Well, Christmas is just barely behind us.  It was a whirlwind here – three celebrations in three days with different parts of the family – a little winter driving, and lots of dogs.  All wonderful.  We are so fortunate to have a great family.  Those that weren’t able to be here due to the distance were still in our thoughts and hearts.  Looking ahead, there are the New Years fireworks…I don’t know where this was taken, but it is a beautiful shot.  It looks like dandelions that have gone to seed.  From Cris’s photostream at Flickr.  We don’t have too many fireworks displays available to us in northern Michigan during the winter.  This area is mostly a summer resort destination, although, some of the ski areas will have fireworks and sometimes a torchlight parade  – skiers holding flares in each hand and skiing down the slope single file at midnight.  It really is very pretty.

Since the holiday season has been sneaking me – maybe out of my sense of denial that time is flying by – I still haven’t put up a Christmas tree.  Now, with Christmas only a few days away, it hardly makes any sense to go to all of that work, especially when we are so busy with other activities and my kids will only be home for a very brief visit.  I have put up a few small, very fake trees, with lights to make it look more festive – and have almost totally talked myself out of a real tree this year.  Guess I am not the only one.  Found this great, artsy tree online.  I only wish that I had been this creative!

I absolutely LOVE it!

The search might change now, from the search for the perfect tree, to the search for all of my precious little mementos that have been put away for years.  It would be great to think of a way that they could all be mounted and then brought out as a tree each year.  Maybe on some wire form.  I may have to think about this.  It is just fabulous the way it is pictured.  Other creative items can be viewed at the website for All the Luck in the World.

COLORBLOCKS FROM MY AFGHAN PROJECT.  I am almost finished with afghan #2, although, as I look at the date of my last post, I think I am officially the “queen of wasting time”.  I should have finished many more than two of these quick to knit projects.  I guess I just like the pressure of a deadline.  I am thinking of adding one more to my list before Christmas.  The days are running out.  I may be crazy, but I think I can do it…or at least give a 1/2 finished gift.