A Perfect Christmas Except

Perfect except I was not with my family. Being with them would have made it perfect but it came in at a close second. Thanks to the magic that is a cell phone I got to see them. Those gadgets are wonderful for a lot of things.

Christmas eve started with getting out of work at 1:00 pm, having lunch out with Teddy Bear. Then a quick dash to the store to get appetizers for supper. I got home and have stayed put ever since. Appetizers are traditional supper for Christmas eve in my family and has been for some years. I like tradition so appies it is!!

I did have a bit of a crisis as my phone had run out of power, happened this morning in fact. Busy had sent a text with some pictures to let me know the mayhem had begun and it died in my hands. The crisis was that I have no idea where my phone cord is. Its has gone walk about and I do not know where it is. Panic, panic, panic but Teddy Bear came to the rescue. She arrived armed with coffee and a spare cord. IOn no time at all I am fueled up, charged up and connected to the world once more/

I found the fireplace video on YouTube and so it was a cozy morning. I had presents to open and be spoiled by. I had coffee and a chat with a dear friend, many texts from family and friends and then a reasonably good breakfast. I slightly over cooked the bacon and hash browns, and I slightly under cooked the eggs but it was tasty none the less. I managed to snarf it down no problem.

I have watched all my favourite old movies over the last week. Last night was A Holiday Affair and Scrooge. All watched by the light of the just the Christmas tree. I watched the older version of Little Women today, the one with Katherine Hepburn. I watched the Queen's speech and have been YouTubing things today. I took a nap and had tea and dainties for lunch mid afternoon. I did not eat the whole box but I put a dent in it for sure.

I am alone today by choice, not because no one loves me. I have had lots of invites and I have a standing invitation to join Teddy Bear any time I want. I am ok with being on my own. I would most like to be with my family but it just did not work out this year. Next year they will have to put up with me. I could not get time off to travel and I had a rather hefty car repair bill just last week. All takes a bite out of ones plans.

I have not gone shy though. I have my house so decorated it looks like a Christmas store. I love every inch of it. The Ballerina's are spinning on the tree, the tree itself is sparkling. The Dickens village is glowing and Mom's Ceramic tree is holding court front and center.

The Piggy tree is in the dining room. The gingerbread tree is in the kitchen. The little Santa tree is on the landing upstairs.

The family tree is in the entry with two new golden stags to keep it company.

The Teacher has taken over the making of the family Christmas ornament and what a splendid job she did!! Its so cute and such delicate work. I love it!!

Buy all accounts the little ones liked their gifts. The Wee girl got Barbie furniture and clothes made by me

This sweater was knit from patterns my Mom used in 1964 to knit my first Barbie clothes. I will make her more but I ran out of time

Sweet pea got a baby doll, two outfits and three baby blankets.

Tater Tot got a Buzz Lightyear hover shot, which from the video he was very happy to receive and I was deemed very smart to know it was just what he wanted. I would make him something but little boys are harder than little girls. I had such fun making these things for the little girls.

So I have rounded off the day with a good meal. I roasted up a turkey and had a rather good meal of turkey,potatoes, peas, and apple salad. Apple salad is an old family thing. I love it. I am waiting for a bit before I finish off the meal with some ice cream.

People that love me, gifts, good food, roof over my head and lots of Christmas decorations to put me in the mood. It been a good day. I hope that whatever you are doing, whatever way you choose to celebrate or not, that you are happy and that 202o brings good things your way!!

Toodles
Linda

Three More Sleeps

Its nearly Christmas!! Things are shaping up around here, stuff is getting done. I am so excited. I was rather pleased with myself yesterday. I had a list, I had four places to go and pick up stuff. Sometimes all I can do is get groceries and then I have to head home. Yesterday was an exception. I managed to get to all the places I needed to get to, got all the things I needed to get.=, my legs were screaming when I got finished but I did it!! I have always been rather independent and its nice to know that I still can manage to get stuff done for myself. I do not want to wear out my welcome with my friends. They have to do enough for me as it is.

