We couldn't resist posting more of Marianne Perdomo's photographs. Here, dog Eli & cats Humphrey & Alvar party (& then rest up for, no doubt, more mischief. Just like GG). Have a safe & happy New Year's Eve. [photographs via Marianne's flickr photostream]
It's been donkey's years (sorry) since we came across Marianne Perdomo's lovely portrait of Lila. Since it's the Christmas season, & donkeys play quite a role in the story, we'll share it. Burros are so helpful--to our friends in Darfur, to Santorini & other Greek islands...all over the world. They are very smart & sweet, too. Since they work so hard, you'd think they'd be well-treated. Oops. Not always.
We were reminded of John & Yoko's Happy Christmas card in the New York Times a few days ago. Go here to download the poster & for news. [Image courtesy of www.IMAGINE PEACE.com]
Sadly, GG's editor is very much under-the-weather. We hope to return by New Year's Eve. GG is doing her best to behave but also to be entertaining (because sometimes her naughty behavior is inspired hilariousness). [illustration from Vintage Holiday Crafts]
Very best Christmas wishes to our friends around the world! [illustration via Vintage Holiday Crafts]
Giulia always gets the last word; she'll be by later. She's rearranging the Christmas tree ornaments to suit her questionable taste right now. Merry Christmas, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noël from GG's editor. 
GG has her Christmas gifts ready & wrapped (with help...she's hiding her secret thumbs to get out of work) for friends Hermione the Cat & Toffee the Dog. Cute illustration from Vintage Holiday Crafts. You've still time to make use of the site for cards, notes, gift tags, & so on. 
GG is leaping & pirouetting to The Nutcracker score. Here's a YouTube link to a clip of Mikhail Baryshnikov & Gelsey Kirkland in 1977. Now, that was a Nutcracker to remember. [image via The Washington Ballet]
Ante Up for Africa donates $200,000 to construct Darfur Peace & Development Organization's new high school. 
Fellow Benevolent Postcard Society member, Samantha in Istanbul, Turkey is a finalist in a design competition and needs your votes! Last year she designed a shoe for Fluevog that was eventually made into a real shoe named the Zaza (after her). This time around, she's in the running for a competition to design the ad for the Zaza. The winner is determined by the number of votes their design receives, so Samantha needs as many votes as she can get to win. Help her win by voting for her beautifully illustrated ad, called Why Wear Anything Else?, here. You can vote once a day until December 22. 
GG is mad to frolic in the deep snow & is disappointed to be denied. She threatens to resume Christmas tree vandalism with reckless abandon. Her editor remains unperturbed as only unbreakables adorn the tree at this point. (Ha!) A few sights from around the Washington, DC area after our big storm. Capitol lawn frolicking, the White House be-wreathed gate, cat pawprints (not GG's) in the snow, determined tourists at the Washington monument...[images via Getty & DCist]
Friday Update: Snow storm on its merry way & we're busy getting ready. So this is week's end for sake of balance. We shall return over the weekend. Cheers! (You can still help out Toys for Tots online--no excuses!) The Management
Congratulations to Lori Langille, Canadian illustrator. She was included on the Times (UK) 50 of the World's Best Design blogs yesterday! Lori kindly allowed GG's editor to use this image from her automatism blog last Christmas season. Thank you to Lori for her kindness this past year. (Lori also created the Benevolent Postcard Society art project, in which we participate. Well, GG doesn't but she supervises postcard selection by flopping on to one particular card each month. That's the one we choose. No kidding.) Happy Holidays to Lori & to her fellow designers! 
A wonderful, old-fashioned (inexpensive) idea resurrected by the terrific Design*Sponge. This little project reaps loveliness far outweighing the tiny expense involved. [photograph via design*sponge]
Two night-time photographs of Strasbourg, France in Christmas light splendor. Strasbourg has perhaps the most famous (& best!) Christmas market in Europe. Walking around la place de la Cathedrale & the adjacent marché de Noël (also known as Christkindelsmärik) makes you part of a 431 year-old tradition. Surrounding villages & towns in Alsace also have lovely markets. Still, a visit to Strasbourg (& a gingerbread bakery) should be high on your list if you visit France at Christmastime. (Strasbourg & Alsace is beautiful anytime, though!) [photographs via Lost in France]
The annual ZooLights Festival is ongoing at the National Zoo. It's lots of fun & this year if you're in the DC-area, you have a special reason to go. This is adorable panda Tai Shan's last Christmas in America. He will travel to China & take up residence quite soon. Throughout ZooLights, the Giant Panda Habitat will be open for extended hours for those who wish to bid farewell to Tai Shan before he departs for China in early 2010. The Chinese have extended Tai's stay twice due to pleas from the public. This time the departure is for real, so go as soon as you can. [photographs by Rachel Cooper]
Please remember the Toys for Tots campaign. The website states that items for children between 0-2 yrs & 15-17 yrs are very much needed. Please visit the site for your local campaign news, drop-offs, & any questions you might have. Suggestions for 0-2 year olds: IKEA soft toys. You'll be doing double-duty. We'll be back with ideas for the older children by the week-end.
A pretty reindeer photograph on a rainy-icy Sunday. If children (or adults!) in your sphere of influence are antsy (i.e., driving you crazy), here are free coloring pages. We wish we could interest GG in something, anything but the Christmas tree. It's not even done yet & she's plotting its demise. To make wonderful gingerbread cookies without pain & drama, visit Liberty London Girl's English family house. She has very specific & helpful suggestions (& photographs). For London doings, visit Wee Birdy who is busy with a Christmas cracker round-up. Here in the States, Oprah Winfrey's Christmas special with President & Mrs. Obama is at 10pm. Perhaps a Bo sighting?
One of our most favorite gifts, ever, was the FEED bag last year. GG still hops in for a twirl around the house..so it doubles as a cat toy. The little bear is sold out (until March 2010), but the big guy (who goes by 'Plumpy') is still available. See here for all you need to know about FEED Projects & the variety of rucksacks, bags, pouches, & bears. Happy weekend! 
Are you busy grating potatoes? Neither are we because we're invited to a Hanukkah party. If you want to give it a go, here's a good recipe. Now get to work!