up at my dad's for Thanksgiving. And so our three were able to have Thanksgiving dinner together.  Our older daughter's hubby was working his residency shift at the hospital.

Girly~Whirly & Girly~Twirly

& here is a photo of Girly~Twirly (aka theluckiestmrs) & her Mr.

celebrating their 2nd anniversary on New Year's eve.

My hubby and I are back to our regular routine of work...

We still have our Christmas tree up, so will be putting that and the ornaments away.

I have today off from cleaning pearly whites :o) ...so I am working on more drawing orders, but came across some loose Christmas photos...which led me to looking at some other past photos.

...which led to me posting some of those photos here in a slideshow.

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Thank you also for your patience on announcing the names drawn for the Personalized Sketches giveaways.

Like I have mentioned in the past giveaways of the art that I do...I would have loved to selected more to give. So, those of you who had left comments to enter and are not one of the following names that were picked (picked by the "not-fancy" method---by hand :o) ...I will have to look into the random.org method), please contact me if you are interested and those that left comments - I would like to extend 10% off of one drawing order.

These are the names drawn:

For one 8x10 single image of your choice: Permanent Posies's comment: "I would LOVE to win your drawing. I am torn because selfishly, I would want something drawn with my last name. But, I think I would have something drawn for a friend for mine who is graduating in May from Seminary as a gift. I so love your work."

For one of the 8x10 Calligraphic Monograms: Mrs. V's comment: "Hi Maria, Thanks to my Mom I am commenting on your blog :) I will post each additional entry separate as well! Thanks for hosting this, we LOVE the photo you did for us."

For one of the 20% off certificates: Cheryl's comment: "Wow! So many birthdays in December. How do you hold it all together?  That family tree rocks!"

For one of the 20% off certificates: Alicia's comment: "I didn't know you had a FB page! Yay! I "like"!"

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I try to share some past orders on each post, but do like to wait until they are received. ...and it takes me forever to get the samples in the format I like to share them in with the close-up and overall view together.  I have more to post, but for now will share this one:

I received this email from a past customer: "I bought a Chinook print from you in 2006 after seeing you at the Christmas bazaar at Ft. Rucker, AL.  I've had a hard time locating you!  I need another print of a Harley Davidson motorcycle with the name "Danny" used in it for a Christmas present.  Please call me at..."

From Diki's email: "Thank you so much!  It is beautiful (as I knew it would be!) The packing was perfect, no damages at all.  The print has already been taken to the frame shop!

Thank you for the extra business cards, they have already been passed around!"

Diki, I appreciate you looking and searching for me. And am very happy that you found me! and thank you for thinking of having your husband's Harley drawn as a gift.

& these monograms were recently completed:

Drawn for the newlyweds "JOHNSONs"

-the bride "RYAN" and the groom "ROBERT".

Drawn for the "soon-to-be"  Mr. & Mrs. "MILLER"

-bride "KELLY" & groom "TYLER".

 Joining in with:

Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday meme .

& Alicia's Friday Photo Flashback

.I am way behind in my visits, but hope to get around to some blog reading in the next few days.

Two special Birthdays-our family celebrates...

First of all...a very merry Christmas to each of you.

From our family to yours!

(Our Christmas card this year

...for my blog, I edited on Photoshop, our names on the bottom :o)

Our family celebrates the birth of our Lord Jesus...

 (This is on the back of our family photo Christmas card)

...and also December 25th marks the day when my Mr. B was born :o)

Born at 4:38 

at the Kona Hospital

weighing 10lbs 4.5 oz.

(first day home~at 3 days old).

I love to look in his baby book and photo albums that his mom gave us when we were first married. His baby book has a newsclipping of his birth, locks of his reddish hair, growth chart, etc...

Here is a video I have shared before, of some of my hubby's past birthdays...& of course, which also are his past Christmases :o) (Although these celebrations were on the same day, his mom always made sure to have something separate and special for him growing up).

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Joining in with:

Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday meme .

& Alicia's Friday Photo Flashback.

Also Thank you to all those that entered for a couple more giveaways of the art that I do.  If you are interested and have not yet entered, there is still time.  Just go HERE to my last post on Dec 18th to enter.  Open for entries until Dec 31st, midnight EST. 

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Here are a couple of my most recent orders...will be posting more in future posts.

These two are taken from the same beautiful photo, to be given to two different family members.

Sara's request:

"Here are a couple of pics. Let me know if you need more. I was wanting 2 sketches somewhat like the middle pic. I know you typically do one dog but can you do 2? I am wanting to give these as Christmas presents to my husband and his parents. I love your sketches!..."  

(It took me a little longer to get started on them, since I was waiting to find out what names Sara would like to have each one drawn with...and we both finally realized that she did not know when she found me on google search and when she sent this request with the photos, that the art I do is drawn entirely with a name. I think that is neat that she was interested in the art she had seen, even without knowing how they are done.)

(This is the middle photo~They are so cute!)

Since I do the art individually, there are always some variations, but I try to do them as close to the photos as I can.

Sara received them and sent this email to me:

"I just received my sketches. They are beautiful! I have told all of my friends about your wonderful work! I have a friend Danielle that will be emailing you soon. She is interested...." 

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This one was an order for Amy:

"Hello again.  Was wondering if you would be able to sketch this  (image of a hummingbird and flower) by Christmas.  My boyfriend LOVED his sketch of the maltese cross & wants to have a hummingbird sketched for his mom."

Thank you for stopping by, commenting and I will be by to return your visits...still catching up!

