Finished the tree and everything else that I plan on doing. The tree seemed to eat ornaments. The tree never seemed to get 'full'. Every time I put one on, there seemed to be more room. I probably put on an extra 50% of ornaments and I probably could have put a lot more on. Tho I think it looks ok.

I ended up with 2 creches. The new big eyed cats on a shelf and my parents very expensive set in the wooden manger dad made on the floor sort of under the tree. Looking thru what I have, I have given away quite a few creches. Besides what I have out, I have 3 others - cherished teddies, calico kitties, and dreamcycles. I go for the cuteness factor.

Every year when I'm doing the decorating a couple of project come out to haunt me. One is a simple (sounding but not in reality) repair. My dad had made a tree out of broken glass. It is on velvet and in a frame. He had lights and it looked wondrous. The lights burnt out and could not be replaced. I tore all them out (they were glued in) but the holes he made are not the size of the lights I bought to replace the original. Haven't quite figured out what to do about it.

When I was teaching many years ago, I had a Jesse tree on my bulletin board every advent. The kids loved it. That was made out of paper and I left it at school when I quit teaching. I have wanted to make one for the house ever since (at least 20 years). I had this brilliant idea of using cds for the tree and to cross stitch the symbols to be added daily. I've had the cds for years but have never started the cross stitch. Actually found a booklet with some graphs for it but they didn't have all that I wanted and some were so basic I didn't like them. Might have to eventually rethink this and do something besides cross stitch.

Another project that I've wanted to do for christmas and have not started and probably will never do is a fancy tree skirt. I have three at the moment that I've made, a latch hook angel one, and a purple one and the blue reindeer with beads that I'm using now. But I've collected all (I think) of the MarBek cross stitch angels and would love to put as many of them on a tree skirt as possible. I think I have 25 charts. One of the problems with this idea is that they are large and very complicated with lots of metallic threads. I'd do them separately and sew them on something else but considering that I estimate that each one would take at least 2 -3 months of somewhat constant work. I don't see this happening anytime soon. And when I put that much effort into something, do I really want to put in on the floor. We will have another cat someday.

I put the tree up on Tuesday. What a difference from our last tree. This one is tall and not as wide and it has COLOR. Really missed colored lights. The last tree was my dad's and at the time we were in need of a tree, our former artifical tree had died and tried to take me with it (the stand collapsed and the tree fell over breaking a lot of ornaments and falling on me - we jury rigged it to use the rest of that season but knew we needed a new one the next year).

So I spent yesterday putting up decorations and starting to decorate the tree. I have way too much xmas stuff, imagine that. I never put it all out, change what I use each year as the mood hits me.

Of course there are a few things that make it out every year. One is a count down to christmas that I found and sewed many years ago. It has 24 cat angels, each playing a different musical instrument. The things that you put on the buttons (I used cat buttons) are pictures of the different instruments. Kind of fits my love of cats and music.

Other things that always come out are my xmas pocket dragons, I have all but one of them (missing year 2 or 3) but there are a couple that don't make it out since they are outdoor sports not IMO xmas. I have a large Annalee santa and Mrs Claus. I got them at an estate sale for less than one small new one would be. They didn't know what they had. I also have other biggish santas that I bring out.

I have a collection of angels and santas (both I try to cull every year but I still have a fair number). Some come out, some don't. Tho the millifiore angel is out every year. And since I bought a dragon santa last year, he will be out every year.

I also have a collection of nativity sets. One year I took all my cookbooks down in the kitchen and put up six different sets. Don't know how many are going up this year (haven't gotten that far - since they are the last thing I do) but I did buy a really cute cat set this summer so they will be out.

DH was watching me decorate the tree and asked how many ornaments I put on. Don't have a clue but it has to be in the 100's. Tho I have enough ornaments that don't make it on the tree each year to decorate at least one other big tree and maybe more. And I do try to get rid of ornaments yearly, tho every year some new ones find their way here.

Back in June when we went to Ohio to hear Ray (formly of Minstrel Woode) sing at a castle, he had 2 women performing with him. The guitarist sang a song that I really liked. I asked her the title and she said the Sea. Do you know how many songs are out there called the Sea? Tons. She told me that it was by Bridge Murphy. Couldn't find anyone named that. So figured I would never find the song recorded.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to music website I haven't been to for a while and there was an artist called Briege Murphy and she had a cd called "The Sea & Other Songs". Wow. It was the same song - there was a line in there that got me, "I'm just his woman, he won't stay home for me."

