Enjoying the Season

I really enjoy making nice bows. In years past, I would make a sack full and then use them as needed. This year, I just made them as I wrapped. Lest you think ALL of my gifts look like this---they don't. The gifts for immediate family don't have any bows. Everything is just wrapped and piled under the tree.

 I had time on my hands last week, so decided to take myself to this antique mall. This is probably the best place in Nashville for reasonable prices. I'd forgotten all about it until Nancy reminded me.

This is the first time in three years that we've hauled "Nutty" around. He weighs about a hundred pounds and it takes 2 or 3 of us.

Three years ago, as Stephanie, Mindy and I were hauling him back to the garage, Mindy quipped, "I guess this makes us "The Nutty Processors!" (For those of you too young---it's a take on an old Jerry Lewis film called "The Nutty Professor." She always entertains!

The neighbor's cat visits every day and likes to sit here. You might think that this would freak me out. But just the opposite. I'm more than happy to provide "muffy, or fluffy" (Butch and I can't agree on our name for her/him) with a soft sunny spot. He/she has taken care of our squirrel problem! In fact, I've left this cushion out just for him/her. I've put the others away for the season. Of course, I really couldn't let it in the house, now could I?

I wanted to take an outside picture of our tree at night. It's kind of hard to see because of the plantation shutters. I'm going to try the one in the family room. It has colored lights, so it will probably show up better.

I found this 1950's Christmas tablecloth at the antique mall. It's going to be perfect as an overlay for our Christmas dinner. I never worry about sizes any more. I just layer them.

 I can never pass up old shelves. This one was $18.00. Nancy has some of the old bulbs in a mason jar, so I couldn't pass them up. I have ideas for the little Christmas Jello molds---for next year. I was really excited to find the old math flash cards. This year's AYM theme is "By the Numbers." I'm sure they'll come in handy. And then I just had to have the box of old brown threads. I love putting them in my class kits.

 This was my favorite find. A child's sweeper---and in PINK! Now, do I keep it, or pass it to my favorite sister? Wait, I better say "ONE" of my favorite sisters. After all, I have four! But only one shares my passion for pink!

 Here's the dilemma---I'm the Queen! What would the Queen do??

 I've never taken pictures outside at Christmas. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. Fireworks never do for me. I also like how you can see the blue porch ceilings. Barely, but still...

 This one is from the street. Looks like we need to have more lights on the right and left.

 I put up this little tree in the sunroom. It's really pretty chilly in there during the winter. It's a heated room, but with windows on three sides, it's just cold. Still, from the family room, you can see in to the room, so I decided to make it a little more festive.

 Can you see what's wrong with this picture. It caused me a FTS moment---actually more than a moment---a half hour.

And here too. I could not find the plug where you would replace those little fuses. So then, I got the bright idea that I would just start trying the little bulbs. Of course, I did not have the exact ones. After undoing the wires from the bulbs to replace the little sockets, and not being able to find the spot that I took it out of, it dawned on me that the whole strand doesn't go out any more when one bulb goes out. I finally just gave up.When it's time to take it down, I'll plug them in then and throw away the bad ones. The hassle we go to for a month of festivity! Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it. But then, the kids---and I mean the big ones too---have certain expectations of what grammy and grandpa's house should look like at Christmas. Can't go disappointing them.

I hope all of your Christmas plans are progressing nicely. Try not to let yourself get too stressed.

The Lapps family arrives tomorrow and the craziness (but totally fun) begins. I'll try to work in a post here or there.