They weren't kidding with the "unsettled weather" weather forecast for the weekend.  The sunrise yesterday was awesome.

When Dawn and I went grocery shopping, it started to rain (of course - it always starts to rain when we get groceries!)  On the way home, the rain on the windshield had bits of snowflakes mixed in it.  By yesterday afternoon, it was snowing at the house.

Then it started sticking.

That is about the most of the snow that we got.  I don't think anyone got hit really hard.  Shingletown had a few inches, but not too much, considering Redding was getting snow.

Last night was the company Christmas party.  Ralph and I got all dressed up!  AJ took pictures of us together, and then one of just me in my dress.  I love the dress and got tons of compliments.

The party was fun.  The dinner was good, and the company was great.  We had a fun table - a couple of the retired employees that I know (one I had worked with before Alex was born at my last bank - definitely have known her a while!)  I also had an employee from my department there - her first Christmas party at the bank.  A good combination!  The entertainment was good - they played "The Newlywed Game" with real newlyweds.  Fun, but..... I think everyone likes the entertainment to be similar to last year (Al and I were Sonny and Cher).

I did take some pictures of the gloves I made yesterday.  I'm using the ruffled yarn and adding it to the gloves.  They turn out really cute!  I like the other style for me - I like the added length to the glove (but my hands are larger than most, and the gloves aren't long enough!)

Friday was the Christmas Breakfast at work - I was up at 4:20 to get a quiche in the oven.  I took in goodies to work, and gave everyone a pair of the gloves, with the option to change out what I gave them for ones that they really liked for all the gloves I had made.  (I don't know what every one likes!!!)  A couple of people kept the gloves I gave them, the rest changed out for different gloves.  I'm glad I gave them the option.  They also got a snowflake, and a cup with Holiday Tea (except for Malorie - she got hot chocolate - she can't eat anything with citrus in it.)

I woke up this morning, thinking of the tragedy in Connecticut.  I don't think I can even imagine what the families there are feeling or how they are coping.  The thought of something like this happening 'anywhere' is terrible - and it could so easily happen 'anywhere'.  My heart goes out to them.  Allison had actually been sick at school yesterday, so I had dashed down to get her around 9:00.  I had her at home with me when the news started breaking.  Such a comfort to know she was home safe with me.  

I'm slowly working my through my to-do list.  Last night, I wrote out the Christmas cards and envelopes.  I wrote up the Christmas letter on Thursday, so now I just need to print them out, put them together, get stamps and put them in the mail.  One more project complete!  I also sat down and made up a few more snowflakes, and then....I found several left over from last year (or ones I made this year and out out in the guest house - I forget!!)  That project may be as done as it is going to be.

I was supposed to be working with Randa yesterday to re-teach her how to crochet, but we cancelled because Alli was sick.  Her husband doesn't need exposure to any germs, he is very ill already.  I need to make up some more gloves, I think (and post of picture of the new ones!)  That is pretty much the end of my Christmas projects.  All I have left is the actual shopping.  I'm looking for suggestions for presents for Ralph - I think I have everyone else covered.  I just have to go get the presents (or wait for them to be delivered - the puppy toys are coming via Amazon.)  I hope to work on my quilt tomorrow.

Ralph took pictures along the way of the solar install.  Here is the roof before:

The materials (after we washed off the blood)

The rails being installed:

The panels being installed:

The finished project:

We're going solar!  The solar panels arrived earlier in the week (which had its own story - see below) and the workman arrived yesterday to start the installation.  When the guys came, they just went on through to the backyard, and didn't tell me they were here.  I had heard some trucks, but just thought it was someone's gardener or something, and didn't think anything more about it.  Then, I noticed there was a ladder in the pool area.  Hmmmm....someone must be here!  The dogs did not even notice that there were two trucks in the driveway, and three guys walking back and forth, much less that they were on the roof!  Picot noticed.  She was sitting at the back door, staring outside (which she does all the time anyway, but she was a bit more skittish than normal).  The guys were probably here for 20 minutes before the dogs noticed them.. Some watchdogs we have!

