Three Days of Snow - A Retrospective

I was beginning to think snow was a permanent condition. Here is how I whiled away the past three days. The good and the bad...

The Good

• Grilled cheese and tomato soup
• Wrapping presents and Christmas music
• The Illuminations tour
• Hot chocolate
• Naps
• My hoody and sweatpants
• The holiday spirit
• Resisting the urge to save our parking spot with folding chairs
• Working from home on Friday
• Winning Yahtzee

The Bad

• Cabin fever
• Digging the car out (twice)
• Not being able to get the Patriots game on TV
• Snow, wind and cold
• Cabin fever
• Not being able to do laundry
• Regretting not saving our parking spot with folding chairs
• Did I mention cabin fever?
• Losing Yahtzee

Somerville Illuminated

The Illuminations tour was illuminating. I went through parts of Somerville I have never seen even after 2 and a half years here. The tour also shed some light into human behavior since we were squished onto a packed trolley and half of our fellow travelers were actually lit up themselves. I do appreciate the festive, were-in-this-together banter now and then, but the commentary wore me out a little.

Tour guide: "We are about to pass the tallest decorated tree in Somerville."
Upon passing said tree, passenger: "I agree."

I guess one can agree with a statement of fact if they want, but since it is a fact, it is kind of unnecessary. Imagine this kind of running commentary for 45 minutes.

Anyway, the lights were amazing, elaborate and had a touch of madness about them. Think holiday themed, circus-fever dreams. I highly recommend either going on a tour sometime, or doing a self guided tour using one the the maps the Somerville Arts Council provides. Taking photos from a moving trolley with foggy windows was a challenge, but here are a few pictures I took last night:

Setting the Holiday Mood

So the answer to my question is yes. There will be snow adding to the spirit of the holiday season on tonight's Illuminations Tour. Very nice.

Seeing as I am one of the many "non-essential" state workers, the governor told me to stay home yesterday. I went in anyway for a few hours but then got home before the snow and worked from my cozy abode the rest of the day. Yes we had snow. Yes, I am glad most people weren't trying to commute home in it. But no, it was not the blizzard of '78.

It is getting me in to the spirit of things. Finally.

Friday Find - Giving Thanks

It might be too late to order presents for the holidays, but it is the perfect time to order some thank you cards in anticipation of all the holiday booty. These are a few of my favorites:

Dutch Door's Thank You Tulips

Paper & Inkling's Thank You So Much Note Cards

In-vita Paper Studio's So Nice of You - Thank You Cards

All Lit Up

We got our tickets for the Illuminations Tour! When we got our tickets at the Blue Cloud Gallery on Thursday they were almost sold out. This popular holiday tour is offered by the Somerville Arts Council. I am very excited, this is the first year I have been able to go. I will bring my camera and share the glory with you all next weekend.

I wonder if there will be any snow to set the mood? So excited!

Free Handmade Goodies!

Check out the great giveaway that oh, hello friend is offering. I was very excited to participate by offering up my lace stationary set as part of a prize. There are 4 great packages being offered so make sure you enter for a chance to win.

There are a bunch of really great Etsy sellers involved like TheArdentSparrow, jessicajane, craftyfolk, Space Dog Studios, and too many more to name. See all the participating sellers here. Have fun!

Faired Well

I just survived a busy weekend with a little over 12 hours spent at a two day craft fair at the Somerville Museum. It went really well. I met a bunch of nice people, the space was lovely, and I sold some cards. I had learned a few things from my last craft fair and went to this one a bit more prepared. I brought a cushion to sit on and knitting to keep me busy.

I was not thrilled with my table set up, it was a bit uninspired. I need a bit more space and a better way to organize/display my cards. But it did the job. It was nice to make a little money for the holidays. I am thinking about getting genealogy software for myself (not really in the holiday spirit, I know).

Its kind of geeky, but after a trip to the New England Historic Genealogical Society last year, I became a member an have periodically been digging around in my family history. Have I mentioned that I am the great (say it 27 times) granddaughter of King Edward the I of England? If you have spent any time with me you have probably heard that a number of times. My husband hears it every time I want to be pampered or want something done for me...

Anyway, I think I will do this fair again next year if they'll have me even though I will be sore for a few days from sitting on my keister for so long.

Resurfacing

I am resurfacing from a weekend away filled with Tofurkey, stuffing and other delights, as well as a busy week of not unpacking, my last drawing class and my last basketball game of the season. Tomorrow is day 1 of the craft fair and my husband's birthday. Pancakes in the AM, craft fair, and then off to bowl and dine with friends. Then Sunday is day 2 of the craft fair.

As the holiday season approaches, I really enjoyed Poppytalk's list of 101 Reasons to Buy Handmade. Check it out.