At this point in the game, our house is about as holiday ready as it ever will be.  I've been sharing bits and pieces on flickr, usually my photo of the day, but I thought it would be nice to pull it all together here.

I usually try to do one new project a year, but I didn't have it in me this year.  I pulled out all our regular stuff, our favorites, and many projects I completed in the last few years, like the button wreath above and the felt stockings below.  Just as in years past, we are having a candy-colored Christmas.

  
 
 
 

I wanted to incorporate some poinsettias and paper-whites, but I never got around to it.  I did plant an amaryllis bulb, but it is off to a slow start.

Even though most of the things I used this year aren't new, I did try to use them in different places.  I like to change things up to keep it interesting.  I think we've had our tree in a different spot every year that we've lived here.  We should have thought this year's placement through a little better - the tree is directly in line with the hallway where the kids' bedrooms are.  All they have to do is pop their head out their door to get a full view.  Santa will have to be extra sneaky this year!!

I love filling bowls with glass balls.  These are special because they came from my Grandmother.  Not all these balls are the old painted glittered type, just the ones on top.  This bowl is up high for a reason, though we've already has one casualty.

Come to think of it, we've had lots of casualties this year, due mostly to a 3 yr old and a little dog.  When the tree first went up, we were losing about 3 ornaments a day.  Ruby thinks the tree is yummy.  Now the only ones we're losing are the plastic balls that the 3 yr old keeps throwing on the floor for the dog to chase.  They're a team, I tell ya.

I wanted to do more in my kitchen/dining area, but all I got around to was the wire tree on the table.  After the first of the year this space is getting re-vamped, so next year it will be ready.

This post may be it for me until after Christmas.  If I don't pop back on here before then, have a very Merry Christmas! 

 
**I started this post on Friday, but somehow it never got published.  Instead of trashing it, I decided to go ahead and add to it.

It's kind of hard NOT to be random right about now, don't you think?  Even though I've tried really hard to take the stress out of the holiday and keep things low key, I still feel like my mind is going in a million different directions.  In an attempt to get some of these things out of my mind, I decided that a post in bullet points was in order (i love bullet points).

• I'm happy that today is Friday and the sun is we've had 3 beautiful days of sunshine.  Bright, beautiful sun, I've missed you so!  Lack of sunshine on these short days is the pits!
• Friday night was Matt's work party.  Honestly, the last thing I felt like doing on a Friday night was going to a party. I prefer to spend my Friday evenings in stretchy pants with take out dinner, a glass of wine, my knitting and some TV watching.  I'm sure once I get there I'll have fun...I sure hope the food is good.  We went, and I'm glad we did because we did have fun.
• Finding Martha Stewart craft kits at Big Lots for $2 was a score.  There will be lots of felt flower accessories and pom-pom animals in my future.  Okay, maybe that wasn't such a deal - those pom-pom animals aren't too easy to make, but the flowers are great.
• I'm a little bummed that my tea leaves cardigan is too big.  I didn't check my gauge (bad, i know).  I think I can fix it with blocking, I hope.  I planned to wear this as more of a jacket anyway, so it shouldn't be that big of a deal.  I'm still mad at myself for a stupid mistake.  After much thinking about this, I've decided to rip it out.  I'm over it now and have already cast on for a new one.  That's all part of knitting.
• Why can't I find a 2 pack of decent paper towels that don't have stuff all over them?  I like plain white ones, not paper towels with christmas trees or spices, or some other cutesy kitchen theme.  Plain white, absorbent, strong, please?
• We finally got our family Christmas card photo taken.  I don't love it, but it's done.  I think the photo of just the kids looks better, but Matt wants us all to be in it.  Taking a family photo is infinitely more difficult than taking one of just the kids.
• I really want to bake some Christmas cookies, but having a broken oven is a problem.  It might work, or it might not.  I could always make small batches in my toaster oven if I have to, but I'm not sure if I want to make cookies that bad.  Maybe I should just make bourbon balls, which require no baking at all.
• I have the house all to myself right now.  It feels weird.  I should probably take this opportunity to seam up Matt's gift, wrap some of the kids' gifts, or finish the laundry.  Knowing myself, I'll probably do none of those things...a nap would be nice :-)

Okay, I'm sure I've bored you enough with my randomness.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and have a great week!!

 
I wanted to let you know that all the PDF patterns in my shop are on sale for $5 each for the remainder of 2009.  If you've ever thought about trying out one of my patterns, now is the time!  I only wish that I had thought about offering this sooner.  I've also marked down the two bags that are left. 

Happy Sewing!!