Christmas Display and A Small Request

I put up my first Christmas display the other day with an adorable little tree that I got at a local drug store for $18.

I couldn't pass him up!

The bottom was already wrapped with burlap and I just put him in his new home, the small metal bucket that I used for my Halloween tree!

I had these cloches for a while now and just purchased the flower frogs (thank you Laurie for helping with the name of them :) )

AND

I got this star-shaped mercury glass candle holder at Pier One for $10! YEAH!!!!

Oh, and I have to apologize, the mercury acorns at Walmart were $2.00, not $1.00. I had so much stuff in my cart and I just grabbed them when I saw all them, still well worth it. They do have others for a $1.00 though.

However, I went back today to get some more, but when I found them they were icky!!

They weren't as pretty as the first ones that I had gotten. They looked more like someone had just sprayed flat gray paint, there was no reflection or shine to them.

Bummer.

Oh well, they did have teal ones that were shiny and pretty though so if you are incorporating blues in your home this year for Christmas, these would be perfect!!

Ok, sorry, back to what I was showing you.

Oh!

Here is a collage I made to show you my little display.

I also purchased a year of the upgraded package for Picnik. I tried to download Photoshop as a trial but it wouldn't work on my computer browser that I have (thanks Kat for you help) and instead of doing something to my computer that I would regret, I just purchased this package. It comes with some nice textures and a whole mess of other things that I can play around with.

If I like this, I might just purchase PS CD and install it on my computer if I have enough room.

Anyway, here is a little sample of what Picnik had to offer me!

My small request is just that, my mom is heading to Chicago as I type this to have her 5th sinus surgery. It is hard because my family will not be able to be there (just my dad) when she goes in on Thursday. Chicago is about three hours from us and my brother and I couldn't get things moved around to go.

Tonight she goes to the hospital to get her sinuses mapped out (they are really high-tech there she said and are so ahead of what the hospitals here can do for her anymore) She will then have the surgery Thursday, go back to a hotel Thursday night, then go back to the hospital on Friday to make sure everything is ok before they come home Friday evening.

I don't know if you have ever had sinus surgery before (I hope not) but it hurts and riding in a car for three hours, well, not fun! I have had one before and that is enough for me.

If I could just ask you to send up a little something to the Big Man upstairs, my family and myself would be very thankful. I have not seen her this nervous before any of other surgeries, but she is strong and I know that she will come through it!

My mom has been living with sinus pain (I am talking narcotic pain killers not even working) for about 10 years now. We hope and pray that the doctors there can help alleviate her pain and let her live a normal life again.

(well as normal as you can with me!)

Also, this will be my last post this week. I am putting together last minute things for my show on Friday and Saturday. I will come back Sunday or Monday with updates on everything!

I hope everyone has a wonderful remainder of the week and a restful weekend!

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!