A little sad its all over

So Christmas has been and gone. All in all it was a good time, even though I would have much rather been with my family. Well thanks to FaceTime and texting, I was in touch and got to see them. Tater Tot was concerned that I had presents under my tree. He did briefly wonder if any were for him but mostly he was glad to hear I had presents to open. Sweet Pea's kitten hat fit her and The Wee Girl had a blast singing with her cousin's thanks to Grandma giving her a karaoke machine.

I managed rather nicely, I had wonderful big breakfast

Breakfast  casserole and fruit. I did not make Monkey bread, I was too lazy. I made myself a poinsettia to drink, minus the champagne but plus ginger ale. Like a mimosa but with cranberry juice. Very Christmasy.

then I relaxed with a hot cup of coffee or two.

I opened my gifts and I got some lovely things. I had stuff in my stocking, I did rather ok. The only fly in the ointment of my day was that our cable channel does not offer the fireplace . I had looked forward to burning logs on my tv as I opened my gifts. I am going to have to get a DVD I quess. Its much cheaper than putting in a fireplace. It makes for a nice atmosphere.

These jolly little snow men are this years family ornament. I do believe they will be the last from me. I have made one every year for the last 20 years and I am thinking I'm ok with being finished. I started with a snowman and I have ended with a snow man. I think that is fitting.

I actually cooked a turkey for the first time is many years, I am rather proud to say it turned out awesome. He tasted as good as he looked. So juicy!!

I went down memory lane. I had sweet gerkin pickles, apple salad, stuffed celery. I missed out on the gravy with mushrooms because I still cannot make gravy and I was too chicken to try it and ruin it, so it was a gravyless meal. I also had wanted to make cloverleaf buns but that did not happen.

I was not all alone for the Holidays. I went to have supper with KitKat on Christmas eve. It was really nice and we had a nice meal. I was invited to Teddy Bears house for Christmas day but I stayed home. It was all good. I had texts from lots of people so I was not abandoned. I was ok with staying here. The only other place I would have wanted to be was with my family. I was with in spirit and thanks to those phones, I got pictures, videos, face times and texted, It was like I was there.

I started a scrap afghan while I watched every Christmas movie I possibly could get in. The Shop Around the Corner, A Holiday Affair, Christmas in Connecticut , Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, Meet Me in St Louis, The Bishop's Wife. All old and all my favourites.

This is taking a bit out of my stash of leftover yarn.. I don't need it so I will either donate it to the Women's Shelter or give it away. I am going to keep making them until I use up my leftovers.

Now I have to look foreward to taking down all the Christmas decorations. They took nearly a month to get up so they will take some time to get back into their little home under the stairs. At least I have gotten them sorted and have gotten rid of some stuff. KitKat took some stuff and I have more to go to the secondhand store. I will start the big de-decorating after New Years. It takes so long to get it out I want to enjoy looking at it for as long as I can.

I am also going to do the January purge again. The one where if its the first you get rid on one thing and then work your way up to getting rid of 31 things on the 31st. I did it last year, I am sure I can come close this year. Something about the new year that makes you want to clean and purge.

Toodles
Linda

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I like Christmas, I really do. I love having time to spend with family, I love the decorations, the energy, doing the baking, fun things to do, the whole package. I'm ready for it this year. Now I won't be with family but its ok. I am old enough to be practical. I saw them at Thanksgiving so its all good. Time is not on my side this year so I am staying put. Next year it will be my turn to have time off and then the year after that I will be retired so it will not matter when I get home.

I hauled all the decorations out and did up the whole house just like I like it. No big tree but I will have one next year. I have all the food related things I could possibly want. There are presents under my tree and things in my stocking. I think I am more than ready. I have had many many kind invitation to go and do and be with. I am blessed with wonderful friends.

I have been crafting up a storm. I prettied up a stocking for a coworker. She had tried to make one for her Mom and while she did very well on the stocking portion, the decoration fell very short.

I removed the paper picture on it and then turned it into this. A bit of an improvement if I do say so myself. Most important my coworker was very happy with it.

I made pillow covers for my couch cushions. Buffalo plaid and check are very popular this year and I really like it so I made some covers. They have zippers so they can come off an make for easy storage . 

