We started Christmas morning off at Bobby and Cathy's house to see what Santa brought BC. He must have been a very good boy this year because Santa brought him a laptop and a wireless setup to go with it.
By 8:30 a.m. I was flat on the floor in their office, my head stuck under the desk, to see what we needed to do to get the wireless going. What can I say? I'm a bit of a geek. I get excited by new technology toys.
By the way, please take note of BC's new jammies. Had you heard his mom and grandma the night before, you would have thought he was 5 instead of approaching 19.
BC was so good this year that Santa also got him a wii. Christmas afternoon was spent with guitar hero...
But, illustrating one of the many ways he's so good that Santa was so nice... he shared.
There were other games too... bowling and golf and more...
Look at that form!
Somewhere along the way we opened presents...
Can you guess what it is?
Everyone likes stockings!
Today Mattie's family had their Christmas so I went out to see everyone. It's always fun to see kids enjoy Christmas.
I wanted to play with Alex's dinosaur, but it seemed rude to ask a child to share his toy.
Hannah was making a haul, too.
Johnny and Leah had three envelopes for their nieces. He said one had a lot of money, one a medium amount, and one a small amount. He didn't know which was which and let them choose. They all seemed happy at the end.
I discovered Leah is one of my own kind when it comes to wrapping presents. As she put it, "I like to make them pretty." She was modeling the ribbon from my packages.
Generally I don't exchange gifts with all of them, because we're not usually together, but I had picked up some little ornaments for each of them as a remembrance. I had expected to leave them with Mattie because I didn't expect to see everyone, but it was very nice to share that fun with them.
It was a nice day, although I wasn't my usual perky self quite yet. I am, however, feeling better. Tomorrow I'm eating real food again! It's a big day!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas
Friday, December 26, 2008
Round Two
It has been many years since I've not gone out the day after Christmas shopping. I tried. I drove to Paducah, about 30 minutes away, and by the time I got there I was so tired I had to sit in the car for about 40 minutes before I could even go inside, where I bought nothing.
I went to another store and I bought some wrapping paper and one ornament. Not much of a haul for the day after, but it just couldn't be helped. Maybe there will be goodies left for me when I get my next chance to shop. Or maybe this is the universe's way of telling me I have too much Christmas stuff. Hmmm... nope... that can't possibly be it. However, I can only assume there was nothing there I desperately needed.
I've spent the rest of the time since I woke up trying to disinfect anything I might have touched so no one else gets sick. I hate it that I was around everyone on Christmas Day and could have given them the flu before realizing I had it. I was so hoping I would escape this, but it was not to be. Fortunately, no one else shows any symptoms yet. I hope that continues. I will feel just awful if someone else gets sick.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Hutchinson News Story about my Christmas Tree
Check it out at: http://www.hutchnews.com/Todaystop/treesiri.
I hope your Christmas Day has been fabulous so far and the rest of your holiday season is spectacular!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Thanks for sharing some of the holiday season with me this year.
It has been memorable. Below are some photos I've shared this month, along with a video tour of the house.
In the sunporch I have three lighted trees this year. The full size one is the Santa tree. When I sit in that chair I can see the main tree in the living room.
It was inspired by this ornament... 
To the left of the santa tree in the sunporch is the red and white tree...
This Santa is on the writing desk beside the red tree.
On the other side of the sunporch, in front of the piano, is the pink and green tree.
Under the living room tree, the main tree is where I have all the presents.
There's a theme every year. This year's blue, purple, silver and white was inspired by a ribbon.
The tree looks different exposed for the lights.
Also in the living room I have the copper and gold tree.
In the dining room this year I have a white tree with blue, silver and crystal ornaments.
Beside this tree, on a chest, I have some of my Santas.
I also have this tree in the dining room...
And near it two of my favorite Santas...
This is right behind the table, where I spread out the goodies when I had my open house Saturday night. I love to bake, so I cooked up a number of sweets.
If you want to see it all in context, I took some video. Just click on the arrow and it will play automatically for you.
Greg took some photos of folks Saturday night. Some included Ace Jackalope.
