Twas the Beginning of the Season

I attended a fun fund-raising event the other night at Molbak's, a local nursery, justifiably famous for their Christmas displays.  The monies raised went to the local YWCA and I enjoyed myself immensely.

I think this was the most perplexing item of the night....is there something other than "real plastic snow" that I don't know about?  I mean, plastic snow is, er, plastic, right?  Is there such a thing as fake plastic snow?

I am now officially old enough to geez, "Why, I remember when poinsettias came only in red."

My two buddies, Joanie and Susie, joined me for the evening.  We started it out by having a fine dinner at the Mongolian Grill.

You know that you are in the Pacific Northwest when you can buy ferry boat and Space Needle ornaments....

I thought this little felt birdhouse was adorable.  It is the sort of ornament that makes me think, "I could do that."

But I won't.

I thought this display with all greens and silver was very pretty.  The glittery holly leaf tree was something that appealed to me, but NO!!!  I don't NEED it.  I have no idea where I'm going to put all the PEOPLE who will be with me at Christmas, let alone decorations that I really, truly-o do not need.

As my family will attest, I am a real sucker for Christmas ornaments.  I have a Christmas ornament problem.  Every year I have to buy more, and every year I buy more for my family.  Each member of the family gets an ornament each year.  I started doing this when my first child was born and I've continued it for many years.  (I won't tell you how many as my eldest might not want the world to know how many ornaments her mother has given her.)

I thought my grandson might like this engine, but I have already purchased a fine ornament for him and I restrained myself.

I could have gotten this lovely sign for my middle child, the one who attended Stanford (whose mascot is a cardinal)....but I didn't.

All in all, I was very restrained.  I did buy two orchids for myself, but that was about it.  (Lovely orchids that have multiple stems with many, many blooms!  Wonderful orchids.)  Have I mentioned my orchid problem?  Noooo?

Oh.

I was so inspired I spent the weekend making, address, stuffing, sealing, stamping and addressing my Christmas cards.  And then, I cleaned up my mess!!!  I have never had them ready to mail before Thanksgiving before.

It sort of scares me, actually.