The Countdown...

Well, I am done with shopping, the cards are sent all of my big work events are over. 

Now all I have left to do is: 

Bake, cook, clean and WORK. 

So many of my friends are school librarians who have the next two weeks off. I do not. As a matter of fact, our library is open on Christmas Eve, so I had to take a vacation day to be home and get ready for our Christmas Eve Open House / Feast of Seven Fishes Event.

To make matters worse, I work Saturday and Sunday; then Monday and have a half day on Tuesday. 

I don't know if I need to tell you this, but I am not a spring chicken.  I can't do what I used to do.  For example, the kitchen floor?  The grout needs to be scrubbed but I will just dim the lights and hope no one notices, or if they do they have the good sense to keep it to themselves. 

I have been power cleaning in short bursts. I have been slowly cleaning the carpets in order to save my back. 

I am looking forward to Christmas Day, staying in my pjs and drinking mimosas. 

Seasons' Greetings from our house to yours!

It has been a long, hard, sad year.

So long, so hard and so sad, that I had a hard time coming up with our typical TOP TEN THINGS.

Here's what I got...just in case you aren't on the Christmas Card List....

Click on the image to make it larger!

A Very Marianne Follis Thanksgiving

As your children get older, having a family meal becomes a logic problem

1) Madelaine works at Mimi's Cafe Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning
2) Madelaine works at Silver Fox on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening
3) The boys work at Silver Fox on Thursday evening
4) Fred works on Friday night and most of Sunday
5) I am working to cover for my boss from 9-2 on Saturday.
6) Zach, Madelaine's significant other need to be at a gig on Satuday at 9.

Good thing I am great at logic problems.

Fred put the turkey in at noon and the house smelled wonderful when I got in from work. We set the table, fixed the sides and had everything ready by 5:30.

It was actually one of the nicest Thanksgivings I can remember. We lingered over our dinner, and then retired to the living room for dessert and more chat.  The whole thing was over in 2.5 hours and the only tension was when the boys teased Zach about being FIBL II.  FIBL stands for future brother in law, which was their nickname for Mad's longest term boyfriend to date.  Zach wasn't bothered, but Mad was.

Here is the gang.  Of course I am taking the photo.

(Madelaine has darkened her hair again.  I think she does it just to bug me.)

The cherry on top was spending Sunday morning and afternoon with friends at a crafting brunch.  There were mimosa and fritattas and decoupage.  What more can you ask for?

I also get a kick hearing them curse me under their breath for my crafting prowess.  I will post photos of my finished product, but they aren't done yet.

Here we are, with our mess...my hair is back because, well, crafting is hard work.