A week has gone by. The only way I can account for it is that I have entered a time warp. I am sure you all have felt it. I can't be the only one who is losing time. Personally, I blame Christmas. It distorts all sense of time this time of year. Adults, like me, lose time at an alarming rate. Where does all this time go? To children, of course. Who doesn't remember how Christmas seemed to take forever to get here? I have solved the problem. That time belongs to us adults and they should give it back right now!

Evidence that the speeding freight train that is Christmas is almost upon us? The tree that now stands in my living room blocking all sunlight from entering. It is a perfect sized tree. It fit into the lliving room without needing to have 2 feet chopped off. You can see the rocking chair for scale. My family thinks it is "anorexic" and "small". I think they are crazy. The tree will stand naked until Christmas eve when we will decorate it with ornaments that we have collected over the last 26 Christmases. When the girls were little, we told them that Santa decorated the tree so when they got up on Christmas Morning, they were in awe of the spectacle in the living room. Now, they are older, they help decorate the tree and stash the presents underneath. I kinda miss the wonder in their eyes as they first saw the tree on Christmas Morning but I really love decorating the tree with them.

Here are a few other images of Christmas around our house. The snowflake lights that are strung in the upstairs hallway, the pointsettias that provide bursts of color,

and the Christmas stocking someone made when I was born.

The past week was very busy at work. The Crisis Mgmt classes are going well. It was somewhat difficult to put together a presentation that was not too boring for seasoned staff and yet helped new staff learn about our philosophy toward clients and the way we deal with them. I have done 3 classes and have 4 more to go and each time I come away having learned something new. It has been an interesting (if sore) experience. I don't think I will ever get used to being "taken down" and having my face become up close and personal with the carpet! While I am teaching these classes, I also have to keep up with my regular schedule of clinics and social rehab groups so it has been challenging to get my work done and maintain some semblance of sanity at the end of the day. Some days are more successful than others.....

There has been some knitting. I am working on the embossed leaves socks on the train because the chart is easy enough to follow. I am using Louet Gems in french blue. It feels almost cottony, not wool-like at all. I like them and am almost finished the first one. I also got my December Art Walk Sock Yarn in the mail and it is gorgeous. This month's inspiration was Georgia O'Keefe's Black Iris. The colors are maroom, white and charcoal grey with some pink and some light purples. I can't wait to try it.

So that's what's new here. What's new with you?