Merry Christmas

From our house to yours . . . .

Christmas Goodies

My sister Barb has a few of her 2013 Christmas creations left for sale.  They are particularly cute this year -- look at the roly-poly Santa and snow girl! You can contact her at thimblefolk@comcast.net for her 2013 Christmas items, or visit her etsy shop: thimblefolk for other stuff.

Finally Feeling Festive

It snowed all day Saturday.  I baked Christmas cookies to send to family and did a little decorating.  We invited friends for dinner, so Pete smoked a pork shoulder for pulled pork sandwiches.  He was in and out of the house the whole day, tending his fire and adding cherry wood to the smoker.  He loved it. And it was really delicious.  I made a simple cole slaw with vinaigrette and homemade applesauce to go with it.  We all ate too much.  Our friends brought a big poinsettia, which has added much needed color to the kitchen on these drab days.  They also brought along their 11 week old French bulldog who is beyond adorable.  Cairo was beside himself, and was totally exhausted by little Teddy. 

It's snowing again today.  I am wrapping up packages and packing boxes to go to the Post Office.  I know its late, but I will never be the kind of person who has all the presents bought and wrapped before Halloween.   I ordered something just this morning -- I am a big online shopper.  I don't do the crowds in the big box stores.  I'm knitting a pair of socks for my daughter, with yarn I bought on our trip to Rome a couple of years ago. I'm hoping I can finish them faster than the first pair I knit, which took me about 6 months!

We've had a couple of invitations for New Year's, but we think we will stay put.  It's nice to be at home with the Christmas lights sparkling, a good book, warm throw, and no demands from anyone.

Winter

Sunset on the Hudson

This is the hardest part of the year for me. The days are so short and the sun is rarely seen.  While everyone else waits for December 25, I wait for the 21st -- the darkest day of the year.  I know that on the 22nd, the sun will stay out a little longer, if only for a fraction of a second, and that makes me happy.

I have no Christmas spirit this year.  Our daughter is as far away as she can be and still be in the contiguous United States, Pete's very elderly parents (97 and almost 1,000 miles away from us) need help closing up the family home to move to assisted living, Barb and I had a grueling season of shows and I can't seem to get out from under the mess in my workspace.  I've had days of phone calls to return and appointments to go to -- vet, hair, dentist -- the yard still isn't cleaned up, and the pantry is bare.  I just can't see my way to dragging out Christmas decorations to put them up for a week or two and then take them down again.  I need an elf, or a vacation in the sun.

Scenes from the Holiday Bazaar

Tired

Day Two of the Holiday Bazaar.  We're beat, eating Chinese take out while watching Pitbulls and Parolees in our hotel room until it's time to sleep. I'm looking forward to life returning to normal on Monday.

We Did It!

We braved the morning fog and the anxiety that comes with a brand new show and got all set up by 3 o'clock!  This is our tiniest booth ever -- 5 feet by 10 feet -- with no wifi and no electricity.  Pete helped us build an arch across the from with PVC tubing.  We wrapped it in garland and battery operated Christmas lights, which were not turned on in this photo.  I'll try to get better photo with a real camera tomorrow.

We took a quick walk through our tent before heading home.  There's lots of white and glitter around this year.  There are two more tents that I hope to get a look in tomorrow.  I'll let you know if I find anything special.  Wish us luck!

And please send positive thoughts out to our friend Barbara who is dealing with some health issues.  We're thinking of you, kiddo.  Hope all went well today.

Only 24 More Days Until Christmas!

But who's counting?

Barb and I are madly working away in preparation for the Country Living Magazine Holiday Bazaar at the Lyndhurst Mansion next weekend.  It is the first time it is being held, so we just don;t know what to expect.  It's a little daunting, to see the least, but it is our lsat show of the year and it will be nice to and down after such a busy fall.  Please come to see us if you are in the Metropolitan New York area.