Say what???
The temperature is going to reach 62° tomorrow.
Remember my earlier comment this week that I was sure we would have a White Christmas? Hmmm. The temps during the last few days have been in the forties, so there’s already been some snow melt. But 62°? Yikes.
Dear Mother Nature: I would like you to leave at least a couple of inches of snow on the ground for Christmas. After all the shoveling and salting we have done, you owe us that, don’t you think? Thank you, your pal, Claudia.
Shopping is just about done here. I don’t think there will be any surprises, as we were both very specific about what we wanted. That happens more and more as we get older because we already have so much ‘stuff.’ And we have a very limited budget. Scout needs some presents from Mom and Dad and Santa; that will be taken care of today. I need to see just how much wrapping paper I have left from last year. And tape. A year or so ago, I ran out of tape and had to use blue painter’s tape on the presents. I hang my head in shame.
I wish I was one of those people who love to wrap gifts and make pretty bows. I’m not. I get very impatient with the wrapping process. I start out with high hopes but, after wrapping one present, I’m already tired of the whole thing. Sad, but true. All that effort and then it’s torn off immediately. Sort of how I feel about cooking – lots of time and effort and in ten minutes, it’s gone. And to add insult to injury, you have to clean everything up.
Yesterday, Don and I took a little trip to a neighboring town north of us. They have a funky little country store that I wanted to explore. The advertisement said they had model trains and dollhouses, among lots of other things. Well, the dollhouse section was pretty pathetic. Nothing for me there. But the train section was amazing. Don has been talking about model trains a lot lately. He’d really like to start in on that hobby. But it takes money and space (which we are sadly lacking.) Heck, I’d love to see him indulge in a fun hobby like that, especially since my dad had a wonderful HO train set up in our basement. I grew up with model trains.
So we looked and asked questions and Don bought a book about starting a model train collection. I had this idea that we could buy some plywood that would fit over the bed in the office/studio/guest room. He could build a little set up right on the plywood. And then we could remove it on the rare occasion that a guest stays the night.
Speaking of Don, I took some pictures of him the other day and this one is going to be his newest headshot:
Hello, handsome! (I’ve got a crush on this guy.)
Today’s Holiday Bokeh:
Judy gave me that little snow-globe-in-a-salt-shaker last year.
Upcoming dates to remember:
January 5, 2014: Scout’s 15th birthday (I see a party hat in her future.)
January 7, 2013: The Poisoner’s Handbook airs on PBS, starring, among others, Don Sparks.
And, if you’re interested, I posted a book review yesterday. Be sure to leave a comment if you’re interested in winning a copy of The Seduction of Miriam Cross.
Happy Saturday.
I too have all I need. I do love to wrap presents though. I tell everyone to bring their gifts to me and let me do all the wrapping. It’s more fun than the presents to me. Although I did little of it this year! It was a small Christmas since I am not working and the shop is barely making my rent payment. BTW, the vintage ornament is my favorite. Love, love, love!
You could say that the wooden angel ornament is vintage too, Bonnie. I’ve had it since I was in my twenties!!
We have had many a small Christmas, Bonnie. I understand. This year will be smallish.
Same weather here. MUD is what is now accumulating :)
I am almost done wrapping but we are the same. I get tired of it quickly and I also usually end up having wrapping chores for one or two of my sons. Yesterday 1 1/2 hours of wrapping stuff for his fiancee and as luck would have it a child’s birthday party on Saturday where I’d had the brilliant idea to get him a bunch of little gifts versus just one big one. What was I thinking! :) have a Merry Christmas! :)
Yes, rain today and tomorrow, abnormally high temps = no snow left on the ground for Christmas.
Good luck with you wrapping, Deb. Have a Merry Christmas!
I have used and reused gift bags as I am a terrible wrapped. Too much work. Love Don’s new haircut and picture. PLEASE remind us again of the Jan 7th show! Hoping for a few inches of snow from Mother Nature too. Just enough to be pretty. Small holiday plans here.
I will be sure to remind you again, Dottie.
J and I haven’t exchanged gifts for several Christmases. We have a lot of stuff! More than enough(understatement). We tend to pick up things as we need them. Last year we convinced ourselves we needed a Keurig. That was around Christmastime so we called it our gift to each other. We really enjoy the Keurig.
I am making a note about The Poisoner’s Handbook.
Wishing you, Don and Scout a very Merry Christmas!
Yes, we often give each other something we’ve fallen in love with for the house for our anniversary. This Christmas will be just a few things we’ve asked for. For the most part, they are practical.
