4 items of business.

01. yes, it came early this year. i am sick with my annual cold. if that isn't sad enough, my benji bear is sick too. so we're taking it easy and cuddling in our cozy living room just watching the christmas tree lights glow. both of us are mesmerized. we've invited john denver, mariah carey and the oakridge boys to join us. they rock around the tree while we sit and stare and sniffle. it's a real party.

02. i think you'll agree, dan should really guest blog more often. he has been awesome and so helpful with everything. including warming my soup and running out to buy me some much needed orange juice. it's his way of saying feel good soon. he was raised with a doctor for a father, yet the cure-all is still orange juice and cotton socks. go figure. and hey, what's a holiday without Neil?

03. i have yet to come up with anything new & exciting to fill his stocking with this year (dan's not neil's). santa gives him the same simple things year after year. all he wants is one of those big oranges and a pack of beef jerky, he's so easy to please. for more ideas, you may want to revisit the stockings for him list i posted last year. and don't miss the comments, everyone left great ideas...

04. the last of the orders from my shop shipped out today. (again, thanks to dan.) hip hip hooray. if you ordered something, you should receive it by the end of the week. thank you for your business, i feel so lucky to be able to do what i love. i appreciate it so much and have enjoyed getting to know many of you. even on sick days i love wrapping, labeling, packaging and boxing up. seriously, it's been like santa's workshop around here and i even have my own tiny elf overseeing the operation.