So once I was home and got rested up I began to get the last of the Christmas decorating done. My motto seems to be "one is good, two is better and a million is perfect" Its something I need to work on. However, the Christmas do-dads were in situ long before I started to try and change my attitude. For example:

This is my Santa figurine collection. Fills the milk glass cabinet perfectly. I have to stop buying them. I think I have enough for a lifetime.

Then the Santa parade got onto the stairs.

For the first time in a few years, I put up the big tree. I am 110% sure that it is not going back into the box it came in. Good thing getting a tree bag was on my list yesterday.

I had forgotten how many tree ornaments I had plus the tree is smaller this year than in the past. Its almost more ornaments than tree. I could just sit an look at it all day long. Its the perfect size. It fits the corner perfectly and I can decorate it with no trouble. Its lovely to see all the do-dads again, to watch the ballerinas spin and the Angel topper brings back warm memories of Christmas's past. That topper was the one my Mom and Dad bought to put on their tree when they were first married. I cannot imagine my tree without her.

I have the kitchen left to decorate and I am all ready for the big day. Granted I only got it all out in time to start putting it all away again but I do not care. It makes me happy.

I have had this Santa for so long I do not remember not having him. My oldest cousin on my Mom's side gave him to me many years ago. I love him. I replaced his body once because the material dried out and when I picked him up, my fingers went straight through him. Panic!! But he got a new body and a new lease of life

                                                     
Oh I got these when I was out yesterday, I just need to figure out where to put them. I know, I'm hopeless.

I got my Secret Santa present done and delivered. The recipient was pleased with it which is good. I made another snowman table runner. Its always fun when you get the top sewn up and you see this.

This is what it is supposed to look like:

So annoying, much cursing but that is what stitch rippers were made for. It got fixed and then it ended up looking like this

I have made a number of these over the last couple of years. I think they are rather cute.

Today I should  go pick up prescriptions, the last few groceries and I want to go to the material store and get a Christmas panel or two. I cannot seem to work up the energy to get out the door. My legs are not over our adventures yesterday and the thought of going again is not filling my heart with glee.

I have the kitchen to clean, a mountain of laundry and then decorate the kitchen for Christmas. I guess I can get groceries on Tuesday afternoon. The Christmas panels will happen when I can manage them and the prescriptions I can pick up after work tomorrow. So I have all day to get the kitchen whipped into shape and laundry finished. So I will do as I did yesterday. Do a bit, rest a bit, do a bit, lather, rinse, repeat until its done.

White Christmas is on tv this evening so I will be parked in front of the tv for that for sure. Its a long time favourite!!

Toodles,
Linda

Christmas Prep and a Change of Plans

This weekend was going to be a full on push for Christmas. It still was a full on push but the details changed. The plan was out for supper with the No Cook gals as usual, then Saturday morning, up early, out to get Tater Tots gift, a quick stop at Dollarama for last minute stocking stuffers for The Carpenter and The Farmer. To Fabricland for material for two last minute Christmas projects, get some white sugar for cookies then home to work on decorating the house and to do a bit of baking to send home to the Fam. I may not be able to be there but my cookies can be.

Then the fates stepped in . On the way to take The Banker home Friday night, the check engine light came on and stated that engine power was reduced. I knew something was up with the car before this and I had made an appointment to to get the car winterized and checked out on Wednesday this week. I had no idea what this check engine thing meant so I googled it. Long story short, Mr Google said get the car checked, don't drive it, driving can cause complete loss of power and cause engine damage. I got home ok but my Saturday plans were skuppered. What to do????

Ok this is where my wonderful friends and family kick in, honestly I could not function without them
Busy is going to get me something for Tater Tot for Christmas. Teddy Bear got me sugar to finish my baking and The Banker is going to get my material and pick up my prescriptions. She can drop them off when she stops in to get the parcels and baking this afternoon.

Instead of being out and about early on Saturday morning I started my day sipping coffee with Teddy Bear before she scooted off to have breakfast with her Breakfast group. Sugar supply replenished  I dug into the decorating and the baking.

This is just a tip of the ice berg. I have done lots more but I have not taken pictures. In fact its at that "what the hell was I thinking" stage. The house is a complete disaster of storage tubs and half decorated items. Its just in the middle of it all and from now on it should start to look better any minute.

