A perfectly good excuse...

I can remember- just faintly, mind you- of the days when things would get complicated and I would just soldier on. Apparently, my soldiering days are behind me! No more biting the bullet. Or forging ahead. Nope. I know when I've been outflanked and outgunned. Nina just waves the white flag and says, maybe tomorrow. And really, I can't get myself all worked up and feeling like a failure, either. Used to do that, too. And why? So that I could meet some arbitrary deadline that didn't suit me at all? Well, that just seems silly now that I am a bit older. And maybe wiser. Certainly, more realistic.

All that to say... this picture of the stuffed stockings, I took just last night. Yep, I did it again. Put off Christmas like a regular Grinch. I didn't intend to, but things kept popping up- like life, and I just wasn't ready and my sweet William wasn't ready... and I do believe I have been blessed with the most patient of children. They were... gently waiting. So, today it is. They dug into their stockings, this morning. (I guess that is a "sewy" project. A friend, a retired art teacher, gave me a bunch of upholstery samples. They weren't too big, but they made some adorable stockings. I just drew them out with a permanat marker and serged them up- cuts while you sew. too cool. I had all 10 made in about 2 hours. I miss that serger.) It's snowing. See? If everybody else had waited, they could have had a white Christmas, too! It's perhaps not ideal. The three oldest men of the house had to work, but they plan on making a short day of it. Apparently, we thrive on anticipation! And they'll be bringing Grandma by, if she feels up to it. "Mexican Goulash" instead of turkey or ham. It's just a big pot of thick chili, topped with cornbread. They like it with cornchips. And a Candybar cake. Keeping it simple, but everyone's favorite. I thought about taking the tree down, tomorrow, but I don't know... "New Years" could be just around the corner for me.

I thought I'd show you guys my new backsplash- don't I have the cutest handyman? My dad put this up for me while he was here, last week. It looks like pressed tin, but is really some kind of tough vinyl. I'm lovin' it and wishing he were still here!