7.31.2015

The Christmas Village

A few weeks ago, I randomly came across a picture of a beautiful, sparkling, magical, lit up Christmas Village on Pinterest and I fell in lovel!  Then, I remembered that I have a few unpainted houses that my Mom bought for me about thirty years ago and I actually found them in the garage!

Unpainted plaster Christmas village houses by California Creations

Unfortunately, the company that made these, California Creations, went out of business over ten years ago but they released a new collection of houses every year for about fifteen years.  Luckily, I’ve been able to find a zillion of these houses on eBay and I’ve been having so much fun hunting them down!  Very quickly, my small village of four houses rescued from the garage has become a bustling city of thirty two adorable little houses and shops with a Cavzilla guarding over them…..

Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sitting by unpainted Christmas Village

It’s taking me FOREVER to paint each house but I’m having so much fun doing it.  I actually painted and shaded each individual, teeny, tiny brick on this one and used six different colors so it would look more realistic.

Hand painted Christmas village house

There’s still a lot of work left to do on this one but I’m so in love with how my soft, faded, shabby chic brick turned out that I had to show an “In Progress” photo!   One house halfway done!  Thirty one more to go!

Hugs,
Jenny

P.S.  If anyone knows where I can get some of these houses other than eBay and etsy, please let me know!  They’re sold under the name California Creations or Creative Crafts and the average size is about 5″.

7.27.2015

Heat Wave

A major heat wave was in the forecast a few weeks ago……so, instead of suffering through 110 degree temps, we packed up the dogs and headed to cool and cloudy Carmel, California for a few days.

Betsy got to see the beach for the first time EVER and she loved it!  So much to see and smell and so many places to dig, dig, DIG!
Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniels on beach in Carmel, California

Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniels on beach in Carmel, California
 
Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy on beach in Carmel, California
We enjoyed slow, lazy, cool mornings in front of the fireplace on the outdoor patio at The Cypress Inn…..
Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on patio in Carmel, California
We went sweater shopping so these two cuties would stay toasty warm during the cold, foggy evenings…..
Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in American flag sweaters in Carmel, California
We had some amazing dinners at incredible restaurants and Betsy learned how to be a proper, little lady!!!  All she needs now is a strand of pearls to complete her classy look!
Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in sweater at Casanova in Carmel, California
And these two realized it’s exhausting to play on the beach, shop at doggy boutiques and be ooohed and aaahed over by a zillion strangers.
Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniels sleeping in sweaters
It’s a ruff life!

Hugs,
Jenny

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