What Makes You Smile?

I was driving through the parking lot of the local Jewel and the Salvation Army guy was ringing his bell and dancing. As I drove by he waved, and I smiled and I gave him a thumbs up. Christmas cheer, that's what makes me smile.

It's Brutal

It got too cold too soon. Yesterday was a super windy day with blowing snow. Today the sun is shining but still cold, 1 degree. I didn't go to carving class because the street in front of my house looks slick.
Yesterday I made sweet sour cabbage soup using the recipe from Scott's Prime Rib, a restaurant that was in East Hazelcrest. It turned out a little sweet, but still good, so next time I will cut down on the sugar.

Tuesday

Today I paid bills at Church and then went to Target to get a couple of gift cards. Now I have to get going with decorating or Monday will roll around again without decorations.
We had about an inch of snow but more is predicted this afternoon and evening. Aah, a winter wonderland.

Party

Today is the Ladies Aid party at Aurelios. We find out who our secret pal has been all year and get a new one for next year. Should be fun. Tomorrow is the LWML party at Church. This party is a pot luck with store bought fried chicken. We bring a white elephant gift which is always good for laughs and food for the food pantry. Still don't have all of decorations up and the tree is naked. I should get finished next week as I have all of my shopping done except for a couple of gift cards. And then there is the wrapping.

Little Audrey

I was going to change my picture on Facebook to one of the cartoon character Little Audrey and when I went to upload the picture, I was warned about getting permission from the people that own the copyright. So not wanting to get sued for illegal usage of her picture, she remains in google. I always tell people that I was named after her, but lo and behold I wasn't; she was born in 1947, nine years after I was named. I met another woman at a memorial service named Audrey yesterday. There just aren't a whole lot of us, but the name is having a comeback. There are a lot of "little" Audreys around.
Still working on decorating the house. Slowly but surely it is getting done. I managed to get the tree put together and now I need to decorate it. I went last night to help decorate the Church for Christmas. It is very festive and will be even more so when the poinsettias decorate the altar.
Off to the store to get some sesame seeds for the appetizers I'm making for tonight, asparagus sesame rolls.

Done!

Shopping is done except for my secret pal. Hope those kids fill out the questionnaire so we know what their likes and dislikes are. Now back to finish those ornaments. Tonight is soup supper at Church followed by an Advent service. I still have to carve and paint a couple of ornaments before Christmas.

Getting Ready

I have most of my Christmas shopping done, thanks to the internet. Today I'll run out to pick up a couple of things. I also have all of the decorations and tree up from the basement. My nephew Brad brought everything up and now I need to decorate and get rid of the boxes and tubs that are sitting around the house.

The youth from Church are selling hand crafted items at the Hometown Holidays in downtown Lemont Saturday. I gave them a couple of gourds and some carved ornaments to sell. A friend asked if I would decorate some plain ornaments to sell. She has these neat velvet boxes to sell them in. Here are a couple of the better ornaments.

I'm off to the mall.