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Love that quilt, Char! So colorful & cozy! 🌲⛄❤️ ☕

Char, did you make that quilt? It's beautiful and I'm very impressed!

That quilt looks like my closet! Those are the colors and patterns of shirts I wear everyday - so out of fashion in today's "basic black" fashion world, but I just love a rainbow of color. I even have a garden border of daylilies called, "The Rainbow Selfie Garden."

I'm fish sitting over the holidays....meet "Tim".... 🐟 (Lyshack.... ). He's an older Betta but still trying to live his best life. He's not the picture of health with his bulging eyes and belly but he's still receiving the best care. 💝
First thing I did was change his tank to a fancy castle one I had that wasn't being used. He's got new-to-him gravel and accessories, too. I liken it to him staying in an Airbnb. 😆
He seems to like it so far. Apparently he's a "secondhand" fish that's been passed around to a couple of different caretakers. He came with a small aquarium with a filter etc. There's no need for any of that when it comes to bettas...I laughed and said no wonder the poor guy isn't looking so hot. So now he's basically in a retirement home...living a quiet filter-less life...for now. 😂


He's a gift that keeps on giving so you know I had to share the joy that is "Tim" with all of you. 💙

As many of you may recall, it's an annual tradition for Ron & I to have a Christmas project each year that we give out as gifts. The rules are pretty simple: 1) must be original, 2) cannot repeat any past project and 3) try to top last year.

As the gifts go to all our family and friends, we ended up (this year) making sixty pieces, so that all the sibs, nieces & nephews (and even the grands, this year) would receive their own. And we've also been passing the remainder out to our friends.

This year's idea is a cross between a scavenger hunt and a treasure box, between a Christmas ornament and a stocking stuffed with goodies...



I found a place to get some very cute 3-oz. jelly jars with natural cork lids... and transferred a Christmas decal onto one side of every jar (all in Christmas themes and suitable for children), such as HO-HO-HO and Polar Express, Merry Christmas and so forth. Each jar can be hung on a tree, so 'could' be used as an ornament... or set across a mantle, like Christmas stockings (or put onto a table for a little Christmas centerpiece).

Into each jar, we 'stuffed' miniature xmas ornaments (at least 2 or 3 per jar), added a little Christmas tree, small toys and little treasures ... then sprinkled them with xmas glitter (trees, angels, snowflakes, snowmen, presents, etc.) and filled them to the top with individually wrapped candies. And added more sparkles and glitz (so we will be remembered after Christmas is over by all the sparkles and glitter dusted throughout the house), and finished them off with ribbons.

The best part is playing Santa and delivering them with lots of hugs and laughter (and Christmas cookies). We are down to our last two deliveries... so the project for this year is officially coming to a close.

Thank you for sharing your new pet.
With the short fins and fat belly, that sure looks like Tilly or Tina or Tish. I bred betas when I was in high school. I got them in peak condition by using only distilled water or rain water for them, and supplementing their diet with live food like brine shrimp and tubifex worms.
The males make a nest of bubbles and raise the babies themselves. Aeration and filtration would break up their nests and are unnecessary due to the betta's ability to obtain oxygen from air bubbles. I read that wild bettas survive in stagnant rice paddies.
If you hold a mirror to the tank and "Tim" attempts to fight the reflection, then Tim is probably really a he, which would raise the question, "What the heck happened to his fins?!"

So funny you said this, Diana!
I was questioning "his" gender myself due to his short fins/tail. When I moved him to the pink/purple castle I said "he's Tina now...or maybe Kim....or Timberly".

I've had many bettas myself over the years and a more recent one lived 4.5 years. Never have bred them but always thought that was so cool. Always heard not to keep more than one in a tank/bowl but never have tried it. And also.. they'd have to breed somehow?! 😆

Thank you for sharing your experience! I enjoyed the read.
I don't fuss much over mine. No filter, heater, special food or water etc. I use the water conditioner and try to find the teeny tiny pellet food that they seem to prefer. They move slower in the winter due to water temp being colder. Most of mine have lived an average of 2 years.

Here's a better look at "Tim" for you

Really cute idea, Dianne! So fun! 🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄 I love to put glitter and confetti in cards so when people open them they get a little surprise. 😁
I once made scavenger hunt/Look& Find ornaments...had a little list that went along with them of things to look for and what the meaning was behind it. (i.e. tiny red pompom = Rudolph's nose). ✨ They were filled with fake snow and bird seed. I was proud of myself because I thought of the idea without googling.

On another note...only 4 days left until Christmas....only received 3 cards this year. Guess I'm on the naughty list. 😔

Thank you for the comments on the quilt. My great grandmother pieced the top and many years later after she passed my grandmother gave it to me to figure out how to finish. It was my first attempt at hand quilting. I've pieced and finished several of my own since. Maybe next year I'll do a winter thread image of one of those.

King Tim is happier in his castle tank and enjoys the attention he's getting!

Winter already!!!!

Winter Solstice;

"When the winter chrysanthemums go,

There's nothing to write about

But radishes."

Charley

Love that, Char! Great story. Lots of love in that quilt. 💖 I started trying to learn to quilt...my sewing skills are not the best.

He sure does. 🐟🎄👑💙

Did you see that NASA space Christmas tree story, Charley?🤔

Saw it last night and thought of you..🎄🌌✨
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/n...

Linda so glad you are safe

Ginny.

Winter is here

Snow Gauge

So, this morning when we arrived at Christmas Carol, it turns out "Bob Cratchit" has come down with Covid. We are all exposed to each other backstage, some more than others, of course. The show will be done Saturday night, here's hoping no one else comes down with it.

The prairie dogs wish you many succulent roots and nuts for Christmas.

Charley

Hope you don't get it, Zoia! Both my neighbors have it, got it at the hospital when the husband had to go in for a problem following his triple-bypass surgery.

Spent most of the morning at the ER with younger daughter. She's had a dreadful case of food poisoning, which began Monday evening. Took her soup and some things on Tuesday; she felt better yesterday morning, then relapsed last night. I decided she needed to go to get some IV fluids and that has helped. She feels much better this evening. Had to postpone our annual cookie day, which would have been tomorrow. Not sure yet when we'll get together but thought it was more important for her to get some rest and recuperate before Christmas.