Christmas sleeping and Happy New Year

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

It seems every year after the holidays I disappearance a little.

I don’t really know why it happens? Maybe it started on Christmas itself.

I slept more then I have in months.

We had no where to go so no pressure there…..so I just went with it.

I could have slept all day if it wasn’t for needing to eat.

I know you might think I was going into some kind of post Christmas depression

but I just needed

to SLEEP!!!!

ahhh love that feeling of drowsiness just between consciousness and dreamland.

I’d been waiting a long time to have a day like that.

I have days now to reflect on how the season went, what I need to do better, what I did well ( pat on back)

there is always a bigger list of things I need to do better.

It may seem like a long time before Christmas comes back around again but

for many of us in this business it starts back again in the next few weeks and for me in a month when I go back to NYC for the gift show. I had wanted to travel to the Atlanta show this year but decided against it. Maybe when I can talk someone into traveling with me.

any takers?

I hadn’t planned on babbling so much………

sorry

see what happens when I get cabin fever.

I’ve been working on plant orders that I missed doing in the Fall. I don’t know how I did that?

Yes I do,

I forgot!!!! 

So now I’m paying the price of having to get them done now. It’s just after Christmas and thoughts and plans for Spring and

Christmas 2012 are on my mind.

It could be worse…..I love Spring, flowers, and Christmas so what am I complaining about?

I’m still not completely done decorating the house.

So if and when I am I’ll try to show more.

I noticed today that my lense is oh sooo dirty so I’m running to the store

after I post this to get some lense cleaner.

Probably should have taken a different angle of the tree without the chair in the way.

I love the way this tree came out with touches of blue.

It’s a nice change from what we usually do in this room….though there is not a stitch of blue in here.

I’ve had this seasons greeting swag from Sarah Lugg for years and decided to try it on the tree.

the seasons part is above : )

  

New Years Day is just around the corner.

I hope for you a wonderful New Year filled with joy

and promise of new beginnings.

Thank you for making 2011 such a great year!

hugs

Carole

In the details

I couldn't help myself.

I just love to take close ups.

I know many of you have told me that I don't take enough pictures of wider views of the shop.

Without even realizing it I was doing it again.

Just getting the little details.

In my defense I am still having focusing problems with my camera

so seeing things up close I seem to have better luck.

After the holidays I have to have it looked at.....

and I'm sure cleaned.

One of the sweetest little angels. So petite and the last one went 

out the other day.

Now why didn't I save one?  

I wish I had my own tree at home finished but alas I seem to be behind again

this year.

The plan is to finish one tonight.....

and to have some of that wonderful wine Adrienne gave us today.

Thank you Adrienne!

Oh and I also want to bake Christmas cookies....

And send Christmas cards..... I bought new ones this year...

does that count?

yeah, I didn't think so....

and go Caroling....

no not really I can't hold a tune.

But I like the whole idea of it....

and if I went I would want to dress in period clothing.

like those Byers Choice Carolers.

I want to sit around all day and make homemade Christmas decorations.....

like I used to have time for.



I want to do a lot during the Christmas season.

Just never enough time.

It seems to come so fast.

Christmas is only 6 days away.

and Santa will be here, so I have to be good...

for goodness sakes!!!!!

So I'll stop complaining and count my blessings....

of which you are one of.

Hugs to you my friends,

Linking up to my friend Kathleen's

White Wednesday at

Faded Charm

Day 12

I have had the best past few days. 

I've gotten to make so many new friends from this little

blog......some that came from as far as Massachusetts. I know compared to other states that could fit all of New England in only one section of their state that may not seem like much,

but to us "little staters" that's a big deal....well to me it is.

I so appreciate all the love you gave me.

Cindy was so cute......her hubby teases her that 

she shouldn't call me a "friend" since we had never met each other....

and never spoken or written.

She'd been a lurker reader since I first started blogging.

I am so honored that you find me in anyway interesting enough to want to 

call me a friend. 