Got the cd a couple of days ago and listened to it once. The music and her voice seem to me a cross between Melanie and Dory Previn. Could it get better than that - don't think so. Have to listen to it more to make out all the words and decide which song I like the best but at first listen, it is a wondrous cd. She does have more which I just might have to buy sometime.

If we hadn't decided to go to Ohio to surprise and see Ray, I would have missed out on some very good music (both live and now this cd). Sometimes things do go right.

I started out yesterday doing all sorts of things that needed doing, getting the trash out for collection (we have a compactor and cleaning it isn't fun), unloading the car with all the stuff from the craft show (I left the display for DH to carry, they're not heavy but big and awkward). I got all the stuff unpacked and mostly put away. Put the stuff I had taken out of the containers back in. Started to tear down some boxes and other stuff just sitting in the basement (by that time it was too late for the recycle truck). I put away the parts for the small quilts I was going to do for xmas, maybe they'll get done this year maybe not but since no one knows that I was going to do them, they won't be missed. Then I started to sweep the floor both in my studio and the common area. After that I had planned on starting to rearrange my studio since it really isn't working. But I had to stop after only moving a couple of things.

I couldn't do anything else downstairs. I couldn't breathe. Came up and drank some water and just sat down. After a while I got up and used my inhaler. Didn't help much. Plus I developed a cough. Very annoying (both for me and DH). Used a cough spray I have that usually works, didn't much this time. Not sure what to do about it. Still have it this morning. But can't take anything until after we go and both of us have some blood work. I had to fast 14 hours, DH only 8 (but then he's diabetic so he needs to eat more often).

We have a few things that need to get done today. Hope that we can do them before the snow gets too bad - it's coming down pretty steady already altho they had said it wasn't supposed to start till noon.

The lawyer called yesterday, supposedly we have a court date this week but he's going to get it changed since we still haven't heard from the state about closure. Haven't heard from benefits about retiree medical, will give them a couple more days before I have DH call again.

This will be a busy week. Tomorrow we have nothing scheduled and listening to the weather, that is good. Thursday DH has an eye appointment. Friday is a wood show in Schaumburg. Saturday is Grayslake antique show. Sunday is Rummage a Rama in Milwaukee. And next Tuesday is doctor for both of us. Some time in there, I need to finish xmas shopping and put up the tree (maybe today or tomorrow). Don't usually put it up this early but with no cats in the house I can anytime I want without worry. Really miss the cat. The house is so empty.

Another long day, left at 9am got home around 10pm, tho this time we stopped for a fast food burger on the way home.

Rearranged the booth/display and it worked much better. Could see the stairs and the other vendors. An added plus, was I freed up a bench so when Tourdion came downstairs they had a place to sit and play out of the main 'traffic'.

Again the day started slow, very slow. It did pick up a little later in the day but then petered out real fast. I have the feeling that a lot of the lookers didn't make it downstairs. I know this for a fact for Saturday. One of the times we were upstairs listening to the music, I watched the people come in, go to the bake sale, look around that room and turn around and leave. I actually heard at least one person comment that they didn't think there was anything downstairs. I was too far away to say anything but someone else did.

Even so I did manage to sell two more quilts on Sunday. Another $20 panel, this one a batik cat. And the one I had done with cigarette flag felts. I had 20 of the felts that I bought at a flea market/antique show and I made a two sided throw out of them. DH helped sell that one by getting it down and opening it up for the women. I told them the history of cigarette felts - they really aren't felt, they're flannel but they are antiques since they were only given out between 1906 and 1916. I came down a little on the price but didn't really mind.

Had some comments on some of my quilts but no real interest in any pieced ones. Kind of disappointing. DH had lots of comments on the flutes but no real interest in buying.

Not sure if we will do this again. Haven't completely ruled it out - yet. But already know IF we do, that I need to have some smaller things - like ornaments - so that those that don't have a big budget can find something they can buy.

Don't know if it was the show or the drive or both, but we both were wiped when we got home. Went right to bed, so today we have to unload the car and do all the household chores that are normally done on Sunday night.

In one word - LONG! We left home about 7:30am and got home around 9:30pm. It was about 105 miles one way.

We got there before 10 and brought everything in and started to set up. Took longer than DH thought but about as long as I thought it would. I'm not completely happy with the setup, we're hidden behind the display unit and so can not see anyone coming down the stairs, might try to change that this morning.

Show opened at noon. Very few people walking thru. It stayed that way until late in the day when the candlelight walk was going on. But even then, not as many people as I would have thought. One of the other vendors said it was slower than in the past. Didn't seem as if anyone was doing well, except maybe the soap person. Saw a lot of soap going out. I did manage to sell 2 panel quilts but then I expected if I only sold one or two items for it to be them. They were cheap ($20), kind of country, and christmasy. They only had some hand quilting on them, no piecing, no real originality.

