Old Friends...New Friends

And suddenly December is half over. Christmas is next week and I am NOT ready...not even close.  

Instead of Christmas shoppingm we have been car shopping.  I have a crazy tendency to personify inanimate objects. Don't get my husband started on the mostly dead plant I had to have him throw away in the middle of winter cause I just couldn't do it myself. Incidentally, he stashed the plant behind the shed because it wasn't trash day. I found it the next spring after the snow had melted away. I admit, I shed a tear or two over letting go of Frank..so many memories. Have you seen the insurance commercial where the girl describes how she "loved Brad" then he got totaled? Well, I loved Frank.

After 10 years of service, my beloved Frank cost way to much to repair - timing chain, oil leak in the engine, etc. It was especially frustrating because he looked to be in great condition, otherwise, and it is actually our other car that looks hideous, but runs great.

We tossed around several ideas and decided to pursue a Toyota. How about this old truck displayed at the dealership? I would drive that.

We finally made a decision and traded in poor Frank. Please don't tell him he was traded for a back up camera that I am pretty excited about :)

While Frank was having his plates removed we noticed this car in the parking lot. Apparently, it was part of the dealership's Halloween parade float. How fun!

 A final goodbye. The salesman probably thought we were ridiculous when we asked for a picture...and maybe we are :)

A new (to us) car to love...2012 Toyota Camry. It has way more bells and whistles that we ever planned to get. We had our eye on a much more basic model 2015 Corolla with about 5000 miles on it. But they couldn't get it to our price range. When they offered this one for a really good price we couldn't resist.

Now what to name it..... Someone told my husband it looks like a Stormtrooper, so he is lobbying for names like Lefty, Trooper, Stormy. I am currently thinking Pearl. Time will tell.

Our trees are finally decorated...so many ornaments. Between now and Christmas there will be many pictures. My ornaments are my obsession.

I bought this one to commemorate a fun PowerPoint contest my oldest niece and I had. I think she was in junior high at the time and just learning how to use PowerPoint. I honestly didn't know anything about it either at the time. We each taught ourselves how to use it by each creating a presentation about swans. Then we projected them on the big tv and made our family vote which was best. Not surprisingly, we BOTH won :)

I couldn't believe when I saw this ornament in the store. A perfect replica of my SuperMixer. I can't even think about why they decided to make them...I guess for people like me.

I love flamingos...and from my tree I am thinking I must love pigs too (I counted 5 or 6).

This is one of my new ones - a flat owl face we found on our little trip to my husband's hometown a couple of weeks ago. You will notice another pig at the bottom of the picture.

 I loved the ornaments made from recycled soda cans - here is my Mello Yello puppy.

And a Dr. Pepper reindeer. The starburst ornament is iconic of my Grandma's Christmas tree. It always takes me back.

One of my absolute favorites is from a road trip to New England not long after college. One day I will tell you the story of a guy who had a complete fit that I would even consider putting a lobster Christmas ornament on my tree. And that was the very least of his problems.

 My niece made me this flamingo and palm tree. The drum was my grandmother's.

I used to have tree trimming parties and would make an ornament for each of my guests. This pearl star is one of my all time favorites.

 Chickens are cute - that is all.

I am working on letting my husband into the collection. We have several Star Wars ornaments. I am on the hunt for a Millennium Falcon.

 I bought this one on a cruise to the Bahamas.

I have a few Hallmark ornaments. I loved when they did Fisher Price toy replicas. I loved my school bus and school house as a kid...and I love my bus and school house ornaments as an adult :)

One of my co-workers got this ornament for us at Disney as a wedding present. Sadly Mickey has lost one of his ears. I admit it is probably indicative of how I have talked my husband's ear off :)

My sister and I have matching bowling penguins commemorating the years we bowled on our church league. I still can't believe I was on a bowling league - I think my average was about 112.

It is hard to see in the picture, but this panda is designed to look like origami. It is one of two panda ornaments I got at the San Diego zoo the first (and only time) I have seen pandas.

So long ago my mom bought this from a teacher at a school where she substitute taught. The body is made of clay then decorated. The sings are made from maple helicopters (seeds). It is one of my most prized ornaments and would love more.

Thank you for indulging me. And unless I see "STOP" in the comments I am sure I will share more between now and Christmas :)

P.S. Regarding my December goals. It is true I am completely off track, but I have not completely given up and have actually lost a pound or so...