It's 6 pm on a Friday and as usual, I didn't get nearly as much accomplished today as I had hoped to.  I didn't spend extravagently, but I spent more than I had planned. 

I bought 15 dollars worth of things for Christmas.  2 rolls of beautiful wrap, several containers to put homeade goodies in and a pretty angel cup to put in a gift basket with coffee and muffins.  

I finished cleaning out and organizing my coat closet yesterday, and now I have nowhere to keep the stuff I just bought.  *sigh*  I have 2 small bins full of little gifts to put inside baskets and tins, but they are already full. 

My mother is giving me a gorgeous armoire -- or perhaps it is a buffet?  I am not sure what it is called.  It's got 2 shelves on the bottom and then t here is a top part with glass doors and shelves.  Anyway -- I should be getting this this week -- it will be the perfect place to store my Christmas goodies. 

You know what I miss?  I miss having help.  An older brother, a male cousin, etc who can help lift heavy things.  I have dh, and that is all.  And he is not all that helpful, if you know what I am saying!  (*cough, cough*)  My Dad is getting older and has a bad knee.  None of dh's friends ever help.  So I am basically at the same point as my mother -- either do it yourself or it won't be done.

Are there any of YOU that carry your own chairs, bookcases, armoires, etc. up and down stairs, in and out of the house?  Well, if I don't, it will never get done.  It's a sad fact of my life.

Of course I can PAY someone to help me -- but I think back to the dozens of times I have helped other people with household chores and have done it out of the goodness of my heart. 

What happened to the good old days when the whole community got together to help raise a barn?  *sigh*

Ok, so back to my armoire.  My mother and I decided enough is enough.  We are giong to put one piece at a time in the back of my SUV and get it into my house.  Because we are strong and we are STUBBORN!  (The latter being of utmost importance when moving heavy furniture)  I HATE having my Mom help me.  She's one tough cookie.  She moved the darn thing herself out into the garage from the house! 

It's a family piece that I am going to love and cherish and hand down -- so it's a very important piece to me!  And I really want to enjoy it over the holidays.

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My parents, Emme and I are going to Chicago next weekend for my cousin's wedding.  Emme is really looking forward to it.  I will be "carschooling" Emme on Friday so I want to make sure to include something interactive with the trip we're taking.  It's only a 4-1/2 hour drive, but not all that scenic, especially this time of the year!  We'll definitely stop at the Illinois border so she can get a postcard or something to put inside of her "field trip notebook" --- and I think we may be going to Sears Tower -- so maybe I will talk about that building before we go.  I will do my BEST to take pictures!  I'm so bad at remembering that. 

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My friend Domi from France took this picture last April -- isn't it beautiful?  She takes wonderful photos.  

Well, have a blessed weekend and Veteran's Day!

Sherry