Progress

Yesterday, Linda stopped by and did my dishes and cleaned my countertops.  So grateful for a friend's help!  I worked on the tree and the garlands. I had to string 200 more lights on the tree because I just couldn't quickly fix the other ones that are already on it.  I had just started to decorate it when Jen called and reminded me that I forgot to do something I'd promised to help her with her Davis family and neighbor gifts.  Drat.  So, off I went to the other room to hurry and do that so I could overnight it to her.  That was a pricey mistake on my part.  Had I remembered to write that promise down on my Christmas To Do List like everything else, I could have just dropped those items in the big box that was going to her house for our family.  But...somehow I totally forgot and thus, a package left from the UPS store versus from work and was 3x the cost of what I paid for the huge box the other day.  Oh well.  Lesson learned.

I got home from that errand and worked on some more decorating.  Got the piano decorated with a lighted garland, my secret Santa nativity, and a "presence" plate.  Simple, pretty.  I still need to finish decorating the tree with all the ornaments.  Will it be a tree with a light amount of ornaments this year or will I do all of them in the box so it looks as pretty as last year?  We'll see...

In the evening, I put together part of my new Salt Lake City village.  I'd had the pieces out on the bar area since I bought it two weeks ago, but I really didn't like it there.  So, I went out to the garage to find some white lights and in doing so, found a box with all my village people. I decided to bring them in so I could add them to the village.  But, I wasn't holding onto the box very well and part of it opened up and a bunch of my people fell out on the hard concrete floor and broke into pieces.  I found 3 of the 5 heads and most of the other pieces, but overall, they were all a loss.  Crud.  I put the lights on the buffet in the living room, covered it with fluffy pillow filling since I can't find angel hair anywhere (not that I looked anywhere other than Michael's since I haven't had time), and started putting the pieces on.  The thing I DON'T like about this set is that it's all battery operated - AND - it uses LED lights so the light inside the pieces is cold, not warm and inviting.  But, hopefully the batteries will last a long time that way.  I'd also bought some trees to put in the scene, along with some lights for them so it looked like Temple Square, so I unpackaged the trees and strung the lights on the trees, but then I fell asleep on the sofa.  Around 3 a.m., I got up and went to bed.  So, I guess I get to still to that today, along with finish decorating the tree and get all the crates back out to the garage.

I just ordered our loaf of rye bread from Archie's deli - so good - and tomorrow I will go to the store EARLY - like 6:30 a.m. - to get the final fresh items we need.  Tomorrow I will also set the table and it's cleaning day tomorrow too so Holly will be here bright and early to get that done.  Ugh...I have to mop the wood floors tomorrow.  I detest doing that.  It's no fun trying to make sure there are no streaks.  That reminds me...I'd better wash down the walkway or all that work will be for naught when everyone arrives on Saturday evening.

I need to practice the piano some more - I'm playing a solo in Church on Sunday.  I'm scared to death - but this is something I've wanted to do for a long time, so I've been practicing a lot and my fingers/joints actually hurt from it.  I need to go over to the church and practice on the piano in the chapel too - the touch on that piano is very different than our piano here at home.

Somewhere I need to find time to watch "The Nativity Story" movie - it just reminds me so much of why we celebrate this holiday and puts me in the right frame of mind.  Maybe late tonight after Melon Man leaves for work...