First off…I can see why you have a crush on him! Hubby and I don’t exchange gifts…we really have enough, and tend to get things when we need them. I really hope all your snow doesn’t melt! That would be so u.n.f.a.i.r….after all your work! We are supposed to get a pretty significant snowfall tonight into tomorrow…here’s hoping! 62 degrees…isn’t that shorts weather? ;)
He’s very crush-worthy, Donna. 62 is sort of ridiculous, am I right?
You are so right, Claudia! You could almost have a picnic on your patio while you’re at it! ( if you do…take pics! ). ;)
Indeed, a very handsome husband! Don has those eyes that can tell a story without saying a word. Eyes that have lived a long time and have seen it all. The happy and the sad all there at the same time. And the acceptance of it all gives a smidgen more sadness than happiness coming through, but you must look hard to see it. And the 7th of January is on the calendar. I can’t wait!
His eyes are hazel and I really love them.
We are expecting 55 degrees today and 64 degrees tomorrow..and rain so I don’t think there will be much snow left here..My boyfriend always gives me money for Christmas as I love having some extra cash to go wondering the antique mall and find something that I love..something that I wouldn’t normally take the money and buy for myself..This is so much more fun to me!..I love those old indented Shiny Brite ornaments..As for Don..So handsome and a wonderful loving husband too..what a lucky lady you are Claudia..I can’t wait to watch the show!
We’re going to get rain tonight and tomorrow. Same thing. I think the snow will be gone.
I love to wrap gifts but had none to do this year. My kids just want cash so that’s easy. Love Dons new doo:).
I like his haircut a lot.
69 degrees with thunderstorms here today. Now very Christmas like. Love the photo of Don. Perfect head shot of your handsome husband. I have to confess that I hate wrapping gifts, too. I use twine so I don’t have to make pretty bows. Have a great weekend. xo Laura
I think I’ll use some of my baker’s twine this year, Laura. Thanks for the idea!
I feel the same about wrapping presents, Claudia. Every year I get all excited about the prospect. There’s so much paraphernalia out there now, gift wrapping is virtually an art form. The displays get more and more intoxicating with each passing year. So I carefully choose my paper, the design of which MUST have some kind of line or pattern that aids in cutting. I’m a bit “straight-line-challenged.” Then I coordinate my ribbon, bow and tissue colors. Sometimes I even buy pricey little package extras… pompoms, paper snowflakes etc. But it never fails. By the time I finish the first box, I’m bored and wish I could blink my eyes and have the entire project magically, perfectly finished. PS – new winter storm coming – so you Hudson Valley-ers may still get a white Christmas. But a little too soon to tell at this time. Could go rainy or snowy in your neck of the woods. What did Scoutie ask Santa to bring her?
I think it’s going to be rain here, Janet. At least, that’s what the forecast says.
Scoutie always wants food.
I also hate to wrap gifts. Love to buy them. But wrapping them is like some kind of punishment to me. I once presented a friend with a gift that I had wrapped, and she just couldnt help herself. She said, “You are undoubtedly the most heinous gift wrapper ever!”. She was really annoyed. She DID keep the gift, though. Every year I vow to do better…but just like you, one gift later I am back to ugly wrapping!
Oh, why be annoyed? It’s the gift that counts. I couldn’t care less how a gift is wrapped. It’s the thought and the time that is taken to wrap it that I find touching.
Hope you get your snow for Christmas Claudia. I had to brave the crowds to do some grocery shopping this morning and it was awful. I went to small stores because driving throught the parking lot of the big store in town almost caused me to have an anxiety attack. Yuck! It’s warm here today. Getting ready for Donavin’s big show tonight. Made cupcakes yesterday and bought cookies today. We hope to be able to put it on youtube. Enjoy your weekend. Don’s new photo is really good.
We were out in the crowds yesterday, Janie and it made me tired! The people, the traffic and the fluorescent lights are enough to send me right back home.
I love to wrap packages!!! I’ve always thought it would be fun to work at a big store that offers wrapping with a gift for the holiday season!! Don’s new photo is wonderful – you got a great shot!!
Bella is getting gifts for Christmas as well as Laynee and the twins. The big kids all pick out something and I just get it for them and let them have it then. I’m going to spend the next three days making doll clothes for Laynee’s new baby doll I got her. Fun!!
judy
I should have you come over and wrap my packages, Judy!
My grandmother used to make doll clothes for my dolls – I wish I still had them! Laynee will love them!
I agree about the weather! It’s the first day of Winter and it’s 72 degrees and is supposed to go up to 76. UGH!
