How TF Is It December Already?!

 I spent part of my day yesterday making Christmas cards.

These wreaths are made with my tiny collection of craft punches, old National Geographic magazines, some random ribbon I have around, and my one white gel pen that works.

That is my favorite of the three wreaths, though I do like the blue ribbon on this one.

This peeved little gingerbread man is Dave's favorite. He's sketched on and colored in with colored pencils and white gel pen icing. I also used some soft-bodied acrylic paint and metallic marker.

These are not Christmas cards but Covid tests. We were with my brother for each of the three of the days he was home from the hospital before he developed symptoms of Covid, so we've been diligent about testing. Both of us remain negative on the at-home tests at least.

My brother is doing well and his symptoms are very mild. Luckily he had his updated booster about two and a half weeks ago, so if he developed any antibodies to it, this would be about the maximum time for that. I've been checking up on him frequently enough that he's probably pretty annoyed by it, but there are too many stories about people dying at home alone from Covid. Today we did a contactless drop off of some groceries and lunch for him. 

What else has been going on? We were supposed to have the septic tank checked out, but the guy who was supposed to come do it is sick. (Gee--with what, I wonder.) So it was rescheduled. 

Wednesday has been our Netflix binge watch show of choice recently, though we finished it up last night. 

Also last night: We got online and ordered a Christmas tree and it should hopefully be here in a week or so. We have no ornaments so we ordered some popcorn to string up (they were out of cranberries). Our very first tree in our very first apartment had popcorn garland that we strung ourselves. That was a real tree, if I recall correctly. (It was thirty-five years ago.) I could not have a real tree now. I mean, I could, but I don't want one. Not only because of allergies, but because I can't get behind the spirit of cutting down a tree and then celebrating as it slowly dies in the corner of the room. So artificial tree it is. We ordered it from this company that suckered me in by advertising that they partner with botanists and other science-y types to design artificial plants that look very real.

This is the future, kids. When climate change wipes out all the trees, at least we'll have these faux ones to look at. Merry Christmas!

On a happier note, Dave is doing a lot of baking recently. The recent project is gingerbread, which I love. He is also going to make some tortas de aciete (Spanish olive oil crackers). I've requested biscochitos this year, too. (I'll probably help with those.) 

The rest of the world seems to have collectively decided on denial, but we're preparing for another Covid Christmas of emailed gift certificates for gifts and just the two of us (and cat and dog) for Christmas. 

Dave has said that we need white lights for the Christmas tree, because he thinks that multi-colored lights are tacky. I think white lights are snooty and multi-colored lights are clearly superior, even better if they blink on and off. 

We may need two trees before too long.