Charlie here! I've taken over the computer while Mama is napping so that I can tell you all about my most recent adventure.
Yesterday was the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in downtown Carmel. Originally I don't think I was supposed to be going with Mama and Papa but Mama found this while she was grocery shopping yesterday
Of course she had to have it - it's beautiful and pink and perfect. And just like that she decided that I had to come along to the tree lighting. I couldn't have planned it better myself.
I'm totally adorable, right? We had a looooong walk from the car to Ocean Avenue (that's main street in normal towns) but I didn't mind. I love to walk no matter where we're going. I love adventure.
There were a lot of people there, I mean, like, a LOT, but I was a good girl and waited patiently for the Christmas tree to light up.
But seriously, is it ever going to light up?
Wowee! That was worth waiting for!
After enjoying the tree lights we headed off for the best part of the evening - dinner! Carmel is so pretty at night with all the decorations.
This is doggie heaven...ok, it's really Nielsen's Market and I didn't actually get to go inside (stupid rules) but I downloaded these pictures off Mama's phone to share with you. I would loooooove to get inside those cases!
Nielsen's has a beautiful patio outside that does allow dogs (finally, something for me!) and the weather was perfect for us to sit outside and enjoy burgers.
Mama and Papa say this is the best value in Carmel. I don't know what that means. I do know that it's pretty delicious...and they don't share nearly enough with me.
Hello, starving dog down here!
I do love adventure but it poops me out. Good night everybody!
Last year I wouldn't let Christmas in the house. It was one of the darkest periods of my life, things were dire and there was no Christmas spirit inside of me anywhere.
I usually love the holiday season and start decorating right after Thanksgiving but last year I stubbornly kept all the decorations in the garage and wouldn't even look at them.
3 days before Christmas, Mr. T decided to take matters into his own hands and set up our little Christmas tree while I was at work to surprise me. It was a pleasant surprise and I was happy to see it although I never would have put it up myself. I had mixed feelings about having it up. Part of me was glad and part of me felt sad because I couldn't truly appreciate it. It was a complicated time. I let the tree stay up through Christmas day but I had it stripped and out of my sight the day after Christmas. Usually I reluctantly de-Christmas the house in January. Once I kept our tree up until April and hung Valentines and Easter decorations on it.
This year things are different and I can't wait to put up a few things and decorate the house. I am thankful that things are better, although if the rumors at Mr. French's company prove to be true things could go south very quickly, but I am determined to enjoy Christmas this year no matter what.
This brings me to a dilemma, however.
My normal Christmas decorations are very pastel. We have a white tree with pink, blue and lavender ornaments. It's beautiful but this year I find myself gravitating towards something more rustic.
I blame the Dollar aisle at Target.
Last week I walked in to Target and saw lots of rustic Christmas things - bold red plaid baskets, napkins and dish towels with woodsy themes and pine cones everywhere. Now all I can think of is decorating with a mountain cabin theme.
Of course I don't have any mountain cabin Christmas decorations and I can't go out and buy all new so I'm going to have to get creative.
Here's my start. I pulled out our little Christmas tree which has a burlap base. We bought this thing at Walgreens a million years ago and it's still my favorite.
I decided to put it in an old green bucket that I bought months ago at the thrift store and hadn't gotten around to painting yet. I'm so glad I was too lazy to do it because the green is perfect for now.
Luckily we live in the pine cone capital of the world so I'm always picking them up and bringing them home in hopes I can use them for a craft project...which is kind of silly because I really don't do crafts but at least now they're being put to good use. I'll get some more and fill up one of those red plaid baskets I saw at Target. Hopefully they still have some in stock by the time I get there later today or tomorrow.
As for decorations, I'm going to turn to my old friend - The Dollar Tree - to see what they have to complete my theme. Or maybe I'll take a page out of the Little House books and string popcorn and cranberries.
So this year I'm especially grateful for Christmas spirit. I know what it's like to not have any which makes it even more special when it comes back.
Every year a local rescue organization (the one we got Charlie from) offers pictures of your dog (and family) with Santa for a small donation.
Every year I want to do this but I either a) find out about it too late or b) can't afford even the small donation or c) both.
This year was, finally, different. I got an email about it well in advance and, for the moment, it wasn't beyond us.
Yay!
So we got Charlie all gussied up in her little outfit and headed off to the local mall.
They have the cutest Santa's Workshop all set up for the kiddies which they let the rescue organization use the weekend before it opens up to the human public.
Of course no kid can go by without wanting to peek in and see Santa. He was nice enough to come out and talk to a couple of them which will probably be a really special Christmas memory for them.
When our turn came we went inside the workshop and took picture after picture, pose after pose. It was warm and cozy in there and you kind of forgot the rest of the world existed. We ended up with 35 pictures with several different poses. It was a really good value, I want to do it every year.
I don't want to post too many pictures until we pick the ones for our Christmas card but I do have one that I love.
Merry Christmas y'all!
Just had to share a couple of pictures from yesterday's photoshoot with Santa. I'll write all about it later this week. We had the best time.
Santa was really patient and we got some great pictures...just not these. Can't wait to share more with you.
One of the pictures will be our Christmas card this year. If anybody wants one, send me your address! I'd love to exchange Christmas cards with you.
It's been quite a week, on both a global and a personal level, and there is fear about the future.
But I vow to not let that stop me from being happy in the moment.
We're on our way today to take family pictures with Santa...all of us including Charlie, who is dressed in her pretty Halloween dress again. I still haven't figured out what I'm wearing and since we're supposed to leave in 25 minutes, I guess I'd better work on that.
Have a happy Sunday everybody!
I had to work today.
That kind of sucks.
Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year and usually I like to spend it at home, baking treats, listening to Christmas music and watching the lights on the tree.
This year, not so much.
So maybe it wasn't so bad that I had to go into work.
I can't think of a more magical place to spend a blustery Christmas Eve.
I have a confession to make - I am so not in the mood for Christmas this year.
I don't usually feel this way, last year I had the house fully decorated by Thanksgiving afternoon and I hated taking it all down in January.
I've always loved decorating the house for Christmas. As a kid I would help Dad put up the Christmas tree in the living room every year.
Yes, our tree was artificial but don't judge because it was the awesomest tree in the whole world. It was made out of green and white loops of some metallic material that, although not the least bit realistic, looked amazing - especially at night. The tree was set in a motorized, rotating base and covered with round, red ornaments. I used to sneak in there at night, filled with awe, while I watched the tree slowly go around and around in front of our bay window. I loved that tree.
And then there was Christmas Eve, opening presents with the whole family. Yeah, we opened on Christmas Eve except for the stuff Santa brought the next morning. I don't know why, it was a tradition handed down by my father's family and none of us kids had any complaint about that.
The tree is long gone and the kids have all grown up (and have kids and grandkids of their own...eek) but at least there are plenty of pictures and old home movies to keep alive the spirit of Christmas past.
Christmas present, however, is another matter.
Meet Lance. He's my suit of armor and I love him. He was a Christmas present from the man of the place several years ago although it took almost a decade before Lance and I were living in the same place.
Lance loves Christmas and has graciously agreed to be my "tree" this year. I may not be in the mood to pull out the tree and all the decorations but I'm always in the mood to play dress up with a suit of armor. Who wouldn't want to do that?
Although I have to admit he looks a bit more like a scary character out of Lord of the Rings than Santa.
