Evening, all.  Just thought I'd pop in and show you what I've been up to the last couple of weeks besides fighting the flu that is... The picture to the left is a closeup of one of my Christmas topiaries I create each year. I use this pic for the wallpaper on my Blackberry:) As many of you, I've been very busy preparing for the beauty of the Christmas Season.  I just love being creative and customizing my own decorations.  Two years ago, I was very impressed with a "Corner Tree" I saw in an ABC Distributing Catalogue so yes, I bought it.  Below is a picture of it.  It saves space and looks absolutely exquisite!  I have two seven and a half foot trees that are beautiful with a revolving tree stand but you know what? Sometimes you just don't feel like dealing with all that and I'll tell you, this tree is just as pretty.

Also, I had picked up some-- for lack of a better description--stick lamps at a garage sale a few weeks ago with the thought of dressing them up for each holiday. Wait until you see what I've done with them. I am so excited:) Below are some closeups of the lamps which you will see on the fireplace mantel.  See? We writers can be pretty clever and crafty in other ways, LOL

And of course, I had in my mind I wanted flicker bulbs for the lamps and you know?  I finally found them at Home Depo.  I'd about given up but as I crawled along the floor of the lightbulb display wall there they were! Hidden way at the bottom and only one little row of them.  But I felt as if I'd found heaven:)

Also, I am very proud of the topiaries I mentioned below.  I had created matching set which sits on either side of my china cabinet in the dining room.  I have put them up for probably four years now and decorated them each year like the tree.  For the first couple of years I'd utilized them as I'd bought them with white lights but I love colored lights so a couple of years ago I switched them out.

And finally, I have like many people collected village pieces and change it up each year. I have a train set but depending on how much room I want in the living room I utilize them. This year I opted for a simple village so I only used a few pieces.  Sometimes simple is more effective. Don't you think?  I'll save these pics for my next post. 

Thanks for sharing my holiday preparation with me.  May yours be festive, warm and filled with happiness and much joy! 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!

D~

A Hard Day's Work

Wow! Today has been a flurry of activity for me. Busy...busy...busy:)

As most of you know, autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the colors, which are bred within me even though I've been transplanted in the South for twenty-five years. I am a Northern girl at heart. Autumn colors and snowy Christmas' Most of all though, I absolutely Love Halloween:)

September is when I begin my home decor transformation and Labor Day has always represented the Fall for me, soooo...I've gone and transformed the house into Halloween central. Well...not completely but I've got the traditional autumn colors, and a lot of the traditional Halloween decorations situated around the house. Inside only for now. Geez, I've even beat Target to the punch. That is amazing.

Here's the tough part. You know how when you decorate, you also have to clean? Yeah, you guessed it. I busied my self today with fall cleaning chores such as shampooing the carpet, cleaning windows, dusting, mopping floors, and moving furniture around. Can I tell you, I'm beat! But the house looks so beautiful and like a completely different space. Vibrant and warm. Good karma is radiating all around.

Now I'll continue to add little touches and, of course, work into decorating the outdoors as well. I'll share another little tid bit of information. I take my vacation from the day job every year on Halloween week. That's love, LOL


I did work on some writing stuff today but I didn't set the world on fire. Too busy with all the other stuff. I am working on a new story that I anticipate being released next Halloween, at least I hope. I have to sell it first*grin* Actually, truth be told, I have to finish it before I do anything else, LOL

Anyway, that's what I've been up to this holiday weekend. What have you all been up to?

Oh and one more thing. Traci Hall who was the author spotlight will pick the winner of her book on Tuesday as she went to a conference this weekend given by Heather Graham in New Orleans--lucky girl *sigh* Can't wait to see who nabs the book.

Talk to you later.

D~