Well, it is about 12 days before Christmas, and everyone seems to be doing ok. Have had some dramas in the last few weeks but things have straightened out so Thank You God. We are not a family who celebrates Christmas on a high commercial level. I always made things for friends and relatives. Different kinds of Santas, holiday trivets, clothing, birdhouses, etc. Sometimes it seemed so expensive to send things up to New York for the family, would have been cheaper to purchase some small item, but that is how we have always done it. Last year I found a way to make decals of pictures and put them on ornaments. It was alot of fun, and they turned out pretty well. This year I fear I have some sort of craft-block and have not even thought of what I can make. And I need to send the gifts up by Thursday, so this tradition train looks like it is clearly off the track!
But we do have our appointment at Portrait Innovations for our grands yearly photo shoot. This year we have 5 grands, like herding cats, but I am sure it will go well. I am not picky, don't need a thousand different poses, and they wear one set of clothes. (Last year when we went there was a family who I swear had three different outfit choices, I swear they were at the studio for two hours! not many happy faces on those kids) That is part of our Christmas gift to our children, the outfits for the grands and pictures to send to all the families. I like to think it takes some of the stress out the holidays for them.
And I don't shop for our children-all eight of them. There have been some incidents in the past where the girls did not care for my fashion sense....mock turtlenecks...So now we write a check, if it goes for a cell phone bill or electric bill, that is ok with me. We just buy a few things for the grandkids. We never want to outperform Santa!
So the house is decorated and I thought I would have a little holiday luncheon for some women I know a little or know alot. No big Martha Stewart kind of thing, just a little get together where you don't have to show up with a present to exchange or wear some fancy outfit. I hand delivered (well, to the mailboxes, taped the invites to the boxes-ever fearful of breaking some federal law) about 28-30 invitations. Some women are people who I say "Hi" to on my walks or stop and chat for awhile, and I might not even know their names. We'll see how many rsvp. I think maybe 10 will be here, and we'll just low key it, no fancy china or food. My Christmas gift to myself. (Jim does not like to entertain too much)
Riley is doing very well. He seems to be back to his old self. I am bound and determined to put this cancer stuff out of my mind. Heck, it worked for me! And two of my grand dogs had their snip snips this week. Biscuit and Charlie are doing fine. Scarey knowing that we are 16 large in people in this family, and 13 large in dogs. We do our best in the rescue world, living the life of Riley....
PS Have safe and grace-full holidays!
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