Trying to catch up ...

Beth and Paul at Beth's birthday celebration ... which was very brief and heartfelt. Paul is sporting one of his "boggins". You can't see it in this photo, but it has a bell on the back and you can hear him coming and going ... and shaking his head (!) so funny! Beth is absolutely shining and happy, albeit exhausted from her job as a health care nurse providing love and safety for her clients. You HAVE to know Beth to know how entertaining she actually is. I'm sure her clients are the luckiest people in the world to have her assist them through their challenges and often their eventual passing. Beth was sent to earth to be a care taker. She is EXCELLENT at her "calling". She is also a treasured, precious friend. Thanks for showing up, Beth! xoxox She called tonight to tell me to cook stuff because the foot of snow we've already have is wet and heavy on the electric lines. We might lose power. Who would've thought of that! Holy cow! It's wonderful to have a friend ~ and sweet to have one who shares such information!!!!

When we took out our Nutcracker collection, we realized we had a BUNCH of them! Just thought they were noteworthy. :-) Presenting our boat load of Nutcrackers! We were supposed to go to Charlotte tonight with a couple of the kids from Crossnore to see the Nutcracker by a real ballet company ... but the weather changed all that. We'll try again ... we were really looking forward to getting some Christmas spirit. This year seems pretty odd. No real plans, no pitter patter of little feet, no planned chaos. A little out of the ordinary. As mum says, just going to be a quiet Christmas.


Beckye (Beckye's Curl Up and Dye) makes our wreaths for us. She does such a wonderful job. I know I could decorate it with pine cones and berries, and such things, but I just love them plain. The look gorgeous, they smell fabulous, and they make me smile. Thanks, Beckye!

This is what our building site looked like about 12 hours ago. Now it actually looks like a skating rink ... ice/snow. We have to get the slab poured and then we're ready to build! Y.E.S.!!!!! We're taking bids for the concrete slab work ... then we'll be on our last leg of this part. The building goes up and the business begins. GOD help us get to that point sooner than later!

Another view, of course!

Coasters I've been making for a commission. They actually turned out pretty cool and the client seemed to be very happy with them. Yeah - that's always good. I have other pictures of them, we put them in a wooden box ... turned out nice. I'll post those later.

I am currently watching "Enchanted" while Paul is upstairs playing x-box. Enchanted seems to be Disney meets Central Park. Paul seems to be winning his "shooting" game. I've managed wrapping presents, Christmas baking, cooking dinner and then some, and fixing up some Christmas decorations in case anyone pops in. Christian and Jenn were coming up this weekend, but their plans changed when Mother Nature sent her snow blessing. Maybe that's why I'm so very wrestless. The weather man says we are in the first of four storms ... snow should be knee deep by Sunday morning. Paul will be escorting me back and forth to the office. I am a W.H.I.M.P. :-) I am very lucky that Paul is not a whimp! He was called out tonight to do some "emergency" welding on an 18 wheeler. Came home all covered in snow. Paul is a good sport!

Hope you are all getting ready for the holiday with great enthusiasm, love of your family and friends, and gratitude for EVERYTHING you have.

Blessings to all,

Paul & Cheri