So I got my way with the tree. I told Sean I have been holding off on the pink and white lights until I thought he’d be away at college and I could do something other than multi-color lights. I like the different colors, but I wanted a different background for my Victorian looking ornaments. Sean didn’t go away to college, not yet anyway. So the guys couldn’t get in touch with their feminine side at all this afternoon. I’d say there are more white than pink, though the hot pink dominates the middle of the tree. I put the pink flowers around the top for a ‘garden’ for the angel to rest in. I’ll post a photo tomorrow when everything is looking fine and dandy. I think I’ll skip the ornaments today as I am bushed. Still getting over this cold. My sinuses are getting irritated from the dusty boxes. We need to change kitty litter to that crystal stuff.
We are loving all the yummy Trader Joe stuff I purchased the other night. We just had the herbed turkey lunchmeat and ginger/sesame chips for lunch. Sean piled into the 5 layer taco dip and taco chips.
So things are slowly getting finished. At least the upstairs-the basement is scary!

Care for a seat?

The trees look like they’ve been painted partly white.

Yet another thing that wasn’t stored away for the winter. Don’t the cherubs look cold?
Moon windchime against the shadowed snow.

Have you done any charity stitching, been in one, or would like to organize one?
My middle name should be ‘charity’ instead of Carol! LOL
The main org I stitch for-and I have stitched at least 30+ squares is ‘Love Quilts’. Then I have done stitching for ‘Cole’s Quilts’ and ‘Operation Teddy Bear’ plus a MSN Cross Stitch group. I am signed up to stitch for OECS (for older folks in nursing homes over in England), and I plan to do a few squares for them shortly as I have deadlines looming for LQs.
Charity stitching for kids is great. I love seeing photos of the sick kids with the finished quilts wrapped snugly around them. I stitch some things for family and friends (and they have to be really unusual), but I think giving away what you stitch to strangers takes commitment and love for your craft-well it takes it to a different level.

So I’m kinda tired in a good way. I feel like I accomplished a few things-checked them off the ‘to-do’ list.
First I got to my mom’s about 2. I was running late. The post office wasn’t too bad, though the two women in front of me weren’t prepared at all-the workers were boxing and taping their items. Totally unfair. I want to tell Barbara CL that I sent her a ‘surprise’ in the mail today. It’s in appreciation of our love for cross stitching and it’s nice to have a new friend like you. Thanks dear. I hope you like it.
Sean came from class and we went to the Kindy Christmas place-total bomb (expensive) except for their lights which they are known for. I got some pink ones-my guys are gonna love me this year and mom got gold lights. I think mine were $2.39 for 50 (I got two packages).
Next stop- Goodwill. We unloaded about 6 bags of stuff. I thank the man who dropped off at the same time so the worker didn’t know who gave him 30 pairs of shoes. I got rid of Jane Seymour’s pregnancy exercise book. Why I still had that is beyond me. We went into the store and they had tons of Christmas stuff. I look for the old things and got a little Santa salt shaker and some collectable ornaments from Hallmark. Sean got a nice American Eagle Outfitter sweater.
I decided to treat Mom and Sean to the Outback Steakhouse (no Ruby burger). Like Barbara (from her comment), I am not a big red meat eater, but I did get sirloin. Very good. I am glad mom liked her steak and she has some for tomorrow.
Fortunately, the American’s Best Eyewear store was a few stores down from the restaurant. I had to wait, but I am getting two pairs for about $100 less than what Sean’s cost from Lenscrafters (robbers). They are both Eddie Bauer. One pair is a rectangular tortoiseshell (my smart look) and the other are a goldish-green, the color is named ‘oyster’. Both have tinted lens. They’ll be ready next week. I thought I could get some for mom, but you need a prescription. Her frames are in terrible shape and they are new. I believe she sat on them.
We dropped by Macy’s to get the makeup I get from Estee Lauder every year. I don’t wear makeup around the house but never go out without it-too scary!
The last stop was Trader Joes. I love that store because of the variety. I wish we had one around here. I got some excellent goodies for tomorrow such as crumpets, layered taco dip, chocolate chip dippers, etc. I’ll make some eggplant parmigiana for dinner.
It was nice for Sean to be able to follow me home. My brakes have been grinding a bit. I still have some shopping to do. I actually got a list from Brian-I put him on the spot and made him write one out. I’ll be ordering a few things online.
Watch for snow photos tomorrow!

