I'm Glad SOMEONE is having FUN in all this SNOW!

Yes, That's Ralphie chasing after Blue!

They just burst out into the snow and raced around in HAPPINESS!

Then Ralphie turned and saw Jimmy with the TOY!

and it was ON! (They can do this non-stop!)

"The Victor!"

(He does usually win!)

Isn't he cute with his new haircut!

I finally found someone who can groom him and be kind and gentle with him while he's being "rowdy"!

We went back inside right after this photo...you can see the cold was getting to everyone especially when Ralphie starts holding up his feet.

We had an onlooker again. UP in the tree behind an old nest.

When I took his photo he flew off and settled into the trees that are further out.

Just a tiny dot up in the trees.

I kinda feel sorry for him.

It has to be hard to find food in all the snow...

but I also feel sorry for his "food".

My Vintage Phone

So I had a vintage phone out in my booth, this isn't an actual photo of it but it was very similar to this one.

preciousnupitals.com

After work I drove out to see how my sales were doing at my booth. The old guy that runs the desk said that things had been really slow. I told him that it didn't look like anything of mine had sold since I was last in and asked what my sales were so far. (I've got another $70.00 to go to make rent, fingers crossed!)

So he told me that I didn't need to drive out and check if I didn't want to, that I could just call. I said OK and Thanks but I had come out in hopes of finding things gone and that I would maybe need to rearrange things.
Then he asked me if I had a "vintage phone" in my booth and then handed me part of a tag.
So it seems that someone had stolen my phone. He said that piece of tag was laying on the floor and he didn't see my phone so he walked all around the other booths to see if it had been misplaced but found nothing. He was very apologetic and said that he tries to keep an eye on people but sometimes when it gets busy it's hard to do so. He said it probably was someone with a big purse.........

shoplifting sign for thetherapist

Bummer..............kinda makes me ANGRY!

This is WHY I Don't Put up a BIG Xmas Tree!.....

I'M taking a BREAK from Online Xmas SHOPPING for an

IMPORTANT  ANNOUNCEMENT!

The other day at work I received a Green Pixie!
I was lucky enough to have won the giveaway over at http://kaeriefaerie52.blogspot.com/ Karey was celebrating her 100th Etsy sale!
(I had Karey send her to my work address) and the kitties had to see what was in the package. She was an instant big hit!

Little Bug and Scooter checking her out!

I think she's looking a little bit nervous of them! Maybe cats and pixies together aren't the best idea!?
I quickly put her in a safe place.
I have a niece that is all about Pixies, Fairies and all things Magical and she would make a wonderful Christmas gift....
(If I'm able to part with her!)
Thanks so much Karey!

WARNING ! ! !

Bah Humbug Alert!

HEY! I warned you!

I'm feeling overwhelmed.

I haven't bought one Christmas gift yet!

(OK! I have 2 for a gift exchange dinner but those don't count because my sister picked them up for me.)

I didn't even put up outside lights this year!

No wreath on the front door.

Is it too late?

I feel like it's too late.

I didn't decorate the house because it's a mess.

I have half done remodeling projects.

Maybe I could drape twinkle lights over paint cans.

I could sprinkle glitter over the dust.

I've let everything kind of slide while I was working on things for my booth.

I have projects all over the kitchen table.

I thought I could spray paint something by holding it out the back door.

It's 22 degrees out.

But a burst of wind blew the spray back in and now my eyeglasses are speckled

and the floor inside the door has a faint color of turquoise.

But Hey, I'm going to tile that...SOMEDAY.

I took all my found/upcycled items out to my booth and picked up my first check!

$20.63!

OK, yes I spent more than that on Xmas decorations for it but....

At least I didn't have to pay THEM!

I stopped at Target to get some dog food that was on sale.

They are HIRING.

Maybe I should have done that with my time instead.

One of my friends told me that if I hadn't spent the cash for the booth, and the framework and the decorations and the paint and all the things I've bought at the thrift shops or Estate sales....

that I could have put that time and cash towards tiling my backsplash and working on my house.

I told someone else about her statement, to which SHE replied -

"Yeah, I too wondered why you did the booth thing"

At least my Bloggers friends understand.

The other night, I was so upset that I didn't work on a damn thing.

I just sat and watched TV and brushed my dogs.

It was actually nice.

One of my best friends told me that I create my own stress.

Maybe she's right.

Maybe I need to stop spending on art supplies and "treasures".

Maybe I need to just STOP trying to find a way to make cash,

and just SAVE some.

And as John Lennon said -

"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans."

Yep, today is the 30th anniversary of the tragic murder.

30 years ago.

Sorry for the downer post.

Christmas in LeClaire, Iowa

Yesterday I went to LeClaire, Iowa for their Christmas Walk with my sister and my nieces. I live in Illinois on the border and across the river is Iowa. (Where I work.) and up the river about 20 miles is LeClaire. It is also the hometown of "American Pickers" a cable show that I have never seen but one that everyone tells me I would enjoy, but...I don't have cable, I feel like I watch too much television as it is! And then again, there's my blog addiction!

My sister and her girls begrudgingly let me take their photo and grumbled "Are you going to put this on your BLOG?'
To which I replied - "Probably!"

It had snowed at least 4 inches so it added to the ambiance.

There was the sound of the CLIP CLOP of horse hooves and the JINGLE BELLS ringing from their halters.

I was so busy taking photos that I didn't realize that I knew one of the passengers until it was passing me and she was waving! She's one of the managers at the Humane Society.

We always like going to Grasshoppers and getting a SMOOTHIE but apparently the economy hit the drink maker and her Smoothie Bar was closed down.

It was fun stopping in all the shops to see what they had. But I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. All the shops except "ARTWORKS" and "PRIMITIVE COTTAGE" had items that were obviously ordered in from some mass-producer. I loved "ARTWORKS" which was stocked full of original work. That shop really got my creative mind working. "PRIMITIVE COTTAGE" had a lot of nice handmade and vintage items and my sister bought a few items. As we were shopping there I heard my name called out. I knew one of the co-owners! She and a friend had started up the shop together and her husband was manning the register. I knew her from the vet clinic that I work at. Actually I am the one that named her dog though I'm not sure if she's aware of that. You see, a Golden Retriever had been brought in by Animal Control that had been hit by a car.

photo from -

http://www.almostheaven-golden-retriever-rescue.org/

 Unfortunately the damage was so extensive that he lost a back leg. After he healed (and no one came forward to claim him) Tammy and her husband adopted him. At the clinic the girls were calling him different names and I finally said "Why don't you call him Trooper because he's been such a trooper through it all!" So the name stuck. And I got to say we all have joked that we wonder what he would be like with four legs because he's an energetic maniac on just three! 
Ha! Funny how everything seems to come back to dogs or cats! :) :) :)

Just before it SNOWED....

The trees were filled with little birds.

Yes, Birds, those are not leaves, the trees are bare.

Everywhere.

Where did they go now that it's snowed?