The Holiday Season is Now Here

It's now late November. Thanksgiving and Black Friday have now passed, and Cyber Monday is now approaching. I really don't like shopping in crowds so I have been home, working on making products for my store and digesting wonderful turkey leftovers.

It was a very memorable Thanksgiving with mom and dad here at my house. Finally free of Thanksgivings at that snobby, rude and nasty lady's house (her daughter and husband were nice but she was just terrible). It's so wonderful to have my parents to myself, spending quality time without fighting or socializing with others. Something we haven't had the chance to do on Thanksgiving in over ten years, at least. And the food this year was far superior to previous years elsewhere. As a team, the three of us chopped, assembled, made pies, and everything else to create a feast beyond description. Dad made his mother's pumpkin pie recipe, mom overseed the stuffing and turkey. I helped make stuffing, stuffed the turkey and made a ton of mashed potatoes. Nothing was burned and it all was perfect!

Now, I have a refrigerator full of amazing leftovers, as do my parents. We split it all up so they could take half when they went home. The cats didn't care to eat much of anything. Matt had a little turkey but Beau was totally uninterested as usual and had his canned food instead. Nobody went hungry, we all ate our fair share and are continuing to do so, even a few days later.

It's amazing how controlled mom was, I am so proud of her for not being angry and overly domineering. The meds she takes help for sure. She was bossy but that's not too bad. I respect her knowledge on cooking, as she's an amazing cook. She even started getting out of control with her attitude but somehow, miraculously roped herself back in! She was more respectful and able to hear other views than her own. I nearly cried it was such a step in the right direction. I am very thankful for this, along with all of us being in good health. We all have a lot to be thankful for. This first Thanksgiving in my house was a total success.

Now I'm back to making products for my store, putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house in general for Christmas. The homemade wreath I made is on the front door, the mantle of the fireplace is decorated with garland, candles and other sparkly, festive items such as candleholders, poinsettia and more. I ordered window candles that should come this week, to finish my decorating off, and give this house that extra holiday flavor. Mom and dad thought of the same thing and got window candles for thier house, too. We all decorate with our pets' safety in mind, as cats think decorations are playtoys most of the time. So far, so good!

Matt and Beau have been enjoying themselves. They hang out in front of the fireplace or under the Christmas tree, enjoying the lights. As for me, the ambience is so wonderful. I love it when the living room and kitchen have decorative touches and lovely warm lighting to make them glow. Bouquets of very realistic silk flowers I assembled earlier in the month are here and there to add touches of color to it all. It's all good.

google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann

Getting Ready for the Holiday Season

It's early November, we've already had our first snowfall here in Ohio and winter is coming..along with the holiday shopping season. I'm busy getting my store ready with new products, keeping me busy designing day and night. It's not work to me but fun as I sit here in my recliner or at my desk, at the computer, organizing and publishing my designs. On either side of me are the cats, both of them are never far away. It's cute seeing them happily sleep on their "thrones" (an ottoman and an old desk chair).As for me, I have my fire in the fireplace, tv on as I work and a pot of coffee to keep me going. Many years back I tortured myself by working for others, sitting in cubicles doing things I hated to do. How wonderful it is to work here at home, in peace and relative quiet. To me, atmosphere is very important for focusing and concentrating.





All is going well between myself and my parents. Yes, mom is still difficult (even on her antidepressant meds, which she's finally taking)but I take it in stride the best I can. Boundaries. I don't want or like drama orconflict (which she thrives upon),so I enforce my boundaries when needed. It works. She thinks I'm "grouchy" or angry at times, but she says that about anyone who doesn't do what she wants. I am above it and just keep going. Life is good and nobody is going to ruin it for me. Peace and happiness are what I want out of life. We all did amazingly well together when the three of us went for breakfast in Little Italy (I haven't been there in years!) and drove around areas I haven't seen in awhile before going to the Designer sale over at Legacy Village last week. It feels so great when the family all gets along :)

In driving around in our old stomping grounds (Beachwood, Lyndhurst, S.Euclid, Cleveland Hts, Mayfield, etc) it was fascinating to see how the years have changed things. Cedar Center's plaza has been mostly razed on one side, just gone, and on the other, everything has been changed. Some neighborhoods we used to drive through when I was a kid have deteriorated, some shopping areas have improved. It's hard to believe I've lived so long to see such major differences in cities, neighborhoods. The improvements to some places makes my memories of how it once was seem quite aged and almost prehistoric. It's surprising and fascinating at the same time. Time moveth on.

At the fashion sale, it was the last day and everything was half off. I got three leather coats, adding some style back into my wardrobe. I'd given some of my old clothes away, including stylish old coats when I moved to
Florida years ago so it's nice to have coats that aren't just utilitarian but also are attractive. One coat is long, down-filled and leather, that should keep me very warm here in the snow belt of Ohio. Mom got a bunch of clothes. Unfortunately there weren't mens' clothes at this event, but dad will be getting his own clothes on his own soon. Good! He deserves it!

My tulip bulbs have been planted, along with an onion (originally from the supermarket but it started sprouting so I just planted it in the garden and it took hold). Planting is over now. Chickadees come to my birdfeeder here and there, all the leaves are now off the trees outside. My hibiscus trees are doing well inside, adding a little greenery and flowers to my otherwise plant-challenged decor. I keep a  fire in the fireplace most of the time, so it feels cozy in here.

I'm thinking of putting decorations up for Christmas but am too short to hang lights outside so I'd need to hire someone to do that. Maybe just a nice wreath and decorate the hearth and stairwell/landing upstairs with greenery. It takes ungluing myself from work. After finishing my work, my energy is nearly gone, so maybe taking a day off from work will be the best idea. I'll put up a Christmas tree, but will wait until after Thanksgiving to do that. Tradition. Matt loves to play so I may have to leave the bottom of the tree undecorated or there will be ornaments (or in his mind, "cool, new cat toys") all over the house! :) He's so cute, like a big, furry white kitten. Beau doesn't play much but Matisse makes up for that for sure.

I'm watching a Harry Potter marathon as I write at the moment. Great movies. Yes, I'm a Potter-nerd :) I have to get the last movie still, it just came out in the stores. Next week, it will be mine. I never tire of watching the Potter movies, with their beautiful scenery and likeable main characters. Those movies are pure creativity in many ways. Love them.

Time to go back to work now. Yawn. I'm designing plates, laptop cases, notepads and much more right now. I dream about my work. It's a passion..and I must keep going. It's a wonderful thing and so very worth it all.







google-site-verification: google7067dc8e96d74570.html The Fine Artwork of Carolyn McFann