Christmas update

Cards for my littlest ones.

I wanted to have all my cards made and mailed out by the 1st of December, but I was a few days late. I didn't get my cards mailed out until Friday the 4th. On that day I also went out with friends to Deseronto to a lovely tea house and  was treated to lunch by one of my best friends. I got a two tiered sandwich tray filled with finger sandwiches of cream cheese and dill, cucumber, and salmon, with an assortment of cherry tomatoes, cantaloupe, strawberries, chutneys and dried cranberries. It also came with a scone, strawberry preserves and clotted cream...very British and very delicious. I felt so spoiled. I did a little shopping in one of my favourite hardware stores, got up to the cash register to discover I'd left my wallet by the computer at home. Good thing my lunch was looked after. Extreme embarrassment. 

The following day (Saturday), I finished all of the hand-out cards that I will personally deliver to friends and neighbours. More friends picked me up for an early dinner in Napanee. I double checked to make sure my wallet was with me. *Laugh* We went to a British pub called the Loaf and Ale on the main street of downtown. At 5:30 the Santa Claus parade started. I love night-time parades. It was a very good parade and we ended the evening by driving to a local coffee house and drinking hot chocolate. 

Lights on the front porch

Sunday the 6th, I finally got my outdoor decorations up. I think they highlight the need for paint on all the wood and show off the fact that our house is in dire need of maintenance.  I didn't get around to it this summer like I wanted. I think a coating of new fallen snow would improve the look, but we are expecting a green Christmas this year. 

Dining room mantle piece

Dining room archway into living room

My beloved ceramic tree

Then yesterday, I cleaned my dining room (all but the dining room table. Ha) and hung up the lights and fake greenery. I put out my ceramic tree that used to belong to my mother-in-law and that always brings the fondest memories. I know it is old but it is precious to me. 

So it has begun. Today I will clean the living room and decorate. It is an all-day job. I pack up most decor items (including pictures on the walls) and replace them with Christmas or winter related items. I have collected some items to take away from the house, but most of them I will purge on January  6th as I remove the Christmas decorations. There isn't time right now to do a full purge. This is the Fall cleanup that I didn't get to. So what have I been doing with all my time that I have been MIA for most of the Fall? Well...some Christmas shopping  and mostly crafting. I have taken a few photos that I will show in January. I am also trying to balance the work with a few social outings with friends. We have done some travelling and my Sweetie Pie has had a few Doctors' visits. We had another "scare" this past month when it looked like he needed more vascular surgery. There will be more tests in February or March. My son's GF is preparing to give up her apartment after Christmas to come live here. They need to save every dime towards the tiny house build. So she has been purging her apartment to store her belongings in our basement and attic. I have a house full. That is another motivation for me to purge my own stuff come January. So I am off to clean the living room. Ta ta for now.