We went to another Christmas gathering Friday.  This time we were guests of Cliff's friend, Judy, who is a volunteer with him at Bellview Fire Dept.  Judy recently joined the Culberson Volunteer Dept. and invited us to accompany her to their event because her husband had to work.  He flies the medical helicopters out of Blue Ridge, GA.  Until recently, the medical choppers came from Chattanooga and Knoxville, TN or Asheville, NC, which meant at least a 30-minute arrival time here.  Now that the choppers are coming from Blue Ridge, the fly time is about 12 minutes.  The department held their party at the local Chinese Buffet, good choice.

Finished stockings for Hayden, Sofia, Grant, and Olivia and finally got them mailed on Friday once we were able to drive down the mountain road.  Used all scraps of material that I found in my sewing drawer.   Sewing machine is put away to make more room for pies and cookies.

Carolyn bought this nice soft, warm kitty bed for Maxine when we visited them in Shawnee, KS one year ago September.  When I first brought it home, Max looked at it, got in it once or twice, then never bothered with it again.  I put it away until recently when our nights got down to the teens.  It's now become her new best friend and she heads for its warmth and comfort whenever she needs a nap and cats nap about 2/3 of their day.

I think my Christmas shopping is done, still writing the last few cards.  Finished frosting the Spritz cookies and making up gift plates for friends.  Unlike people who have dogs for pets, I could leave my Spritz cookies on the table and still have them on the table when I return to the dining room.  :)  Have to check the groceries list and decide what pies to make for our Christmas dinner.  Mark will be arriving Thursday to spend Christmas with us. He's requesting ice-cream with his blueberry pie.  We'll do some last minute shopping in the next couple of days and then try to avoid the stores.  Stockings are hung by the chimney with care and I think we're almost ready.