Tourdion was there the whole day, singing and playing. We went upstairs to listen to them a couple of times but both times they only did a few songs and then wanted a break. They said they'd come downstairs to play but never did. Kind of disappointing but...

I brought a hand quilting project along - one that has been ignored for over a year (the last time I worked on it was 'babysitting' MIL shortly before she died). It is over 200 hexagons, all music note fabric, that I'm making a totebag out of. Had only done a little over one row when I had stopped (15 in a row). Now I'm almost finished with row 4, should get a couple more done today.

Today's the day. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. But I'm taking it one step at a time. First I have to get us there and not having been there before makes that part all the more difficult. I have a printout from Google and we have a gps so that should help. But I don't know how long it's gonna take, I figure at least 2 hours probably more. I want to get on the road by 7:30, we'll see.

I think I'm as ready as I can be. Everything is priced (what a difficult job that was) and packed into bins for easy (?) carrying. The display unit and 2 of the bins are already in the car. The third bin will go in this morning. Didn't want DH's wood stuff sitting in the cold all night.

Besides the worry of my quilts not being good enough for anyone to buy, the lack of food at the venue is a little worrying. I'm not exactly sure what I should bring to nibble on. Heard we can go out for lunch but that won't keep me all day. Granted there is supposed to be a bake sale going on, but I don't do sweets often. DH does so he should be fine.

I have things I have to do and many more things I want to do in my quilt studio. BUT I hate going in it. I will find other things to do just so I don't go there. I think it has to do with the way I rearranged it awhile ago. It just doesn't work on so many levels.

I've promised myself that when I finish the one year old's carry around and maybe do the small quilts that I wanted to give for xmas (after I find all the fabrics, they should only take a day if that) I am going to redo the room again. Already told DH that I'm thinking of taking the cutting table out of my room and having it in the common area but that I am going to need at least one 4 foot light over it. I like having the cutting table close but there just isn't enough room. At the moment I can only use one side of the cutting table. I'd prefer to be able to use more.

I also have found myself watching a lot of tv lately. I don't normally do tv. Usually only Jeopardy in the evening with DH and maybe a craft show or two watched mostly in fast forward during the day. But lately I've been watching a lot of Clean House and some decorating shows. I don't know why. But it's got to stop. There is so much I want to do and can't do if I'm in front of the tv. Granted in the evening when DH is watching tv I do some handwork or read, I'm there to keep him company. Some of the programs I'm interested in but for the most part, they are more his interets.

The other day we were out shopping and my cell rang. It was SIL. It was the first of the month and the niece had paid rent and so BIL needed DH to sign the checks (they have a joint account for the house and each gets some of the rent money and the rest goes for taxes and insurance on the house). Since we were in Kenosha at the time, I offered that we would stop at their house on our way home. Absolutely not. They would rather make the trip across town than have us come to their house. Unless it is a family gathering that they know about ahead of time, they don't want us to come over. They have no problem coming here at the drop of a hat. Wonder why.

Sort of the same thing with my sister. She doesn't want anyone over unless she has plenty of time to clean first.

I don't really understand. Granted my house might not always be spotless but I usually figure if someone is coming over it's for us not for the house. If I know someone is coming, I'll do a lick and promise cleaning, but it they drop in so be it. Not that people do drop in but they could.

Even tho we've been married going on 37 years, DH has not done a lot of xmas shopping. Sure he's gotten stuff for me over the years, but doing the whole list is not something he is familiar with. I wanted to get some of the names on our list done yesterday so off we went. I'd say a lesson in futility but we actually got a few people done. Of course we drove all over kingdom come (Racine and Kenosha) and for the most part were heavily disappointed. One of the nieces told me what her daughter wants (toy). No clerk in any of the stores has heard of it and I couldn't find it online. Told her so and she told me it was at the stores. GRRRR!

I'm just grateful that our 'shopping' list is only 19 people instead of the close to 40 we used to have. DH's side of the family decided to draw names, so we have 2 names plus BIL and SIL instead of close to 20 like we used to. Still have everyone on my side and the kids keep having kids (one has 3 and another will have her second soon).

I sort of kind of like christmas, at least the decorations but the rest has been more of a chore than enjoyment. The verdict is still out on xmas music. I have a fair collection of it but seldom play any, usually only on xmas eve when we (DH, DD and me) are opening presents. Tho I've been going nontradional songwise, I like the novelty songs, especially Spike Jones (my folks had the record and that's what I grew up with).