BRRRRrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

Oh my heck, it's -12 degrees here! DH assures me that this is a "FREAK" occurrence in our area but I'm not taking much comfort in that. LOL. And neither is Fritz, the poor little guy. He doesn't even want to go out and do his business - but who can blame him. I know I'm avoiding it like the plague!



I'm really trying to muster up the nerve to go out today. I have some shopping to do and I need to get some goodies mailed off to my niece and nephew. I'm playing Santa this year because my DB has fallen on hard times. I wrote each of them a letter from Santa assuring them that he was still coming to visit them. I found the most darling images of stamps online, printed them out, cut them to size, and popped their letters into the envelopes.



Anyway, being able to shop for them and help to make Christmas this year full of good memories for them has done a WORLD of good for me too. Over the past few years I pretty much stopped shopping for everyone except Mathew. And sad but true I started sending gift certificates. Don't get me wrong - I loved to shop and wrap but I just hated having to take 1/3 of what I had to spend on someone and give it to the Post Office to get it there. And even though I AM mailing BOXES this year, I'm sending them FedEx. It's less expensive, it's quicker, and chances are better that it will get there UNDAMAGED!!!!

As for what's happening around here......



We did manage to get the tree up.....FINALLY! And the house is as decorated as it's going to get. I don't know how many years now that I've been telling myself that NEXT YEAR I'll get an earlier start. And who knows, maybe next near we really will be settled in and might have some of the boxes downstairs gone through so that we can actually find the things that we want to put out. LOL.

This year we did manage to get.... most of the Santas and Nut Crackers out,



and some of the angels. The stockings are hung and waiting,



and the dining room is ready for dinner guests.



Now all we can do around here is wait for Santa! Luckily we have Ms. Moo and the Micekins to keep us company.



It's actually been nice to take a more stress-free approach to Christmas this year. We didn't send any Christmas cards out but do plan to put together an "after the holidays" newsletter. Maybe everyone will be ready by THEN to take the time to read it.

It's also been really nice to have some extra time with friends and to participate in our community. We just wrapped up collections for a local food drive and Saturday is delivery day. We are meeting early at the Elks where volunteers will load our cars up and then we'll be off to make our deliveries to Longmont residences. I'll also including a stop at our local animal shelter. Furbabies get hungry too, you know!!!!

Well, the sun is out and I really need to try and get Fritz to venture out there. Until Next time...Happy Needling!!!