Post Holiday bug

I'm sick. No big surprise to me, unfortunately. I know I was exposed to approximately 7,832,496 germs while traveling last weekend. Everyone in the airport was sneezing, coughing and it sort of felt like I was getting into a giant test tube when I got on that plane last Sunday!

Mix in not-so-good-sleep, not eating that well, drinking more than usual, and about 3 bazillion obligations? You gots a good recipe for catching a bug.

It started yesterday in the movie theater when I got the chills. I was hoping I had just caught a chill, but nope. I'm full-on sick with a terrible head cold. So, I'm sitting here in my new jammies (thanks to my husband's step-mom!), a fleece pull-over and my beloved fleece, polka-dotted scarf. Loving the scarf!

Yesterday, after dinner was done, we decided to go see that new George Clooney movie, Up in the Air. Just a warning? It's not a funny, uplifting movie as we all thought it would be. Click here to see the trailer if you haven't already seen it.

I love me some George Clooney -
I'd literally watch him do a Tide commercial in Greek! The movie, however, was really depressing. It's basically about our George working for a company that goes in and fires people. And, it's about George's character's very shallow existence. We think he's redeemed himself toward the end, but then THAT even turns out badly.

Now, back to fleurs! I took lots of good photos of a couple flower arrangements I did for Christmas (one was for step-mom, above!) and I will get those on here tomorrow. My mom asked me to do sort of a "how-to" on here for anyone who hasn't really taken flower arranging classes, so I'll do that.

So, go get your flower shears, an empty pot, some oasis (floral foam) and some cut flowers and greens and I'll see you tomorrow!

Critmat Eve

Have you ever noticed that there is a LOT to do at this particular time of year? I mean, JEEZ! I still have to get the turkey breast to cook tomorrow! One cannot have Christmas dinner without the obligatory turkey. I know many of you out there have ham or some other sort of meat, but I have not eaten a mammal since I was 18. That was 26 years ago! Wow. I'm old!

I have been lax about taking any snow pictures or even pictures of our front door. It's looking very pretty. There's a big old garland out there made of balsam and white pine and I've tied on some pretty maroon ribbon. We've also strung the flower boxes and garland with white sparkle lights. It's very cozy looking.

So far no ornaments on the tree. I know. It's Christmas Eve for heavens sake! Today we MUST go to the grocery store and then later we are having a fun dinner at my husband's Father's house. They live in the next town over, so it's a quick and easy trip.

Exciting news is that we're talking about a vacation now! Last year we went to Puerto Rico and stayed at the Ritz in San Juan. It's seriously the easiest trip - you can take a non-stop flight from Boston and POOF, you're there in a few short hours. The weather was SUBLIME, I tell ya. If you don't live somewhere with four seasons, the whole vacation thing isn't so special, I'd think.

Anywho, we are upcited (as my friend June would say) about going back there to the warmth and tropicalness probably sometime in February.

Here are some dreamy photos from our room from last year. Yummm.





The weather seriously was perfection. Mid-80s, no humidity and a pleasant breeze to cool you off.

So, on THAT note, I must go prepare for Critmat. That is what my husband and I call it. I have not idea why!

Merry Ho Ho, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa and good tidings to all!

I'm baaaaaa-aaack!

After a whirlwind trip down South to visit relatives, attend a graduation, a commissioning, and a big party, I have returned to the Great White North. Holy Moly! It was 50 degrees the day before I left and now it's like winter or something! We got a foot of snow right before I was to fly into Boston, so I feel rather lucky to have made it. Most of the flights the morning I left had been cancelled, and I just happened to be on an early afternoon flight - one of the first ones they let into Boston! Whew!

I'll take some snow photos tomorrow. Today was the day of unpacking, looking through all the mail and packages that had arrived and answering my seventy-leven hundred emails!

These are photos from several years ago when our house was on a tour of historic homes that are open to the public during the holiday season. It was one weekend in early December, so I figured it'd be fun to have thousands of strangers stompling through my house, right? Jeez, Louise! Fun is not the adjective I'd use to describe it. Horrifying? Messy? Weird? Never again? Those are really what come to mind now!

Anywho, as part of the decor, I decided it'd be cute to put a Christmas tree in the back yard aside from the one in the living room! The dogs were fascinated by this tree!



That's Lady, there, on the left, and Koty on the right.

I spent over a week and well over a thousand dollars getting our house perfectly clean and decorated. The decorations were far more lavish than I like, but I know the houses are expected to be amazing, so I went a little crazy with the decorations.

The night before the tour was to begin, two of the ladies on the tour committee came by to inspect the house and decor. One of the ladies (and I'll use that term VERY loosely) said "This is it?"

Seriously? It was all I could do to restrain myself from either treating her to a lengthy verbal affront OR beating her with a fireplace poker. Or both.

In any case, our house was a big hit that year, I'm happy to report!