Festive fun...

I was asleep just after midnight and slept till my alarm went off at 7am.  Seven hours sleep all in one go?!!!  I cannot remember the last time that happened!  It's been years and years!  Felt fantastic! :-))

After lunch we had a final push to get the last of the Christmas decs up.  The tree lights are now arriving tomorrow so that will have to wait till then.

I finally sat down with my gift list to check what gifts still had to be bought. That led me to place a couple of online orders and I will organise Esme's Edinburgh Zoo membership tomorrow (annual membership is much better value than vouchers) and the rest I can get locally, so I finally feel on top of things.  

I've also written the family Christmas cards.  I decided this year to only send family cards and instead make a donation to the Trussel Trust food bank in Perth. I feel it's a better use of money than postage stamps on cards that will probably not be delivered on time anyway due to the strikes.

I'd forgotten I bought a tiny little Christmas tree for my studio a couple of weeks ago so got a lovely surprise when D appeared with it.  I put some tiny lights on it and it's now on the window in front of my desk.  It makes me very happy :-))

Finished off some little paintings I started yesterday.  I was particularly happy with these little Christmas gonks (yes that's what they are incase you haven’t guessed :-) painted very loosely.  

I love loose watercolour paintings and I try so hard to create my own but the control freak in me always takes over and my loose watercolours end up with more detail than I intended and usually doodled over, but I was determined to leave these two alone.  And I almost managed it.  I added some silver pen to the red gonk and will frame it for Alan as part of his Christmas.   I know he will like the touch of silver :-)

Keeping an eye on the weather as hoping pal LeeAnne will be here for lunch tomorrow followed by a visit to the Arts and Antiques centre, and if we have time, a trip to the Christmas shop in Crieff.  I'm usually in there in June so will be nice to be there in the right season!  Fingers crossed the snow stays away!