How early is too early....

With Christmas upon us....only one month, one week, and five days to go! When is it too early to start decorating? At Wal-Mart they've had things out since before Halloween, but the day after it looked like the North Pole exploded and every Wal-Mart in the country was hit by the explosion! Isn't there a holiday between Halloween and Christmas....hmmmm...OH YEA, my birthday...no that doesn't count....AAAAAAHHHHHHH Thanksgiving. Seems retail America has almost forgotten that one!

Anyway, we are going to have Christmas at our oldest sons house this year and word through the grapevine is he is already starting to decorate. I honestly believe he is one of Santa's elves just left here to spread Christmas joy. The boy would have his house decorated 12 months a year if he could! He usually has a tree in almost every (if not every) room in his house and lights galore (power company loves him). Now while our entire family loves to decorate for the holidays, J REALLY decorates. His house looks like a miniature North Pole.

Now our other son, J too, decorates also, just not quite the explosion of his brother. But J and his wife, J (I know....all these J's) do a splendid job of decorating their yard! I do love to visit my sons at Christmas, I get to visit all my old Christmas items I've given away. I will say my boys make Clark Griswold look like an amateur!!!!!

Last year we weren't really in the spirit, but this year I think I am. So the day after Thanksgiving (that holiday that seems to have been lost) I will start decorating my home!! J and I have really scaled down in the past few years, guess we are just too old to put out too much! I just hope it stays warm enough to put up the outside lights!!!

Til next time...ho ho ho,

M

Things to do....

I've been thinking of all the things I have to do when I get home. It'll be getting very close to Christmas and my plate is getting fuller!!

The first thing I have to finish is Sara's quilt (ok, not for Sara, but for the baby). I just need to hand stitch the binding and send it off.

Then I need to get to work on those jammies for the grandkids!! This is something I started many years ago. For the past 13 years my grands have gotten jammies on Christmas Eve. When they were younger I cheated and bought them, but these days I make them. I'm not sure who loves it more, Grandma or them!!! I'm leaning toward Grandma! One year I made the mistake of cheating and buying jammie pants for T, he didn't say anything but I know his feelings were hurt.....never again!!!!!! They know every year that they are getting them but they still act surprised! Don't ya love grandkids.

If I have time I would love to start a couple special projects for the "big" kids. We'll see how my time goes. I also have some quick little things to do for the nieces and nephews...hopefully they will go quickly!!!

Then after the holidays I get to start planning not one but TWO baby quilts!!!!! My niece H is pregnant and she did tell me that I'll have to make another trick or treat bag because W won't want to share his next year! What a great way to tell me!!! Also, my hair dresser L is pregnant! So, that's my other baby quilt. Now I know H won't find out the sex, but I think L will. So, I'll have one either pink or blue and the other....well we'll see!!!

And somewhere along the way I need to finish the quilt for us! I've got it started, just need to finish it. Oh boy....my list just seems to be growing!!!!!!!

Til next time,
M

Where's Donald???

Tell me ....what has happened to Donald Duck? Here I am in Orlando...home to Disney World...and do ya think I can find anything with Donald on it...NO! Yea, the mouse is still out there, but it seems that all the other Disney characters you find are the new ones; the princesses, pirates, etc. What happened to the good old characters?? I for one am a Donald fan, forget the mouse for me....I want the duck. If I do find him on something, it has the whole gang on it; Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Daisy, and Donald.....I JUST WANT DONALD!!!!!!!

J and I even went to a Disney store, but alas...no Donald. It amazes me....where's my duck???

Oh well, good thing I have my embroidery machine at home....I can put Donald on anything I want.

Til next time,

M

More travels with Charlie.....

Y'know I must get me a "Charlie"!! I got me a J, now just need a Charlie!! Anyway....thought I would update our travels so far. We are basically spending the entire month of November in Florida...not bad huh!!! I've been a bit disappointed in the weather lately though. I thought Florida was all great temps and sunshine....not so! We've even had a couple days where we've had to wear long pants, but we are currently back to our shorts! Never thought I would see the day I was wearing shorts in November, I'm such a wuss!!

Since I've last blogged about our travels we've been in: Lake City, Jacksonville, St. Augustine (beautiful old town), Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, Titusville, and are currently in Orlando. The sights along the way are beautiful. The vegetation is gorgeous and the flowering plants are still flowering. We've driven up and down the coast and been on the beaches!! We even ate at Down the Hatch in Ponce Inlet (just for J). http://www.down-the-hatch-seafood.com/ He and his buddies ate there every night when they came to Daytona Beach for Bike Week in 94. He got the seafood platter (which I did get to try small bites) and I got the bacon cheeseburger! Now for those of you that REALLY know me you know the only fish I will eat is that of my dear daddy in law or my dear sister in law and her hubby (who makes the bestest hushpuppies). Yea I know, I'm weird!

I'll describe all of our adventures in more detail later, but for now gotta run!!

Til next time,

M