Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

Happy Winter Solstice!

The evening feels kind of magical as we wait and hope that the sky will be clear enough to see the lunar eclipse and the solstice. What an event the heavens have forecast for us on this dark winter's eve.

love Affair with Crows

Stanley Rill's work - Port Townsend.  I want!!!

I continue to have a love affair with crows! People ask me why and I have no ready explanation. Is it their wit? Their chatter? The beauty of them in flight? The resourcefulness they possess? I can not say but I never cease to wonder at them in life and remain entranced by them when captured in an artist's work.

Christmas Party

My fancy Sangria drink. It was fabulous!

 All the business owners in the James & Hastings Building last night had a Christmas gathering at the Galetea Tappas Lounge in PT. We were relaxed, chatting, having fun and recounting all our years in business. Michelle, Katya and I have been in a retail business since the 70's in PT! What a wealth of adventures and experiences we have had over the years. As for me, I would love to stay in this business, this spot, this retail world until my ending days. I have so much fun and an outlet for creativity in all forms. Plus, the biggest benefit is that I love being with people!

Phil in mid sentence.

Gina, Victorian Square Cafe and Michelle, PT Kids.

Frank, PT Tees.

And finally this incredible light display on the roof of a 2 story
house! It was awesome against the dark night sky. 

The Tree is Up!

 FinaLLy, I have a good picture of Daisy. The little sprite finally stood still long enough to capture a picture! Even if it is through the sliding glass door! She was hoping for some extra meatloaf or ham or....

This is the tree that Jake helped unload from a truck full of Christmas trees. He was thrilled to get a tree for only $ 5 over cost. When I walked in the door tonight, it was up and he had installed the lights. Using a very clever trick that he thought of; wrapping the inside of the tree with only white lights and adding the brights on the outside. In another day or two we will have added ornaments and I will post another picture. Incidentally, the tree takes up the better part of our dining room. Jake wanted a big tree!

Some Evenings

The newly redesigned window in the shop.

 Now that I work a bit more in the shop ( a bit? Ha! ) I see things that I can change
or redesign. My mind is always onto a project. This window used to hold the gems that needed
to be kept under lock and key, on suction cups. I have displayed that way for years but it truly
and desperately needed a change.

So Phil and I came up with an idea of wood slats to hang the stones from. He did the exacting things like measuring and cutting and I painted them a soft, pale yellow and painted either gold stars or spirals on them.

I think it gives a fresh, new look to my window.

My sweet friend Regina stopped on her way home
from work on the Kitsap Peninsula to get
these candy canes for Santa's sister's visit on
Saturday!

Right up until the football games started at 1:00, I had Jake all to myself. We went to a local craft show where I was able to persuade him to have a picture taken with Santa. He towered over the jolly old elf and then we did some shopping for Phil. After that we had lunch together at the Spruce Goose Cafe and really had a chance to talk. He is my sweet boy, the last of my children still at home. I need to savor every moment and of course, I am beyond thrilled that he will still spend a little time with me.

A nice dinner at home on this warm, wet evening rounded out the day. Peace.

Holidays

This is the time of the year when I am running around like a mad, mad woman! I have no end to wonderful ideas and I think how lovely it would be to bake and snuggle into the house and make Christmas happen but and it is a big but; I just do not have enough hours in the day!

I love so much about this season. Lights, trees, music, food but in the end being a retailer - I wish I could celebrate it two weeks later! Now, that would drive my family crazy!

I love reading Dickens at Christmas and this Christmas tree makes me think it is right out of A Christmas Carol. I never tire of reading that story and making the moral of it my own.

I would like the weather to be a bit colder, no snow mind you, but colder temperatures make me feel all Christams -y and reminds me of the sometimes snowy holidays of my hometown. How do you find Christmas?