Cozy Wooly

  Kookie Christmas Wearables

Don’t expect much for Christmas. Santa’s sleigh was repossessed. The North Pole is in foreclosure, and the elves had been laid off. 

But, not to worry. An ugly Christmas sweater or hat and accessories are all you’ll need to bring joy to the holidays. Guaranteed.

Featured in this series are some of mine that might inspire you.

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‘Tis the season to rock ugly sweaters. - Unknown

Sweater weather is my favorite excuse to stay cozy.

How’s this to spread Christmas cheer? 

A fabulous wooly green, embroidered top and Santa hat with lit deer antlers.

Life isn’t perfect but your outfit can be, especially when you’re snuggled with your Favorite Granddaughter.

You can never have too many cuddles.

So stay cozy with a touch of kookie wooly.

Let's cuddle and forget everything else!

Illusion Vs. Reality

 Optical Illusions 

Responses to last week's Do You Have Good Eyes:

AVH: Bad eyes!!

ITV: BAD EYES!

Congratulations, you two have GOOD EYES. I can’t say the same about this one.

He wasn't able to read anything.  Why don't you close your eyes about 90% and then read.

 

I’m pretending to know what you are talking about to get you to stop explaining.

You don't have such BAD EYES, do you?

Would you agree that there is an optical illusion about some things we see? 

Whaddya mean? My nose doesn't look like a cat's face.

Or that everything we see is a perspective, not the truth?

I'm so absolutely, incredibly, extraordinarily confused.

What then is real?

How do we disengage from the illusion and engage in truth?

I’m not confused, I’m just exploring the outer limits of my understanding.

Truth be told,

IDK. 

The only Spanish we know is, "Buenas Noches" which means "bonus nachos" - like finding forgotten tortilla chips in your cargo pants.

And let's just leave it at that... maybe tackle it in a future blog.

On seeing glowworms in New Zealand cave: We don't always whoop,but when we do, there it is.

For now, I hope that this series had been a fun distraction for you.

Tadaaa!

I'm not weird. I'm just limited edition.

Ivy With Heartsong And Friends

Benefit Concert for Kaleidoscope Youth Center

Sunday, November 23, 2025 - King Avenue UMC

Good music, good friends, good vibes. - Anonymous

Just a few highlights... 

You don't always have to go to the symphony to hear beautiful music.

Out Under the Sky: Pam Springer, flute. Iris Velasco, piano

Left: A Caribbean Christmas: Handbell Choir and Percussion

Right: You Make It Feel Like Christmas: Brett Gambill, Linda Guyton

Why does music sound better late at night?

Left: I Wish You Christmas: Emily Moore, soloist. Iris Velasco, piano

Right: Christmas Time Is Here: Andy Burns, Trumpet. Iris Velasco, piano

Heartsong And Friends

It wasn't just a concert, it was an experience.

Do You Have Good Eyes?

Optical Illusions 

Here are reader responses and my comments on last week’s Elephant And Lamb Legs:

AVH: 4 elephant legs

Absolutely correct! Logic dictates elephants have four legs, even if it appears  in the drawing that the elephant has more than four… which made ITV wonder.

ITV: Do elephants have eight legs? 

On lamb legs:

AVH: 40 lamb legs if you count the ones that can barely be seen 

I see 36 legs, more or less, either attached to still-headless lambs or loose. But AVH’s response is acceptable because the illusion- foto wasn't great.

This was actually part of a 32-item order from a writer who is promoting her upcoming, book, The Christmas Lamb Mystery, about a "lost lamb" with an accompanying lamb toy.

That feeling when you've

finally finished your work...

The premise is that the story will be read by/read to the child. In the morning, the latter will see the lamb outside the door. It is lost no more.

Delivery of lamb goodies to book author Annetta Dellinger. November 16, 2025

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For this week, try this optical illusion.

Can you read this at first attempt?

Please email your answer (send to me only).

Comment on responses in the next blog.

Elephant And Lamb Legs

 Optical Illusions 

Comments on last week's blog, What Do You Read Here?

Thank you, faithful readers. Some people will read, EVIL, but some will see, GOOD. VEV was discerning enough to see both.

VEV: Good is black. Evil is white. Should be the other way around.

ITV saw GOOD plus something else that I didn't expect. She saw COOL, maybe because she's a cool person.

ITV: Looks like GOOD and COOL. 

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Now, for this week's optical illusion.

This has to be one of the most famously mind-boggling illusions that appears in lots of brain teaser books. How many legs can you see in this picture?

Here’s another teaser for you.

How many lamb legs do you see?

Please email your answers (send to me only).

Comment on responses in the next blog.

What Do You Read Here?

Optical Illusions 

Comments on last week's blog Now You See It, Now You Don't:

ITV: Wooden vs. upholstery? Is the yellow chair new? 

Thanks for responding. You’re right. 

That was my old, ten-year-old something Goodwill wooden, rocking chair buy. The spokes that were coming off had been super-glued. The hardwood seat had been softened by throw pillows. Despite all that, my antique rocker had served me well, giving me a reliable spot for viewing a wondrous backyard vista.

But now, time for something new. An upholstered Wayfair buy, using part of my Bubbly Hall craft sale monies. I love its vibrant yellow color and how my Cinnamoroll throw pillow from Five Below and Keroppi, inherited from Frat Boy, keep me company.

Continuing on to this week’s Optical Illusion…

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Read not only between the lines, but also what is not written. - Vijay Kedia

What do you read here?

Please email your answer (send to me only).

Comment on responses in the next blog.

Now You See It, Now You Don't

 Optical Illusions

Everyone has two eyes but no one has the same view. - Anonymous

Someone said that life is all about how we see things.

Interesting... and intriguing.

So, I'm thinking, why don't we explore this thought in this series?

For starters, can you spot the difference in these two sets of pictures?

Photo (bottom right): V.E.V. Columbus: October 31, 2025

Please email your answer (send to me only).

 Comment on responses in the next blog.