Portland and Books!

What gift could an author find under her tree to make her jump around the room in excitement?

An plane ticket to PORTLAND specifically to visit Powell's Bookstore! The store is a city block big! This store holds a special spot in my heart as they were the first to embrace ebooks and carried my book right from the start. I've always longed to visit this magical place and now, thank you Ed, I get to! Before I leave home I have to find the fastest, cheapest and easiest way to ship the treasures I find back home after I purchase them. I know there will be a lot, how could a person who lives and breathes words come back without a box full of books?
And while I'm there I've discovered there is a huge fabric store close by, so I'll be checking that out as well.
I'm sure we'll need to eat somewhere too, so if anyone knows of a great place to eat (not a chain) please let me know.
If you know of a place that I shouldn't miss while I'm there post that too. I won't be there long, just two full days but I plan to use every minute I can--who needs sleep?

Christmas Delight

How fun is this? SNOW before CHRISTMAS! I love snow this time of year, it really gets me into the season.

After sending off a requested manuscript I decided to take the rest of the month off, sort of a mini-vacation at home.
One of the joys of not working is this guy. Home for the holidays! He's my Christmas kid, always humming or singing, decorating, he makes my Christmas special. Welcome home J.

So what have I been doing on my mini-vacation? Fun things! I made this digital ornament, not the best, but it's a new skill.

I've also been sewing, learning to use my new machine. There is a lot to learn. I may need to take an extra week or two to figure it out.

Soon though I will be missing writing so much I'll have to return to work on my newest story. Even now the character Amy Grace keeps poking my brain as if I should get busy and write her story.

Christmas is almost here and even though the season excites me--I love the lights, the best part of the season is knowing a child was born to save ME! AND YOU! Happy Birthday Jesus and thank you for your most amazing gift!

DECEMBER!!!!

Is it? I'm so very confused. When I went outside yesterday morning it was in the 60's by the evening it was so cold I had to wear a coat! Ah, Midwest living, there is nothing like it.

Have you all started the decoration of your homes yet? I have put out two things, my favorite snowman quilt, and my snowflake rug. Maybe this week I'll get the tree set up or not. :) We have a cat that likes to climb and take things from the tree, so delaying is more for my sanity.

The other thing that must be done is CLEANING. The last few years I've approached this icky job in a different way. I focus on the coming of Christ, now I know HE won't care what my house looks like, but I would! I wouldn't want guests to celebrate my children's birthdays in a dirty house. I don't want to have them celebrate Christ's birthday in a messy one either!

The cleaning shouldn't be too hard, now that all my children live somewhere else--except for the youngest and he won't be home until the middle of Dec. so he shouldn't make to much of a mess before Christmas. Sorry Josh. :)

That leaves baking. How do you handle baking all those wonderful delights if you and your husband are the only ones in the house most of Dec. I'm thinking of baking and freezing. The problem is neither of us mind eating frozen cookies. Such a dilemma.