18 More Sleeps...

Good day lovely peeps. We saw "The Vinyl Cafe Christmas Show" at the Royal Jubilee in Calgary. (I map-quested...thank goodness) small town girl driving in the B-I-G city gives me a migrane.
The set was gorgeous...I have a picture of it but I didn't bring my tri-pod so it is a little shaky sorry about that.
Don't you love how I captured that guys head. I amaze myself with my camera taking capabilities.
Stuart was the most amazing story-teller I have ever heard...and believe me I have listened to my fair share of audio books. His heartfelt stories make you feel like you know "Dave, Morley, their children and neighbors" and the fact that no matter what, we all have and know a Dave, a Morley and our neighbors are just as nuts as the next guys. Listening to his stories really makes me feel connected to family, friends and even strangers.
The audience was mixed. I would have thought there would be just old people there...boy was I wrong...there were children as young as 5 to a women who was 95. We were sitting next to a bunch of teenage boys if you can believe that.
His show wasn't just all stories either there were 2 entertainers. A young Jazz/Blues singer "Matt Anderson" and "M. Jackson" and they sang Christmas songs...it was truly beautiful. It was a full house at the jubilee (thousands of people) and even with all the children that were there, it was completely silent when Stuart was telling his stories. He held the attention of all for 2.5 hours. I would love to see him every year, Jackie and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is us, just after the show. The Jubilee was so beautiful and there were decorated Christmas Trees on every floor.

This has been an extremely productive week for me. I had 4 much needed days off work and was able to do some shopping, paid bills, got some of our christmas decorations up and was painting my ornaments like a mad-woman.
We live in a Senior neighborhood and senior's (I must admit) are all over the christmas decorating thing...they have all their lights up by the end of Nov. and their trees are decorated and their baking is all done and in the deep freeze and cards are addressed and mailed out...and then there is us...the darkest house on the block, not a treat not a card no sign of life except for the poodle, lol. Where we used to live we were the seniors in our neighborhood we were one of the first to decorate...and everyone sort of followed suite...except for the goths next door (but that is another story). So this year..we were the last, but we did it, the lights are on, our tree is upright and in place and we have a few decorations up.

Like this manger I painted many years ago. I used to teach painting classes and this one was one of the most popular classes. We painted it in sections, about 3 figures a year. They were alot of work because they are painted all the way around but I enjoy looking at them every year.
Christmas is all about those traditions that we do. Think about your traditions in your family...what traditions do you do that is unique to your own family or ones that you have started yourself and continue to do. Writing them down and telling the story is a great way to pass it down to future generations. I lost someone this year...and with that loss, alot of the traditions went too. So it is important to document and keep doing them no matter how hard it is.

I am proud to say that I have completed 3 out of the 9 hand-painted ornaments that I make every year. I want to post them but as you know, I can't, because they are for Christmas. I will post them after Christmas.

Well my little lovelies...until next week. Stay warm and safe.

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big thngs." Robert Brault