Still Playing Catch Up

So I've been trying to continue to squeeze in crafts whenever I can.  I just started a new one called 'diamond painting'.  The kit comes from China, I think, and the instructions didn't translate well to English.  #3 is especially amusing.

Basically it's like cross stitching with coloured plastic squares. 

Teeny tiny plastic squares too, I might add.  This has to be done with tweezers.

You peel back the paper to reveal the design underneath that has a super sticky adhesive.  You match up the symbols with the colour key on the side and place the appropriately numbered colours accordingly.  This is going to take awhile.  

I found a free crescent moon pattern in my cross stitch stuff and had to do it. 

The past few weeks weren't without their bright spots though, despite the overall 'blah' feeling.  My dear friend Miki came over for lunch a couple weeks ago, and Marsha took me out to breakfast for my birthday.  I got to spend said birthday with Russell.  He gave me a beautiful card, we went to my mom's for a bit, then attempted to go to the movies.  The theatre was so hot that we had to leave. There was no way I could sit there for two and a half hours like that.  We tried to see the same movie at another theatre later that day, but the same problem.  So we went home, but stopped at Michael's Crafts so I could do a little shopping.  Took advantage of Cyber Monday with a pretty big amazon order which is always fun to receive. 

 Turkeys showed up in my back yard, en masse, a few days after Thanksgiving.

I was hoping this big ol' Tom would give up a feather or two, but no.

I was pleasantly surprised when a package off cross stitch kits arrived from my daughter in law's grandmother.  What a thoughtful thing to do!!!  My friend Debby sent me three colouring books too, but I forgot to take a pic of them before I put them with my stack of colouring books to do.  I really need to get on that...

And the kids came over for Thanksgiving which was also Val's birthday.  I got some balloons but the stupid latex ones were on the floor by mid afternoon.  

Had to hang a banner, of course.

Aren't she and her hubby just the cutest things EVER?

Some outside shots of our lights.

It's hard to believe that Christmas is already upon us.  Just a few more days!  I am planning on baking a lot in the days before Christmas Eve.  

Are you all ready for the holidays?