Happy YEAR of the Ox!!!!

January 26th, 2009 starts the New Year for China...it's already January 26th over there, so I figure we can start celebrating here too...especially because it is now the YEAR of the OX....and that is MY year! It's also my daughter's year...in fact, (this is such a strange coincidence) Taylor and I were both born in the year of the Ox and we were both born at 2:53 am...which is the HOUR of the Ox....that is almost too strange isn't it?

Here is a little bit about OXEN-folk...try to ignore all the completely untrue gibberish about us being stolid and dull...and stubborn and all that...just look at the parts where we are hard-working and loyal and dependable...all SO true...lol! Actually the part about being very intolerant of those that are lazy...oh my goodness, that could NOT be MORE true--it is my one true PET peeve, I cannot stand laziness!

Famous people born in the Year Of The Ox? They include President Barack Obama, actor George Clooney, boxer Oscar De La Hoya, Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, and soccer star Wayne Rooney.

Go and check here and see what your Chinese animal sign is...and then who you should marry (or who you should have married, lol!) according to the Chinese Zodiac they can predict who you will be most compatible with...and that may be quite true, as Oxen are supposed to be very compatible with Roosters...and my husband is a Rooster and we have a fabulous marriage--thank heavens I didn't marry a Tiger or a Horse...I could possibly be miserable and divorced right now;)

Further complicating matters is the fact that you have further "elements" that affect your sign; water, fire, earth and metal...depending on the year you were born. I'm a "water ox" (not a very attractive sounding term...but whatever;)) so that means I'm much more likely to see another persons point of view than most stubborn little oxen--HERE is a good place to check for that too.

Whether or not you believe in it...it IS fascinating to see what your sign is and what it says about you. And if nothing else...the Chinese New Year is a fun excuse to have a little chinese food and throw a party:) My cute mother, fabulous schoolteacher that she is, always celebrates the Chinese New Year with her class...they have a parade, complete with the big paper Chinese dragon...yummy food...I think it's wonderful they get to experience a little bit about another culture.

So, go and make some homemade fortune cookies...write some fun fortunes for your family for the year to come and CELEBRATE !

ANDALUCIA!!!!

All right...I know its been MONTHS and MONTHS since I posted...I cannot even begin to come up with the energy to explain myself...just chalk it up to busy-ness...and the holidays...and sheer "computer burn-out"... I really tried to just focus on real life things for the past few weeks (okay months) and NOT worry about online (which can almost seem real;))things for awhile--a fact which my family appreciated (well my IMMEDIATE family...all those family members that check in here for updates...sorry about that...)

We DID take a Christmas card photo...which...ahem...I have yet to mail ALL of them yet (so if you usually get one from me and haven't this year--don't give up hope!)

This was the front:

and this was on the inside:

We did have a lovely Holiday season...it was very low-key and just us, and it was a great opportunity to start some of our own Holiday traditions and really spend time together. The kids had a fabulous Christmas...they ALL agreed it was the BEST one ever (Carter didn't have that many Christmas's to choose from, but he fully agreed with his sisters that this one was quite nice...)

soooo....OH yes, the reason for the title of this post??? Patty Young's fabric, ANDALUCIA...is finally available--and lots of ladies over on ebay put together a launch of just Andalucia goodies...you should go check them out...

I LOVE these fabrics, they are so bright and fun...and perfect for outfits that defy the cold dreary weather outside right now (if we can't have sun, let's have some sunny bright clothes right?)

Here are my listings so far...I think I still want to make more! And some pics for fun...

We are actually planning a trip....just Howard and I...(gasp) without CHILDREN...to New Orleans and Las Vegas in two weeks--I still cannot quite believe we are going, but we already paid for the hotel and airfare, so maybe we are;) I shall blog more about THAT momentous occasion later...but for now I feel quite pleased with myself that I've managed to finally post...he he...and at least gave those of you who patiently still check in here SOMETHING new to look at!

Stay warm...