Monthly Archives: December 2010

“Oh my goodness! I can’t believe Christmas is only a few days away!” It’s almost as common as hearing, “Merry Christmas!” around this time of year.  For my part, however, I’ve been in the holiday spirit ever since that all-nighter I pulled decorating our tree!  The house is filled with Christmas decorations, gifts, and holiday music, and with the constant stream of friends and family visiting from out of town, I feel like Christmas has been here forever!

I finally have a reprieve from constantly having people in my house, but in some ways it seems too quiet.  I got used to the constant hum of people in the living room!  I must also say that having my dad, sister and niece in town was the absolute highlight of the last few months.  My niece Sydney and Ellie Graye are old enough to play together now, and seem to have created some kind of secret bond. Aside from only a couple very “2-year-old” sharing issues, they were happy, content, and seldom apart from each other.

Uncle Colin's unfinished fireplace makes a great playground

Auntie Hannah and the girls having a tea party

Grandad was an instant hit with both the girls, and I loved watching Ellie as she showed off for him.  Aaah, grandads!

The day after my sister Hannah left, Jeffrey’s aunt Lois arrived.  So it was a quick bedding change, and back to hosting. Ellie adapted well, and Lois cemented the adoration of Ellie Graye by bringing along a princess dress, tiara, shoes, and a wand.  Ellie couldn’t have been more pleased — or looked cuter in her new dress-up clothes!

In the middle of Lois’ visit we had Ellie’s school program, a visit or two from Phyllis (she’s doing well and able to leave the nursing home for outings.  Radiation started this week), and just general busyness every where we looked. On Saturday night, however, I managed to sneek out with Jake and head to David and Wendy Eith’s Christmas party (Avdoo’s new trainers).  Wendy is apparently quite the collector of Christmas decor, because her whole house was Christmas!  I had to take a picture of her front entry way, because I LOVED the display of pinecones – I may just have to steal it next year.   I asked her what her inspiration was, and she said Anthropologie – she stole the idea straight from their window display! Love it!  I’ve got to start collecting pine cones so I’m ready for next year!

There are a couple of things I love and a couple of things I hate about myself.  Sometimes, like I’m sure it is with everyone, the two are one and the same.  So it is tonight.

I love that I’m able to take things that seem ordinary or plain, stare at them long enough, think about them long enough, and then wam-bam I come up with something fun and creative to do with them.  My childhood friend Lisa Garay is like that too.  I love that about her.

I’m not sure if she’d agree with me, but the reality about this whole “talent” is that I can never just do the ordinary or the expected.  I have to constantly invent new things, create new ways of presenting things, discover new combinations of things, find new uses for objects with well-defined purposes.  I beat myself up if I can’t come up with something that’s “uniquely me.”  I live by my motto of “taking whatever it is I have” – to the extreme!  This time, while I’ve stayed up far too late, I love what I came up with!

Last year, a tree had fallen and the wood was gorgeous.  I had Victor slice 1/4 inch pieces of the smaller branches, knowing that I’d one day find some odd use for them!  They’ve been sitting on my desk for ages now, and until today had found no new purpose.  As I stuffed stockings with all the tidbits I’ve picked up over the year, I started searching for letters to identify each stocking with its owners first initial.  I couldn’t find any stickers or die-cuts, but I did find a wood burning letter set that I had bought at Michael’s on clearance several years ago.  AHA!!!!!  Perfect! I drilled a small hole in the top of each slice of wood, then set to work burning a letter and some holly.  They may not be the most professional looking things, but I’m damn happy with them!  Woo hoo!

Now to come up with a menu for Christmas Eve.  Crap. Oh the joys of unstoppable creativity!

RANDOM PHOTOS OF THE DAY

What a great Uncle!