Christmas Lights = Christmas Cheer?

Just a few pictures of houses in my neighborhood... I console myself that the number of lights is really not a measure of Christmas spirit, that these houses either pay someone to put up their lights, have nothing else to do or don't get anything else done!!

Christmas Pictures...

So last night I realized that I hadn't done Christmas cards yet - at least it's still more than a week before Christmas. I thought, hey no fun travel pictures this year, so how about a picture of Salsa and me in front of the Christmas tree. Great idea, BUT that requires Salsa coming inside. Made all the preparations - lights on, camera aimed and ready... treats to bribe Salsa with, and that dog refused to come inside. I had treats lined up on the floor leading to the Christmas tree and she'd run in grab one and run back outside until she got about 4 feet away from the door and she wouldn't even be swayed by peanut butter.

Change of plans - outside pictures with Salsa for Christmas card... get a stool set up, get camera turned back on and aimed...

Attempt one - me holding a treat:

Attempt 2 & 3 - Treat by the camera:

And Attempt 4 - Treats by camera and in my hand...

Hopefully next year I'll have some fun travel pictures again - this was too much work!!

Projects, Projects and More Projects...

How can it be that one simple project can in reality spawn many, many projects? Case in point - I bought a new dresser before Thanksgiving - my old, Wal-Mart dresser just wasn't cutting it anymore (the final straw was the morning that the bottoms of two different drawers dropped out and something heavy landed on the big toe - crying and a great desire to curse followed shortly...). First it was a struggle to find something that would actually fit into my tiny room - finally found a "media chest" (who knew that they don't make amoires anymore? Chop off the hutch and presto - a media chest), and then the rearranging ensued - have to move the bookcase, while I'm at it how 'bout a new bookcase (that I managed to fill up before I even got to the books that are in the storage room), and while I'm moving stuff into a different closet, maybe I should empty out another closet and organize that one as well, and where do the dirty clothes go now? And what about the nightstand? And I've really wanted to get new curtains/blinds for my room. And don't even mention the dust bunnies that appear after moving furniture that hasn't moved in years! My afternoon project has turned into a month long project, without an end in sight!!