Everything but the kitchen sink...

A work in progress. Yes. I'm decorating. And you know what? It took over 4 hours to get this far and initially I was a bit grumpy. You know, having to clean the front entrance and all and then work more!!! But after about 2 hours I started singing Christmas carols and knew I was okay. Happy as a clam. Cece called just as I was ending this task for the evening, vowing to finish tomorrow. I said "Cece, for our mental health, I think we should all decorate every single day of the year!!!" We laughed really hard.

The garland around the door still has to be "poofed up and straightened (yes, I just threw it up there!)," the Azalea topiary still has to be lighted (can't find the lights and as Cece knows, I'm so organized, so where are the freakin lights?!), I have to find a fourth baby duck because I realized tonight someone took my 4th baby duck! What's up with that? Who would take a baby duck? I have to hide the cords, put down the holiday entrance rug...you know, just make it look all pretty!

I have a funny story. As I was decorating today a neighbor walked by and said "Oh, I'm so glad to see you're decorating." "Thanks, why?" "Because my wife and I were walking by a few nights ago and she said "I don't think they're going to decorate this year...it's getting late." But I told her you would. I replied "Well, after years of marriage you can finally go home and tell your wife she's wrong and you're right." The man roared. High five! And you know what's so funny, my neighbor's motivated me to decorate. I didn't want to decorate this year. Too tired and depressed about stuff at the park, but the complements I get are insane. Everyone seems to love this house at Christmas and all I decorate is the front entrance, so they made this happen. I honestly think they willed it. As you can see almost everything is natural and collected from the garden. I think that's what captures people's imagination as they walk by (and yes, lemons are always part of the theme. I turn the lights on at around 4 am for early joggers and dog walkers and I can't tell you how many beautiful comments I've recieved over the years. I really do it for all of them.

One of many Christmas flags, but this is my favorite because he's me.

A little birdhouse tucked in Nandina berries.

Nash. Still causing trouble at the park. He didn't learn anything after tripping me. Always walks between my feet.

A very cold, foggy day at the park. The day I rescued the last feral kitten. She was shivering and cold and knew her mom, Emma, was never coming back and she was alone. I walked back to the car, got the carrier and took her to the Vet's. The best decision I've ever made. She's home from the Vet's and sleeping next to me as I type this. She's perfection and so very, very happy. I honestly believe Emma is so proud of her and know she's watching from Heaven.

The bike path. I go into the woods second big tree on the left, just past the raspberry patch.

Entering the park the morning I rescued the last remaining wee one. I was alone. Not a person or car in sight. Cold. I remember it was so cold and damp. You would think I'd be scared being all alone in this big old park. There are days I am, but as I came down the hill to the entrance gate this day, I felt peace. The park was all mine and I know it so well. It's like a dear, dear friend. Writing this I remember the morning as if it were yesterday. The morning of Friday, December 12th, rushing around as usual to feed everyone, prepare to leave for the park, feed the birds and squirrels, do the first load of laundry, try to find time for a shower, etc., and then realized the view from my kitchen window was lovely. White Birch in the background, Camillias in the dessert dish.

Rusty's favorite thing in the whole world is warm laundry just out of the dryer! Another lucky day!!!

T-Bone and I went for a walk around the neighborhood and saw some wonderful decorations. This is just two houses up and the place is decorated to the hilt. T-Bone is fine with all the stuff at night, but when I took him past the house this afternoon, I was telling Cece he went all nutty on me!! Tail uncurled, tail down, ears down. It was hilarious. He was afraid of Santa and afraid of all the 7 foot nutcrackers lining the fence. I'm laughing just remembering. I said "Come on honey, buck up." I was unceremoneously dragged to the other side of the street. Hey! I was not amused.

Lovely.

Wow!!! We just stood and looked a long, long time.

Then some more!

T-Bone thought it was a toy. He started running. "DUDE, STOP." He didn't hear me because he proceeded to yank my arm clear out of it's socket.

Hydrangea for Leah. Yes, we still have blue ones at Christmas!

Pyracathus just beginning to turn red. I use the berries for holiday decorations, but this year the birds have beaten me to them. I've been left with very little, but don't mind. I'd rather a bird's tummy be full and happy.

Looking at the ivy Rob was supposed to trim before it grew into the tree. Noticed my arrow. I made it for a sculpture project at UCLA in the early 90's. My professor gave me so much crap for this thing. I cut it with an acetylene torch and welded all the parts together. The day of the critique he said, in front of the whole class, "Well what's it going to do (he was really into performance art)? I said "Nothing." He replied, "Why don't you go to the roof and throw it off (big cheers from my peers!!!). I said "NO!" He said "Why, your welds won't hold up?" I replied, "Trust me, my welds will hold up, but I'm worried the steel will bend." I got an A. Still funny to this day. Richard. That man was on my ass from the moment I entered the studio. Why? I don't know? I did more than any man or woman in that class, yet he was relentless. He was constantly challenging me to do more, to think harder. I was already thinking so hard I thought my brain would burst. It didn't. Thank God. Oh, and I still have the undamaged arrow to boot!

This is for Hunter. Yup, turkeys in the back yard a few years ago. Just six with Hopper as chaperone. There were 13 or 14 in total. It was amazing to have them grace this yard.

Rob's mom's dear friend died close to Christmas 3 years ago. Mom didn't want to celebrate Christmas, so I went to Michael's, bought a fake tree with lights and decorated with everything natural, and lots of fake birds because she loves birds (God fake birds are expensive!!!). She loved it. I said "Mom, when the holidays are over, just give it back and I'll save it for next year, hoping she'd forget the following year and I'd have it for the sofa table. That woman wouldn't give up the tree!!! Yup, loved it that much. Three years later...yup, guess I'll just have to make one for myself.

Mom's Christmas tree on the kitchen table.The table you see is no longer in the kitchen, but it has a funny story attached. Richard, my sculpture professor at UCLA came in one day and said "What is this, a fucking furniture factory?" I'd made a kitchen table, a coffee table and a sofa table!!! All steel with wood tops!!! Seriously, the man was relentless! I used to walk around with a face mask I'd flip up to talk and leather everything. Leather chaps, leather jacket, leather gloves. One day I said to Richard "I'm a vegetarian and I'm sick of wearing this much leather." He said, "Well, the alternative is death. Make a choice." Hey, you little bastard. I swear to God he is one of the fondest, most annoying memories of my whole life!!! And if you've never welded, all that leather is heavy. It's not nice light leather, it's heavy. I guess so you don't burn up or something. I don't know?

Finally...the end!

;) Love you all and thanks for stickin' around.

P.S. If you've read this far, I know you're a true friend. Cece said everyone is concerned I'm overextended. I am overextended and trying to figure out what to give up. I'll figure it out. Seriously. I'll figure it out.