Countdown to Christmas!

Just a few days to go till Christmas and I am remarkably calm. Alert the media. This never happens!

We got Rick's tree this week and it's very pretty -- apart from the fact that after we got it in the stand we realized the stand was off kilter. (The tree, on the other hand, for a change, was straight as an arrow!) It's currently leaning a bit but tonight we will put books or something under the right tree let to see if we can get it straight! It's always something!

I did another round of baking so after one more batch of nuts and a little more cookie decorating, that's good to go and I can clean the kitchen. So, maybe I'm not as ahead as I thought!

The shopping is done and almost all wrapped. Everything for Christmas dinner is bought and hopefully I can do some mise en place on Saturday so it's faster on Sunday for Julia's Boeuf B.

We even have snow! My little Southern Exposure bunny looks cold out there but I am cheered whenever I look out and see him! He needs a bow. Bow is on the list.

Inside it is cozy and colorful.

The poinsettia is filled with the red and white I love.

And even Santa doesn't look like he wants to venture outside!

Once the kids started having more collective parents than they had Christmas days, we began celebrating a little early and that's what we did last weekend, driving to Livonia, MI (metro Detroit).

Of course there were presents...

...a lovely Christmas dinner...

...puzzle time...

...mellow time...

...and fun!

Time for toasting...

...and lots of anticipation as we look forward to our newest family member, coming in February!

Best of all was being with our tribe, all together!

And home again. These little angels and wooden figures are in my kitchen. Long ago, before there was a World Market chain store, our local Y would host an event called "World Market" which was a bit like an art/craft fair before they became so common (we're talking the mid-'60s here). I collected these little German wooden figures. Later some were supplemented with shoddier mass-marketed pieces, but these are my favorites! (You see, everything has a story!)

And of course, there is the nativity, which is actually in kind of an ugly little stable here -- someone went wild with the yellow paint and I didn't have time to age it out before Christmas. So, close-ups! (Really, what were they thinking?)

The angel was bought last February and has very special meaning. On the day I stopped at what claims to be World's Largest Christmas Store, Bronner's in Frankenmuth, MI, I had just made the final visit to my friend (and my mom's best friend) Fran, the Lady of the Lake. Her daughter so kindly let me come sit with her for a bit. On the way home I stopped at Bronner's, specifically to find an angel. This one stays out year round.

And so, we're almost there! Time for the final preparations, the last wrapping, Time to find the cat collar. (Note to self: Next year remember that taking a selfie holding a cat with claws that doesn't like to be held is difficult. After the wounds heal, we'll try again -- with another photographer!)

Whatever holidays you might celebrate this year -- be it Christmas or Hanukkah, Solstice or Kwanzaa or Festivus -- Rick and I send you very good wishes for a wonderful holiday season.

And peace in 2017.

Today I'm joining friends at Share Your Cup , Pink Saturday and Sweet and Simple Fridays. Check them out!