Hahahahahaha! Thank you all! I have missed you all, too!
I have been so busy! I hesitate to tell you why because it may sound borish or braggartly.
You see ... well ... ok ...
Christmas of 2004 my husband bought me a big old farmhouse in central Virginia. It had been one of my dreams since childhood - to live in a big white house - although I never dreamed it would be in Virginia. I lived 36 years and never once thought I would move away from the place of my nativity. But I did and here I am.
So this big cold old house with wooden floors and no insulation just begs to be loved and guilded all the time but especially at Christmas time. Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. We put up Christmas trees in nearly every room. We have four bedrooms, a bath and a long hall way upstairs so that is four medium sized trees, one large tree and a small tree. Downstairs we have my big tree in the living room, a small tree in the kitchen/dining area, a smallish tree in the big downstairs bathroom (it sits on a table). Then there is garlands and poinsettias for the front hall staircase, wreaths and bows for the windows, etc etc etc. Not to mention garlands and bows on the front fence and a wreath for the gate, wreaths on the doors - it's a big undertaking. My husband dreams of Norman Rockwell style Christmas times so I try my best to give it to him. It's one of his dreams.
On top of that is all of the handmade Christmas gifts. This year we have been making my grandmother's favorite chocolate balls, and my daughter's favorite hand dipped pretezel rods with chocolate and toppings, along with dozens of dozens of cookies for neighbors and those people who need a small token of Christmas cheer.
I have been running at full speed on top of chickens and goats and our new dogs plus a 22 month old boy and my 10 year old in Chirtmas and holiday school programs and my 20 year old being sick and unable to help as much in the last week. Things are one the up sweep here now. No one is sick. The trees are almost finished. Thanks to UPS all of the shopping was done without needing to get out in the traffic and the weather.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I'll try my best to get here at least once a day.
-Angie
aka MissPrissy