§ More Magic of the Season...

I don't know how I got two posts published today, but I did! There is another new one that follows this!

Our Elfen Wreath

I now have 17 Christmas themed gnomes. Bud bought me a new one this year...

I didn't take much time this year to bring out all my hundreds of Santas in my collection. But, I did a few! And, the newspaper headline would read: "Anni Bought But ONE in 2021"
Of course, without hesitation, I ALWAYS bring out my oldest. It was a gift from Bud on our FIRST Christmas -this one is the one that started my collection of 50 years plus!

Oldest - - - - - - - - - -- -Newest

§ After Thanksgiving...On to Christmas

I started decorating the fireplace hearth and mantel first. Bringing out my newly purchased [and from last year, the initial year] stash of ceramic, poseable [posable], elves. They're hard to find around town since I try my best to patronize local stores to keep them from having to be forced to close in this economy. I know that just one person, like myself, isn't going to keep store shop owners from going broke, yet, still, I like to think I am doing something positive. I managed to find some that are dressed differently which is always my intention. A few times, that isn't the case, I like having look-a-likes to make them a pair. Also, I hope for their size. Small, Medium, and Large. Yes, size matters!! If you look closely, you may notice the one on the mantel, in the center, is Santa. But his face is elfen. Afterall, he IS a right jolly ol' elf. I'll share a better photo of him in a later post.

§ All that Glitters is Not Gold....

While in search of more holiday gnomes, at Home Goods, Bud found a new santa for me....a santa fairy. One kind I didn't have in my collection. He's pose-able, so I placed him on the fireplace mantle with the elves. And speaking of elves, I went to Michael's and purchased a few items to make an elf wreath. The wreath is on the fireplace brick, just above the mantle of elves..

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Of course, I had to bring out the "Believe" that Bud carved years ago...




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For a few days, a couple of hours a day, I have been busy with my craft brushes also...I bought some red glitter glue and have been 'painting' the red vases with the glitter. They are now filled with artificial velvety poinsettias, on our Christmas present...a new dining room table and chairs that was delivered Tuesday afternoon.

Looking through the vases from the "other side" of the table...

§ A Little Elfen Magic....

LOL...how many times, when the temps were soaring into the triple digits, did I mumble "I can't wait for cooler weather"? Well, two days of dark, damp, and hovering near the freezing mark in chill factor...I'm ready for some sunshine. The gray blanket that has been overhead makes for very boring days. Long days!! I got both computers cleaned out, updated. Read. Cleaned the kitchen cupboards out. Vacuumed. Finished our last puzzle for the month [shown above] and tore down the puzzle table to prepare for Erik's long weekend visit on Thanksgiving in the extra room for his daybed. Which I have yet to set up. Listened to CDs of my favorite soprano, Barbara Bonney.  I played her rendition of Ave Maria [linked by her name] so many times, Bud was ready to move out ... Watched a couple of movies. Made two new headers for my blogs' Christmas theme. Listened to it rain. Hearing the wind blow outdoors. If I wanted to bundle up and put on layers, I could've ventured outdoors and walked. I just wasn't up to getting chilled to the bone with that wind stinging my face and reaching my innards where it'd take a couple of shots of tequila to warm up after I got back inside. So, I stayed indoors. Bored. I even tried to think about putting up Christmas decorations. Nope. Not yet. I talked myself out of that too. There's still plenty of time....AFTER Turkey Day.

I found some photos to share here for this post. An eclectic grouping again. But, share them I will before I delete them for good....

Around here, especially during the spring and autumn months, when you see cattle, what is following them? Well, usually...

....cattle egrets, of course!

Question for you...is there a chain fast food restaurant, Popeye's, in your area? And with the media, all the hoopla of their now famous and highly sought after Classic Chicken Sandwich? Have you tried them? Did your Popeye's run out of them...has there been rumbles and chaos like the news tells us? Long lines that block traffic in and out nearby? Or is that "fake" news. A come-on gimmick to have the human nature take over and people WANTING them at all costs? I personally think it's an advertising ploy. But that's my opinion. Guess what? Bud and I had to try them after Google news was kind enough to let us know the sandwich was back on the menu after a long awaited absence! Wasn't that nice of Google? My opinion? They're certainly delicious. HEAVY on the fat and cholesterol for sure...quite lethal in fact. One we'll not have again even tho they are mighty tasty, Southern, deep fat fried to perfection, and colossal in size. Trust me, there isn't enough exercising in the universe to work that off. I tried!!!

One more thing before I let you go.  I spoke of Christmas a few minutes ago.  Y'all know I have collected Santa Clauses for nearly 50 years.  I have now hundreds.  But, anymore, it's getting harder and harder to find any that are 'different' from those I have.  Walking around Hobby Lobby the other day, I saw a very CUTE porcelain faced Elf.  All decked out in gold Lame and Red velvet.  Some in satin.  Cute as the Dicken's they were.  I bought one.  In fact, I bought two.  On my cellphone I have a permanent 40% coupon for Hobby Lobby.  I used that.  Then, I thought "Oh my goodness!  I have no room to store these in the house!"  What was I thinking?   I went to Home Goods [T J Maxx outlet] and bought a 3rd one....

....Wait for decorating? Bah Humbug. They're sitting pretty on the couch and entertainment center proudly. But, where am I gonna store them after the holidays? Maybe staying home and inclement weather IS GOOD after all. No shopping.