I’m off to my mom’s before the ‘big storm’ that is suppose to blow through tonight. Sean heard it was suppose to be more of an ice storm. Oh great! You don’t know how many times I landed on my butt because of slipping on ice.
I don’t know if I am looking at eyeglass frames today. There is a new Christmas outlet store that opened near mom. They just opened several locations in the Philly area when there use to be just the one in South Philly. The Kindy’s ads are so short and funny, but they make you want to check out the super bright lights, etc.
I also have some bags (shoes and Sean’s old clothes that aren’t probably that old) to drop off at the Goodwill and we will probably look around in there too.
I am craving a Ruby’s Diner burger, so maybe Sean can come over after class and we can eat there for dinner.
Don’t know if we will get the Comcast broadband tomorrow because of the weather as it’s a late afternoon set up. Crossing fingers.

I mentioned earlier that I had to report a seller to eBay as I never received my item. When I got on the computer this morning, I saw a resolution email letter from paypal. The seller had refunded me my money. I was glad, but sad too. Seems like I was being lied to big time. I looked at her auctions and she had relisted my item! So I had to leave her negative feedback. For two weeks she lead me on and then she hadn’t even sent it. You don’t lie to a seasoned eBayer like me. Now I have to look for another gift for my mom.

It takes a little thing like finding an old letter to set me straight. I am sure you could tell by my previous post that I am feeling stressed by the looming holiday. I sat on the floor in the living to go through some of Sean’s old school papers (from 6th grade and up!) that I need to move. They’ve been in a big green box for too long in the living room (nice decor). I am not lazy. Around the time those papers started to accumulate, I was suffering from the ill effects of Lyme Disease. I am still not 100%. I have other issues, but I try to do the best I can with little help from the guys here. So I saw the folded up note among the algebra and school papers with penciled printing and I opened it and caught my breath. It was from an old friend who really turned into more of an acquaintance over the years. Sandy hand wrote all her notes every year to me so I could catch up on what was going on with her family. What touched me was the part that said ‘life is wonderful’. It was 1999, Sandy was 39 and had less than 4 years to live. I don’t know what cancer took this sweet woman, but she is still touching me through her words today. I just sent off a card to her family yesterday. I had to continue to do that, for them and in memory of her.
I feel better now.

I am not kidding. I had a horrific experience when I went to look for pink ribbon. Now I knew Brian had the ‘bright’ idea of storing the Christmas tree on a shelf in the basement-the long way (wouldn’t it make sense to store a rectangular box upright?). So everything that was on the shelf got put on other stuff that was already sitting on the floor. I had a bird and a half tonight. I’m not talking to you know who.
Today Brian stayed home because he didn’t feel well. He’s got the post nasal drip and a cough. He had himself all set to go the doctor (he made an appt!), and I told him to try one of the new cough medicines that each of us bought separately yesterday. So he cancelled the appt and saved us the co-pay. I gave him the run-down: Do you have a fever? Did you cough all night? Are you bringing anything up? (hope you aren’t eating). No to all. I told him he has to take the medicine faithfully which he hasn’t been doing.
I also have to clean around the computer. What a mess. Books and papers everywhere. Brian had a whole trash can full of papers just sitting next to his chair. Earlier I was adding books to the bookcase and stacking by category on the floor. I can’t take all the dust, so I threw in the towel for the night.
I had to report a seller to paypal as I never received my item from them. I won something for my mom on the 19th of Nov. and paid for it the next day. The seller made me add $2 for using paypal. I never do that to my bidders. Then she said she’d send it out the next day. So to make a long story short, I am still waiting. I am also out $26 as she charged $8 for shipping a rather light item. I thought I’d give a new seller a whirl and now this. It’s now up to paypal to help me as that is who eBay referred me to. eBay owns paypal anyway. Wish me luck.
I have the fireplace mantel almost decorated. I have to go and organize the stuff that is falling out of the bags and boxes (that’s what is bugging me and not being able to reach the shelf). I have to wear a dust mask to work down there too.

Need I say more? Carter Oosterhouse is a carpenter (thinking kitchen) and all around nice guy (Three Wishes tv show with Amy Grant) and he’s so cute! He’s wearing a John Deere hat (my gr, gr, gr uncle-you knew that right?) And I could be his somewhat older sister! ; )