Season's Greetings

2003

For years I made my Christmas Cards by hand. Then I started buying them, but always on the hunt for the most magical card I could find. Then in 2000 I decided to do a photo card, as a sort of goodbye to my car that I loved. I know it sounds crazy but when you have a vintage car, you get that way about it. I was selling it, and it had to be in my Christmas picture!

I couldn't quite stand there seriously next to my 63 Falcon, so this was the result ...

The photo at the top of the post was from a photo shoot with an old photographer friend, Howard. If I had sent it out in the original format I would just be a big dork (which still may be the case!), so I added the snow flakes (stickers!) and glued on photos of my birds which are obviously not that huge, so it made it funny and festive and less "modely." My dad scanned it and that was the result. Very high tech with the glue!

In 04 my friend John was going to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara and had an assignment. He was to shoot, as if it were for a magazine cover, for Santa Barbara magazine. He was using one of those huge old fashioned box cameras, on a tri-pod, with a big hood that goes over the photographers head, circa 1900. Now imagine we were in the water and the waves start coming ...

2004

Fortunately, we saved the camera from going in for a swim!

I'm not sure what made me think of Frieda except that she is someone who had animals and I already had the shirt and jewelry ... and the birds! My birds were actually at the "photo shoot" in my parents' backyard. The monkeys were obviously added later and very necessary for the comedic effect I was going for.

2005

With Beatrice and Shakti-Bird

In 2006 my Mom had gotten a beautiful Kimono and I thought, "I want my picture taken in that!" So, out came the fan and the 20 dollar black bobbed wig! After I cut myself out and glued myself on a page from my Japanese woodcut calendar, I thought it looked pretty festive!

2006

When I saw this dress (below) in my Grandma's costume collection, I knew. Christmas!! The photo was taken in the kitchen/dining room of my apartment in my new 20 dollar platinum wig and green false eyelashes. The earrings were a last minute addition, in line with the whole "not taking myself to seriously" objective. My friend John also took this photo as well as the kimono photo.

2007

I was too busy in 2008 during the holidays and for the first time in years ... no card! Then in 09 and 10 I just sent pictures of me looking healthy so people could rest easy after all my health craziness.

But this year? Back to fun ... and a wink to my love (and some would say obsession!) with Italy and Rome. Here it is! Roman Holiday 2.0!

2011

"Buon Natale!

And may all you New Year Dreams come true!"

For a little more holiday cheer ...

This one has my favorite! Frank's super swinin' version of Santa Clause is Coming to Town ...

I posted this writing from Marianne last year

but I think it's something worth reminding ourselves of every year ...

Life is sweeter, as millions of people throughout the world

consider the possibility that a higher love exists.

For one day we lay aside our cynicism- if not completely, then enough.

We lay aside our faithlessness and our judgments and our blame.

We embrace the notion of a light at the center of things

that casts out darkness and cast out fear.

Millions of people think thoughts of love on Christmas.

That is why it is an important day.

That is why it gives us joy.

That is why it is such a blessing on the world.

~Marianne Williamson

Merry Christmas!

Buon Natale!

Feliz Navidad!

Joyeux Noel!

Feliz Natal

God Jul Og Godt Nytt Aar

Froehliche Weihnachten

Kala Christouyenna

Mele Kalikimaka

Nadolig Llawen

God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt Ar

Krismasi Njema

Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom

Craciun Fericit

Merry Keshmish

Linksmu Kaledu

Nollaig Shona Dhuit

Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto

Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia

Hyvaa joulua

Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

Sawat Dee Wan Kritsamas

Bara Din Mubarak Ho

Srozhdestvom Kristovym

Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur

Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto

Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok

Selamat Hari Natal

O.K., I sort of lost track of where I was there, but you get the idea!

(and I hope they were correct!)

Blessings and light

Love, joy and peace

To all of you, my friends

And to those who live in your hearts!!

In gratitude,

Lucinda