Tank hasn't noticed them yet (doesn't he look skinny!!!).

They got the panels all installed today, and will be back probably Monday to hook them up, call for an inspection, etc.  We are so close!!!

The rest of the story......The panels were delivered Wednesday while I was in town.  When I got out of the car, Dawn met me, and said I might want to go investigate the happenings   AJ had taken a knife outside, and then had come right back in muttering about blood and band-aids   That didn't sound too good!  It turns out that AJ had lent his knife to the driver to cut the ties on the panels, and the driver had cut himself.  I don't think it was a terribly serious cut, but it was definitely a bleeder.  Poor guy!  After he and AJ got the panels off the truck, AJ washed the blood off the panels.  Not the driver's day for sure!

A productive day yesterday - about a dozen gloves finished (and a new type of glove decoration - pictures later when the light is better), two legs made for the fox stole (two more to go, and the tip of the tail, then I have to put it all together) and still time for a nice walk.

The weather was sunny, but cold.  Rain came in later in the afternoon, but the morning was really nice.  I kept the dogs on a leash, since Koori had just had an expensive bath.

Tank was very happy on his walk, too.  He was barking just out of fun.

Today, the agenda includes shopping and a nail appointment,  Tomorrow is the staff breakfast, and I need to make a quiche, and take in an ornament for our exchange.  After shopping, I need to get stuff together for presents for my department.  I hope to have everything put together for tomorrow morning, so they get their presents on the same day as the big breakfast.  We'll see!

You would think that if you were on vacation, you could just sleep in, relax, not do anything, etc.  Not MY vacations!!  I've been busy!

I actually sat down yesterday for a few hours and sewed on my quilt.  It is coming along, slowly but surely.  I have most of the pieced pieces together.  It looks like the rest of it is just getting the edgings put together, and then I'll be ready to quilt it.  Just FYI - that may not happen any time soon!

My to-do list has gotten shorter, but not by nearly enough.  I still have tons of things to get done, and, as usual, probably won't get to all of them.  Oh, well - I always have high hopes of getting everything crossed off my lists.  Something about crossing them off is so satisfying.  I think I'm going to go cross off a few things that I know won't get done this week, just so I feel better!

Koori got a bath yesterday!  I took her in to PetSmart, and they gave her a good bath, brushing and grooming.  She is so soft!  Her nails are also way shorter.  Since PetSmart is so close to the River Trail, when I picked her up, we went for a nice little walk.  It is a mile from the shopping center over the river to Turtle Bay.  It was a dark and gloomy day, but no rain yet.  (It started raining just as I left for Scouts).  The freeway is just off to the side of the trail, but you would never know it by the beautiful river scenes.  If you could ignore the noise of the traffic, it was a very relaxing walk.  Luckily, I can ignore just about anything - Koo and I had a great time!

Here's the dress I'm wearing for the Christmas party - the dress is beautiful - I'm hoping it looks as good on, too!

What a full day yesterday was!  It was the last day of my quilting club for the year, and they auctioned off items that had been made as 'extra projects' over the year (like I had time to do anything extra - I didn't even get the last project done!  But....I did finish three of them - Yes!!) and quilting patterns and material.  During the year, we earned 'Thimbleberry Bucks' for bringing in our project, doing extra items, and bringing in items for show-and tell.  I spend part of an evening last week searching for all of my Bucks from the year.  I'm sure I have more than what I found, but.....they are still hiding!  I dug out what I could find, and then joined forces with Meredith.  Neither of us had a lot of Bucks, but together, she was able to win a table topper quilt that one of the members had done over the year.  I need to get a picture of it - it is beautiful (and much better than what either of us can make at this time)  She put it out yesterday with her Christmas stuff.  Pretty!!!  I also picked up the last of the material for the Christmas quilt - I haven't touched the last set!

After quilt club, I ran home (after a quick trip to the store) and started baking cookies.  Around 2:00, the Derby and Fisher clans showed up to decorate sugar cookies and make jewelry.  In the past, I had the girls over as part of a group of AJ's friends, and they decorated cookies and made ornaments.  Over the years, the group dwindled down, as AJ's friends got older, they lost interest in making ornaments (though the still liked eating the cookies).  Last year, I skipped it all together.  