Not very Christmasy, is it?
Many years ago when I was young, we called those “Bedroom eyes”
Very handsome, talented husband. Good job Claudia!
We here in Salt Lake have taken to sliding everywhere we go!
and still snowing and freezing as it hits the ground.
-Judy A-
Take care, Judy, stay safe and walk carefully!
I hope you still have snow for Christmas! 62 degrees! WOW! We are at 23 here with a prediction of 4-8 inches of snow over night I do believe that we will have a white Christmas! We had the
“gift” of about 4 inches yesterday. We are getting snow just about every other day. Windchills bring us to about 16 degrees now. But that is really a heat wave lately! :)
WOW! Party tiime for Scout! 15! I hope she didn’t hear you mention the party hat. We all know how much she likes those!!!
That is a great picture of Don! I bet he loved it also. Can he use that one in his career? It looks very professional to me. I love your skill with the camera.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year.
Yes, he will be using it for his headshot, Teresa. The other photo of Don that is on the sidebar was also taken by me and was his headshot for a long time. Merry Christmas, Teresa!
Great picture of Don, Claudia! They always say the best headshot is the one that makes you want to sit down and chat with the subject over a cup of coffee. And that you’ve done. I confess I LOVE to wrap. I’ve had people that didn’t unwrap their wedding present for a year because they didn’t want to destroy the wrapping. And when a famous (she shall remain anonymous) English actress was celebrating her 60th birthday in Houston where I was working, I had duplicated her ELizabethan costume from Antony and Cleopatra and built it around a really great bottle of wine. A year later when I asked her how she liked the wine, she told me she carried back on her lap on the flight back to London and it now was on her mantle in her flat. My late mother and I would compete in wrapping wars and we re-used the same ribbons and ornaments year after year, and when I was cleaning out her craft room this summer, I looked back over 40 years of our efforts. This year, except for my mentally disabled brother and his wife, we are just shopping for each other. And that usually consists of things we need, like shoes and socks as we have everything else we need. Can’t wait for Scout’s birthday. I hope she wears her party hat. Maybe if she sees mom or dad wearing one, she will be more willing!
She will be wearing her party hat, courtesy of her Aunt Tina!
I’m not at all surprised that you love to wrap presents. You are so creative! And clearly, your mom was too.
xoxo
Well, coming from someone as uber-creative as yourself, I’m flattered!
Great photos and I hope you get snow! Oh and that husband of yours is a hottie! I am putting the PBS show on my calendar!
hugs, Linda
I’ll tell him you said he’s a hottie! I’m hoping it doesn’t go to his head!
My hubby has a model train layout in our 3rd car garage. It keeps him outta trouble, sugar! I recommend it highly. You realize this is a LIFETIME endeavor. I doubt hubs will get it finished in his/our lifetime. Of course, he breaks from it occasionally but he’s out there at this moment doing something. It was model trains or motorcycles and since he’s had one accident and our son 2 pretty bad ones, it was trains instead of motorcycles.
JSYK, had this iMac into the Apple store in Boise this past week. Just kept shutting down on me. After phone support and 2 trips to the Apple store they figured it was either my HD going bad or kernel panics. It hasn’t been the same since I downloaded Maverick. Anyway, they were incredibly wonderful, sweet, knowledgeable and got it up and running. Had to delete a lot of stuff, start from scratch (Luckily I have an external HD!) with them taking off all my stuff and reloading Maverick. That HD saved my tush, trust me. Anyway, they said that Bloglovin’ showed being a problem on Maverick, so I took it off and now have to just google it to see the blogs I love. Take care and watch for it. A few other things were interfering also.
I think Don is truly very distinguished and I love the shorter hair. I’m not a woman who like facial hair either but he’s very handsome and cute. Cute matters most!!!
xoxo,
Connie
I have an external hard drive, Connie. Which reminds me, it’s time to back up my laptop!
As far as the model trains, we don’t have a garage or a basement…..so what to do? Where would it go?
I now see my typos but I’m not correcting them! Sigh….
C
I knit all of my gifts throughout the year – Aran sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves, etc. but wrapping them is not my strong point either. BTW, we are 71 degrees with thunderstorms approaching! Definitely not Christmas weather here!
I cannot wait to see Don’s PBS drama!
Oh yes, your adorable doll house has inspired me but since I have no place for one, I asked for Fairy Garden items. It should be fun.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I love Fairy Gardens, Shirley. Merry Christmas!
Tell Don I LOVE his haircut. He looks so handsome.
Mere
He does, doesn’t he?