Empty Nesters...again...

...*sigh*...

I am sitting here catching up on some blog reading...the sigh isn't about that! Blog reading is fun.

The *sigh* is cuz...

(google image)

...our daughter Girly Twirly (aka theLuckiestMrs) and her hubby have already left by plane to get back to KY.

         

           

... our daughter Girly Whirly (aka Little Miss) today, is with their dog Malone driving back up to KY.

...our son Heartbreaker also left today too with Girly Whirly.  He'll be near Atlanta to meet up with his buddies to go camping in northern Georgia.

...and my hubby is at work...

while I am here at home...*sigh*

Massachusetts Christmas (1966 or 1967)

...It seems that when I have been the one to leave after a visit, it's hard...but I think that being the ones left to stay when family or friends leave...is harder.  It takes a bit of time to get back into the "regular, pre-visit" routine.

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..for the next few days, I still do not go to work...so, I hope to keep busy. ...put away decorations. ...take a nap. ...do a few more drawings. ...relax. ...organize some things. catch a few winks. ...catch up on some more blog reading. ...sleep.

Sleep sounds like a re-occuring theme here! lol

But first, here's a little clip of what I have to put away! A bit of Christmas cheer...that I'd love to leave up all year round!

...but before I do any of that napping & snoozing...I thought I would finally post an award (aka blog hug) given to me & that I would like to pass on (sorry that it has taken so long!):

This lovely "Splash Award" was given to me by the lovely and talented Mary Anne Gruen at Starlight Blog.  Stop by and say hello! She is an artisan with jewelry, theater actress, and much more!

The Splash Award is given to alluring, amusing, impressive, inspiring blogs. Thank you Mary Anne for including me in your picks.  Now is the hard part...picking only 9 to pass it on to! 


1. The Southern Housewife @ Her Southern Charm...her posts are full of creativity! Lots of variety! In fact, her latest post encourages and inspires one to think of what word that can foster a positive change in our own lives.


2. Angie & Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage... simply oozes with ideas! Very impressive! Also a fellow-Etsy-er... so much to see on their blog and they are fully willing to share their ideas.


3. Ave @ MadeinCanarias...ok..I dont know how she managed to do this, (she is amazing!) Ave only started blogging in June 2009 and already she has 299 posts! Wowzer! I am excited if I can get one post a week...and lately, its been one every 2 weeks.  (But while I'm off, I hope to get a couple other posts up...)


4. LV @ Thoughts from Meme's Corner...Love this blogger :o) So sweet! and as her profile says..."I am a young 80 who is enjoying life to the fullest...." I dont know how she keeps up with all the posts that she does!  It's fun to read her posts and see her photos.


5. Teresa @ Teresa's Treasures...very talented and busy blogger! Her adorable grandbabies grace her blog with their sweet little faces. She also has a holiday decorating blog with wonderful ideas.


6. Lynette @ Dancing Barefoot...she is all about family (Her family's adventures are full of fun!)...and her blog is also all about connecting others.  She has a wonderful idea on how to connect other bloggers...with her "Getting to Know YOU!" posts.  


7. Mama M @ My Little Life... oh. my. goodness! I love her sense of humor! I would love to meet her in person.  Her posts are truly delightful! Hilarious! and fun, fun, fun to read!


8. Chari @ Happy to Design...I marvel at her beautiful tablescapes! I do well to get our table set, now that it is just my hubby and me. (usually, I will go ahead and dish up our plates and bring it to the table or the living room, with a fork and a drink.  At Christmas, I did bring out my parent's china).  And she has other awesome design ideas to share.


9. Nan @ MomstheWord...oh my! oh my! You will love following and reading her posts...if you dont already! I love how she looks at things and shares her fun and hilarious moments...of which seems to be a constant affair.  She is encouraging and has many ways and ideas about "Making Your Home Sing".

&&&&&&&&&&

Oh...also here are some of the requests from this post: Ask a Blog Hop Question
(You can click on any image to bring it up a bit larger for viewing).

1. Kathie @ my net finds asked about a fleur de lis... or a cat (I'll show some cats in a future post)...

 

2. Ave & Heather asked about beach inspired drawings...

Please go to  "P.S. HI & FL Beaches"
and also  "P.S. GA & HI Beaches! Part 2" to see some already posted beach ones.

3. Alicia asked about crosses...

4. Bearly Sane asked about the rooster in color...

5. Becka asked about trees (these are a few) or "fall-related" drawings (I've done some others, but will also show those on another post)...

This was a lo-o-o-ong post... but it has been way past due in getting those requested drawings shown. Thank you for asking about these and for your patience!

HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU!

Happy New Year!

...A blessed New Year's greeting from all of us to all of you!

Blessings & Aloha!

Let's Celebrate!

Hope everyone has had a blessed Christmas full of family, friends, food, and fun!  From our  Georgia home to yours!

                

(Hawaiian...google images)

(Tagalog...graphic by PinoyXpression)

(Portuguese...google image)

(Chinese...google image)

(Feliz Navidad...Spanish...google image)

(German...image by VintagePostcards)

("Merii Kurisumasu"...Katakana...Japanese

...image by PeachyPaperCrafts)


~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Our family celebrates the wonderful birth of Jesus!

...and our family also celebrates...

Mr. B's birthday :o)

48 years ago... the Botelho's Hawaiian Home was blessed with a big (10 lbs. 4.5 oz), beautiful, bouncing baby boy!

Hope you all have a blessed, blessed time with those you love!

Blessings & Aloha!