Thanks for being part of my holiday season this year. Merry Christmas to you and yours. If you're enjoying a big family celebration, or gathering with friends, or appreciating the beauty of solitude this Christmas, may it be all you wish it to be and full of wonder. Happy Christmas to All.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. My southern fiction book is complete and I'm looking for a literary agent. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Holiday Remembrances
Every year people in my life gift me with some wonderful treasures during the holiday season. Some come as hostess gifts at the open house and are just because gifts. Pictured are just some of the goodies that have found their way to me this season.
The doily everything is sitting on was from Pat. I have a deep affection for hand crocheted items of all sorts - from potholders to doilies to lace on linens.
Jocelyn made me those cards, and Sharon brought that "Night Before Christmas" book. I don't think she knew it is my favorite Christmas book. I have the one I've had since childhood that I put out every year.
This precious little teacup is from Barbara. It's one her mother made and she passed it on to me. She says she's not sentimental about things. I, of course, am sentimental about everything. I've already put in on the tree, so I can enjoy it every year. She brought some other goodies, too, but I simply couldn't picture everything. This little teacup is a treasure.
Of course, people know of my fondness for tea, and my friend, Jan, brought me this beautiful Lenox tea cart ornament. Isn't it amazing? I was so touched that she remembered me this way.
Mary Lou made me this amazing crocheted tea cup and saucer? Isn't it incredible? I adore the little pink touches around the edges. I wrote here some time ago that I was wanting some crocheted tea cups. Mary Lou read it and took it to heart. It was so sweet of her to do it.
This little angel came from Nancy, who has made my tree much more cosmopolitan. She got the angel in Poland. Last year she brought me an ornament from Mongolia, and the year before one from Russia. It's so kind of her to think of me when traveling.
I just love all of these, as well as other things not pictured here like a copy of Jim's book, great Christmas music (old-fashioned greats!), Santa figurines and other goodies. It's very kind of people to remember me at the holidays.
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Christmas Catch up
Well, I'm happy to report that I'm feeling better. Not completely normal yet, but much better. So... time for some Christmas catch up.
Greg was here, complete with the blinking elf hat purchased during our trip to see Andy Williams, on Thursday evening for the Children's Christmas. Father Christmas was spectacular, of course. We didn't have a large turn out of kids - the weather was getting a little dicey - but, it was fun.
The News came to take some photos and interview me about the tree and other decorations. I'm hoping it's a fun piece. I really love to share Christmas with folks.
The next few days are a blur of going to the doctor and laying on the couch, interrupted by piling up in bed, only to return to the couch. Of course, I could see the tree from the couch, so that was a bonus.
Saturday night I did throw on some sweats and drive through the luminaria in Hyde Park for about an hour. I didn't want to miss it. It's just gorgeous and such a cool thing. Jim Sunderland has been one of the organizers for years and I so appreciate that sort of dedication. Jim is a good guy in so many ways.
Greg took some beautiful photos and allowed me to add a couple in here. I took none. I remained in the warm car at all times.
Sunday afternoon I snapped a photo of the winter solstice sunlight hitting an ornament on the tree. I had watched it do this Saturday afternoon and Greg took some photos. On Sunday I couldn't resist getting off the couch and snapping some myself. This was the one I got that was passable. It's a fun little bit, and an idea I owe to Greg. 
If you haven't been looking in on The Lope lately, you should. He's doing Ace's Twelve Days of Christmas.
I hope the last few days of your Christmas season are shaping up nicely.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sick
I hate it when people blog about being sick, but I know people wonder where I'm at if I don't blog every day. So, it's unavoidable for me to explain that without saying, "I'm sick." I can't think about much of anything else right now other than getting well. Your regularly scheduled blogging will resume when I'm well. Very soon, I hope.
________________
Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Father Frost
I just love it when Father Frost makes a holiday appearance.
________________
Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.
Nothing witty
I'm afraid I have nothing witty, interesting or insightful to share with you today. My brain power has been occupied with work details. There's much to do for a non-profit at year end. I'm afraid little of it is particularly interesting. It's mostly paperwork sorts of things. But, it's necessary nonetheless. So, I've been immersing myself in it, trying to slog through.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is one week away. I'm not ready! I want more Christmas season!
