Countdowns

As of late, my life has been full of countdowns to various events or happenings.  Some appear to be approaching fast, some slow.

For instance, the first countdown is approaching fast and will be here in less than nine hours... our church's Christmas Cantata at 6:00 p.m. (Eastern).  What, no big deal you say!  Well usually it's not a big deal when I'm singing in it or even have a solo.  I read music which makes it a lot easier and not very stressful.  I also enjoy singing so it's fun.

Then why all the fuss?  Well, this year, I'm directing the cantata, yikes!  This is my first attempt at directing so I'm a tad nervous.  The choir is ready.  Me?  Let's hope I'm ready too!  (Say a prayer for me... I'd appreciate it!)

The next countdown... in six days my CountryBoy flies home, woohoo!  He's flying home to celebrate Christmas and to help finish packing up for our trip out west.

A big countdown after that... is Christmas in nine days!  Nine days, yikes!  I'm not ready.  Are you?  I still have a few handmade gifts to finish up and I still need to purchase a few more.  

Christmas Cactus

And in ten days, the day after Christmas, CountryBoy and I are pulling out and heading west driving the Jeep with two cats, a dog and towing a cargo trailer.  I'm REALLY not ready for that either.

LizzieBelle is ready.  See her checking every thing out?  And all the pink stuff?  For a change it's not mine, hahaha, that's Miss LizzieBelle's new bed, towel and warm jacket for life out west.  Spoiled much?  Naaahh!

So, needless to say, a lot's been going on around here... making gifts, selling chickens, choir practices, changing addresses, vet appointments, meeting with friends to say 'see ya out west sometime' rather than goodbye, purging for garage sales, packing, making lists of last minute stuff to pack, buying a cargo trailer, picking up cargo trailer 3 1/2 hours away, having a fence installed, etc.  My motto right now?  One day at a time!

Do you have any countdowns other than Christmas?

Till next time,

Activities Galore

It's been a flurry of activity here at the homestead since my last post.  Lots of stuff getting done and places to be.

First and foremost, we celebrated my Mom's 81st (I know I can tell you her age because she told the waitress at Cracker Barrel!) birthday yesterday!  Yay!  I am so thankful to the Lord for the health of my parents.  They have never 'acted their age' and they aren't about to start now *laugh*!  They both volunteer at the hospital and Dad plays golf at least once a week (he's 84!) along with puttering around the house.  I hope I'm able to do what all they do when I'm their age!

Red Christmas Cactus

Country Boy and I also picked up our second bathtub for our bathroom yesterday.  The first one was not going to work out so we returned it and had to order another one which came in over the weekend.

I've also been working on the song books for our church's Christmas Cantata this Sunday night.  We're singing Christmas carols while the children are acting out the song being sung.  It's going to be simple yet fantastic and meaningful!

Pink Christmas Cactus

I've addressed most of our Christmas cards.  I'm waiting for my labels to come in from Shutterfly that match the cards that I also ordered from them.  I'm actually waiting on the Postal Service to deliver them.  Today was the last day that they were expected to arrive yet they still didn't show up.  Apparently, they have up to ten business days to deliver them.  What's funny (well, not really) is that the cards were shipped AFTER the labels via UPS and I got them a week ago!  Go figure.  I'm just hoping the labels will get here soon!

Tonight we're heading to our Pastor's Annual Christmas Party at the parsonage.  He loves hosting this party for his congregation!

I only had a few minutes to work on the crochet dishcloth I started working on HERE.  I ended up ripping it out one more time since that post and started over.  It was going better but I think I'm going to rip it out one more time and try a different pattern.  I just can not figure out the bpdc (back post double crochet) stitch.  I mean, I understand the stitch, I just can't figure out exactly where the post is.  I've got the fpdc (front post double crochet) down because I can see the post but when I turn the piece to start another row, I can't tell where the post is to do the bpdc *sigh*.  I have another pattern in mind that utilizes all stitches that I was familiar with so I'm going to give that one a whirl.  I'll let you know how it goes!