The baking got finished, Snackens, Cherry Refrigerator cookies and candied pecans all done and put in their Christmas tins and ready to be delivered.

Prezzies are wrapped. Stocking stuffers are organized. The Farmer and The Carpenter have stuffers, I was just going to get one more each just because, but they will not go shy. 

I have used brown paper for presents for years now. Fancy ribbon and a homemade tag. This year I used by tag punch and recycled some old Christmas cards.

Princess Diva picked up the raffle quilt today. She will sell tickets at a Christmas concert tonight and then make the draw. She chipped the ice off my steps and Teddy Bear had shoveled the sidewalk earlier. Oh the Blessings I have with my family and friends. I don't deserve them but I am grateful I have them that is for sure.

A nice little surprise at work is they asked to have one of my wall hangings to put at the front desk over the holiday season. I was dead pleased.

Woke up this morning rather stiff and sore, moving around is an adventure but its my fault, I over did it a tad yesterday. Today I want to get the outside stuff up so the fall wreath is no longer out but the Christmas one will be up. After that I can poke away at the remaining decorating and sew on the last minute Christmas projects. Easy lazy day ahead for me. I will also make a pot of soup. I need something for lunches. 

I am feeling rather smug that I have done what I did. Frantic panic to meet deadlines has been met. The rest can be done in my own good time!! Sweet!!!

Toddles

Linda

Christmas Prep and the Pre Christmas Annual Chest Infection

Thanks to Facebook Memories I have come to realize that I tend to get some some sort of infection/cold/flu that puts me under the weather at this time of year. Just 5 years ago I was just starting my go around with a chest infection and Cellulitis. Good Times!!

This year the illness of choice has been called the 100 day cough, or so I have heard. Its a dry little number that is designed to be totally pointless except to make you ribs feel like they have been beaten with a baseball bat,your head pound and the small of your back very sore. It is thankfully on the way out but I have been knocked off my feet and am totally lacking in energy. Coughing is serious work.

I did make a faint start at the decorating at home before I had to give up again. I thought I was getting better and got all giddy with excitement and then the cough  came back with a vengeance.

These are upstairs. Downstairs I got the Family tree up and then I gave up and planted myself on the couch. The Family tree lives in the entry way and holds all the decorations that I have made for the family for the last twenty years. I have retired and passed the torch onto the Teacher.  I have put out the Nativity (its Willow Tree and I love it)  after I started to feel a bit better this week. I have a long way to go but its starting to look a little like Christmas

Thankfully I hauled the do-dads to the office and got it looking festive before I went belly up

My cubical neighbour shares her little Christmas tree made from coat hangers and tinsel with me and I think its cute as a button

I have the highest hopes that this weekend the decorating will be done, The bit of baking that I do will be done and everything will be ready to send to the family as I am not able to get there myself this year. The Banker and her Sweet Baboo will deliver parcels and baked goods on my behalf as they speed off to his family for the holidays. They pass right through so they have generously offered to act as Santa for me.

I have a few stocking stuffers to get and one gift and I am done. I wrapped the gifts that I have tonight and tomorrow I plan to mix cookie dough and decorate the front of the house. Saturday will finish the shopping and cookie baking will take place. Once that is done I can finish up the house and  sit and adore my decorations.

I may have company Christmas eve. The Nurse and the Little Entertainer may come over for snacks and movies. Her spouse has to work so they will be on their own. I am looking forward to having them.  I hope our plans work out. The Nurse always likes to stop in and see the Santa Parade on my stairs if she can. (I am always amazed at how many people mention that they like the Santa's )

That is all I have to share at the moment. I have lots more but ....... Christmas Secrets. My house is currently at that point where everything is pulled out, very little is put up and you wonder what the hell you have been thinking doing all this. I will dig my heels in and slowly but surely it will come together, the tubs will go back under the stairs and I will once again gaze upon the million bits and bobs I have collected over the years. Beloved each and everyone!!

So next post I should be able to show off the finished product.

Toodles
Linda

Weekly Catchup

Not much to catch up on this week, I don't even have any pictures to share. Oh I have been doing stuff but its all for Christmas and that cannot be shared. Christmas secrets all around!! Its great fun.