We go this gorgeous snow on Tuesday and I was so busy I didn't really get a chance to enjoy watching it. It seems a shame now that the actual holiday is so close. If I could just have a couple more weeks of Christmas season I'd love it. Just a couple more weeks. Please. Who's in charge of these things, anyway?
It's certainly not me. I want to move Thanksgiving to the end of September so we'd have Thanksgiving season, then Halloween season, then the Christmas season would start November 1.
Well, I must go get some rest. I have more mind-numbingly-dull paperwork to do tomorrow. Gosh, there's something to look forward to.
Actually, I do have something to look forward to tomorrow - lunch with Kristine and then tomorrow evening is my Children's Christmas open house. I tried to do this last year but cancelled because of the ice storm. So, this is the first go at it. Father Frost will be here. The candy canes are ready. We'll see how it goes. I don't know what to expect - there may be one kid or three or twenty or fifty. Whatever, it will be fun, I'm sure.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Avoidance
I've had a couple of emails from folks commenting that I've not been writing my usual kind of material here - what I'm thinking about, what I'm ticked off about, what is happening in the political world, etc. I assure you I'll be back to my usual self after the holidays. I just need a break.
I'm sick to death of hearing about the horrible economy and all the other "news" of the day. So, I'm avoiding. Those of you who have read here for a while know I'm a big believer in avoidance as a coping technique. Denial catches up with you almost immediately but avoidance, avoidance my friend can carry you through for a long time.
So, I'm avoiding. And, blissfully, it's a great season for avoidance. There are sparkly holiday lights and Christmas music and pretty presents and looking forward to seeing my family.
You can always haunt the archives if you need a fix of the other sides of me. Below is a list from 2007 and earlier, in no particular order, of some of the things people mention to me now and then. Meanwhile I'll be here, cocooned in my fluffy Christmas world, for a bit longer.
This I Believe
http://www.patsyterrell.com/2006/08/this-i-believe.html
Bits and Pieces of Life
I am No One's Daughter
How Big is the Sun?
Easter Sunday Thoughts
The Last Time
Let it go, let it be, let it lie
A Ten Year Plan
Letters from 1982
Old Friends
Poking at old lives
Dr. Robert Putnam
Finding a Good Man
Not Natural to Be Happy
http://www.patsyterrell.com/2006/02/no-longer-natural-to-be-happy.html
Travel with Matthew - 4/9/2004
http://patsyterrell.livejournal.com/6516.html
Teaching Children - 4/18/2004
http://patsyterrell.livejournal.com/10405.html
Mama 4/24/2004
http://patsyterrell.livejournal.com/11506.html
Journals 7/27/2004
http://patsyterrell.livejournal.com/30958.html
Unity 9/14/2004
http://patsyterrell.livejournal.com/40971.html
Happiness 9/17/2004
http://patsyterrell.livejournal.com/41245.html
Person of Rivers 10/10/2004
http://patsyterrell.livejournal.com/47544.html
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Time
It's only one week until Christmas eve. I don't know about you, but I have many things to do between now and then. I have numerous work things to do before the end of the year and some of them are a bit complex. I worked on one of them today, but didn't get it done, so I'll tackle it again tomorrow.
Most of my shopping is done, although I still have a couple of little things left to buy. I have everything wrapped that I have bought, but there are some little details I won't take care of until the last minute.
To top it off, it's too darned cold here at the moment to be doing anything. We have an "arctic blast" and they're not joking. It was frigid all day and is supposed to be the same tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to being out in it tomorrow and I have a long list of things to accomplish.
Tonight was our Chicks Christmas party and it was lovely. Tomorrow night is the MHA board meeting so I'll have to be out in the weather then, too. I'm one of those people who's cold all the time, anyway, so this is not a bonus.
They're planning to turn my water off tomorrow for at least part of the day to work on a break - we have a giant hole in the street right in front of my house - so I'm going to shower before I go to bed tonight and sleep with wet hair. I should have planned that better, but so it goes.
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Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, and more. Friend me on Facebook.com, Follow me at Twitter.com.