7:03 p.m. 65 Degrees

This Christmas Eve a balmy wind has come to call. Today in the land of eternal sunshine the snow dreams were put on hold, the windows unlatched and opened wide. This is the first night in weeks and weeks that the heat hasn't been needed. But the air, warm or cold, isn't going to keep Santa at bay! No siree Bob! The cat posse is scanning the sky, eyes peeled for the magical team of reindeer pulling their special Christmas passenger. And down here on earth they are all set to chime the alarm. 3 meows in perfect unison will ring out across the house alerting me to hightail it outside with the camera. This is going to be the year. I can feel it.

Meanwhile the getaway car is packed and ready to head north. There's a real live Christmas Village to explore. A friend to meet. Pirate ships far out at sea to focus in on with my binoculars. Beaches to roam. And many many dogs wearing sweaters. Yes friends, I'm on my way to Carmel! And with any luck at all a great storm will blow in making it necessary to unfurl my raincoat and don my Astoria oilcloth hat.

The Merry Christmas collage above is on an 8x8 canvas. I sent that to my sister for her Christmas card. I had a grand time at the spraypaint station yesterday and today whipping up a small batch of mailart for a few special people. Those will be mailed from the road. 76 degrees is perfect spraying weather.

The bird theme continues. Today I used the giant bird mask over the blue-flowered vintage wallpaper.

Another unfinished page from the visual journal to be finished in Carmel. I never prep pages in advance so this is new for me. I'm strictly a one page at a time, one journal at a time person. The entire chaotic brain scan gets poured onto the page all at once. That's just the way I roll. But not this time.

In about three and a half minutes I'm going to be whipping up one of these babies in the kitchen. My sister will of course object to the way I've altered her recipe, but I can't help it. It's better this way. A perfect after dinner martini on a light-twinkling, magic-making Christmas Eve. Put on your party pants muchachos, the Key Lime Pie martini just pulled into town!

Okay and one last teeny tiny thing: THANK YOU. For continuing to stop by, and read, and comment, and share your thoughts, and ideas, books, music, art. All of it. Every last bit. xo

Comments

[Sandra Evertson]

Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Sandra Evertson

[suzi finer]

Happy Holidays to you!
Love.

[TToni Brown]

Merry! Happy! to you. Patty at River Bend Ranch referred me (also a journal junkie) to your blog some time ago. I've spent the time since merely inhaling it. GOOOOOOOOD stuff! Anyway I'm loving the birds so much I finally decided to write you a comment and say, 'Fly fly fly!' And also to offer my condolences on the less-than-holiday-perfect weather in fair Los Angeles. I can definitely empathize, as I live in Phoenix. Palm trees and balmy breezes, after 30 years here, continue to be stranger than fiction this time of year, to a girl who grew up in Maryland. Truth be told, though, I feel it a lot more in autumn. Do you find yourself spending an insane amount of time reading blogs from more snow-dusted country? However, your blog today reminded me that you do have one small advantage: A BEACH!!! I don't even that have luxury, pfffft. So have a wondrous trip to Carmel, enjoy the winged creatures currently dancing through your journal, and dip your toes in a few waves for me.

Warmly,

Toni

[Marilyn]

Have a great time in Carmel (one of my fave places)! (Hey, maybe your Venetian's waiting for you THERE...) ;)

[Michelle Ward]

*blowing kisses back at YOU*
merry christmas and happy travels.

[Anne]

Merry Merry, dear Mary Ann. Thank you for the gift of your wonderful blog.
XXXXX to you!

[Robin]

Happy holidays! Have an awesome time driving up the coast and looking for pirate ships ;o)

[Tyn]

You are the cutest!

[eb]

oh Mary Ann Mary Ann Mary Ann - the turkey is coming out of the oven - Boone and I quibbled over the liver - loving my portion with a nice Chardonay - our snow in in a melting position and yet we have a new hammer head sled...

... in 1975 - I went to Monterey/Carmel for an SPE (society of photographic educators) shindig and heard Ansel Adams speak - ate organic carrots with a man who would become a local foods guru...

say hello for me...

and we here at Cedar Lodge wish you a very, VERY merry...

xox - eb.

[jamie]

Merry Christmas to my favorite blogger. That Key Lime Martini is going on my New Years Party drink list. It sounds very festive!

[Daniela]

you SO rock mary ann - LOVE the bird art. fantastic.

peace and love to you this christmas, and thanks for all you give us!

daniela

[stephanie]

m.a.
Love Carmel and that whole area!!! Have a wonderful time!

Am loving your bird stencils...and am inspired to bring a little spray paint to my table this coming year!

x....x!!!
steph

[Leslie]

I keep hearing of you from e.b. and can't imagine why it took me so long to get here. Things certainly are yummy over here. I'll be hanging around for a while if you don't mind. Love the bird stencils. I think I'm going to have to venture there too.
Merry, merry, happy, happy.

[Christine]

Love your art & your blog. You are having so much fun! It's an inspiration.How do you manage to do so much & in such variety? Must be all those martinis......heh
Thanks for sharing!

[Judy Wise]

Thank you for the ongoing gift of your wonderous blog. You have made the world so much more interesting than it was BMA (before Mary Ann). xoxo Mwah back at you.

[Christine]

Love your art & your blog. You are having so much fun! It's an inspiration. How do you do so much and with so much variety? Must be all those martinis.......heh
Thanks for sharing!

[Julie Prichard]

Merry Christmas, MA!! I'm out from under the Orange Curtain now...down in SD. I'll report the new paper discoveries soon. :)

Happy New Year!

[Janet]

Kisses and thanks back at you along with happy wishes for the new year. I'm so looking forward to another year with you and yours via your fantastic blog. It is simply THE BEST! Funny, beautiful, creative, inspirational, educational, and on and on and on.

[One Love Photo]

Love the vintage blue floral wall paper! You are the spray paint Queen! Your work is so fun to look at! I actually managed to have some fun in my art room on Christmas...a gift just for me! Cheers to a new year of many fabulous new creations!

[Andrea Forgnone]

Mary Ann- Happy New Year! Enjoy your time in Carmel. Love that area be safe in your journey.
Can't wait to see what you've got in store for the New Year.

[stephanie]

Happy New Year!!!

[Nancy Bales]

Tonight is New Year's Eve and I wanted to start the new year off by telling people how very much I enjoy reading their blogs. Although I don't usually comment, I just wanted you to know that I love reading your blog. It's always good to know that there is a kindred spirit out there. So, here's wishing you a joyful new year with lots of creating.
Nancy
P.S. I also love Carmel, although it is much closer for me.

[karen benson]

Mary Ann
I am having dispatch from LA withdrawls.....!!!! I hope you are having a wonderful time and Happy New Year to you!
karen b...