I made another very plain runner for my own use Did not take a picture but trust me I made it. I made another snowman runner for my secret Santa gift for the office. Its just like this one only where this one is green, the new one is red and where the red is on this, the other is green.

 I finished my family ornament. I can't show it until after Christmas. I don't want to spoil the surprise. I made a tree topper for the tree that has the family ornaments on it. Just my glue gun and a scrapbook embellishment but it works.

Not the best lighting but I think its perfect for this particular tree. I have made a family ornament now for 20 years. There is enough of them that I put them all on one little tree that sits in the entryway. I call it the Family tree.

I have hung up the last of the decorations. Most importantly this little jingle wreath. I finally found the perfect spot for it. Very Martha Stewart of me I think.

I have found that if you put Santa's all up and down the stairs you are bound to kick them once in awhile and send them bouncing. We had a decapitation that since I had the glue gun out I performed the necessary operation and gave the jolly old elf back his head.

I had two more to fix but he was the most dramatic. Then I had to glue the tip back onto one of their skis, Didn't know Santa could ski but he does apparently, maybe in the off season.

We had our No Cook Christmas party on Friday. We went to the Banker's house and her Sweet Baboo made us supper. Lasagna and some little meat rolls that he called birds, salad and garlic toast. Tarts and cake for dessert

Best lasagna ever!! and those bird things were delicious. After we were stuffed to the gills we had craft time. We decorated our coffee cups and all had our mug shots taken:

Silly stuff but lots of fun. Plus its all fodder for scrapbook pages in the future. 

Tomorrow I will go out and get a wee few things. Nothing that is desperately needed but would be nice to have. I have been invited out to have supper with KitKat. Then I shall come home and wait for Santa Claus to come. 

Merry Christmas all!!

Toodles

Linda

Done, in more ways than one

So I woke up on Sunday with my entire body feeling like one giant tooth ache. I was pissed to say the least. I had so many things I wanted to do, so many things to get accomplished and this was seriously hindering my progress. How ever I forged ahead. The best thing was I got the Santa made for a work friend.

She provided me with this little guy as a pattern.

The banker had helped me last weekend and we got a lot of him done. Sweet Baboo McGivered up a stand for him and then this weekend I got him done. A tweak here and there, some embellishing and a voila here he is.

Not bad for having no pattern just an example to go by. The Banker was extremely helpful. Worth her weight in gold that woman. I am pleased with the end results.

So inspite of the fact that I could hardly move I got the Dickens Village out and in its proper place. I have some white fleece that I want to use as a runner but I cannot put my hands on it. I will find it for next year. That Christmas tree in the center belonged to my mom. I never used to like it much but now I would not part with it for the world. Its one of my treasures. It keeps her a part of my Christmas.

The Santa's are out in full force:

I even got the Piggy tree up and decorated. I know its on the dining table and that is a stupid place for it. I have a small house so places to put stuff is at a premium.

I toyed with the idea of getting a 4' pencil tree for this instead. That way it could go elsewhere and the table would be free. Well after all the jigs and the reels I have scrapped that idea. I need to find a stand for it so it can sit in the cased opening between the dining and living rooms. I will need to get a new tree but its going to have to be a new BIG tree.

I was so looking forward to putting up the big tree this year. I have not put it up for awhile because I was positive the cats would pull it down. Its 7 or 71/2 ft tall and I have had to face the cold hard truth that I cannot decorate it. It cannot be done without getting up on a chair or a step ladder. These shenanigans are beyond me. The getting up and down and the standing to decorate is just not in my wheel house anymore. So I need to get a 6 ft pencil tree that I can decorated from a standing position. I hope I can sell the tree I have. I may have to wait til next year. I am brokenhearted to tell the truth but it it what it is. I have a new normal and everyday brings me something new to deal with. I would get the new tree now when everything is on sale but I just cannot do it. It can wait until next year as well. Its not like I don't have a Christmas tree. There are four others in the house but I mourn the loss of the big one this year.

Ok, pity party, table for one. Lets cancel that reservation right this minute and move on.

