My friend, Cindi, knitter extraordinaire

My friend, Cindi is the most amazing knitter and she made this gorgeous tea cozy for Christmas.

Isn't it fun?

Julie

A Little Christmas Peek

I was over at my friend, Cindi's place and her Mom, Rose is a decorator extraordinaire.  I wanted to share a few glimpses of her Christmas decorating...

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas,

Julie

A Real Christmas Tree

My artificial tree bought the farm last year....so I decided this year, for the first time in fifteen years, I was having a real tree.  I was so excited!  Like a kid at Christmas!  I bought a tree stand at Home Depot, strings of lights at Michael's and scoped out the trees for sale last week.  I decided to pick one up on Sunday.  Lo and behold, I woke up to snow on the ground.  Not much but enough to send a thrill up my spine; enough for the kids next door to try to build a snow man.  Yep, Christmas is definitely in the air.  I went through the usual struggle getting the tree in the house and set up in the stand.  Then I started on the lights, only to find that my first strand was defective.  So, a little disappointed but tomorrow will be tree trimming day.  Tonight I can only share the picture of the bare tree but I promise, it will be gorgeous and it smells so "walking in the woods".  A total delight for all the senses.

Julie

Lights in the Night

Outside Christmas lights are up!

Julie

And so it starts...

My first Christmas decor goes up.  I bought this curtain of snowflakes at Ikea last Monday (I'll have to show you the rest of my purchases - oh my)  and hung it in the dining room window.  It looks  gorgeous from the inside and out.  I plan on putting the outside lights up today.  It's going to be fairly warm here in southern Ontario so it's a perfect day for it.  But first, another batch of jam...

Julie

Christmas Commercials

One of my guilty pleasures this time of year is watching Christmas commercials.   I love those sweet ads that bring a tear to your eye.  My favourite one this year is the Canadian Tire commercial.  It is available on Youtube but in case you haven't seen it, here it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3uYruD84g

I love, love, love the song by Dan Griffin "Stars and Satellites" and my friend, Alex downloaded his CD from ITunes for me.  Here is the entire song...enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SytgcA2iuFk

Julie

Seeing Red....

I wanted to thank everyone for their support after my last post.  I shouldn't be feeling sorry for myself.  I'm really pretty lucky, especially to be living in Canada.  I may be off work sick but I have disability benefits and drug benefits through work and what they don't cover, the Ontario government does.  Unlike some people who have to face bankruptcy or losing their house when they get sick,  I'm alright financially and only have to worry about getting better.

This year, unlike last, I'm looking forward to Christmas.  I'm planning a party, homemade Christmas gifts, baking and gifts.  My thoughts are turning to red and gold.  Above is my Grandma's hobnail amber water pitcher with some discount carnations ($5, nice eh?).

This weekend I'm going to make chili sauce and jam to include in my homemade gift baskets.  Then next week, the Christmas decorating starts in earnest.  I'll keep you up to date.  Have a nice weekend.

Julie

AWOL

I have been absent without leave, without reason, without excuse.  I am struggling with my life right now.  I have been off work on sick leave for almost a year now.  And while I can completely accept my inability to work right now, it's hard to accept the accompanying feelings and questions.

I may not have been writing in my blogs but I have been writing.  More than ever.  Asking questions that I have been too afraid to ask and even finding answers for some of them.  My life is changing.  Decisions are going to have to be made.  Is this something I am going to share with the world through my blog?  Honestly I don't know yet.

Am I going to continue writing my blogs?  Yes, yes I am.  I didn't have an answer to that question until this very minute.

How is my blog (or blogs) going to change?  I don't have an answer for that one yet except to say that a change will be inevitable.  My life is changing and I've never been a "pretty" blogger.  I wish I was.  I want to be.  I want to take pretty set piece pictures and serve them to you wrapped up in a bow.  I love blogs like that.  I read blogs like that but I can't be a blog like that.

I hope you will continue to follow me and I will continue to share my life.  Maybe just the little things right now because bigger things require more time and thought.

Julie, Finn and Lucy