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Exactly one week before Christmas I had an idea for something I wanted to make for my grandsons.  Nothing like a rapidly approaching deadline to get the creative wheels turning. It started when my youngest g'son (3 1/2) mentioned he had asked Santa for a nutcracker.  Go figure?  I checked Google Images to get some ideas and confirm this was something I was willing to take on with only seven days until Christmas.  What was there to lose?  So, yes, I committed. Hats were the first thing on the agenda.  No time to order those on line, but then I remembered... I had some New Year's party hats in my storage closet from several years ago.  (There are some things I don't get rid of on the off chance they might come in handy some day.....no, I don't have balls of salvaged twine in my basement, but I do have my share of plastic bags.)  For those who don't understand the twine reference, try asking someone who is seventy or older.  They...

As you know from my last post, my camera bit the dust and I had to rely on others for Thanksgiving pictures.  However, Santa came a little early and... I now have a new  refurbished Canon SX600HS, thanks to my son-in-law who researched the best deals for me. My intention for holiday decorating was to put up a tree and hang a wreath on the door. Day by day that turned into a little more, and then a little more until I had hauled way too many decorations down from the third floor. I forged ahead with a bauble here and some shiny beads there until the place started closing in on me.  Some of what you see was dialed back later when I regained my senses.   This is one of those places.  I started with the bowl of pink ornaments and then added the silver trees and candles.  Next came the white beads and after taking this picture, I added white pine cones. Maybe it was my mood and not the decorations.  Who knows for sure, but I removed everyt...