when it did ...

...not look like there would be a weekend both us had open at the same time, I asked 'do you have any more vacation days you need to use or loose?' She said she did have a couple of days that need to be taken before the end of the year or they disappear. I try to get to TN to visit once a month, but the end of the year tends to pile up with other commitments. We put our calendars together and planned for me to drive up to Chattanooga on Monday and spend the night and day on Tues. P. said she was having a baby shower for a co-worker and could use some help with preparations for the party.  I thought I could be useful with the decorations, but that does not seem to be how things have worked out.

We went to Hobby Lobby, the source of all things crafty this morning, arriving about thirty seconds after they unlocked the doors. Made purchases and moved on to the Just-A-Buck store for some other necessities, then on to Wallyworld for goods to make cookies, apple juice to put in the slow cooker to simmer and make the house smell like the holidays. There does not seem to actually be much I can do to help with early prep. for the shower.

I spent several hours stringing beads, to make Christmas gifts for co-workers in her office. The beads were bought online, and are made of very porous lava rock. They are strung on elastic thread that tends to not stay tied in a knot when you stretch it enough to go over your fist, onto your arm to wear as a bracelet. After viewing a couple of You-tube videos to learn the trick for making knots stay knotted, we find the secret is: a little dot of liquid glue. Guess it's not so secret any longer...

She will gift them to co-workers along with tiny vials of essential oils, different varieties for each recipient to have her preference of aroma.  We produced over twenty, with me stringing and her doing the tedious knot-tying-and-gluing part. You add a couple of drops to the porous stones on the bracelet have portable, accessible delicious smell close at hand all day long. Reportedly the bracelets when purchased online, ready-made cost about ten bucks, and she has enough small beads in various sizes to make several dozen when the labor is not included.

We've had a very productive day, plus she has made a double recipe of yummy cookies we have been forced to do a little 'quality control' on to assure they are suitable for human consumption.