THINKING AHEAD

I have got an early jump on Christmas for next year. Yep, got my cards, some new gift tags, a new Christmas CD, and even a new orchid colored table top tree. Am I the same person who likes simple decorations for the Christmas season? Well, yes, but you'll just have to come see this orchid Christmas tree when it's fully decorated. I'm sorry, I am apparently still the seven year old girl who fell in love with this color many years ago and when I saw the tree at Kohl's yesterday, I couldn't leave the store without it.

Actually, I have two trees to decorate for next year, in addition to the tree that serves as our "Christmas Tree" downstairs in the great room. I hadn't even dragged that tree out this year, when my mom called to say that they were coming for a visit to see my tree and decorations. Well, I got it dragged out of the back room with the lights still on it from previous years, but that was it. It all worked out, however, as my mom offered to help me decorate it. That turned out to be a lot of fun, putting on the ornaments that she and I had got for the kids over the years. I did have a bit of a time super-gluing the right rung back on the Lego Santa's sleigh that I got Dustin when he was around eight. Apparently, superglue does better at gluing plastic to fingers than to other plastic. But, back to the trees. I'll have the orchid tree and another little three foot tree that was the top of a tree that was headed to the dump. I salvaged it and turned all the lower branches into greenery for my deck and then Mark put the stand on the bottom of the top portion, and voila, it looks like a perfectly fine little tree. I never found the time to decorate it, but I have so many decorations from past years of "after Christmas" shopping, it shouldn't be a problem to have them both decorated for Christmas 2012.

I will use today to get caught up on cleaning and laundry that was put off during the holiday festivities. I never could figure out how to do all the festive decorating and additional Christmas shopping, wrapping, planning and cooking, and still get all the routine stuff done. Now is the time to catch up.

Pudge has not been feeling himself these past weeks. He's actually been dragging his tail around. The malti-poos always have their long, luxurious tails curled up over their backs, so this has been especially troubling to see him with his tail drooping behind him. It seems to be sore at a certain spot, but we haven't been able to determine what the problem is. I guess if it persists, we'll be going to the vet to have it checked out.

And, speaking of dogs, it appears they are needing some attention or they have merely spotted some deer out the window. There were four standing on the hill just outside our window earlier, so not sure about the reason for the current disturbance. We're experiencing a dry and very frigid morning here after making the record books for the wettest year on record earlier in the week. I expect I'll be staying warm inside today while I get caught up on housework.

I hope you are enjoying the closing days of 2011. I expect to be seeing and hearing a lot about this past year as we begin our count down to the new year. Stay safe and have a great day, luv, Susan