The Nativity and a few ornaments

I am making a tiny bit of progress.  Everyday when I wake up I ask myself “Self what are three things you want to accomplish today?”

I finished up two of the handmade projects..one will be in the mail…it is a surprise. I forgot to take a photo but the recipient has a camera.  The other will be delivered someday over the holidays… Elbow Lake is it’s destination. I will take a photo..but I cannot show it to you yet. 

We got the big Shiny Brite Tree in the air…I am not sure how many more years we will be able to get it in place…it is huge and heavy.  It is about 1/3 decorated..the top 1/3!  Shiny Brites are scattered all over upstairs…every bed and flat surface has boxes full of ornaments. 

Sometimes one thing leads to another..like getting the Nativity in place…of course lots of things had to find new homes and a good dusting was needed.

I made the Nativity figures a long time ago in Ceramics.  Far Guy made me the crèche. Years ago it used to sit on top of the TV…that was it’s spot. Then we had homes with fireplaces with a mantle that seemed even more perfect.

This is a one of a kind fireplace.  I wanted river rock but it was too expensive.  So we bought three different colors of tile and busted them all up and pieced the pieces on the face of the fireplace.  It took about six weeks to finish.  Far Guy made the mantle.

Wanna see Chance’s 2013 ornament?

Some of the seed pods dried in interesting shapes.

I made 67 of them to give away, it is a tradition and has been since 1990. The idea behind this little gift is so that when someone gets married and leaves home…they will have a box of their very own ornaments to take along for their own tree. I make them for our parents, daughters, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and friends…and a few special dogs and some cats too.

Here is a link to some of the other creations.

Most of the time I have an inspiration piece and this year was no different.

I purchased this piece and went from there.  I won’t be doing Santas again for a number of years.  Although I do have a Santa made from a fork waiting in the wings and I have begun to save silver forks…I have 35 silver forks..not nearly enough to do them anytime soon.

Today is baking day…the cookie exchange is very soon. If I bake fast I can put up more decorations.  Now which cookie was it I decided on?

Gift count: nine bought and six ordered.  Gifts wrapped: none.  Cookies made: none. Christmas letters: Complete!  Homemade ornaments: Complete!  Homemade gifts: Two complete and one in progress.  Decorations… the snow outside, a pine cone wreath, the Nativity and a flag outdoors. Oh and 1/3 of a Shiny Brite Tree!  13 days and counting.