Santa

Ok...enough said....

A Little Weaving....and a little Christmas

Ok....so first, I have actually finished a project to post.  It is a scarf woven with Malabrigo silky merino in lavender and variegated purples.  I have been spinning a lot lately and actually plied my first hank....I know, what's the big deal...apparently was for me.  I have been gathering yarn, but not as much knitting these days.  Must devise a project for holiday knitting.  So....here is a project and some Christmas...

Christmas at the Opryland Hotel

Ok....one of my favorite outings to kick off the Christmas season is a visit to the hotel for fu-fu coffee and decorations.  I have taken many a visitor there over the years and it never gets old.  Even the crowds are fine for that one stroll....like you're all part of something bigger (which of course we are,  but never really behave that way.)  These are a few photos taken through the years...enjoy!  Oh, and how about the flurries today...love it.  However, is there a way to get the beautiful flurries without the freezing temps?  Just wondering.

Tradition

Ok....although this seems a little off my self-imposed Christmas photo posts, it couldn't be more appropriate.  I will make the last Hospice drop for 2010 tomorrow and there are more items than usual....46 total.  It's the largest donation we've made and I'm so thankful to the women who have decided to go this path with me and so fortunate to know such women and call them friends.  We began this journey in March and as of Monday will have contributed 107 items with over 741 hours of work involved.  What a huge gift these women have given to families and patients over this year.  Do I know some cool chicks or what?  Here's to a great year of care and kindness and looking forward to continuing this great project in 2011.  Oh my God, it's almost 2011, eeeek!!!

Now for our regularly scheduled Christmas photos.  A smattering of photos of my Christmas dates with the girls....they're really too cute.  Note:  cookie decorating and crafting are staples of this tradition.

Each year since 1997 I host a very special little Christmas weekend at my home for two very special ladies.....Ashlyn and Sarah.  In the beginning, Sarah was just born and way too little, but by 3 she was in the party too.  Now (I can't believe it), Ashlyn is 18 and a freshmen in college and Sarah is 13 and cheerleading her little brains out.  Yes I feel old, but more than that, what a great gift I have received in the form of these wonderful young women.  So, this was the weekend.  We decorated the tree, ate pizza and blizzards (we were the only ones at Dairy Queen last night, but it had to be done), we've spun, painted and napped and we still have today to go.  I believe waffles and cookie making is on the agenda along with Harry Potter.  Thanks gals for every moment you share with me.....you are both priceless gifts every day of my life.

PS.....as I write this and peer out my window (yes, peer)....snow flakes (very little ones) are falling on Nashville....yippppeeee!!!

Christmas in New York

Ok....so today, I decided that I would show you some favorites, but in order to do that, I had to stroll down memory lane.  While working in New York, I was surprised come Christmas time (well, November) how many decorations were around.  Amazing!  Every store and corner decorated with lights and trees and ornaments....so beautiful.  Usually I made the pilgrimage to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and skaters, but this is such a small part of what is there.  The Saks building lit with snowflakes that dance to Carol of the Bells, the huge angels lining the promenade, the giant toy solders guarding all passersby.  It's truly something no one should miss.  However, I must warn that everyone for five boroughs and then some comes for the flip of the switch when the tree is lit.

One year, Noel and I decided that we wanted to go to Carnegie Deli for pastrami and cheesecake....seriously, who wouldn't.  The best, ever.  So off we went.  Just a few blocks west of the hotel on Broadway...no problem.  As we cross Rock Center, we realize that the lighting will soon occur...oh, how nice.  How beautiful and won't that be a great thing to see on the way back.  Somehow, we timed it so that our walk back (only a few blocks east now) was at the same time everyone was leaving the event.  I have never been in a crowd so thick in my life.  And to top it off, the streets were block going east to let the people out.  I guess west was the way out.  So, I grabbed a hold of Noel's jacket (lest we should get separated) and downtown we went....6 blocks, 7 blocks, who knows...a long way, then across and back up.  We finally did get back to the hotel, with our dinners worked off, and smiles on our faces.  Nothing says Christmas in New York like a walk through the streets, lit up and crowed. 

So here you go, Christmas in New York.  Enjoy!

PS.....the girls and I decorated the tree today...what fun!!!

Frasier Fir and Pine Cones

OK......so December 3rd....picked up the tree today in preparation for the decorating tomorrow.  Seriously, in preparation for the decorating...did I just say that?  Isn't the decorating the preparing for Christmas?  I'm looking forward to this activity on my annual Christmas weekend with the girls (Ashlyn and Sarah).  This year, I think the activities will be decorating, maybe some cookie making, definitely some craft making and a movie (Harry Potter, here we come) and most likely there will be a pizza delivery involved.  Good times!!