I Think I'm Ready!

It seems that Christmas is coming way to fast this year and I actually think I am ready!  Just a quick trip to the grocery store and the pet store (gotta keep the poopies happy!) and I think that will do it!  I have the menu planned for Christmas Eve dinner (lasagna, garlic bread, salad, and cannoli).  I get so burned out with turkey and ham by this time of year, I try to find alternative things to eat!  For Christmas morning I will be doing a crockpot breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit salad and for the rest of the day just snacking.  I have lined up the fresh veggie platter, crackers, cheeseball, summer sausage, a couple of other dips, a fruit platter and lots of homemade goodies.  Ohh, and I can't forget the special "egg nog".  At Thanksgiving we made the bourbon, pumpkin milk shakes (really good!) and I was thinking of how I could do an egg nog shake along the same lines-haven't figured it out yet and that may have to wait until next year.

I am looking forward to the week between Christmas and New Year's to relax, visit friends, and work on some projects that I have had in mind since I moved in Sept/Oct.  As always, my list is three pages long, but I am hoping to complete at least five projects during the week. 

I wish everyone a very happy holiday season and the best in the coming new year!

Things Are Progressing and Holiday Pictures of the Boys!

Packages are mailed, the decorating is almost done, and the Christmas baking only has a little to go-I'm almost ready for the holidays!  I have to quit browsing all the special edition holiday magazines as I get more and more decorating ideas, things to look for, and more recipes to try-I need to start this stuff in June to be on top of things! 

I finally received some current pictures of the boys at one of their holiday parties, (Jake is in the 92 shirt and Matty in in the green and black striped shirt).  It has been over two years since I have seen them-they are getting sooooo big!  The day is coming closer when I can fly them from east coast to the west coast, gather their twin cousins,  and pile in the van and head to disneyland! 

Yesterday, I had to be in a different area with an hour to waste before a meeting and what better way to spend my time then to thrift!  I ended up spending about $12.00, this after I said I wouldn't buy anything again after the move!  I ended up with a tin santa plate and bowl from Hallmark, with the prices of $10.00 and $5.00 still on them-I paid .50 and .25, a complete set of stampin up Christmas stamps (5) for .99, two bags of vintage bulbs, one .99 and one for .49. a Boyds Bear statue (I collect them) for .99, a set of christmas burner covers for .49, a german glass ornmanet for the main tree for .50, two jingle bears, one small for .75 and the large one for 1.00, two sweaters for 1.00 ea, a Thomas the Train calidiscope for Matty (he loves Thomas the Train) for .50, 4 packs of 20 ea plastic page covers for my notebook of collected recipes for .25 ea, and some genuine silver Fender guitar pick earings for 1.99-I think I did pretty well for just needing to burn a little time! Once I go home I put a fire in the fire place and spent the evening wrapping gifts-I haven't finished but a couple more nights and the task will be complete. (For me this is the part I like the least!)

Slowly checking things off the list while sipping a little egg nogg-hope your days leading up to the holidays are joyous ones!

Even At Work The Decorations are Going Up!

The bosses had meetings all afternoon yesterday, so a couple of us decided to decorate the bosses office doors.  For the main boss, we made his door a reindeer stable, and the second boss is a big Denver Broncos fan, so we had to come up with some sort of theme.  I opted for a charlie brown christmas tree meets football meets more specifically the Denver Broncos.  The pictures aren't fabulous, but I think you will get the idea-we had a lot of fun, the bosses loved their office doors and we brought a little christmas spirit into the office.

I am still working on sewing projects ad nd hope to have most of them done this weekend, along with the rest of the decorating.  This weekend will be my last class of a year long set of classes on my contemporary art journal-we will be attaching the signatures to the covers and putting the finishing touches on the books-of course along with an end of year potluck.  (Go figure-we are going to eat again!) 

Today, along with the entire week has been cold and windy-I think I am going to make soup and hot biscuits tonight for dinner.  I have been using my crock pot off and on, but I have a feeling if this weather continues, it will be a permanent fixture on the counter for the rest of the season!

Fall Is Down, Christmas is Getting Up!

The last couple of days have felt more like fall than winter here. The winds have whipped up and all the leaves in the world are on my front lawn!  But at night, the weather turns cold-yes it's winter!  The main tree is up in the living room, and the wreath's are hung over the fireplace and on the front door, and even the Chritmas bakings has started.  I still have three more trees to put up, change the quilts, arrange the pointsettas and change out to the winter dishes, but things are comming along nicely.  The best part is all my Christmas shopping is done-yipee!  I love all the sights, smells, and feel of the holiday season. 

 

Last weekend, the family trudged up to Apple Hill, walked around three Christmas Tree farms before finding the perfect tree-now I know why I have a box tree each year.  The girls were getting tired, the tree was on the top of the van and it was off for pizza.  It was foggy and overcast in the valley but one we got up into the hills the weather was beautiful0-sunny and a little warmer.

This comming weekend I am out of town but I am taking the sewing machine and projects to do, hopefully I will have pictures to post after the weekend!  Have a happy start of the holiday season.