I've been busy preparing for the Christmas holidays, like everyone else.  Even though I would love to be painting right now, real life is happening all around me and is too sweet to miss.  Painting is always in the back of my mind, though.  It's such an ingrained habit of mine, that when I can't paint, it just doesn't feel right.  So maybe I'll sneak in a little glazing or final varnish, just to stay in touch with the artist in me.  

Our cat is sitting on the dining room table because the tree is in the way of his usual vantage point.  I don't think he minds too much because he loves to lay under the tree where it's all snuggly and warm.  And our yellow lab, Lucy, thinks that snow is the best thing in the world.  She goes outside to roll around in it every chance she gets.  She can't understand why we aren't doing the same.

I'll be driving my son to the airport today and hopefully he'll get out of Chicago since we're expecting snow and icy conditions again.  He's flying to London and staying with an old college room mate, so he won't be here this Christmas.  But he left us presents to open on Christmas morning.  So I'll forgive him.  Actually, I'm a little jealous.  Merry olde England on Christmas!

My daughter starts a new job today.  Christmas miracle.  And to top it off, while enjoying the fire in our living room the other day, I looked out the window, and there was Santa Claus.  Honest!  I even took a picture just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.  He just kept walking back and forth in front of our house until someone finally picked him up.  

So the painting can wait, for a little while.  Merry Christmas to all!