a long to do list

It's snowing again- we got a total of 10" on Friday night- so no company Xmas party for me-
And they are forecasting another 12" today. We spent most of the day yesterday out and about in Burlington. We battled the cranky people at the post office ( anything liquid, fragile, potentially hazardous inside, would you like packing tape with that??) , food shopping at a very packed market (i still don't know what i am making for xmas dinner), lunch out at Halverson's, our favorite cheap date/burger joint, shopping on Church street at the Artist Market and some of the little boutiques and a visit to the Firehouse Gallery to see a cool new installation ( more pix of those soon). Finished up the stragglers and will pack up all those boxes to go out tonight. We came home made a huge batch of shrimp pad thai for dinner then Jack and I finally got the tree all decorated.

TODAY-We are hanging out all day- trying to get stuff done-the list of things to accomplish is very long...(glup)

this is my to do list (it will probably spill into the next three days)
make a pot of chili
make sweets to give away - peanut brittle, fudge, cookies- if the oven will work
finish the journals
Clean the kitchen, including sweep and mop the floor
Clean the entire bathroom
Straighten the living room
Dust and Vacuum
Do three loads of laundry
Changes sheets on all the beds
shovel show
do day job homework so counterparts in Asia have everything they need on Monday morning
post items on freecycle
post new ACEOS on ETSY (yes! I did finish three yesterday and have no pictures to show!)
clean out fridge
take out the trash
play with the kids in the snow
make a holiday sound track
pack up all my orders and finally xmas boxes going out
finish xmas cards
breathe

so happy decemeber 21st- welcome to the shortest, darkest day of the year-
the days are going to get brighter and longer from here. it's a beautiful thing.... rejoice!

Making Journals

Last few nights, in between stuffing plushies and doing chores, I've started on a project to make collaged journals to give as gifts. I bought a bunch of blank books and gessoed the covers-Painted them with a base coat wash of color. Applied a second wash of antiquing hue. Then started to collage like I do on the little shrines or book cover that I sell. I had made a couple of gel medium transfers a few weeks ago. Last night I soak and removed paper. That's always a chore, but the results are worth it.
Now I'm off to wrap up Christine's box and get the house cleaned and decorated.

Crunch time

These are the finished plushies, I made for my nieces and nephew in Colorado. They were very fun to make- and very easy. Now that they are done, all my boys at home, Henry, Jack and even Mickey, seem to want one- I guess I have to make a few more over the weekend.
I still have to finish packing everything up. I'm making some special for my sister, and it's not finished yet. I also bought her a very special something from one of my favorite Etsy shops, Pretty Little Pendant. Her box has to go in the mail by tomorrow - come hell or high water. I'm pretty behind this year, don't know what my issue is. Usually, I've got all the cards done and mailed out- Presents out the door and the tree decorated by now.
At least the tree is up- I did that yesterday. We will get it decorated tonight or tomorrow. I wish I could slow down time. It keeps moving on, a what seems like breakneck speed-
which reminds me of a DD song-

The Valley-

These are days of hit and run
In the stream with everyone
Is a moment of our lives
On a wandering river
Going on together
Many journeys to arrive
I've been walking
Through the valley
Through the tall grass
And the shadows
And I feel it
I can see it
Yes I need it
I believe it
Through the city
And the towers
Turning minutes
Into hours
And I feel it
I can see it
Yes I need it
I believe it
When I think I'm being strong
And I lose direction then a life starts looking mischievous
Finding revelation
Out of desperation
Always stretching time
But it's never long enough
You think you're happy
Think you're free
But maybe we're just
Comfortably dizzy
I've been running
Through the valley
Through the tall grass
And the shadows
And I feel it
I can see it
Yes I need it
I believe it