Shalimar, FL (Hi 71 Lo 55)
The big day arrived, THE CRAFT FAIR was on Sunday. This blog is going to be full of pictures, so click on them to enlarge.
It was rainy and dreary, temps in the 40's for Sunday so the foot traffic was a bit low. We started setting up at 8am. There weren't very many of us, but enough to make it nice. We have excellent talent in our community. At noon people started arriving. The first photo is my layout. Next year I have a hanger to hang the gnomes on. I had suggestions to make military gnomes. I will definitely do that.
Debbie, Jim and Tbone.
Our store front that we can buy necessities
It was all over by 3:30 so we cleaned up and went home. I sold most of the gnomes. It was a good day.
Monday I rested did housework and crocheted. It was a nice quiet day.
Tuesday I'm still working on diamond art angel and stayed for a lunch with all the meditation gals for our Christmas party. I can't believe I forgot to take pictures. That was party number one. We exchanged gifts and had a good time just socializing. An hour later I helped with anyone having problems with phones and computers. We had a couple people that needed help with I-phones.
Wednesday was party number 2, and again I didn't get pictures. I'm failing with getting pictures when I should. This was the hand, knee foot card game group in another village. I've been slacking off in going lately because I've been going to crochet group in Niceville. In 2026 I'm going to go every other week so I can be with both groups. I had to leave early for my chiropractor and massage appointment. I made it back in time for the tree judging contest in the villages. This time I remembered to get photos.
There's five groups of judges this year and smaller groups. They judge the trees from all six villages. Village 3 won this year. We came in second
Here's some of the groups and our people in Village one. Our theme was all military related ornaments.
Employee Cory talking to Patsy
Click on this tree. It wasn't one being judged but everyone loved it.
Group 2 judges
Group 3 judges (they also bring families)
Group 4 judges
Group 5 and Santa
What a fun night. We all went home by 11:00. I love these types of parties with Christmas.
Thursday I was awake most of the night with a toothache. I got up and went to the dentist office instead of trying to get hold of them. I was going to stay all day if I had to because they're closed Friday to Monday. Not going to wait. They actually took me in and did a few x-rays. Nothing showed up but a POSSIBLE crack but that wasn't the tooth that was bothering me. No infection showed up scans. The dentist gave me a shot that they use for numbing for filling and that got me relief. I have no idea how or why but it hasn't sent pain since. It's not right, and it hates anything cold including air, but I'm not in severe pain. My regular appointment is the 22nd, so I'm hoping they'll find or do more when there's more time.
I worked as volunteer at 1:00 to help decorate the commons for the resident party. It took a couple hours and about 130 residents signed up. This is the table setting. The attire was on Christmas morning in your PJ's as a kid. So people wore PJ's.
We also had a visit from Santa on this party too.
Ashley did a story telling and did games with the kids.
The employees were the kids
I was helping with decorating Paula as a tree
Our "tree" Paula
Cute game, taking pom poms from one bowl to another by only your nose with Vaseline on it.
A couple of the snacks. Chicken Quesadilla and crab sandwich
Christmas tree in our "Sophie" room
Friday I started with coffee talk. We get a topic and everyone gives ideas about it. This months topic was what was the funniest thing someone has said to you. We changed it to what was the best Christmas as a kid about half way through the hour. Fun to learn what everyone did from different military bases and where they were from growing up. I did some grocery shopping and came back for the Elementary school behind us do their Christmas sing-a-long with us. They gave us cards they made. There were 150 kids that got hugs, if they wanted them.
A couple of the cards they made
On the way home I had a resident stop me for computer help with Prime on Amazon. I got home about 4:30 and then was on a couple zoom meetings. It was a fabulous week. I'm not done yet, but now I can concentrate more on getting crochet orders made before Christmas.
Saturday I had a zoom class then helped setup a brand new I-pad for a lady. I learn as I go so it took three hours, but I think she'll understand how it works. I went to social hour then picked up a couple people at the Moose about 11pm.
I found this by a cash register at a store. Now that pennies are gone, Here's a list of what you lose for not using them. I'm just showing it, no comments are needed.
