A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN THE MAKING???

This is what I awoke to this morning!

Can it be true? 

A white Christmas in the making for us here
in Montana, USA???

It all depends now upon the up and coming weather.
If the temperatures stay lower for a week this may actually happen.

IF, however, the temperatures rise, as they have been this past week...high 40s
low 50s (I'm not complaining), then we may not get a WHITE CHRISTMAS
after all.  That would be sad.

Time alone will tell!!

*</:)>

FULL MOON ON THE RISE

Caught this night before last.  Beautful experience.
I moved the camera.  Darn!

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!!

The temperatures have been brutally cold the last several days!
It does feel like winter is here.
The river is beginning to show signs of icing.
Brrrrrrrrrrr!

L@@K WHAT WAS HIDING IN THE CLOUDS...SNOWY MOUNTAINS





After two days of clouds, rain and grapple, this is what emerged from behind the shroud!
Sunshine on the snow-capped range.  Winter is on its way.

  

NO MOUNTAINS TODAY



Only clouds today! 
The mountains are totally obscured.



You would never guess that behind these white clouds reside our lovely mountains!

My workship basking in the morning sunshine.



MOTHER WHITE-TAIL & HER TWINS!!!

Enlarged photo of deer.

I apologize for the grainy quaility of the photograph.  I had to take the photo quickly from inside the house.  It has been hunting season and I'm sure these creatures are ever so skittish.  When I hear the gunshots I cringe within, KNOWING what each means.  There are hunters out there stalking their prey!  I don't like this time of the year...

Mother white-tailed deer and her twins grazing before the sun came up!

THE COLOR PURPLE

Not many people like the color purple,

but I have a little witch named "Violet"

who just adores the color PURPLE!

She has been hinting for quite some time

now that she would really like it if I would

build her a small cottage.

[Oh yeah, that is just what I need, a PURPLE house!]

I do agree with her on the reference to small,

but I am really struggling with the color PURPLE.

I suppose that I could use A LOT

of white around the windows and door, plus

I could also consider adding plenty of

"gingerbread" to all of the eaves, as well!

Sounds good to me.

Violet is an Aquarian, so she does exhibit

eccentric tendencies.

For starters, she wears quite a bit of PURPLE,

and she decorates with it as well.

Her kitchen is unusual, to say the least.

You have never seen anything like it!

[I will have to go out to the workshop

and dig about in the boxes to find it and photograph it.

It is truly one-of-a-kind!!!]

Today, I'm posting a photo of Violet and her

nearest neighbor, who also likes the color PURPLE.

Sweet "Violet," a little witch.

Gladys Nightshade, a neighbor, with her feline friend, "Spooks," who loves to ride along!

This is an ancient screen that will be used in the PURPLE cottage.

 

A well-worn armchair.  It belonged to Violet's grandfather and she refuses to replace it.
Obviously it has seen better days, but Violet insists that it is comfortable and has a lot of life left in it.



One of many PURPLE pillows.
 


One of many PURPLE plants.




A pair of Violet's garden boots.  Too cute!!!





I CAN'T STOP SHARING THE BEAUTY OF MONTANA

I feel so blessed living in God's Country...MONTANA.
The beauty is ever-changing.
I thank my lucky stars that I get to live this miracle everyday.
And, I just wanted to share it with YOU!

ANOTHER WIZARD "CORNELIUS"

This extraordinary fellow is by BellaBelle Dolls.
Cornelieus will be joining the other wizards at Wanda's (my lst witch)
for some good old-fashioned shop-talk! 
There is much to discuss...books, potions, spells and the like.
Makes for an entertaining evening for one and all.

Be sure to CLICK ON PICTURE to ENLARGE!!!
Enjoy.

Close up of a pair of very fine eyes, full of wisdom, understanding & kindness.

AFTERNOON'S END

This is the view I came home to this afternoon.
River is like glass.
There is a slight haze in the sky as there is a fire burning on the hills opposite.
I LOVE MONTANA!

THE BEGINNING...SANTA'S VILLAGE!!!

This is side # 1
Picture window is being test-fitted.
As I was cutting out the hole for the first window, the vibration of the jigsaw snapped a section along the grain lines leaving me with a gap that has to be remedied, thus the scrap.

Side #2

End #1, with one of the signs. 
This one will read, "SANTA's WORKSHOP."
Inside there will be a workbench filled with projects being worked on by busy elves.
Each shop will have a picture window for easy viewing on one side. 
The other side will have either two little peek windows or a door and a peek window for extra viewing.

This is end #2. 
I'm wondering what to put in this shop.
Perhaps a "MEET SANTA" complete with highbacked chair, Santa himself, a camera on a tripod for photos with Santa and an elf or two???
I don't think this unit is going to be large enough to hold Mrs. Claus' bakery & gifts.

The two shops will sit upon a small snowy foundation.

This is a winter birdhouse that will stand by the door of Santa's Workshop./
My buildings will get the snow treatment that these little houses have...
Let it Snow!!!

This second birdhouse will stand by the other shop's door.
I thought these were so cute.
They are going to be my inspiration for the Village itself...lots of snow!
*</;)>

WHAT A MESS !!!

The movie Chocolat melted my heart! 
Having lived in France as a teenager, the nostalgic street scenes and shops brought back many warm, fuzzy memories.
I wanted to capture some of that in a roombox.
When I saw this table it struck a cord with me.  It was an ah-ha moment...I'll create a chocolate shop!
Then, I stumbled upon this precious girl eating chocolate. Another ah-ha moment erupted.  Of course, perhaps it was she who overturned the chocolate syrup.  ???  Do you think?  She is after all in possession of a bowl of chocolate frosting!  Hmm. 
Do you catch a storyline developing?  I certainly do.