My Christmas Cacti are doing great this year.  I re-potted them during the summer months when they were not in bloom so I ended up with some pink ones mixed in with the red ones!

12 more day till Christmas!  I hope you're almost ready!

Till next time,

Tis The Season

for

snow,

cold weather,

mulled cider,

shopping,

giving,

cantatas,

eggnog,

and

celebrating.

Pink Christmas Cactus

Living in Florida, there will be some cold days here and there but no snow.  Today, I broke a sweat while out and about doing my errands.  I do have Christmas Cacti, though, that are blooming to remind me that it is December and Christmas is around the corner!

I doubt I will drink any mulled cider this year even though it's good stuff!

Most of my shopping is done.  I have just a few more items to pick up and one more item to make.  The Christmas cards are ordered and on their way then I'll address and send them out.

Choosing the perfect gift can sometimes be stressful but giving them is so much fun.  I have a difficult time waiting until Christmas to give the gifts.  So, I wrap them right away and put them under the tree so that I won't be tempted to give them early!

Lots of Christmas cantatas are being presented by churches.  Go check one out.  Some are major productions while others are small but just as meaningful.  Our cantata is the week before Christmas.  Old-fashioned Christmas carols being sung to various scenes played out by the children and youth.  What is cuter and more simple than that?

I broke down today and bought some eggnog.  Yum!  I know there are lots of calories in eggnog but I don't care.  It's only out once a year so I'm going to enjoy it for the whole month of December!

I can't wait to celebrate the birth of Christ with my family! It's a great time of year.  Yes, it can be busy, hectic and stressful if you let it be.  I am choosing to keep it simple this year.  Simple decorations, simple gifts.  Don't let the busyness of the season take away from the joy and the true meaning of Christmas!  Enjoy the time spent with friends and family this Christmas season!

How 'bout you?  Are you ready for Christmas?

Till next time,

Who Stole The Past Three Days?

Was Saturday really the last day that I wrote a post?

Mercy, where has the time gone?  Somebody must've stolen it!

That reminds me of a funny story...

When Country Boy worked at a rather large corporation in the city, he lost his traveling coffee cup that he kept at work.  You know the ones with the handle and the lid?  He went on and on about how he could NOT believe that someone would steal his coffee cup!  This went on for months I tell ya!

Several months later, he went to one of his coworkers' desk to discuss a project and lo and behold there was a coffee cup that looked exactly like his sitting on top of the filing cabinet.   When he asked about it, the coworker said, "Yea, you left it here."   Ha!  It wasn't stolen after all!  (I'm glad I didn't see what that coffee looked like after sitting for several months... ew!)

The daughters and I still tease him to this day when he can't find something!  We say, "Somebody STOLE my (whatever it is he can't find)!"  Thankfully, my hubby just laughs!  He usually finds the item awhile later, heehee!  And no, I didn't hide it from him for those of you who are wondering!!!

Anyhoo...

It's been busy here at the homestead these past few days.  Christmas decorations have begun to spring up in the house, on the house and in the yard...

The above picture took me several years to finish.  It was so large that I worked on it off and on between other projects.  Unfortunately, this photo does not do it justice.  There is blending and gold filament throughout the stitching as well as white and gold beads.

... a few more presents have been purchased and a trip to Lowes was made culminating in a pit stop at the Hog Trough Golden Corral after hours of pondering and decision making.

White Christmas Cactus

We finally purchased a bath tub to replace the one Country Boy tore out a while ago.  I'm excited that I just may get my bathroom back in order before it gets cold down here.  I was not looking forward to traipsing across the cold house after showering in the guest bath!

Pink Christmas Cactus

Speaking of cold, it is NOT warming up today like it usually does.  Brrr!  I know, for many of you a day in the low 60's is pleasant!  But for us Floridians who are not having hot flashes yet.... it's cold!

On a different note, I am participating in a button swap with Nancy at A Rural Journal which sounds like fun!  I will be adding her button to my sidebar beginning tomorrow and will leave it there for the month.  If you would like to swap buttons with me, please let me know!

Till next time,