I have not started to decorate but that will begin this week. It takes a bit of time to get my house done up with all my bits and bobs and I have to go slowly at it. I finally got the 7 ft tree re homed. It only took a year but its off to its new home. I have a 6ft one now that I can decorate without getting on a chair which works best for me and my bad knees. I also have another surprise but that will be saved until  I take pictures.

I have been crafting up a storm on Christmas gifts. Its fun and stretches my creative brain cells as I rarely find a pattern just a picture and I go from there. I am about half done and want to get it finished asap.

Next weekend I  need to go shopping and finish up the stocking stuffers and get one last gift. I would have gone this weekend but its Black Friday weekend here and the stores are nuts. Not to mention that we got a ton of slushy wet snow and rain last week so its super slippery outside. I am unsteady on my feet at the best of times so I thought it best to stay home and get some things done.

Saturday was so different from normal. I slept in, got up and actually made breakfast and coffee. I indulged in that then gave the kitchen a tidy. Usually I am up and out, pick up breakfast, then get on with the day. I got my weekly quilt block sewn, did some crafting, went to see Frozen 2 with the Sailor and then home to watch Its a Wonderful Life and then bed. A very enjoyable day all round.

Today is laundry, making soup; more sewing, knitting and crocheting and TV watching to fill in the silence. No plans to go anywhere, its too peopley out there and the slippery factor needs to be avoided unless its very necessary.

So I think I am going to go have one more cup of ambition and then think about getting the day started. Its just after 12 so its a good time to think about getting going. I hope that anyone reading this, is having a very good day.

Toodles
Linda

Monday Musings

So slowly and steadily the sniffling, sneezing, stuffy nose, coughing, snot production is leaving. I am getting over whatever the heck bug knocked me on my butt last week. I spent three days at home, shivering, blowing my nose and sleeping, yes an incredible amount of sleeping. Thankfully the bug is on its way out and I am beginning to feel like a human again. Back to work just in time for month end. Oh the joy!!

Other than being sick there have been some things going on around here. I am deep into Christmas gift production. I cannot share pictures though. Its a big secret you know!! I will share once it is safe. I am rather pleased with the results so far. Its been fun, I am giving the creative brain cells a work out.

On Sunday a gaggle of my friends and I headed to a small town to take in a local Production of ELF. Princess Diva is part of the cast and they did so well with Mama Mia we thought we would take in this one. They did not disappoint!!

So much local talent, such a fun performance and the theater is so quaint!! I think it was an old opera house and its just so lovely. The chairs are not the most comfortable but its worth it. It even has private boxes. I just love it.

We made a day of it. Drove out for the afternoon performance, came back home and them went out for supper. All in all it was an excellent day! I love doing things like that. 

Oh I finally got my little cart in from the car and put together! It was super easy and took no time at all. 

Then today I took it to work. A very kind co worker carried into the building for me and I rolled it upstairs to my cubicle. Its not heavy just a little awkward.

It is seriously perfect. Its the right size, fits where I had hoped it would fit in my cubicle. It rolls like a dream. If it had a place to hang my cane it would be perfect. Its not tall enough though and frankly I am ok with it as is. I can gather twice as many files, and get them put back in record time. It was awesome today. I tied a little white rope on it so I can pull it behind me like a wagon. Such an improvement in my world and when I am retired it can come and live in my craft room somewhere. 

I am still working on the purging. I did not take a picture of this before I started to work on it but trust me it was full of stuff. 

This lives in my porch, I have not used anything out of it for years so it needed going through. Some of it was donated, some relocated and some was just garbaged. Now I have an empty tote and things put in some more logical places. My never ending quest to get things organized. It feels so good to keep working at it. Its when I totally give up I will really feel I have a problem.

I am starting to get the itch to decorate for Christmas and that is always a good sign. Its a lot of work but I love all the Christmas things. I have one or two Christmas decorations so I do like to get them out. Since I will be here for Christmas I will want to have it all out. I even have a new big tree this year that I can decorate without having to crawl up on chairs.

Toodles
Linda