At Halloween, we got together for Meredith's and Veronica's Mom's birthday, the girls asked if they could come over this year for cookies.  The Derby's moved to Paradise several years ago, so to work with their schedule, we decided on yesterday as 'the day'.  Lord help me, I wasn't ready for Christmas yet!!  I did get the house decorated last weekend, but that was about all that I got done.  I planned on getting a couple of batches of cookies made during the week, but here I was Saturday afternoon, baking cookies!  I did get the sugar cookies baked Friday night, but that was all.  Yesterday, I got chocolate chip, peanut butter, and macaroon cookies baked before 2:00 (okay - the macaroons were still baking when they got here, but they were almost done!)

Since "the girls" are now young adults (Carolyn is AJ's age, Emma will be 18 in a few weeks, and Rosemary is driving now!!!!) I decided to get out my jewelry stuff for them, and they could make presents for their moms.  Then, the moms decided to come over too, so.....we all made our own presents!  Emma has beaded before, so she was a lot of help showing how to work the wire, etc.  I think everyone had a great time, and they all went home with some pretty earrings and bracelets.

After they left (5:15 or so) I rushed in and changed clothes, met them back at Meredith's house at 6:00, and went to Shasta High School's Madrigal Dinner.  It was wonderful!  It is at the Pilgrim's Church, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the acoustics are fantastic!  Tirza's (a former co-worker of Veronica and Meredith, and also of Ralph - I've know her for years!) daughter was the "Queen" and so the tickets we got (my ticket was a birthday present from V & M - awesome!) were through her, and....we sat at the head table.  At the end of the program, Tirza was 'knighted' by her daughter as a thank you for all the work she has done over the years for the program.  (Duchess of Culinary Procurement and Coordination or something like that - too cute!) Again, Awesome!!  Here is a picture of Amanda, the Queen (and the King of course :) )

Part of the cast.  As Queen, Amanda tried out for the part in August, and was responsible for practice sessions, and a lot of the coordination of efforts - amazing experience for a senior in high school!  She also has a beautiful voice (as did all of the troop.)

Part of the play - bringing in the Boar's Head

The singing was awesome, literally.  The sound of Madrigal music in the church was beautiful.  (Not that impressed with some of the instrumental sounds, but the singing made up for it!)  The dinner was good - especially considering the number of people being fed by high school kids dressed in period costume.  The servers kept us entertained when there wasn't actual performances gong on with really bad jokes.  I was constantly amazed at the poise these 'kids' had.  What a great experience for them.  

After all that, I got home after 10:00, and, needless to say, didn't go to bed until 11:30.  What a great day!!

I got a request from a co-worker this week.  He had been seeing the 'bearded beanies' and wanted one.  he even brought me the pattern for it!  I whipped one up, attached it to the hat (he provided that as well) and......I hope he likes it.  I'm not a fan - too hot - but if he is happy, I'm happy!

Yesterday, when I took the cats to the vet around 10:00, I hit a slight road block.  Churn Creek was flowing over Meadowview Rd.  I took Airport Road in to town instead, and when I came home, I took Churn Creek Road the back way in to the subdivision, and stopped and took a couple of pictures.  This is facing East on Meadowview, and just before the bridge, the creek is over the road.

Wow!  I didn't think we had that much rain!  I don't think 'we' did - I think other areas were hit much harder than we were.  We didn't have any damage (that we have found so far, at least) from the rain or wind.  Margene lost a fence all along one side of her property.

Margene had said she would be down to brush Tank, and called to apologize for not coming yet, as she had been dealing with issues on her property.  AJ and I went down to help her with the fence - she needed some muscle to hold stuff for her (which is why AJ went down, I just went to keep them company!)  She mostly was just trying to dog proof her back yard.  The main repairs will probably wait until spring, as the fence is actually the neighbors, not hers.  

