Season's Greetings

I really did plan on making and sending Christmas cards this year.

It just got by me.

Last year and the year before I made two styles of cards. One was fun and flirty and one was sedate and serene.

I think I made about 70 total. And yes, I have that many people on my card list.

This year I have managed to make one card.

Not style of card.

One actual card.

It's nice, huh?

I made it for the monthly stamping/eating group I am in. We all bring cards, we all bring a dish. We stamp, we eat.

The stamps are from Papertrey Ink's Take a Bough set.

It looks better up close because you can see the two shades of green on the leaves and sentiment.

I double stamped them in a light green and a dark green over it. The light green makes a shadow effect.

There also is some glittery stuff on the leaves that does not pick up in the photo. Oh well.

You get the idea.

I think that I should start now to make my cards for next year.

But then I figure I would just put them in a place where I would not be able to find them next year.

Or when I did find them I would think they were ugly. And by then it would be December and I would once again not have the time or inclination to make cards.

Maybe I should start at Halloween.

OK. I am out. Time to go to work.

Finally, my Friday.

Routine maintenance

Things have been quite busy at work and, of course, the chores never stop at home.
I had my house cleaned this past Monday and it was great. But there is still the daily maintenance to keep it looking so nice.
I am the type to come in the door, set my bag on the first horizontal surface, kick off my shoes and change into pajamas.
Which means there is usually stuff that must be put back where it belongs.
I also have the cats, which means a lot of sweeping and cat-hair hunting.
So far I am doing an OK job with the upkeep.
I want this to last at least until February. And at the rate days have been passing lately, the end of February will be here next week.

Ugly, inappropriate and just plain weird

That was the order for last night's event.

It was the annual ornament exchange my aunt organizes.

This is great fun and if you have a group of bawdy women friends who will get into the spirit of it, I highly recommend it.

It is a nice break to the madness of this season.

It started several years back as a way for a bunch of women to get together at a restaurant (that way none of us has to cook or clean up), have dinner, have a couple drinks and exchange a pretty ornament.

Somehow it evolved.

There is still the dinner.

There is still the drinking.

But the ornaments are no longer pretty.

The goal is to bring the ugliest, strangest or most inappropriate thing you can find.

The only caveat it that it must be an actual ornament.

It cannot just be some ugly knick knack with a hook on it.

Last year I got a 7-inch tall nun that is covered in glitter and holding a banner that read "Joy to the World." Only the ends of the banner look like sharp, torture-device type objects.

So the way it works is like a gift-exchange game. Everyone takes a number. The first person chooses a wrapped ornament and opens it.

The next person can either take that ornament or choose another wrapped ornament.

It continues that way.

If an ornament is taken, the person from whom it was taken can take from another person or choose another wrapped ornament.

The only rule is that an ornament can only be swiped twice, then it is out of play.

Last year was the first year I was able to participate since before that I always worked Monday nights. It was so much fun and I got to meet a lot of great people.

Even the waitress was getting into it and commenting on how much fun we were having.

So when I saw this snail ornament after Christmas last year, I went ahead and bought it thinking ahead to this year.

I bought it at Anthropologie for $3. Normal price had been $6. I saw one on eBay last night and they wanted $15. Crazy.

Everyone agreed that while it was not really inappropriate, it was borderline ugly and definitely odd.

My mom ended up taking the snail home.

I, after careful consideration, ended up with this crazy Santa/elf thing that my mom brought.

The box said it was a "Hand-painted Collectible."

He appears to be sitting, legs akimbo, holding something in his lap.
It looks like a plate of gingerbread men.

And, coming right out of the middle of his crotch area is a very springy spring with a gingerbread man attached to the end.

It is quite phallic and inappropriate. I knew I must have it.

My only dilemma was choosing between him and the Santa dressed in camouflage and carrying a hunting rifle.