25 Days of Christmas, Day 18: Life Lately

 We are officially one week away from Christmas; the countdown has definitely begun! Am I ready? I most certainly am not. I still have a few gifts to buy, lots of wrapping to do, cookies to bake and decorate, and a photo tour of the house to post. Will I get it all done? I most certainly will not. If anyone would care to place bets on which items will go unfinished, please feel free (bet on the cookie baking; you're sure to be a winner, because, unless a batch of pizzelles bake themselves, they probably ain't getting done).

So, what have I been doing lately?

Working (as if you have to ask). I managed my first end-of-year appeal for New Job, which, required designing and ordering a flyer, folding it, stuffing, stamping, and labeling over 900 envelopes, and delivering them to the local post office. It was time consuming, but, hopefully it will result in lots of cash donations.

I also delivered a speech to a local organization that donated presents to 36 of the families that we work with. It took three full car loads to get the presents back to our office, and, the presents are stacked everywhere as they await pick-up by their intended recipients.

It hasn't been all work, of course; despite what I said earlier, I have baked a few batches of cookies.

And, I've watched It's a Wonderful Life while lounging on the couch with a glass of wine.

I got a new bandanna for the Boomer Dog...

...started a new batch of homemade vanilla extract...

...and enjoyed the twinkle of the lights on the Christmas tree.

It's been a pretty good week, actually. And, now we have one week to go until Christmas. I did mention  that, right?