And the Countdown is Six

Wow, is it really December 19? Sorry I've been remiss in blogging this week, but in addition to the usual hectic holiday preparations, we had a few stressful family moments.

Sunday night our bathroom in the family room overflowed. Which led to our entire family room (complete with hardwood floor) being covered in icky toilet water. This went on for probably 30 minutes without anyone being aware of it. Sophia had just finished her bath, was all clean and pajama-ed when she ran into the family room, slipped, and slammed the back of her head on the sopping wet hardwood floor.

She wound up with a mild concussion, and fortunately a day or two later she was back to her old self. But all of the drama (not to mention clean-up) put me miles behind everything holiday.

My house looks like Santa's Workshop -- minus the band of industrious elves getting the projects finished and out the door.

This is my pile of Shiny Brites and other vintage Christmas ball ornaments. Still waiting to be made into ONE WREATH for my own pleasure. I'm pretty sure this pile has been sitting here at least since Thanksgiving.

There is also still a whole factory production going on of vintage plate party trays -- am still getting requests for holiday gifts. The vintage doorknob wine bottle stoppers are also a hot item. The dining room table is full of wares waiting to go to their new homes, while the cupboard holds those still drying.

This is my family room table. Filled with the Christmas cards I foolishly lovingly hand make each year. The bar is set pretty high, and friends and family kind of expect it as it is my "thing". I really don't mind the process; it allows me some creative expression, BUT I invariably wait until the week before Christmas to get my act together to design, Photoshop, print, apply glass glitter (!), adhere, label, stamp and stuff almost 100 cards. 

And have I mentioned only a handful of gifts have been purchased and NO baking of any sort has been started?

It's not all unfinished business, though. The tree was up and decorated the day of the flooding, and Mr. VJIMT has been pulling bins out of the basement for weeks. He decorated the porch right after Thanksgiving, and it looks pretty festive.

We have lots of vintage-inspired signs for the outside too (read all about the signs we have INSIDE our home here).

 

Fortunately, we haven't had to use these vintage snowshoes in these parts yet, but we're ready!

'

 Hope your holiday preparations are progressing a little more smoothly!

Comments

[Lisa's Creative Home]

Hi!
I just found your blog and am your newest follower. I loved looking through a few of your posts at all the neat things you find on your yard saling adventures! We have similar tastes!

[Jill]

I received my lovely box of goodies in the mail today! I love it all!! Thank you again so very much!! I hope your daughter is fine now...worrying about little ones can just just about drive you crazy..I know...(I'm wearing my ring now!)

[cindy]

Wow glad all of that is over. The signs are adorable and I thought I was the only one that liked ice skates.

[Sandi ~ A Cottage Muse]

Hoping your little one is back in tip top shape and can dream of sugarplums! I am sure everything will come together, beautifully!

[Leah in FL]

Sorry to hear of your flood. Something similar happened to us just before Thanksgiving when we were to have 18 for dinner.

Love your decor and your creative industry. You go girl! The important things will happen. Enjoy your family and your Christmas season! :)

[Jan]

Yowza Gina...all that and you're still getting your cards out? I'm so far behind and have NO excuse. Love the way your porch is decked out!

Jan

[Linda]

OH Gina...you have had some stuff going on...hope your daughter is doing okay and the water damage won't take too long to clean up! We had a sewer back up into our lower level at Easter one year...took a LOT of work to repair everything! I'm amazed you have done all you have!

[Pam]

What a week you've had. Glad to hear the little one has recovered from the concussion. Love all the signs you have.

[Tricia]

I love the old signs. So sorry about the water. That just adds to the Holiday stress!

[shabby*vintage*junk]

Morning Gina....!

HEAVENS you & I have TOO much in common sometimes it seems....We've recently had a bathroom leak ourselves....Alas....Our dramas are ongoing....!

I'm SO GLAD little Sophia is OK after cracking her noggin....That must have given you a FRIGHT....!!

Mr SVJ & I are WAY behind as well however, everything is being put on hold for our 13th Anniversary tomorrow while we go away for a couple of days to relax.... :o) !!!

....hahahahaha....Good on you for getting the tree decorated....I was going to get up EARLIER today & decorate ours before I left for work but it didn't happen which means it will HAVE to be done tonight....!!!

Cheers for now Lovey,
Tamarah :o)

[Sue]

THANK YOU!!
(for making me feel like I'm not quite so behind 8-)... we're just the 'normal' ones!!! Those 'other' people are the 'over-achievers!)
S~

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
(it WILL get done... it ALWAYS does!... and so what if it doesn't... right?)

[Beth Leintz]

Wow sounds like you've had quite a week- glad everything is back to normal but busy. If you don't get to that shiny brite wreath right away, I wouldn't worry about it- the boxes of ornaments look great all stacked up.