Countdown to Christmas...

I'm spending a lot of time at my desk.  Our Etsy shop is still in high dudgeon. I don't think that's a real word but spell check says it is.  Last minute orders are needing filled and everyone is in a panic that the order they placed a week before Christmas may not arrive in time.  Guys, ya waited to the last minute to order.  I'm doing the best I can.  But we'd hate for anyone to be disappointed.  So we press on into the wee morning hours and beyond- taking a nap in place of a full night's sleep.  Reassuring nervous customers that it'll be there.  I wonder if they've considered that it might get there a bit sooner if I didn't have to stop and answer their emails... Probably not. 

So we bought a small artificial tree this year as a "pre-tree."  You know, one you put up before you get the real deal.  Why would I do that?  Cause with all this busy-ness with the business...  I just hate to be rushed when it comes to the holidays. I LOVE Christmas and everything it entails.  I'm that friend you're annoyed with because she plays Christmas carols in October.  I love the cooking and baking.  The wrapping and decking. So, I'm gonna have two trees. One small artificial tree that we've decorated entirely with home made ornaments- except the candy canes.  There's popcorn strings and dehydrated oranges and apples.  Gingerbread men and metallic painted cardboard stars. Hand sewn stars and hearts and a couple of these cute doves.  (My niece made these.  She's big into re-purposing and denim is her favorite. The red flannel stars are from flannel pajama bottoms.)  My daughter hand-dyes Ukrainian eggs- works of art.  It's a very pretty tree.  

But come Saturday, the big one is going to be cut down and I can hardly wait!  The tree farm is normally closed, but he says he'll open up for us- he lives there and said he doesn't mind- just call a day ahead.  I'm thinking BIG.  Hope he has what I need.  This tree will be decked out in all the bling that is my extensive ornament collection.  I used to buy an ornament every time I went to town in the months of November and December.  This year, well, I'm not getting out much.  But I found a huge box of old ornaments in a storage unit I bought a few years ago.  Score!  Lots of lights, lots of shiny glass. I once heard it said that Christmas trees are modern day asheroths.  ?!?!  I'm not worshiping the thing, I just happen to love how it looks and how it smells.  The same could be said about my husband!