The Banker and I went for tea last week. Real genuine tea at a lovely local cafe. We wore our Irish facinators and had a ball. They are hard to see in the picture but we had them on Her's is green and Mine is grey with black feathers.

It was yummy, it was a lot of fun and I would do it again in a heart beat. We got ever so many complements on our facinators, both from the staff and other diners.

Christmas presents are bought or made, wrapped and ready to go. Stocking stuffers are finished. Yearly family ornament is made, bagged and ready to go on its way. In fact I have just one more thing to make and I am done with the Christmas shopping and gifts. No baking to do this year, which feels most weird, I can tell you.   I have a few cards to get into the mail and then that's it. I can sit back and enjoy the season.

I have a list of things I need for next year. I have a box of decorations to go to the local charity shop. Yes I have weeded out some stuff that I no longer like or need.  Miracles do happen. I have a couple of things I cannot find but it has to be in this house someplace. My life would not be my life unless I had stuff I could not find.

The quilt auction is over and done. We raised 1265.00 for the Shelter. I am beyond pleased. That makes a total of 2265.00 going to the shelter thanks to scrapbook weekend and the raffle. Good job I say. Its so good to be able to help out and have some fun at the same time. Princess Diva was a tremendous help. We would never have gotten that much without her help and hard work.

Well I think that is it from me for now. I can't think of anything else. At least nothing that is upbeat. I will say goodnight for now.

Toodles
Linda

Christmas Tree Number 5

Did I get you all excited when I dressed the blog with its winter outfit? All two or three of you that read this besides myself? Well sorry about that but its been busy busy around here and I have been kicking things off the old "To Do" list, left right and center. Not to mention that the minute I kick something off, something new pops on. Its wonderful.

First I should confess, (which is good for the soul), that I am Christmas decoration obsessed. It true, I am and I think I need some sort of 12 step program. I don't always put it all out but I am this year. NOT TO MENTION  Michael's craft store is an enabler to those of us that are weak willed, just saying.

This is Christmas tree number 5. 60% off at Michael's and cute as a button. I could not help myself but I do need to get a grip. This innocent little tree has started the decorations migrating upstairs and I have to put a stop to that ASAP. I do not have storage space for more decorations but these ones got up here before I got under control.

I was at a dollar store the other day and I got some decorations for the new tree. I will get it decorated and post pictures later because I know you all are dying to see it.

I got the veranda done:

I even dragged the boxes up from the basement myself!! Not a easy feat but I did it.

I have been making stuff, for people at work. Hats are popular this year

Trust me making a shark hat will get that Baby Shark song stuck in your head faster than anything. Not to mention the shark hat is for an adult. Go figure. 

I also made unicorn mitts. I have orders for two more pair and I already know what I would do to make them better

I have been making dishcloths, 8 more at last count but I am caught up and finished them for now. I have two slipper orders but I have not been able to promise them for Christmas and the people wanting them are ok with that.  I also have a few things I want to make for myself. We will see how the time goes.

Like I said I have been decorating like mad!! The Santa Parade is back on the stairs: I have the kitchen finished. It took some time because there was a lot of cleaning required.

The living room is nearly finished and the dining room, which holds the most of my obsession will get done in the next couple of days. I am even putting the big tree up this year. Its safe to do it now the cats are not here. I am sure they would have taken it down in a heart beat.

I am almost finished my shopping, I have Sweet Pea's loot bag nearly finished, it is job one today. Yesterday the Banker and I worked on making a larger version of this fellow:

I cannot wait to show you the finished product. No he is not for me. One of my friends asked if I could do it and I said I would give it a try. I have the Banker as a work resource.  She is very creative and we work well together. Santa is turning out very well. We had a great day yesterday, sewing, creating and laughing. I treated her to lunch at a wonderful local bakery thanks to a gift card I won at the scrapbooking weekend. Made from scratch food and probably the best shortbread I have EVER eaten. We worked from 9:30 to 4:30 and we got a lot accomplished.

