There’s a special mailbox in downtown Sherman that I’ve never noticed it before but turns out it’s been there at least since the 1980s. We moved here after my boys quit writing to Santa and I don’t go downtown often.

Each side is different…

Merry Christmas…

We're giving my mom a length of fence for Christmas (we all agree that she does not need anything else to dust). We were warned that winter weather was on it's way to Oklahoma City so we knew that we had to hit the ground running when we got there.

We stopped to rent an auger (to dig post holes) on the south side of the city. We got to mom's house around 2:30 PM Christmas Eve Eve. Steve took down the old fence (about 220') while I went to buy posts and concrete. I got back and the fence was down. We put the Little Beaver together (that's the name on the auger) and Steve went to town.

It's heavy and hard to move but way, way faster than using a post hole digger.

My job was to help maneuver the part on wheels. And to be impressed – which I was.

Steve used his chain saw and reciprocating saw to take out old stuff.

So, this was yesterday. We quit around 5:00 and it was nearing 32 degrees. This morning it was raining when we got up. That turned to sleet by 8:00 AM. We got out and started putting posts and concrete in the holes Steve dug.

I drove my sister, Christy, and mom to Christy's Dr. appointment because the roads were getting icy and mom gets nervous on ice (that shows her good sense). It was slick and sort of scary. The Dr. almost didn't come in – we were all glad he did. By the time we got back to the house around 9:30 it was way worse. Steve was almost done with the concrete. We cleaned up and loaded the Little Beaver in the truck to take it back to the rental place.

By the time we got there – maybe 10 miles away, it was turning into a full-blown blizzard. We decided to come home – rather than go buy wood and maybe stop at the mall. We got home before all the roads locked up.

Those of you who deal with this all winter long would not be impressed, but OKC is not set up for this sort of mess. Sand and salt and are not keeping up. Ice, snow, lots of blowing. ALL if the highways and turnpikes are closed – some all the way to the state lines. It sounds like people are stuck everywhere – in malls, businesses, in their cars, in their cars in multi-car pile-ups. I'm pretty sure the churches will all be closed tonight, on Christmas Eve. I know we are staying home!

This is the view a couple of hours ago out of mom's back door – the door is frozen shut. Those galvanized poles to the right of the evergreen are where were going to be hanging fence today.

I forgot to say – on our way home, 1 block from her house, one of mom's neighbors was going too fast, lost control and hit Steve's truck. This is his new-to-him truck. His mom and dad gave him their 10-year-old Silverado (with only 51,00 miles!) a couple of weeks ago. He's going to be getting a new door next week. I'm guessing that the other guys Mercedes is going to cost more to fix, but Steve was still pretty cranky. At least no one was hurt and the other guy has good insurance.

The snow is supposed to end overnight. It's going to be really cold, but clear for the next few days. Maybe the kids will make it up from Texas for Christmas dinner – or not. At this point it's just nice to know that everyone is safe and warm.

I hope your Christmas is safe and warm and happy as well!

I couldn't resist sharing this. If only I lived next door to the Griswolds. They live down the street, too far for this to work for me…

I've already shown you the bird ornaments I made this year. I think I said that I have a friend or two who share ornaments with me. My friend, Janette, is my most faithful ornament share-er. For the last several years Janette has made little hand-knit sweaters. They are truly fabulous and they will go with me to the old-folks home.

This one is metal and I have no idea how Janette did it. It's shaped, with little tiny breast out-dentations!

This one is made from yarn that Janette spun from her rabbit's fur:

She makes little hangers for them too! Notice the hands on the ends of the hanger on this cardigan. And that heart button works!

A knitted pattern, sort of like fair isle!

This year's sweater is a green turtleneck with cables – CABLES! Those of you who knit, imagine the tiny little cable needles! I love these ornaments. I smile every time I touch them.

We are on our way to Oklahoma City. The kids will join us on Christmas. Steve and I are giving my mom a long section of fence for Christmas. We're taking out the old and putting in the new. At least we have recent fence-building experience. The boys will help on the 26th. We like to be busy, I need to work off the desserts I'm going to eat, and Mom needs new fence so it works out. It may be a few days before I post again so Merry Christmas!

I know that many, many of you are hip-deep in snow. I’m sorry about that if you’re sorry about that. Some people like being in that much snow and I hope that you are having fun and the that the rest of you are staying warm.

It’s cold here, but no snow. The guys came last week and sealed the deck. It’s shiny now and lots prettier. Some other guys came to do the deco-seal – which is basically caulking. They took out the foam spacer between the concrete and the stone and filled it almost full with fine white sand.

Then they put in the special caulk.

Then they covered that with more sand. We were instructed not to touch it until the next day when they came back and vacuumed up the loose sand. I surprised by how finished and nice this looks. The sand on top of the caulk is set in place and should stay put for years. That’s it between the stone and the concrete that looks like stone.

They also (finally) cleaned the little glass tiles. They look almost black in some light and they sparkle in other light. The reflections are wonderful!

I have been so busy this week that my head could explode any minute. But we get to go up and visit with all our family over the holidays. Life is good.

Did you see this funny in the paper last week? I love pincushions and am trying to find time to make some new ones. Now I have yet another idea… I just have to figure out who in my life needs poked with a pin.