I think as bloggers we only think fellow bloggers read our blogs. 

It's nice to know that we touch other people with our stories.


Yes we are most certainly friends!

I want to thank Laura too for doing such a great post on my little shop.

I know so many of you have wanted more photos. I guess I'm a little shy about that.

I can't really explain why? I'm working on it.

The last few days I've taken very few photos.....so these are just some random ones from this season.

At night I sometimes bring a work table to finish up projects. I do more in the morning if I have time. Then the big rush to clean everything up before we open.

Which reminds me I have couple of orders to finish before I leave tonight.

I was getting ready to leave last night and turning off the lights when this certain view of this glass ornaments hit my eye.

This smaller one could be viewed from this huge one in front of it.

It feels so special here at night.

A little bit magical just for me.

Like no one else gets to see it. 

Is that selfish? 

well not if I'm sharing it with you now.....right?

So many of you have asked about Bella. She's doing well though her and Charlotte still aren't buddies yet...probably never will be.

She's a hard one to take photos of but the other morning I found her loving up the deer with a broken antler. I think she was telling him that one of the elves would make him good as new soon.

Little Ronny and Cricket sleeping under the counter on my bags.

This is usually Crickets spot of choice but she's willing to share.

This might explain the cat hair on the bags.....oops.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

oh right forgot to mention....we're taking our Christmas trees home tonight.

yep our usual 2.

Can't wait!!!!!

Day 11

Happy Tuesday, oh right it's Wednesday!

Does it show that I don't plan out what I'm going to write?

Are the days until Christmas flying for you too?

I can't believe it's the 7th already.

I haven't bought one present yet!

I thought I owed you all more then just one photo a day.

so here's a couple....

I want to thank you for suggesting Pandora for my 

listening pleasure.

(I know Suzan you told me about it months ago)

Many of the songs and artists you suggested played automatically and I loved them.

I know we all have many things in common....

so I shouldn't be surprised.

It rained today all day so we goofed around a little playing songs....

.....so now I have to get back to work.

Did you know I'm part elf !

( now picture me dancing to Mariah Carey's

"All I want for Christmas" )

the greens will be flying tonight!

hugs

Carole

Day 10 music lovers wanted

Fa la la la.......

I've been thinking about my comment about Christmas music yesterday.

 I need a better selection of holiday music to listen to all day.

So I thought I'd ask YOU.

What do you like to listen too?

What gets your jingle bells jingling???

I'd love to know if you have a cd you particularly like.

I don't have an ipod, I don't burn cd's. no xm radio,

....I have no clue about that stuff....

I'm completely lost when it comes to things like that.

I feel lucky that I can turn a radio on or get a cd to play.

On another note.....going home earlier....

got caught up on things today!!!

yippy

Day 9?

Ok it's becoming a blur now.

My one photo a day challenge to myself hasn't gone as well as I had planned....

but for those of you that know me or ones that have read my blog for the past couple of years

know that I get swapped with work this time of year.

I'm here late tonight too.

This photo was taken on one of those late nights.

I actually like working at night with only a few twinkle lights around my work area.

It's the one time I get to take a break from Christmas music.

Don't get me wrong I like it, but hey I need a break now and then:)

Ok better get back to work.

Oh one more thing....

  

Go see Laura's post on Paula's house all decorated for Christmas.

HERE

a true Winter Wonderland

Have a good night!

Day 8

Well I was finally able to find my cable to upload my pics.

It was buried under a pile of papers. I even  had George look for it there and he said nope it’s not here.

Good thing I rechecked!

I started a post last night but started dozing off so this is all I

 managed to put together.

I’m running a little late this morning and

Laura  and Paula are stopping in today so I want everything to look extra purrrrdy!

Have a great day!

Day 7 cable me up

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Did you do a lot of shopping? 

Our weekend was a good start to the holidays. It was nice to see some of our regular customers....some we see throughout the year, some only 

during the Christmas season.

I wanted to download my photos tonight and when I went to find 

my usb cable it was no where to be found.

