I don’t remember whether I’ve mentioned that Ali is trying the Airbnb route for the apartment above the coffee shop… she (& often Davy) have been spending a lot of time working up there over the past couple of months, and she has been having a blast designing & decorating. She’s getting close enough to listing that I met her up there on Saturday morning to take photos!

I had knowledge of this mural being painted on the side of the building but this is the first time I saw it — and it’s amazing!! The City had grant money available, Ali had a plan, and found a great young muralist to do the deed! I’m sure there are better vantage points — I first spotted it from the car as I was going over the bridge — and I’m going to have to find them. (I drive by here every morning but it’s been DARK, so I haven’t seen it.) FYI: Rusty’s studio is in the area of LOVE and the apartment is back by MORE.

For a few different reasons, I took a pass on the wreath-making workshop that I’ve participated in for the past few years, and didn’t think I’d do a workshop at all this year. Then I saw that there was one right down the street at 313 Dodge on Saturday — and Ali said “let’s go!” Janel (left) owns the venue with her husband, Kristin (right) works there), and they’ve both worked for Ali at the coffee shop in the past, so we all sat at a table together and it was fun to catch up. Also, it was more of a wreath-MAKING workshop as opposed to -DECORATING, which is what I’ve done the past few years (to pre-made wreaths). For this one, we trimmed, bundled & bound our own bunches of greens to a wire form and I’m really happy for that knowledge. I bought an extra “kit” and will be making one for Annie’s house tonight.

Kate spent much of last week in Miami at the art shows, and I picked her up at the airport on Saturday night. She was raring to go on Sunday morning — on a tear about finishing decorating!

So the tree is done (and decorated on all sides), garlands & stockings are hung, decorating is done (I think)… we even went shopping! We were very Target-ed and, I’m happy to say, my shopping is just about done (checking list…) — other than awaiting a couple of deliveries, there’s only one “big” gift yet to procure.

I even wrapped up my Jólabókaflóð gifts and dropped that parcel at the P.O. this morning.

When the kids came over last week for tree decorating, they came right after school, so I listened to/signed off on some reading homework, and witnessed the emptying of the backpacks.

This adorable Pilgrim Ginny emerged and, lemme tell ya, that face is nearly life-size! So cute — and imagining a whole classroom of thankful Pilgrims. Then, I noticed it hanging on the side of the fridge (right across from the laundry room door) and OHMYGOD! It just made/makes me smile so big every time.