Prepare Ye the Way

I can't wait for Christmas. This year, Annie and Audrey are coming and staying with me for several days, and then there is singing at Midnight Mass, followed by a visit with Jen and Scott. There is so much to look forward to -- but first, preparing for company. Last year, Audrey was four...and since my house has two bedrooms, Annie stayed in one and Audrey stayed in a walk-in closet. Now, it's a large closet - very large, and a youth-sized bed fit in there just great -- but, it was still a closet. Something told me that it was time to step this situation up a notch.

I found a beautiful daybed at World Market while looking at Christmas ornaments with Ron. Totally spontaneous, it was purchased and within an hour loaded into his truck. We brought it home and he helped to put it together ...well, he actually put it together and I flitted around in total excitement. Audrey was going to have a bed - and it was going to be in my bedroom!

Here it is after the assembly -- everything, including the pillows it came with, was white. As you can see it fit beautifully under my window, but that white had to go.

So a trip to the fabric store to get more of the fabric I used to make the bedspread and curtains, and out came the sewing machine....

While measuring and cutting, I watched the birdies playing in the birdbath outside. Yes, it went up to 80 degrees this week - I love South Texas weather! Evidently, so do the birdies....

Some red-winged blackbirds and sparrows enjoying a communal bath :)

Here is the finished product - I couldn't be more pleased. Audrey will have a bed at my house, and I can use it as a quiet place to read, drink coffee and watch the birdies:

Now, with a five year old coming for Christmas, the one foot high tree I used last year wasn't going to cut it:

So I went into the attic and got down alllll the boxes for Christmas decorations, including the BIG tree. Come on in and take a look:

 This figurine was painted by me in 1985. Those are supposed to be Jen, Annie and Scott in the sled. Note Scott's glasses - made of wire. He wore glasses when he was young.

 More Christmas - I painted the angels in the background. A house can't have enough angels you know...

The table - you can see Ella regally lying in the background. 

 Note the staff in St. Joseph's hands. St. Joseph has held that staff since the day I cleaned, painted and brought him home from being fired at the ceramic shop in 1982 - I made it from some twisted wire. Ron took a look at it and studied it a bit-- I couldn't figure out what he found so intriguing about it. Tonight, he showed up with a new staff for St. Joseph - made out of brass and shaped by hand.

Ron is extremely talented and can fix anything... St. Joseph is infinitely proud of his beautiful new staff. And I am so happy to share Christmas with my loved ones.