christmas red....

I bought myself a Hippeastrum, also know as an Amaryllis. I have never grown one before but I have always wanted to. The huge red blooms that arrive in time for Christmas are just beautiful. I have really enjoyed watching it grow. It was about 4 inches tall when I brought it home and now it is 21 inches tall and in full bloom. I wish I had thought to take a photograph a day...next year.

 

oh christmas tree...

Patrick has always dreamed of having a giant Christmas tree. This year that dream came true. Our apartment has a 12 ft ceiling in the living room so before we had even finished unpacking we bought a 12+ ft tree.  Shopping for a tree here was very different. I knew we wouldn't be going to the same tree stand that we have bought our trees from for forever but I did not expect to be shopping at the Houston Garden Center ( think Frank's Nursery ). It was kind of like buying a tree at Home Depot. There aren't corner tree lots here. When we arrived at the Garden Center a little girl ran past us into the rows of giant trees, packed so close together that you could not see their shape, yelling, "Look at all the big ones.... I want one, I want one!" I know Patrick was thinking the same thing. We brought our huge Christmas tree home inside our little Honda CRV. It stuck out of the back a little and it was pushed in all the way to the dash but we got it home.  We learned an important lesson... 2 people should not put a 12 ft tree up by themselves. A third person is needed to ensure that the tree is straight. It was definitely not. 

The next morning I intended to put lights on the tree while Patrick was at work. That didn't happen. I had no way of reaching the top. I borrowed Mom's step ladder but that didn't get me anywhere near the top of the tree. Patrick and I had to go to Lowes and buy an 8ft ladder. While Patrick worked I spent a few hours putting 800 lights on the tree and I probably could have done more.

Then we had Mom come up to us to get the tree straight and help decorate it. It took us a few days but the end result was worth it.

on the mantle...

We have a fireplace in our apartment. I took some time out from unpacking (I still have my sewing room to unpack) to decorate the mantle for the holidays. I found a great garland at Micheal's that looks quite real. I added some white lights and a garland of berries.Among the few ornaments I did not put in storage I found my pencil Santas so I added them. The only thing missing are my stockings. It seems they are not in any of the boxes I kept out of storage. I am sorry they are not here, the mantle is not quite finished without them. I am going to see if I can find them in our storage area but I am not very hopeful.

moving and unpacking....

I apologize for my absence. Things have been so very busy. The day before Thanksgiving everything was loaded onto the moving truck. It is a curious thing to see your life being stuffed into a truck. Ours filled 3/4 of the moving van.

Thursday morning, Thanksgiving, we started the long drive to Texas. Patrick in one car with his Mom and her dog, me in our CRV with Max and Sophie. I had my camera with me but when you are traveling with one Mother,  two cars and three dogs there isn't time use it. The drive took three days. The mountains of West Virginia and Tennessee were beautiful even though we missed the peak of the fall foliage. In Louisiana we crossed the Mississippi. I thought that bridge would be the worst. I was wrong I10 holds a surprise a bridge that is low but long.... 20ish miles long! Anyone who knows me knows that this was a very traumatic thing. I am still having bad dreams about it. We arrived in Texas in the early afternoon on Saturday. Sunday we hit the grocery store, let the dogs explore their new neighborhood, got the keys to Mom's apartment and waited for the truck driver to call. Monday they delivered our things.

The dining room, kitchen, spare room and bedroom are stacked with boxes. We left the living room mostly empty so that we would have room to work and rest. My sister in law, Caroline, came and helped me quickly unpack Mom's apartment. Once she was settled I could take my time unpacking my things.

I have been steadily unpacking. The kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room and dining room are unpacked but the spare room if full of all of my sewing/crafting supplies, still in boxes and all of the empty boxes that have to be saved for our next move.  In between unpacking we have managed a third trip to Ikea ( it is less than 5 miles away). Dressers were bought and assembled. I have also met with our Realtor and started our house hunt.

Today I am changing my focus from unpacking to Christmas so that I am ready for the kids' visits. Just wait until you see our Texas sized tree.