Getting Ready

Today was prep day for my big 2-day event this weekend,

and thank the Good Lord my big order arrived!

Tonight my hubby and I set up the canopy tent in the spot marked out for us. 

I'm really excited! They gave us a really good spot. 

Here are some pictures:

The spot where we'll be (between two trees)

A few of the Chamber of Commerce from our spot

The Library and a favorite Coffee Shop Downtown 

The view across from our spot

 Manny hanging the Banner

Our Tent (there will be LOTS more inside tomorrow)

The back side

Wish me well!

Getting Ready for Christmas

I woke up rather stressed this morning because I am participating in a 2-day 

Christmas Event this weekend in my home town. 

I am going to have a booth set up with the Origami Owl Living Lockets I sell.

The reason for my stress is that I had placed a big order last week

to have for this show and as of 3:30 this morning (when I woke up)

it STILL had not shipped :0(

I really need that order for the weekend event

and thank the LORD I just saw that it shipped and I should receive it tomorrow!

I am so happy!

Tomorrow I will be busy organizing the lockets and charms that come in

and getting everything else lined up for the weekend. 

I was so grateful that I had Ethan today, to help keep me busy. 

My hubby didn't have an early morning job, so he lingered here to play with Ethan.

We decided to get out some of our Christmas decorations. 

We started with my collection of Snowmen, some of which are animated

and other Christmas characters, too.

Ethan immediately liked the Mickey dressed like Santa

He wasn't quite sure about the Snowman that moved and sang

but he ended up really like them and learned how to make them play all by himself

 Then Papa introduced Ethan to some Locksmith catalogs

Then, after a nap, and lunch ... Papa returned from work and the play began again

 He loves this riding toy

 and he really liked the animated Grinch doll

Then Papa decided to put up the tree.

  

And while Papa worked on the tree Ethan and I played on the floor with yet more animated figures

Oh, and HO HO (behind Ethan)

THEN Papa  brought the train set out

 and of course, Milli didn't want to miss anything

Ethan LOVED the train!

 Papa let him work the controls

 Ethan loved seeing the train go round and round

Then they both grew weary from their long day's work (and play)

and they sat on the couch watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

 What a lovely way to end our day with Ethan.

Keeping Busy

I've kept myself busy today, working on Locket orders.

I had received two shipments late yesterday so that's what I did most of today. 

But yesterday dealing with the loss of Holly 

I decided to decorate our front porch and some of our front yard for Christmas.

I did that in honor of Holly who was born on Christmas day fourteen years ago. 

So even though the inside of my house in not yet decorated

this is what the outside looks like (so far)

Sweet, Sweet Holly

Today was a very sad day. 

Today our sweet Holly went to Heaven. 

Holly originally belonged to my sister who went to Heaven seven years ago

and when she died, my mom got Holly. 

She was like a little piece of my sister that we had to hold, love and care for.

If you knew the story of how Holly was acquired by my sister you would laugh.

It involved a lot of $$$ and a discontented hubby (for a while)

but Holly was such a little doll you couldn't help but fall in love with her.

She was a Teacup Yorkie and never weighed more than 2.5 lbs.

But you could never let her size fool you because she could certainly take care of herself.

So for the past seven years, Holly has been the self appointed queen of my mom's place. 

She had free run of my mom's place and she and Dollie 

(my mom's dog) got along quite well. 

When Dollie went to Heaven a few years ago Holly mourned something awful.
Now I suppose Buttons (my mom's newest dog) will do the same. 

I know Holly was just a dog, but she was a very special part of our family.

I hope she found her way to my sister in Heaven today. 

If the Lions will lay down with the Lambs one day (as the Bible mentions)

then I see no reason why our pets won't be there, too. 

I pray so. 

Here are some pictures of Holly

My mom one Christmas with Holly and Dollie 

 This shows her size better. Btw, she got up on the back of the couch all by herself.

 She use to go camping with us

So, until we see you again Holly, enjoy Heaven. 

Tell your mommy all about your time here on Earth with us. 

We will always love you and miss you.

You were a very special little sweetheart and there will never be another you.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Here are some pictures from our trip to Miami

This one didn't come out very clearly, but I was watching one of my favorite 

Christmas movies, "Elf" while we were driving to Miami

 This has become a new favorite of mine (and I had some while watching the movie). 

Btw, my poor husband only had the privilege of listening to the movie, 

and he didn't get any ice cream because he was driving :0(

 This is a little Christmas Tree we have inside the bus

 Nearing the city

 These buildings amaze me!

(We don't have views like this where I live, but that's quite alright with me, ha ha)

This was our campsite. The campground was near the hospital and family and very nice.

This was the city at night

 After visiting my mother-in-law's room the night before

my husband decided it needed some cheering up for the holidays

so we picked up some decorations before we visited her the next day.

Here he is decorating.

 We went to just two stores near the hospital on Black Friday...

The Container Store (they have a LOT of neat storage things but it's kinda pricey),

and then we went into a Brandsmart store next to the Container Store.

They had this adorable little washing machine and it actually worked!

 Then we decided to grab some dinner at this famous Bar-B-Q place

 This is a typical home in South Florida...lots of palm trees 

Before we began our trip home we stopped off at Panera's for lunch.

 We don't eat out often, but this is one place we LOVE.

We have been waiting YEARS for one to come to our town

and it is finally happening, in fact they are almost ready to open...YAY!!!

 This is the view for most of the ride home...

lots of Sugar Cane Fields 

and then lots of nothing

It took about 4.5 hours to get home.

We made it home safely, unpacked some and went to bed.  

The following pictures are from today, and these pictures made me extra happy. 

When we got to church this morning, it was all decorated for Christmas.

This tree has tags for needy children. You can take a tag and buy a gift.

We love participating in this!!!

What do you do to share Christmas Joy this time of the year?