The holidays are here

My hard work is now behind me. This past Saturday we hosted our annual pre-Christmas family get-together. Since we are not going to NY for Christmas, I made brunch instead of the usual dinner because we'll have dinner with the same family members on Christmas day. It came off without a hitch, ham & broccoli strata, sweet potato bisque, pumpkin & chocolate chip mini-muffins, fruit & cheese and a Bob Evans French Silk Chocolate Pie.

This has left this week to gift wrapping, passing out gifts and a little holiday baking. Merry Christmas! The dogs are happy that they are not spending the holidays being boarded.

Ho, ho ho!

Our "Nature's Bounty" tree adorned with vintage Radko
fruit, vegetable and nut ornaments, and glass icicles.

It's finally beginning to look like Christmas in our household. It was a busy weekend. On Saturday, Tim and I went out to buy a Frasier fir tree and had brunch at a new local diner-type place. After that, I was off to a Saturday pottery class, "Slips and Engobes." Then Barb and I snuck out of class a little early to go over to Kelly Savino's Holiday Pottery Sale. That evening Tim and I went over to the mall for a little gift shopping and dinner. When we returned, I then spent five hours getting the tree decorated. I was finally done at 3 a.m.

My nature-themed wreath

On Sunday, a few friends and myself took a holiday wreath class with Vicki Gallagher, the horticulturist at the 577. A fun afternoon and I believe we all went home pleased with our little projects.