Things to do! Things to Do!

I have had a busy few weeks. 

 I did a couple of pottery shows and one craft show.  

 The boys helped me at one sale, unpacking and selling, and then packing up the unsold pieces.  

They then split the profits between themselves.  

They were not asked back to the other two shows.

  I don't like doing sales.  I would rather just make pottery.  

During the shows I got a few  special request orders - nothing too fancy, wine goblets mostly, but also some beer mugs and some coffee cups and had to fill those orders as they were Christmas presents.  

They are done and I don't think I will take special orders again.  However, it might be like childbirth - the more time that passes the less you remember the pain of it all.

My son turned 16 on the 5th, wrote the drivers test, got 98% and now has his learners driving permit. He and I  go driving for 40 minutes or so every day after dinner.  

98% is not a reliable indicator of whether he is a good driver or not.

My car is a 5-speed and after the first day I thought I would need  a neck brace (and a new clutch) but he has steadily improved. 

 I have not improved - I am still a nervous fool.  

We were driving down a country lane, it had several turns and twists.

  Me: " Slow down! Slow Down! the speed limit is 50.  Slow Down! 50! 50!"   (31 mph)

Him: "Mom, I'm only going 43."  (26 mph)

Breathe in.  Breathe out.

The Husband took him out last night and I stayed home and ate brandy filled chocolates.

We have been to 5 Christmas parties in the last two weeks and have two to go to this weekend. 

 I think I have gained 5 pounds.  That is a conservative estimate.

The last party was a stretchy pants party - thanks goodness, because not much else is fitting me. 

I have bought three Christmas gifts and none of them are for the parcels that are to be mailed to Houston TX, Toronto ON or Winnipeg MB.  

Stressed? just a bit......

Last Saturday was a full eclipse of the moon and the boys thought it would be great if we all got up to watch it.  Excellent idea except they got me up at 4:30 AM.  I am still tired.  

A lunar eclipse, while pretty, is kinda slow!

The Husband was away two days learning how to use the Jaws of Life.  Quite ironic seeing that the lesson and arrival of the equipment coincided with Son #1 getting his learners driving permit.

On Sunday we will drive into the mountains and cut a Christmas tree, roast hot dogs on a fire and have hot chocolate.  A tradition we have been honoring since the boys were toddlers and one they will not give up.  The tree we end up with is always too large as in they don't look nearly as big in the forest as they do once they are in the house.

I told a friend I would help her make slumped wine bottles (for cheese trays) as she would like to give them to family members as gifts.  She is busier than I and cannot come to my house with her bottles until the 20th, and then again on the 21st to wire wrap them.  I need to remember to be home those two nights.

  I love cooking Christmas dinner and having a house full of people and I am thrilled when it is my turn to do the cooking.  I have bought the turkey, made the Vinetarta (Icelandic Christmas cake that Son #2 insists on having), I have the carrot pudding ready to steam and serve with rum eggnog sauce, chocolate lava cakes that are frozen uncooked and ready to pop in the oven while we eat, butter tarts and the shortbread for lemon filled shortbread tarts.  

Santa will need to bring me more stretchy pants.  

And, in my usual manner, I have invited more people than there are chairs at the dining table but as usual we will make do.

My kitchen floor has not been washed in two weeks, there is clean folded laundry that needs to be put away from last Friday, there are three boxes of Christmas decorations in the middle of the living room floor and I have a glazed "deer in the headlights" look about me that is scaring the boys who yesterday, roasted a chicken, mashed potatoes, made salad and glazed carrots and had it ready before The Husband and I got home.from work.

I think I'll keep  this glazed over look if it means the boys will make dinners.

Maybe if I really stress out they will shop for the presents, wrap pack and ship them and vacuum the stairs.

Yeah,  I know, stop dreaming.