The Tree is Up!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

My daughter put up the Christmas tree (a pre-lit artificial one that, nevertheless, sheds its needles just like a real tree would!) and decorated it, yesterday (Saturday)!  This is the first time she decorated this tree by herself (in previous years, I've been the one decorating it).  This year, my job was limited to vacuuming, before we moved the second sofa away from its usual position in front of the window to make room for the tree, after the sofa was moved to clean the area that used to be under the sofa, after the tree was set up to remove all the needles that dropped, and again, after the decorations were hung up because there were still more needles!  Did I mention that this tree dropped its needles just like a real tree?  Daughter claimed that putting up and decorating the tree was a workout!  LOL!  We didn't put the topper, yet, because it is in a bin that we haven't opened, yet.  

We took the opportunity to declutter 3 ornaments that were broken, which I decided not to try and hot glue back together!  

The reason why I didn't join in the decorating of the tree (which is also the reason why I am so behind with reading and commenting on blogs) is the blanket that I am crocheting for my friend!  You see, originally, the plan had been to visit my friend next weekend, which would have given me all of next week to finish the blanket.  But, yesterday morning, my friend's daughter texted asking if we could visit this coming Monday, instead!  Yikes!  I still had to crochet 5 more squares and then, sew them together and do a border around!  So, I spent the majority of the day, yesterday, crocheting!  I also thought of a couple of alternative gifts to give my friend, in case I couldn't finish the blanket!

Eventually, however, after some texting back and forth since my daughter has work on Monday and we would be able to visit only much later in the evening, it was decided that next weekend would be better, after all!  Whew!  Big sigh of relief, especially as I found out that the black yarn I was planning on using for the border would not be enough!  So, we put in an order for new yarn, to be picked up, this afternoon!  I didn't feel guilty about buying more yarn because I needed it for this specific project!  I bought two skeins of black for me and a skein of white for my daughter, as she had come to the end of her white yarn.

Daughter and I also put in an order for groceries, as well.  

Where is Dancer?

"Here I am!"

Today, Sunday, I put up a couple of Christmas decorations and ran the dishwasher.  

Later, daughter and I ran a few errands in the afternoon.  First, we went to the craft store to pick up the order of yarn - they had curbside pick up, which was very convenient.  Then, we stopped by a favorite Chinese fast food place (in the same shopping complex) which has a drive through to pick up some lunch. 

Then, we drove to another store (a department store) to return something that daughter had ordered online as it was the wrong size.  I stayed in the car, but, she had to go in to the store.  However, she received a $5 coupon to be redeemed in store only, valid from today until the 20th, just for going to the store in person!  I guess the stores are really wanting people to shop in person!  Daughter said the store was fairly crowded, but, that is to be expected on a Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks before Christmas!  She wore her mask and was there for less than 10 minutes.

From there, we went to the grocery store (again, in the same shopping complex as the department store) to pick up the groceries.   We had to wait less than 10 minutes for the store clerk to bring the groceries to the car, but, she apologized for the wait and gave us a $10 discount!  Wow!  We are not complaining!  That discount paid for the deli pizza ($5) we had ordered as part of the groceries and the jar of almond butter ($4.79)!  I will do a post about the groceries, later.

Our errands took us all of one and a half hours!  We came home and had some of the Chinese food for brunch.  I thought I'll do this blog post before I get busy with crocheting the blanket!  I want to try and finish it by tomorrow!  

This weekend, I am grateful for:

- Daughter being home for the holidays, setting up the tree and decorating it

- Being able to order stuff online and pick up curbside
- Unexpected discounts and coupons
- A safe drive to the shops and back
- More time to finish my gifts!

This weekend's joys included seeing the Christmas tree up and decorated and crocheting!

How is your weekend coming along?  Do you decorate for Christmas?  If so, have you started?