I was already with my camera battery finally charged and now no cable.

I think it might have fallen in the garbage next to my computer and now it's been emptied. 

I looked everywhere.

I checked online and they're not expensive but if I want it

to come before Christmas I need to pay more in shipping then 

the cable costs.

I'll have to decide.

and who knows? it might show up.

 Just like Bella did.

Ok well I have a few more things to do before I can go home.....

like get some JDL magazines ready to be shipped out tomorrow.

Have a good night!

Carole

Day 6 Wrapping it up!

I had to wrap a last minute Birthday present for a friend. 

 I almost forgot:) George had to remind me.

I didn't think of taking a picture of the actually present....shoot!

but then again I'm supposed to show restraint with only one photo a post.

I had fun wrapping it....can you tell?  I think I may have gone a bit overboard with

the embellishments......but that's the way I like getting presents.

There can be a rock in the box.....I don't care....it's all about the package and "fluff" for me.

I used  baby blue ribbon edged with little pompoms.

You can't really see it now ......(with all the stuff)

but there's a shiny silver ribbon wrapped around it.

Looks like diamonds on a spools.....adore it.

 My camera ran out of juice today and I forgot my charger at home so had to take this with my camera phone.

No editing...just SOOC.

I'm feeling lazy:)

I did take more pictures of the store today and used my tripod which I love using so I don't get so much jiggle.

The bad thing is my camera is still not auto focusing so we'll see how good a focuser I am.

Yeah I can't focus on anything these days,.....let alone a photo.

When I get my camera recharged I promise I'll post more photos of the shop and not just close ups. Lots of you have asked for more pics of the store. I might even break my one photo post rule???...

Thanks so much for all the great comments about

Bella.

She's adjusting well to being back home. Spending time in her usual spots around the shop.

I'll try to take a photo of her while she's on the ledge over looking the store.

I get such a kick out of seeing her up there during the day.

hugs,

Carole

Oh Joy! Day 5

How is your weekend going so far?

Ours went smoothly.....

ok a little hectic at times but nothing I couldn't handle

and please.....

no pepper spray incident.

My goodness what is wrong with some people?

( sorry that just popped into my head )

we'll see if I end up deleted that comment..haha

 

Anyways I was going to wait to talk about this but with my Joy sign

I thought it was a good lead in.

After months of wondering what happened to her

My Bella came back home today.

Yes 4 months of her disappearance she just showed up.

A little less plump but looking fine.

George had her in his arms and it was like seeing a ghost.

That can't be her I thought? but it was.

Somehow she managed to survive .....somewhere.

The stories she could tell if only she could talk.

Well needless to say we are doing the happy dance.

I think I bored all my customers with my Bella story today....

 thank goodness most of them are cat people so they

were happy for us. Many shared their stories of their babies that came back to them after they thought all hope was lost.

So that's my story for the day.

An early Christmas present.....it's all I need

 Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and thanks for praying for Bella.......I think it really helped!

Hugs,

Carole

Being Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

We are working today finishing up last minute details.

It's become tradition for us.

Which doesn't bother me anymore.

Really!

We're lucky to be able to be together....though

G on his set of duties, me on another

...he's at least in yelling distance.

It's a gorgeous warm sunny day. I'm in a short sleeve shirt working outside decorating wreaths. I'm in heaven!

(ok just looked at the weather channel and it says it's 48 degrees???

that can't be right?) feels like 70.

It's warm enough to have a picnic( I think).....which we might have!

I'm so thankful for so much.....too many to mention

but one I need to say is that I 

am so thankful for my blogging friends that give me

love and support. You make me laugh and make me cry as I read your heartfelt stories. 

It truly is a wondrous thing what goes on here on this computer.

A whole new world that has opened up. 

If you had said to me that I would make such wonderful friends with the most amazing talented and intelligent women through blogging I would have never believed it...

but here you are!

I am so blessed.

Thank you on this wonderful 

Thanksgiving Day,

Hugs,

Carole