beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 the snow does that to you i think....Tusker looks so handsome with his snow beard.  they have been getting a lot of snow balls between their toes...may need to start with booties for the pups.  they have to stop a lot to try and remove the snow from their toes.

 after going back and forth on the tree thing...i went to Dimond nursery for some tree twirling time...ended up buying this smaller tree. i put minimal decorations on it tonight.  it looks good though. i also discovered the plug outlet that is controlled by the light switch in the hallway....now i can turn the tree off and on by the switch. 

 we were by Cabella's so i stopped by with the pups. i had bought these new hats.  everyone was luring us in to take a photo with Santa.  this Santa seemed to enjoy the dogs as did everyone around.  new experiences are always good for training.

 had the pups wear their cute sweaters for sledding today.  it was pretty crowded. i think they did very well sticking with me up and down the hill...still i find that people just love a dog in a sweater and they can get away with much more when they are dressed adorably. 

 i was up late last night making these little trees for my friends for Christmas!  i always like trying to do some craft for local gifts.  i had thought about these in the summer and collected drift wood from the Kenai each time i went down there.

 we have been getting loads of snow so i was able to get out on the snowshoes as well as the sled this week.  should get on the ski's over the next few days as well...we have snow...lots of it and it must be enjoyed with every fiber we have in every way possible so that the snow Gods know how appreciated it all is.

 everyone else just sleds down the hill. i sled down the hill with a menagerie. 

 Ivy occasionally felt the need to jump on top of me as i came to a stop...or before in one case.  i returned up the hill to discover i was bleeding.  so i now have a scratch and i think a small bruise on my upper lip thanks to my exuberant pup.

 more from the photo sessions with Tusker and Ivory Rose.  they are less thrilled with the sweaters than I am, but they really are cute with them on.

 this is seen a bit more often than it should be.  they are both chewing snow balls from between their toes.  not sure they would be too keen on the booties though...considering how much they love sweaters...and scarves for that matter.

 with all the other hanging trees.

 we should have some good snow for our tree decorating detail tomorrow on Mondays walk.

 i should locate our matching scarves to wear for it.   i could make new ones too i guess. it's not hard.  just depends on how quickly i go to sleep.

 so doing this project was probably officially the first time i really used my new kitchen...sans new counters.  it was super warm having the heat come from under the sink as i worked.

 was up late.  the night before i had stayed up late and last night after i ate out with friends i took a wee nap...that meant i woke up at like 10:30 pm...so what else to do but get crafty.  today i intended to get up early and get a nice long walk in before the sledding...i failed.  i seem to recall turning off the alarm, but then it was much later than planned.

 the chuck it goes with me on sledding adventures.  tennis balls allow me to control the pups. 

 this evening the park had it's third annual Solstice tree lighting light/ski.  i probably should have just taken the dogs with us.  they were fine waiting in the car...next year i think they should be mellow enough to do the loop.

 it's put on my the ski association.  different companies and entities sign up to decorate a tree along the trail.  this has become wildly popular so the plan was to come sled first to get the parking spots then head over.  half of us skied it and the other half walked the trail.  a snow continued to fall.

 they have a beer tent...which is when the walker/skiers got separated.  :-)  speedy/syd and i did the loop in a little over an hour i think. 

 there were other treats along the way.  many of the trees had a welcome crew, some bearing gifts.

 the trees just look pretty all lit up outside though.

 not the best for photography...but i did what i could out there.

 many used their business/service as a means to theme their tree...the mitten tree below was a hand rehab center

 this tree was by the transport company Lynden transport. cute to see it filled with trees.

 self portrait

 this is a tree by the rock gym...Santa was using ropes to climb up the tree.

 in case you missed him....here he is..

 a super fun day had by all i think. our plan worked.  saw so many cars as i headed out...place gets nuts. there were many who dressed festively as they walked or skied.  lights on people, dogs, sleds filled with kids. 

 can't remember who had this hoop, it was near the beer tent i think.

 syd made a basket her first try.

 can't remember who had the mason bottles either.

 enjoyed this tree last year, i think they had more instruments in it last year...maybe just due to all the snow coming down this year.  fun to see all those instruments decorating a tree though.

 i think much of the busy work of Christmas is done...it always seems like it then becomes a holiday to enjoy more.  the lights, the music....

 need to work on my door project now.  loads of errands yesterday so i think i have what i need for that.  no idea if it will help the look or not....never know until you try i guess. so far i am really loving the color.  happy i painted the trim and mantel the pale grey color.

 things seem to be closing in a bit on this current administration.  i really have no words for those who continue to delude themselves into thinking this is a nothing burger. the guy and his thugs are a band of thieves.  i really just don't believe they ever believed he could win and they opted to use the run to the office to fill their pockets.  there is still a part of me that expects him to take the money and run...maybe he will have to make two hotels so that he can have the penthouse in one and Put can have one in the other. 

 damage is being done to our nation...we had some major issues before the GOP made this mess of things and at this point all i can do is hope that we will come out a better nation at the other end for having been through this.  the ironic thing is the GOP who claims to want less regulations and less big government will no doubt cause a great deal of laws and regulations to be created to prevent what they have been perpetrating on the American people from ever happening again.

 they have filled the courts with judges who are partisan though so the damage will no doubt take years to repair. 

 this tree was by an anesthesia group....bottles of empty propofol bottles and medicine cups utilized in the decor.

 pretty cute and creative we thought.

 what would we do if we did one for Round Island?  a walrus themed tree...that would be a lot of cupcakes to make...not sure even Speedy could make enough walrus cupcakes for all the people that came out tonight....we could have a baking party!!

 another favorite by the medical examiners office.  clearly a relation of my own Skelly!!

 i am not the only Skeleton obsessed person out there.

 well, i should attempt to get to sleep at a normal time so i can wake up and enjoy the snow more fully in actual day light!!

 everyone really should play every day.  life is better lived than waiting for another day...today we played hard.  :-)

grateful for: A.  friends and fun times B.  sweet pups  C.  the artistic side of me...creating is fun.