Bethlehem at the Co-op

Astoria, Oregon ~ December 18, 2012

Clever. I didn't notice the name "Bethlehem" or think about the significance until I got home and downloaded the photos. It was a nice surprise to see this cool display of ornaments, cabbages, and greenery on my way in to buy groceries. I took the photos quickly and hurried inside, because six and a half weeks after surgery, I still feel pretty bad some days. Today I wondered how I was going to get through shopping with my feet and other parts hurting, and nothing feeling very well grounded. I knew I'd get through it, but with what consequences?

The pretty display made me smile, so I got a few quick photos with my phone since I didn't feel like going to the car for my camera.

My Web Page: Tapirback.com.

Christmas Boogie

Astoria, Oregon ~ December 14, 2012

I sat in the back in a comfy rocking chair at the Christmas piano concert Debbie Loyd gave in their church to raise money for World Vision (goats, chickens, etc. to families in Africa). I was pleased to contribute something, and the total raised was $740.00. There really are people here, sitting on the left. I took the rocker at the back on the right where nobody was sitting so I could be comfy and leave early if I got tired, which I did.

For the first time in a very long time, I put on something other than my sweatshirt and jeans, and mingled with dressed-up people. I enjoyed Debbie's music and being in a social situation, but alas, I had picked the wrong parking spot. Cranking the wheel hard as often as it took to parallel park on Harrison Street was too much, and I arrived shaky and needing to leave early. Still, it was great to get out, great to enjoy some unusual arrangements of Christmas music, and . . . I did it! I also enjoyed contributing to a good cause other than tapirs. More on this subject another day.

My Web Page: Tapirback.com.

Chocolate Snowmen and Chocolate Turkeys

Bend, Oregon ~ December 28, 2010

The turkeys were left over from Thanksgiving. They all seemed to get along fine until, one by one, they started to disappear.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Lee in the snow in Astoria - some December online merchant musings

Here's Lee out in the snow in Astoria in front of The Animal Store leaving for the Area Properties Christmas Party. I took a bunch of time off yesterday and did some things, so I opted to stay inside where it's warm and work my tail off. This is the couple of weeks when online retailers go crazy filling orders, trying to get more orders when they slow down, or worrying when things break down, run out, etc. It keeps a person busy. Yesterday I did take time off and our orders slowed down, so today I'm working. Even making a blog post like this one can help link things together and boost our gift shop's findability online. Lee was busy all morning playing Santa by helping to fill orders.

Yesterday I went to Laurel's baby shower (photos to come in another blog post), to the pool to shower and relax in the hot tub (NO photos to come, no no no :), had dinner out with Jane and Tom, and watched a movie on our wonderful new hi def TV which replaced the ancient little one that had to be pulled right up to the foot of the bed so we could see it. Yeah! We saw Les Miserables with Liam Neeson, Geofrrey Rush, Uma Thurman and Claire Danes. We really enjoyed it, but now Lee wants to see a version with the original Dickens ending. I read the book in Jr. High or High School, but Lee didn't. We filled a lot of orders, too, but when I stop blogging and posting things online, the orders slow down. Every year there is some new thing to make December interesting!