Advent Calendar Day Thirteen

Today is the 13th day of December, and that means I can now open the 13th box in my Advent calendar that is shaped like a tree.


For the numbers, I dug out my deckle shaped decorative scissors and went to town on a couple of stickers.

I did everything except stand on my head to get a close-up of this box, but it was simply not to be. This was the best I could do in the dark of the morning. Inside is a small white envelope that is holding a tag and a coupon. If you enlarge this photo, you might get a better view.


Thankfully, I took this photo yesterday, or I would be in trouble right now, since it's dark-thirty in my world. I wanted to show what's under my tree before we begin opening these packages today. In the back are two packages. The humongous and very heavy box is from my dear friend Donna at Findings Art. I know many of you don't want to hear this, but I've had this box for over two weeks. The decorated package is from my friend Patty with the hard-to-say last name at Magpie's Nest. Hers has also been here about that long.

Both of these talented artists realize that a lot of what I have going on right now is behind the scenes and not attached to this blog. They both also know that I'm not the type of person who opens a gift, looks at it quickly, then tosses it aside, to go to the next one. When I open a gift, I savor it, I touch it, I absorb it. It takes time to appreciate something you have received as a gift and that should never be rushed just because someone sent it to you. It would not be fair to the person who sent the gift or to myself. To me, that would be disrespectful.

The same philosophy goes for my swaps. I seldom (actually never) sit and admire the swap entries when I'm passing them out. I wait until I have quiet time, after the hustle and bustle of the swap has passed. Many times I don't even look at them until I know others have received theirs.

Back to the packages in the baskets. On the left are the 12 Days of Christmas swap, Group 2. These won't be opened until December 26 through January 6, the traditional 12 days of Christmas. The ones on the right in the photo are the 12 Days of Christmas swap, Group 1. This is the swap I was not supposed to be in, but ended up taking two days when others didn't meet their obligation. Group 1 begins opening theirs today, which means I'll be back later in the morning to show Day 1's entry, a partridge in a pear tree.

Have an awesome Monday and I'll see you later today, after my neighbor Sally and I go shopping.