2:15 am Is Too Early To Be Awake, But Good Solstice to All!

I am exhausted. Usually I have no problem sleeping, but I can't get my brain to stop running in a thousand directions at once. I feel like a hamster running in its wheel - running and running and getting nowhere. I tossed and turned until I finally gave up sleeping and got up at 2:15 am. I hit the treadmill and the shower, got some computer work done, and settled down to write my blog at 5:00 am. In three hours I'll pick up my ham and that will take one more thing off my "To Do" list before Christmas. *sigh* 

These seven lit tipis (or teepees) outside of Billings, 
Montana were erected to honor those who had lost their 
lives over the past year. An article describing the 
installation in more detail is available here. 

I'm picking up DH's gift from the spice shop on Wednesday morning. They open at 10:00 am and I told them I would be there then. It's not much of a gift, all things considered, but I think it will actually be one that he'll like. We're both at a loss this year - he has almost nothing for me and I have almost nothing for him. I'll drop by the general store some time this week to pick up several holiday greeting cards where I can write down some things I'll get for him when life returns to "normal", but who knows when that will actually happen? His birthday is also very close to Christmas, so it's double-trouble. 

One of the other things I'm getting from Penzey's 
Spices is this Baker's Gift Box for DH. It's got 
the vanilla sugar he's been wanting, as well as 
some other excellent spices for his baking. 

I got Chickie's hat sewn up yesterday, but still have to sew her gloves. I was going to bring them home and work on them last night, but knew I'd have no time. I left them at the shop. I might get some of it finished today, but I'll bring them home with me tonight if I don't. I need to get them completed so that her gift is ready to wrap. 

I like having a year-end sale every year as a "Thank You" to 
our customers. Without them coming in to shop and spend 
their money, we wouldn't be in business at all. They have 
made us who we are and helped make our
business successful. 

I also have to spend some serious time on the laptop today to compose the email for our End of the Year 3-Day Sale. I want to have that ready to send out no later than Wednesday night. We only hold two sales events annually - Black Friday/Small Business Saturday, and a 3-Day or 4-Day End of the Year Sale. It can be an excellent way to wrap up our year, but this year, with Covid? I have no idea. Sales numbers were down for our earlier sale dates, and I'm hoping that the year-end sale will be a bit better attended. I've already been asked if we'll be holding it again, so I know I'll have some eager customers. 

Winter Solstice is the return of the light, a move forward 
out of the darkness. Let us all hope that we are truly moving 
ahead out of the darkness of 2020 and into the light of a 
new year of openness, respect, humility and honesty. 

I hope all of you have a wonderful day, on this Solstice Day. Today is the shortest day of the year, so make it count! Be kind, stay safe, wear a mask, and I'll be back tomorrow. Good Solstice!