Enjoying one of the many beautiful colors & textures of Christmas.

I love seeing that my pottery is already celebrating the holidays across the country.
It’s great to see that something that gives me such happiness to make
also gives such joy to those on the other end. Happy Holidays all around.

Be sure to send me your photos throughout the holiday season of Fire When Ready Pottery in action… platters with desserts, plates with pie, mugs with coffee, unwrapped pottery gifts, ornaments on a tree, anything & everything… wherever my pottery has traveled. Thank you… e-mail photos to gary@firewhenreadypottery.com

Well, I just put up the last ornament on my Christmas Tree Advent Calendar.
Guess that means today is Christmas Eve. One last day to get ready…
and prepare for Santa’s overnight visit.

My advent calendar was made by my Grandmother on my Mom’s side… Kitty.
Okay, Catherine, but all of her old lady friends called her Kitty… and therefore so did I. Because it was cute.

Anyway, she made several of these calendars, one for each of her children, and eventually one for each of us grandchildren. We grew up thinking that they were an original design of her own. That she was extra crafty and made these wonderful heirloom calendars all on her own.

It wasn’t until just a few years ago during one of my Holiday Home Shows that someone showed up and said ‘Hey, we have the exact same calendar.’ Skreech… back it up… what??? It was that day that we found out our dearly departed Kitty had been using felt craft kits. Same goes for a collection of handmade felt ornaments… toy soldier, angel, rocking horse…
kit… kit… kit.

I still love the calendar & ornaments and think of her fondly every year I bring them out.
But now with a slight chuckle thinking of her holiday “shenanigans.”

Well, it sure doesn’t feel like Christmas Eve?!
But I’ll take it… an early morning sunrise “gift” here on December 24th.

Airplanes lining up on the horizon full of incoming Christmas travelers en route to O’Hare Airport.

Okay, just one last procrastination diversion, I swear…
but it was a big holiday night on TV tonight.
Lots of classics. Lots of memories. Lots to share.
So here’s one more favorite… and then I have GOT to start wrapping gifts!!!

Click here for the Grinchiest holiday song yet!

Generally not a huge fan of “colorized” classic Christmas movies. I’d prefer them in black & white if they were MADE in black & white. Yep, I’m kind of a purist. But I must admit I did just enjoy a little Christmas flashback fun with the “I Love Lucy” gang… even though they were in color!

And then, as if I needed yet another holiday procrastination diversion...
The colorized Christmas Special was followed by arguably the BEST Lucy sketch ever!!!
LUCY DOES A TELEVISION COMMERCIAL

Far and away my favorite Lucy skit. Laughing out loud. Tears running down my face…
That first taste-test swallow gets me every time!!! The face. the swallow. The grimace.
“It’s so tasty too. Just like candy.”

Click here for the full episode.. which includes Lucy in a box… and then the commercial!!!
If you want the shorter version with just the commercial, click here.
And then feel free to play along… after more than a few swigs of Vitameatavegamin…

“Well, I’m your Vitavigavegivat Girl. Are you tired, run down, listless?
Do you pop out at parties? Are you unpoopular? [pause] Well, are you?
The answer to all your problems is in this little ol’ bottle, Vitameatavegamin.
[Checks the bottle label]  That’s it.
Vitameatavegamin contains vitamins, meat, megetables and vinerals.
So why don’t you join the thousands of happy peppy people and get a great big
bottle of Vitaveatyvemeanyminimoe. I’ll tell you what you have to do.
You have to take a whole tablespoonful after every meal.
It’s so tasty too. It’s just like candy.
[Takes a bit of time, if not too much, trying to sample the liquid. Finally… ]

So everybody get a bottle of…   [pointing at the bottle]… this stuff.”

My new oven just arrived. After a couple decades, my crusty old “vintage” oven has
been replaced just in time for some yummy holiday treats. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME !!!

And for those of you in the Chicagoland area, I HIGHLY recommend ABT Appliances in Glenview. This was my first time to their amazing showroom. Great selection, amazing service and the entire process literally took a few minutes!!! The delivery guys just brought it up three flights of stairs, installed it in minutes, AND took my old one away with them… three flights of stairs… in the rain… no complaints!!!

Love me some ABT.
I’ll definitely go back.

Here’s a sweet little holiday video. A perfect bit of visual procrastination for those of us still trying to get our act together. Holiday shopping. Packing. Wrapping… oh, wait a fun video... must watch now!!! That “other” stuff can wait a little longer.

Every winter, a magical snowman puts on a fairy show for a little girl. As she grows up, her adult life takes over all the more. Watch this cute story to see what happens next. This simply made my heart melt…

Click here for the video… Lily & The Snowman.

Today’s the day. Pull out the pole. Warm up for the feats of strength. And get ready for the airing of grievances. It could be a long day. Have fun!!!

Click here for more about the history of FESTIVUS.