Christmas and Craft Room Updates

Sunday we decorated the Christmas tree and I believe it looks lovely. Dennis also baked his traditional chocolate chip cookies for Christmas and his signature carrot cake. The cookies made it to the freezer, but we've been nibbling on the cake.

Monday we bought some new furniture for the craft room that we found on Craig's List. We drove to Pacific Beach to look at a very large curio cabinet, like a china cabinet but all glass. Next we went to IKEA to buy another large bookcase with canvas baskets to store my yarn (too much yarn). Finally, we went to Del Cerro where a man was selling two glass cabinets which will be perfect to display my jewelry. We put deposits on all the items and now Dennis has to figure out how to move them to the ranch and up to the second floor of the garage!

Dated Ornaments

It took a couple of hours, but I organized in order all of the ornaments we've collected since we first started dating in 1977. This year there will be 36 ... we need another mantle.

Here are all the boxes in order

Here are the ornaments on the mantle. 

New Tree

Last year I bought a new Christmas tree (not a real one). It's been in the container until now when we need to put it up for Christmas. Dennis tackled it today and there was much tearing of hair and strong words. He finally got it up and it is lovely. We will finish decorating it tomorrow.

Little Bug

For the last couple of weeks we've had kitten sightings. First he was hiding under a pile of stuff we'd taken out of the container and piled in the carport under a tarp waiting for transfer to the new garage. Our Ivan started going there, too; he was probably making friends with the kitten. Then the kitten started coming to the breezeway we think seeking comfort from the other cats and looking for food. We heard him meowing but couldn't catch him--he's fast! He's coming closer all the time, but whenever he hears us, he dashes away. I've put food in a cat box for him and he's been eating. I don't know if we will ever catch him. Poor little thing. He looks a little like Bug, so we've been calling him Little Bug.

Calif. Bank Party

Thursday, Dec. 5, Dennis & I went to the annual Christmas Party hosted by our business bank. Last year they didn't have a party and this year it was bigger than ever. Over 200 people and a lot of great food. I guess the economy is getting better.

Packing, moving, unpacking, packing, moving, unpacking

Over the weekend, I spent my time unpacking the boxes that were brought up into the craft room. I put away all the books and some of the office supplies. Monday-Wednesday I continued to move (with help) and unpack the yarn I had in the storeroom by the house and organize the yarn into the new IKEA shelves and baskets in the craft room.

On Thursday, Vivian and I brought Christmas into the house and finished most of the decorating. I emptied the bookshelves of books and sent them up to the craft room. Then I was able to put my Christmas things on the shelves. I felt a great relief that I was able to move the decor I have up most of the year and put it on the empty shelves in my two now empty rooms in the house. After Christmas, I will have empty bookcase shelves to display the glassware I make. It is good to have space!

Movie Tuesday

Surprisingly, we all enjoyed this week's movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the 2nd movie in the series. Dennis & I saw the first one and liked it too. Will we never grow up? Even though Mom didn't see the 1st one, she enjoyed the 2nd one anyway.