I just decorated my tree last night. I have colored lights on the tree, and white lights under the tree, and lots of birds, especially owls, on the tree. I love to just sit quietly with the room lights off and just enjoy the tree and some nice, peaceful Christmas music (James Galway's Christmas Carol album is ideal for this, and this year I also discovered a Christmas album by R. Carlos Nakai and William Eaton that has ethereal Native American flute).

*Sandhill Cranes flying right over as I got ready to leave for work. I could hear their wings pushing the air.
*cuddly dogs
*enjoying my tree
*an adorable fox as the animal of the day in my woodland advent calendar

So now I have my Swedish Christmas soap, my advent calendars and my tree. I am almost done with the shopping. The last thing is my stocking for the YLD stocking exchange, and that is almost done and will be completed and mailed this week. I am still knitting a few scarves for presents, but that can be done while watching TV or drinking my shake or even when we are going somewhere and my husband is driving, and none of the scarves need to be mailed.

I love it when I come back from taking care of my parrots, who live in a little building across the driveway from the house, in the evening and I can see the tree lights through the living room window. Sometimes I just stand there for a moment and look at it. It's sort of like looking into the little houses in my favorite German advent calendars. Then I come in from the cold and it's cozy inside and three dogs are happy to have me back. ( If I'm really lucky, they might make room for me on the couch. )

5 Christmas books sounds lovely. You could just pretend you live in Iceland, where they exchange books for Christmas. Surely you would have received at least 5!
Allison

: Lovely warm read Allison
: Uplifting.

: In some ways this is my favourite
: time of year. I like being snug in
: my house.

: I especially love sitting here and
: looking at my tree lights. Ive
: just made and placed a new
: Christmas tree bauble because my
: DD decided the original was hers
: and nicked it Even that was a
: joy actually as she treasures it.
: ( I expect she'll find her own
: shortly to re-treasure )

: I did my last bit of Christmas
: shopping yesterday. I went on the
: train and found exactly what I
: wanted. The train was so stress
: free and I really enjoyed my
: browsing at the shops

: I got so excited about those presents
: and I realise that its all about
: everyone else. So I need to direct
: that beam to me as well I
: was just saying how I found
: another three book series by a
: favourite author. But I already
: have two Christmas day books. DH
: said, oh just get them, Treat
: yourself. oh OK then Five
: Christmas day books is reasonable
: isn't it?

: I have a couple of coffee-meet ups
: with friends planned. These
: involve coffee shops with most
: unsuitable food but that will not
: be on my radar so that's ok I am
: looking forwards to the company
: and catch-ups. My big "xmas
: party" isn't till January

: back to my Christmas tree fairy
: lights now