Someone has created quite a MESS!
This piece is total inspiration.
My plan is to use it in a Chocolat display box.

One of the close up shots.

A broad shot.

Every shop has to have an ACCIDENT now and then!

Could this be THE culprit caught in the act?
Perhaps.  We shall see.

What a waste of perfectly good chocolate!!!

MORE TO SHARE...MEET THE GIDDY KIPPERS!

This lovely creature is the second of two ladies who will reside in my French folly-to-be!





These lovely dolls are by Giddy Kippers!  Aren't they just delicious characters?  The two powdered-wigged ladies are slated to reside in an outdated shabby chic environment that will be characteristicly of my own whim and fancy.  There will be little of historical merit to the project, only my utter joy and delight incarnate.


 

This robust soul rolled into my life with no thought as to where I would use her.  [This happens a lot in my little world.]  I often connect with my miniatures without any plan whatsoever!  This woman's uniqueness drew me to her.  I KNOW that there is a story in those eyes just waiting to express itself.  For the present she is nameless, story-less and waiting upon me to develop her into the character she was created to be.

The same hold true for this Tudor man!  His history and name are lock away within my own imagination yet to be discovered.  I have a room full of Tudor occupants who are celebrating in a feast of some sort.  Wonder where this fellow fits in the scheme of things?  My ultimate plan is to have several rooms, filled with people.  A pirates' pub on the ground level; a bed-chamber on the second level with a hidden treasures room; and a heraldic banquet hall on the top level with the colorful banners, etc.  Plenty of stories about all of the occupants, too! 

These delightful characters are two of Santa's elves.  On my dining table at this very moment are two little building that are the beginning of Santa's Village.  One will become Santa's Workshop, filled with elves making things.  The other home for Santa's sleigh?  It depend upon how it fits.  Otherwise I will make it a Meet & Greet room for Santa.  I have a winter Apecar, reindeer and plans for a Christmas bakery & gift shop for Mrs. Claus.  Talk about sugar plums dancing in my head!  *</: )>

Hope the weather holds out until I can get the two shops spray painted...RED!





SUNRISE OVER THE RIVER

Just before sunrise.  You can see the light glistening on the river that winds back and forth like an orange snake.

The sun rising!

THE OTHER TWO BOYS

It was raining yesterday and BOTH "Lovie-Dovie" and "Baby" decided it was best to seek refuge IN the house!
"Lovie" has chosen to be an outside-boy, so this was a rarity.  I found them both cuddled up on the loveseat, as comfortable as can be.  So I grabbed my camera to capture the moment.  This is one of "Baby's" favorite perching spots.  Evidently, "Lovie" agrees.  They are such sweet boys!  I think "Lovie" decided to become an outdoor-boy because Miss Lily is such a disagreeable hostess.  She chases the boys and terrorizes them every chance she gets.  She fancies herself Queen of the House and believes I am her person exclusively.  No sharing allowed.  Friendly Jack, would like more friends, but that is just not to be.  Lily runs him off, too.

LAST OF THE SEASON

This flock of wild turkeys comes back every afternoon

The last of the autumn leaves for 2013 here

GOING, GOING, ALMOST GONE

The river is as smooth as glass today, and the leaves are about to fall off of the trees!

COLORED LEAVES & WILD TURKEYS

The leaves are beginning to turn here.

A flock of wild Montana turkeys free-ranging next door!

AUTUMN'S IN THE AIR & IT'S TIME TO SHARE!!!

DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON EACH PHOTOGRAPH TO ENLARGE IT!!!  : )  Enjoy!




This is Wanda!
She is the little witch who sent me on my quest for all of the following charming characters who will attend the annual Halloween bash at the FULL MOON INN

 


Meet Sybil & her cat Precious.



This is Stelladora one of the resident ghosts.

Brambley (the enchanted bench) with Portentia, another witch.

Gutherie is one of the many wizards.

Malachi

Pauly, Wanda's house elf, holding a jar of Gillyweed.

The Count.

Mavis, Wanda's mother.

Morgana, Wanda's sister.

Tailwind, one of Wanda's cats.

Ebony, one of the resident spiders.

Aunt Doris, Wanda's father's sister.  She loves telling jokes!

Gretchen, yet another of Wanda's friends.

Shelbina, another of the coven members.

Brendon Higley



Margie, Wanda's youngest sister & her cat, Jitters.

Bettina, in a trance.

Carl, the hobo.

Baby Hagris, a real Giant!

King of the Elves.

Rupert, a familiar.

Oops!  "There's a mouse in my soup!"

Bixby.

More resident mice.

Alpha, the first egg to hatch!

Close up of Brambley.

Wanda's dad, Arthur!  He is buck naked and will be wearing a towel.

One of the pumpkin accessories.

Miss Haversham's ghost.

The pantry ghost.

A tiny sign for the front of the inn.

Gothic bathtub!  What a beauty.

The sink-to-be for one of the bathrooms.

Levitating Lucinda.

Gypsum, an old house owl.

An enchanted bedstead.

An old enchanted dresser.

Dora, a guest singer; Harvey, the butler.

More entertainment.

Lots of pumpkin fare at FULL MOON INN

Clovis

Roscoe, another wizard.

Lottie & Margareth

Georgio & Katrina Goldenblatzar...a Halloween wedding!

Jackie

Millicent

Zadok

Theodocia & Sadie

Jonas Apiphasis

Regis St. James

Loretta in her leather!





Befana

Cloedra, the box fish