12 Days of Christmas Day 12

 “On the twelfth day of Christmas 

My true love gave to me-

12 drummers drumming!”

My apologies for making everyone wait for Day 12.

Sometimes Life gets in the way.

Sometimes Death pops in unexpectedly.

But here we are, and we have some True Love gifts to finish up!

If you are using the rhyme to help you remember some faith-related items and people, then the 12 days stand for the 12 apostles.

This causes some people headaches.

Jesus started out his ministry with 12 hand picked men to be his followers. Disciples. Foundations of the Church you could say. Apostles.

Only Judas Iscariot threw a wrench in the plans (or did he?) Since I believe God knows all, and is in charge of all plans, kingdoms and happenings, then I believe Judas was a part of God’s plan from the beginning.

I know, pretty radical stuff.

So when Judas I. killed himself, did that eliminate him as an Apostle? Human reasoning would say Yes! But that leaves us with 11 Disciples (Apostles). So where is number 12?

Paul! (Formerly known as Saul). You can read all about it in the New Testament. His turn-around from persecutor to follower is really quite miraculous.

So with Paul generally accepted as an Apostle, that brings us back to 12.

12 drummers drumming.

Littlemotorcar, Digital artist, Pinterest

Only please,

Do Not say the rhyme was historically written for religious purposes. It wasn’t. Just a children’s rhyming game that became super popular, then out of favor until put to music in 1907.

This illustration is one of my favorites!

Green Box Art

And I must add in some Sandra Boynton humor,

of course!

By Sandra Boynton

People use slightly different order of gifts,

mostly depending on whether you are American

or English-European.

I have laid out my 12 Days of Christmas 

in the traditional American (North) order.

Is it the ‘right’ one?

Dunno!

But it’s the one I’m familiar with!

Here’s an unusual painting of the 12 -

By Alice and Martin Provensen

Here is a more modern look, 

with all kinds of different drums.

Pinterest

Here are a couple of different ways you can easily draw a drum:

ColoringPages101.com

BigActivities.com

You never know when you might need a drum that needs drawing…

…or need a cross stitch pattern -

FreePatterns.com

Shelley Wexell posted on Pinterest 

Well, that is the summary of 

The 12 Days of Christmas

On the 12th day of Christmas 

my true love gave to me-

12 drummers drumming

11 pipers piping

10 lords a’leaping

9 ladies dancing

8 maids a’milking

7 swans a swimming

6 geese a’laying

5..golden..rings!

4 colley birds

3 French hens

2 turtle doves

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

Posted on Pinterest

I hope you have had fun,

learned a little history

and maybe tried a craft or two!

‘Til next time,

inkspired

Green-delicious

 Welcome!

By inkspired and WordPak 

A collection of 1940’s - 1950’s Jadeite dinnerware

Spring is here, with Summer right behind!

My garden has already bloomed with Daffodils, Tulips, Columbines and Dianthus.

I’m feelin’ pretty GREEN!

Original Collage Art Doll by inkspired

By Sandra Boynton

Shoes BigTree, by Luulla 

Pitas Niwas Chowk, City Palace, Jaipur, India

An interesting thing to note:

This door is ‘bamboo’ themed.

Bamboo can represent STRENGTH, HEALTH and FLEXIBILITY,

among other meanings.

I wanted to share with you a few of

My favorite green things.

Come have fun with me!

Mermaid by Llyncis on DeviantArt

Found on Pinterest

By inkspired

Unknown

Mario Luca Guisti Roberta glass pitcher

Kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam 

By Dolce and Gabbana 

By Sandra Boynton

Kyusu cast iron & steel teapot, Japanese bamboo design

Original Collage Art Doll by inkspired 

Found on Pinterest

Photo enhancement by inkspired and Percolator

‘I think it’s time to clean off my desk.

Okay, done.’

By Sandra Boynton

Found on Pinterest

Well!

Seems like I have A LOT of green things to share-

I will save the rest for another

Green-delicious day!

Had lots of fun putting these together.

‘Til next time,

inkspired

Truth of the day:

(Usually discovered before coffee and/or 10 am)

Be very careful when pouring milk for your cereal.

Or, it might end up in your water glass…

Weather and Doodling

Welcome!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...🎵 🎶

Kaleidoscope by inkspired 

We have been having typical weather here -

warm days of 75 degrees Fahrenheit,

then snow the next day, high of 30 degrees.

Next day - mild with enough sun to melt 2/3 of the snow.

We can drop or add 30 degrees easily in one day.

 Vintage advert 

So it’s time to ready your car for the Fall season,

Including but not limited to

Snow tires

Snow scraper

Windshield wiper fluid

Sun shade

Bottled water

Sunscreen

and various snacks.

Sandra Boynton cartoon

SnowCat

If you’re stuck inside because of the weather
let’s do some Zentangles!

A basic just for fun zentangle by inkspired 

A Zentangle found on Pinterest

The word ‘zentangle’ was created for this specific type of drawing art style. The ‘zen’ stands for the calm and peacefulness you can have by doing repetitive patterns.
The ‘tangle’ refers to the doodle part of the art form.

Found on Pinterest

Can’t draw?
That’s ok! Everyone can doodle, 
And that’s basically what zentangle is all about.

Do you know what USA President was famous 
for his doodling during meetings?
His doodles have even been made into a book!

First lightly sketch a basic outline - start with simple 
like a square, circle or simple shape.

A simple zentangle grouping by inkspired

(I like to use a multi-media paper in a spiral bound format.
The paper is smooth, so your pen doesn’t skip,
and the book lays flat.)

Then divide that shape into sections. 
They can be wavy, symmetrical, whatever looks good to you.
Now the fun starts!

You can purchase different handout sheets from the above web,
Teachers pay teachers


Starting with one section, start a pattern.
This can be any pattern,
Start with something simple like circles,
dots, squiggles, whatever you like to doodle.
Fill the section up with the same pattern.

Now move on to another section.
Pick a different pattern -
it’s not supposed to match or coordinate.

Another original inkspired design, mounted and layered to make a greeting card.

Getting the idea?
Now do a little research.
There are many many books out now 
with patterns, how-tos and techniques.

An original zentangle by inkspired printed and layered to make a greeting card.

Follow the directions and learn a few patterns.
Become familiar enough that you don’t need to look at directions anymore. You can draw them anywhere.
These will become your go - to patterns
you will use often.

Beautiful zentangle leaf found on Pinterest, drawn on specialty paper.

My favorite pens to use are EnerGel liquid ink pens
.05 needle tip by Pentel in black.
If you plan on printing out several of one design,
the black copies best.

Others prefer the Micron pens in black
or use all the different colors they come in.

Zentangle drawn with a white pen onto a real leaf
found on Pinterest

You can do this!
Really!
Once you get started I hope you find it to be a fun,
relaxing pastime that calms and refreshes.
You hardly noticed it was snowing outside,
didn’t you?

2 zentangle original designs by inkspired. Hand colored.

Share with us your efforts!

I am starting a new ‘tradition’.
I will be ending with a truth I have ‘learned’ from my experiences.
Hint: many have occurred before 9am.
I am not a morning person.

‘Til next time,
inkspired

Truth:
You will not find milk in the pantry.
Or in the plate cupboard.
😁

Trivia question answer:
President John F. Kennedy