It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Brrrr. I know that we in the Inland Northwest aren't the only ones in this deep freeze, but good golly it's COLD!!! We're supposed to be below zero tonight and tomorrow night. It's a balmy 4F outside right now. I just got back from a run to the post office to send off a couple of packages to Japan and I made it there just before the big rush. There was only one person before in line but when I left there were about 30 people in line! My goodness! I wasn't the hold-up either. I had all of my documents filled out and ready to go. As the saying goes, "this isn't my first rodeo!"

Since I've been busy trying to finish the last minute gifts, I haven't done too many mittens but I have managed to finish four more pair. I guess that's better than none, right?

I ran outside last night and froze my fingers to get a couple of pictures for you. These are the brightest houses on the block. We don't have lights out this year. Our house is so high and I hate ladders. Consequently I don't like Hubby on them any more than he has to be either. So since the boys moved out we have given up the outside lights.

My favorite by far is the one with all of the blue lights. We took Piper down the street to see them Saturday night and Mandy says it looks like a Christmas movie "threw up" on the second one's lawn. (Must be the nurse in her!) *smile* The third is so simple that I like it too. Sorry that picture is a bit blurry. My hands were completely frozen by then!

I think I told you that I was making some socks for some children that live in Northern Idaho. I met their mom on her blog. Her husband is a pastor at a small town church and they live in the mountains in a log home. They have children who love wool socks since they heat their home with a wood stove and the floors can be cold. She doesn't knit and when I read this, well, you know what happened. I offered to knit some socks for the kids. Yesterday her husband had a meeting here in Spokane so Julianne and I met at Perkins for tea and ended up talking for over two hours. She is an absolutely lovely lady and we had a wonderful time. At least I did and I hope she did too! :-) They make their own tea mixture and she gave me a jar of it. I had a cup before bed last night and it is wonderful. It's so nice to meet new people through this blog and others too. I wish every one of us could get together and share like Gracie, Teresa, Taci and I do. It's one of the things I look forward to every trip I take to Portland. After hugging and kissing on Piper of course! We're having lunch at Teresa's home in about two weeks and I'm so looking forward to it. Fun and fellowship and talking about crocheting and knitting and Christmas and, and, and, whatever else comes up. We just truly enjoy each other's company. I am very jealous that Gracie and Teresa get to go swimming together several times a week. Well, maybe someday I'll live close by and can join them.

We're not putting a tree up this year since it's just Hubby and I and we'll be at Mandy's for Christmas itself. I did put a few of my favorite decorations out though. This is our nativity set. It's the star of the show every year, because without Jesus' birth, why would we even be celebrating? After all, that is truly the reason for this season we celebrate.

I made this set the first Christmas we were married in 1978 so it's been on prominent display for 35 years now. Through all of these years not one of the pieces were broken. I even painted on the faces of all the people and the animals. This definitely has a favored spot in my heart for the holidays.

Tomorrow is Hubby's company Christmas party. He will be honored as being an employee for 20 years. So that means we've been in Spokane for 20 years. That time has sure gone fast. It seems just a few short years ago that we moved cross country to a city that I'd never even heard of before. We do love it here EXCEPT for the brutal winters. Retirement closer to the coast is sounding better all the time. I just wish we could afford to retire to Hawaii! :-)

And now I need to gather my mitten materials and head out the door to my Friday afternoon knitting group. Another group of lovely ladies to play with! Oh I do have a wonderful life.

Have a safe, warm and dry weekend my friends and I'll be back soon.

Blessings,

Betsy

An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and they were terrified but the angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11