Today has been really productive so far. I have gotten groceries, had breakfast and am FINALLY getting a blog post up. The rest of the day will be Sweet Pea's  loot bag. (our family does not have stockings we have loot bags). Working more on the new Santa Claus. His head needs to be finished and his coat needs its embellishments. His feet also need to be stuffed further and then his boots put on. Sweet Baboo is making us a stand  so he can stand up loud and proud. I want to get a couple more of the little trees decorated today and then here is the never ending laundry to do. If I have all the materials on hand I will get the yearly family Christmas ornament completed as the Banker found me the major component that I needed. Worth her weight in gold that woman. If not I will put that off until tomorrow. I am not going out again today.

So that is me in a nut shell. We are all caught up on the news. I am nipple deep in Christmas prep and I am loving it. I hope all is well with you and yours.

Toodles,

Linda

busy busy busy

Last weekend was the yearly scrapbooking weekend. It started early on Friday and ended just before supper on Sunday. I have to say a fun time was had by all.

I guess you could say its not a hobby for the less than dedicated. All of this was just for me to use on the weekend. Well the basket with the cushion, one box and the blue bag were raffle and auction items but I still had a ton of things to take with me. Paper,  punches, tools and necessities weigh a ton. I could not do this without the Banker. She is a fabulous friend and its due to her playing my pack mule that I get to this thing. I could do it myself but by the time I got it all delivered I would be having to pack it up and go home.

Oh yeah you need to be committed and we are. We have gone from a group of four of us to a group of eight, who go and join 38 other women for a scrappy weekend. I got over 70 pages put together for my yearly album. I am up to October and I had the best time. We raised $1000. for the Safe and Warm Shelter and that did not include the quilt raffle. That was donation and the bucket auction items. Princess Diva is in charge of this shindig and she does a top notch job.

The Banker's sister and sister-in-law joined us this time and The Sailor came as well. We go from 8:30 in the morning til 11:30 at night and the time flies!! Nearly a full work week in three days and not a complaint from any of us about how long it takes!!

We had lunch out on Friday and Teddy Bear joined us. Teddy Bear does not scrapbook or card make but she does like to join in on the fun as she can. We went to a new local bakery and OH MY the soup and sandwich were excellent!! Definitely have to go back there again soon. At the end of the weekend we did the traditional Chinese food supper before we headed to our own homes and back to the routine of everyday life. Teddy Bear came for that meal too.

Book club was another evening out this weekend which is always fun.  KitKat, Teddy Bear and I did supper out on Tuesday and then Thursday Teddy Bear and I did supper and then coffee. She stopped to get some things for herself for Christmas and picked my up some stocking stuffers at the same time. Tomorrow we (the No Cook Gals) are going out for brunch and then to a matinee performance of Mama Mia. Princess Diva is in the cast and we all want to see her perform. Lots of eating out this week.

CR was tickled pink with her finished quilt. I was so chuffed that she was tickled. it was gorgeous.

Today I did a smidgen of Christmas shopping. I got some supplies for a Christmas project and then I came home. I was not in the mood to fight the crowds today. So I bolted for home at the first possible chance and stayed there for the rest of the day.

I spent the rest of the day just putting things away. All the scrapbooking supplies, I put the finished pages into their album, I put boxes back into cupboards, found new homes for things, hung the lantern in the living room at long last.

I worked on the kitchen and I started to do the laundry. I hauled two bags of recycle out to the dumpster and I did some mending on a wall hanging I have at work. I worked on organizing my pictures on the computer and then got more ready to order. I had a nap. I was suppose to go pick up my prescriptions but I will do that in the morning before we head out for brunch. If I had gone for the prescriptions I would have wanted to get something for supper and I really needed to just stay in and finish off the hamburger stew I made last week. I had wanted to decorate the veranda today, I have the new garlands all fluffed and ready to hang but I really needed to get stuff put away. Things were getting out of control again and I will not let that happen.

There is lots more I could keep working on if I was staying home tomorrow but I have memories to make with my good friends.  I will probably regret not getting my prescriptions tonight but it will get me out of bed tomorrow morning.

I need to get the Christmas shopping finished so I can get things mailed.I have to mail my doily and I have several knitting projects to get done for people at work. Suddenly  I have knitted hats to make. I could be doing that or at least get it started but I am not in the mood. SO that will all go on the agenda for next week. Plus the Christmas decorating will begin next week. So exciting!!

Oh yes life is very good!!

Toodles
Linda