Early Christmas Preparations But Not Forgetting Thanksgiving

This is taken from the internet....I will post a picture of mine, when they are done.

This past week I started the holiday preparations at our house. I wanted to get the outside decorating done before it is so cold that my hands freeze. So, saying that, I went out and decorated the porch. It looks funny today with the fall wreath up and the Christmas decorations there too. I know that people will soon be decorating around the neighborhood. There are some who have already...just like me. The porch decorations required a little "rehab"...the garland that drapes on the railing was in need of new lights. I sat in the basement testing strings of lights till I was blue in the face. Don't you just hate doing the lights? Pretty soon, I just tossed them and opened up the new ones that I had bought earlier. The bows are done every year. They never store well and I always end up making new ones. We have a huge straw wreath that we have used every year. I tore it apart and redid it. Lots of lights on this too...I love the look of a wreath on the house with lights. I moved the fall wreath with the bittersweet over to the other side to make a place for this big one. After testing the lights, I turned them off and won't light them till after Thanksgiving. So glad that's done.

Then inside other projects were started. I decided to make the great grand kids sock monkeys. Rockford is the home of the sock monkey and I just thought they would like one. I've been working on these most every night. When I went to fill them with fiber fill...I didn't have any. I had bought some "snow" for my village and I thought that I could use that. It is so soft, but it has sparkles on it. So, here I am, sitting on the couch with this sparkly stuff all over me....and the floor and the couch. Molly is staying with us and It was a job keeping her out of it. I had to go potty, but couldn't get up because I would drag the stuff into the rest of the house. So, I had to wait. The bodies are stuffed and you would never know what is inside. Now I have to work on arms and the long tails. The most fun is dressing them. These guys are going to have a red knitted stocking cap, and maybe a knitted scarf. The faces usually have buttons for eyes, but I'll have to use felt, because the kids are babies. These are about to be finished... maybe tonight. Then I won't be in such a mess and can dress them next week.

I have some pieces of slate down on my work table. I'm going to start painting flowers on those for other gifts. I have some other ideas in this old head of mine....we'll see how much I get done.

You might think that I have forgotten Thanksgiving. Not so...it is very much on my mind. We have a lot to be thankful for this year. Our wonderful families, some of whom have gone through surgeries this year and all are doing well, we have two new babies in the family, everyone is working and able to support their families, we all have full cupboards, our neighbors who are so kind to us, our Church family, this beautiful fall that we are experiencing, our faith and trust in God, and last but not least....you wonderful people who take the time each day to read this blog and leave me comments. Maybe you don't leave a comment, but I know that you are there...keeping me going. This journal is something that I have to look forward to each day. Thanks for reading...

Balisha