I got everything on my to-do list crossed off today!  What a thought!  Of course, it want's a really long list, but still, they all got done!  I got the house and tree decorated for Christmas, two cats to the vet for shots (only one 'minor' scratch on my hand) the leftover turkey cut up and put in the freezer and turkey broth made with the carcasses, and Tank brushed out - thanks to Margene!  (and we all had a bite or scratch mark from Tank - he wasn't a happy camper!)  Margene brought down her 'furminator' brush and AJ, Magene and I tackled Tank for over an hour.  We all need a shower afterwards, trust me, but Tank looks like half the dog he used to.  Santa is going to bring him his very own furminator (and a muzzle!) for Christmas.

I also made up a flyer for my crocheted crafts this year.  I'm not doing much ahead of time that I can't use somewhere else, but if any one wants to special order anything, I will do that.  I went through all of my boxes of yarn/thread today (!?!?!?!) and sorted out what I have, and what I need to make, etc.  I have too many projects there to get done by Christmas!  I even got in the yarn to finish my fox stole....but it still isn't done.  Maybe next week???  I did get a new Christmas dress for the work Christmas party.....bight red, long enough I need high heels, and gorgeous.  I can hardly wait.  I'm gong to stop traffic :)

The wind storm came, but not so much of the rain.  That's okay by me, but....if it is going to rain another 5 or 6 inches, can't it rain at night, so I can run around during the day and not get soaked???  Today is a 'run around' day, too.  I'm going to go jump in the shower here is a sec, and get ready to start the day with some grocery shopping etc. (have to go early now - the stores are already crowded at 9:00!!!) and then later, Dawn and I are meeting up with Meredith, and going shopping!  Woohoo!

There is a large craft show down at the fairgrounds, the book store that Emma works at is having a sale (it is a neat little bookstore - charming!!) and the quilt store is having a 10% off sale, too!  Fun!  I hope to pick up the material for the purse that I bought the pattern for a couple of months ago (no need to rush!!)  I got the pattern hoping I could talk Mom into making it for me, but no go there.  (she just laughed, actually!)  Then, I found out that one of the instructors of the quilt club is going to have a class on making the purse in January.  Cool!  My sewing skills are pretty rusty, and this has zippers!  With a little help, I'm sure I can do it!

So far, our rain gauge shows 1.99 inches of rain from this storm.  The high wind gusts are around 35 m.p.h. so it is a nice little storm.  I don't know that it is the freaky storm everyone was talking about.  At one point, I heard a forecast of 13 inches in the series of storms. so....we'll see.  So far, its just a storm!

One more 'new to me' activity done!  I spent over an hour talking to a high school ROP class about Lending.  I go back Friday for an hour and half.  (The teacher asked if I had any videos or anything - I must need a little spice in my presentation!)  The bank is sending staff in to the classroom on a regular basis, with different people from different departments talking about their 'specialties'.  A couple of weeks ago (right before I went to Tulsa) an e-mail came out that they still needed 'some help' with the Lending area.  I volunteered to help - thinking I was 'helping' another Lender.  I found out last week that I was it.  Poor kids!  I read the book (very dry, and over emphasized areas that aren't that big a thing unless you actually go into banking, and glossed over things that people need to know just to be a good consumer.  Go figure!)  I was quite proud of myself - I worked up a lesson plan, including assigned homework and everything!  It went pretty well - there are only 5 kids in the class, so it was very much one-on-one, and they were good kids with some good questions.  (some questions not so much, but....they are kids.)

Once again, we had a full house for Thanksgiving.  I think the only one missing was Sarah, and she is now in Las Vegas.  In her place, we invited Lisa, Dave's girlfriend and Margene, Dallas's mom down to join us.  She is seriously missing the kids!  Dallas will be home from Pennsylvania for Christmas, and Allan will be home in February - with his new wife.  He's getting married next weekend.  Talk about a year of change for Margene!  It was a nice visit with all.  I don't get to see everyone that much anymore.  Jeff's boys are getting big - even Jake - he is finally getting a growth spurt.