Happy Winter Solstice

So, the shortest day of the year! Shew we made it! It can only get better from here and we had quite a spectacular lunar eclipse last night.
My cards are out, a few packages are mailed, and I still have tons o presents to wrap.
Most important my Tim continued his 4.0! Four more classes down, and only 2 to go! Wahoooo!
We are looking forward to Christmas eve at Mom's and then hitting the road for some bonding in the truck and visiting points and people south for a week.
We still have tiny remnants of snow on the ground from our snow last week. Mostly I seem to have 2 ice skating rinks on the path to take the trash and recycling around. Nearly bought the farm last night, but had 2 cans to steady me!

Merry Christmas one and all. From here on in, the days are longer! Till that beloved day in June, the 21st, where night seems to never come and the air is warm and the living is outside.

A blustery winter Sunday

Only 3 whole weeks till Christmas and I am not even close to "ready". But what does "ready" really mean? I've not put up a tree. I've not pulled out the wrapping paper or card box, which are usually out in November...... I have purchased a few little gifts for a few family members. I've attempted a Christmas letter, but just am not in the Christmas spirit. Usually by now I am piles deep into cards and happily humming Christmas carols all day at home. But tons o work and Tim's school is first priority this year and I will take what ever comes with it as a blessing.
Perhaps I'll get out the creche set, that is easy and for sure emulates the true reason for the season! Perhaps I'll snap a photo of it too!

Books

Have read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society. Great book. Took me a bit to get in to it as it is all letters between folks. But good, and a good distraction from this eternal cough.

Will have been home from work 7 days with this one. a first in 20 years. Not like me to get so sick, but this too shall pass.

Am finally putting away the end of Christmas. I have a lovely little plate here I should see if anyone wants.....not my style at all. A Lena Liu circle of love plate, you can look it up on e-bay, which is where mine might be going.

Need to mail the last Christmas present to Eileen. Did not see her over the holidays.....and probably won't for a while. She lives about and hour north of here and I just don't get to her neck of the woods much. Love the post office!

now to put away that pesky tree of mine! :)

Christmas 2009

Mom's tree: ornaments no lights!

My tree: lights no ornaments! It is what it is!

Karen showing off one of Mom's many mini sweater ornaments for the Haywoods

Mom with her own home made scarf! She loves it!

The day has come and gone and all but the memories remain.
My sister Holly is 60. Mom, Kate and I got her good with our gift. That makes me happy.
Tim surprised me with 3 lovely gifts of gems. Two Aquamarine: a ring and necklace and an Emerald necklace too! He is a Gem of a man.
I love my little family sweaters Mom made for the whole family. Kate gave me the gift of Lowes....love the hardware! Holly does not understand that one! Holly sent yummy Washington State fruit, fresh from the tree! Pat gave me his wonderful candy and the gift of a day of yard work in the spring, a true gift from the heart, the gift of time.
Above are a few shots from the day.

Sunday already!

We have had a busy and long week here.

Yesterday most of the day it snowed. Tim and I stayed home, he has a cold/allergy and did not have it in him to drive to Delaware. Not a problem with me! I thought we'd stay home and I'd get the tree up. It is 1230 on Sunday and no tree up. But sitting here typing I have encouragement from my lack of doing.

I made my infamous waffles this morning for breakfast. Jesus wound up staying here last night as the roads were not in any shape to start a 2300 mile road trip to Phoenix and on to Los Moches, Mexico. So both Tim and Jesus were like little kids when I asked if they wanted waffles. Of course I obliged! I watched my Sunday morning show and now see all the snow melting....I'll open the curtains and get the tree up and start decorating.

We have our first ever artificial tress with lights pre strung. I convinced Tim it would be easier for him and cut down on the crisp tree and needles issue we have in January. I'll let you know what I think of the whole thing soon.

Otherwise all is the same here on Conover Drive. No cat, no dog, one wonderful husband, one very cluttered office, one clean house, one clothes closet that is in desperate need of cleaning, One cherry desk I need to sell on Craig's list.

But the Christmas cards are mailed. Yea! And I've made a list of what I still need to buy. Now to that tree and to start wrapping some of the gifts I need to mail.

Christmas cards

My weekend in a nutshell. I LOVE CHRISTMAS cards! I've done about 190. I am almost done, just the drebs, and the people I know have moved and I do not have their new address.

48 hours of Christmas music on the TV cable channel. Time for my own selection. I like my own Christmas music much better! Ever heard of the Roaches? They sing beautiful harmony and make Christmas songs rock.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Look for your card in the mail soon!