'Tis the Season to Bloat

Well, it's time to take down my harvest "Welcome" sign that I bought when I was looking for a tablecloth before the kids came for Thanksgiving.  I'm going to store it away with the set of 4 crystal cut glasses, and pretty candle holders in hopes of another special occasion.  December is here and decorating for Christmas has been on my "To Stop Doing" list for a really long time.  I have a pretty little sugar-rock candy cane our grandaughter, Ava, gave us last year that's been hanging on the dimmer switch ever since she gave it to us.  That's as Christmas'y as it gets around here. Gene says I have a little fiber optic Christmas tree in the garage that I bought when Justin first moved to Arizona and I felt like I should put something up. I haven't seen that tree since we moved here and frankly, I don't think it made the trip.  However, this month is shaping up for lots of events and I'm sure it's going to whiz right by, as usual.

This weekend.  Gene's birthday party!!! We've decided we're going to get in the car and try to make the trip to Portland tomorrow, despite the weather report of rain & snow. I did some research and looked at the weather cams along the route in Oregon and I can't find any snow along the highway. We have to trek up to Walla Walla to pick up Jeremy's son from college and maybe his girlfriend, too. It'll make for a lively 4 hour trip.

Next week.  My office has decided to take the staff by limousine on a wine tasting tour. I'm not sure how many wineries we'll hit but I'm excited for two reasons. First, riding in a limo might be kind of fun. I've only done it once and it was in Las Vegas on the hottest day of the year in July, for Julie's wedding. Gene was in a suit and I was in a dress and there was something lost in the experience because of the heat.  Second, I've never seen the inside of a winery. Although I won't be doing any wine tasting (it's a concept that is beyond me! wine tasting? how about wine guzzling?), I'm excited about what's inside all these beautiful buildings I see spread out over the Tri-Cities and what happens in there. As a camera carrying coffee drinker, it's simply new territory for lighting and subjects to shoot. Plus, there will be heavy hors d'oeuvres, which may even provide some great subjects to photograph.  I can only imagine how beautiful the Christmas decorations will be as these wineries are nothing if not wealthy, filthy rich kind of wealthy, establishments. The tour starts at 3:00 p.m. next Friday so we get off work 2 hours early ~ can I get a YAHOO for that?

Next Weekend. We received an invite to a friend's house for a finger-food & white elephant exchange. She had us over when she first moved into her house for a house-warming potluck get-together with about 30 other mutual friends. It was a blast and I know this party will be too! I was so excited when I got the invitation in my inbox last week.  

After that.  A co-worker is hosting a chocolate & cheese fondue potluck at her house on the 15th for staff and spouses. We only have 9 staff but with SO's, it will fill up her house for sure. She is my best friend at work and we often go out to dinner with her and her soon-to-be husband. I haven't had fondue in a lot of years ~ what a great idea!

I'll be thinking about my dad & Nancy, aunts & uncles and all those Yuma, Arizona friends we left behind during December.  This is a great month to be in Arizona. Eating Christmas dinner outside on the patio with a short-sleeved shirt and shorts (if you're my dad) on, admiring Aunt Cindy's beautiful petunias & pansies. And all the potlucks & get-togethers they have all winter long. I think I just gained 5 pounds thinking about it.

Note to self:  p a c e   y o u r s e l f  with the goodies!