my new favorite Christmas song thanks to Sandy...

I've stolen this from Sandy. You can view her blog here.

stuff

At this stage in my life I'm not really that into "stuff" but yesterday was Christmas and I received some things that I really love.

*First of all, Zoe made me an incredible mixed CD with music from Placebo, Depeche Mode, Akira Yamaoka, Iron and Wine, and A Perfect Circle. She even made cover art for the jewel case which I just LOVE. It was a wonderful gift. Thank you Zoe, I love you!

*Another gift which means a lot was from my sister. When we were little we each had porcelain dolls from China which our Aunt Jan gave to us. Mine was a girl and her's a boy. I don't remember in what context but sometime within the last year I brought them up wondering what had happened to them. Being older and more careful she still had hers and sent it to me for Christmas. I don't have a lot of memories from early childhood but there are a few objects and moments which are especially magical and for some unknown reason those dolls hold a special place in my heart. I am so happy to have yours, Sandie. Thank you!

*This next present was given to Larry from his brother who is an antique dealer. They're a set of 4 tiny ornaments from India. And while they technically aren't mine, I'm really really taken with them. I guess there's still a part of me that really does like stuff sometimes.

POSTSCRIPT:

My sister emailed me that the dolls were brought back by my Uncle Tom after his tour in Vietnam. This is what she wrote:

Hey, saw your post and just a note. Uncle Tom brought those dolls back from his tour in vietnam. I am not sure if he brought them for Jan and she gave them to you, or if he brought them back for you and she gave them to you (he was very shy). But I am certian he brought them from vietnam. You probably do not remember him from before he left for vietnam. I was excited he had returned and it was his first visit to just us after he returned and I remember that clearly. (this was after the family welcome home party for him at our house when he returned). It was cold/winter time maybe?

Love Sandie

just some snapshots of the day, more to come later...

I hope all of you had a wonderful day today and that every star you've ever wished upon blessed you with peace and beauty. Things here were perfect (and tiring) and I will be happy to embrace normalcy again for a while. Here are few pics of what Christmas looked like from here:

The Tree:

(abominable)

(a hand blown glass bulb that I bought last summer at the Ann Arbor Art Fair)

Misc:

(the void where Christmas cows ((cookies)) come from)

(the Christmas pig, just because I never got around to returning him to Zoe's room)

the Animals:

(Megan)

(Mattie before she opened her gift)

(Cal wanting to know why there wasn't a place set for him!)

(Francis contemplating string theory)

(Mattie and Emily after Mattie opened her gift)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

just something stupid because i've been busy...

(adapted from The Wyoming Art's Council's blog)

How to know you're in Wyoming:

You wake up to a beautiful 80 degree day and wonder if it's going to snow later.

You say 'the interstate' and everybody knows which one.

Directions are either toward the mountains or away from the mountains.

UPS and Fedex don't deliver (at least not to my house).

Deer outnumber people.

Saturn wants to tow your car out of state for repairs.

A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you.

The 2 seasons are 9 months of winter and 3 months of relatives.

Restrooms are optional.

Kids plan their Halloween costumes around their snowsuits.

Antelope have the right-of-way

and

when people out East tell you they have mountains in their state, you just laugh.

resurrecting dead Germans with free clip art

(click image to enlarge and download)

I thought I'd post some free clip art in case anyone can use it for their holiday projects. These aren't my designs but were created by Joseph Kreuter in the early 1900's. He made literally thousands for his letterpress company. As far as I can tell his life's work is rapidly fading into oblivion (I don't think you'll find it anywhere else but here). While not every one of his designs are noteworthy it does seem a shame that in this world of image pimping they should be lost forever. So if you're doing anything for Christmas that these might be useful for help me to resurrect a dead German by keeping his work alive. :)

Froehliche Weihnachten everyone!

More about why I have them is here.

NOTE:

Blogger seems to be halving the file size so if you'd like full sized images email me at onesmallsquare@gmail.com and I will send them to you.

a post for Younglink

I know most of you have seen enough Hanging Horn pictures to last you a lifetime but I wanted to post this for Younglink because all of the coolest bucks have one antler!

stanley's snowball collection...

is now melting all over Larry's side of the bed.

(In my defense I did try to dislodge them. :)