It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

One week from today and Christmas will be over!  The time is running out and I still need to shop!!  Hopefully I can get a little done today and a lot done when Ashley and I go out later in the week when she is off work. 

We have arrived in San Antonio no worse for wear.   The trip has been interesting so far and with the cats in the picture, I know the next couple of weeks will be the same!  We arrived in Dallas last Thursday afternoon.  Margaret and Graham came by and picked me up and I went with them to their daughter's house.  I had never met Samantha's twins, Jake and Morgan and they are already 5!!  Such cuties!  After a quick visit, we met Sonny for BBQ back in Grapevine.  On Friday we met our good friends, Don and Sharon for a long lunch (Mexican, of course) and a  nice visit.  Then on Saturday, I had a 3 1/2 hour lunch with some of my girlfriends that I used to work with and my bunco-playing buddies!  It was so great to catch up with each other.  Sunday we headed over to "Jerry Jones land" aka, Cowboys Stadium.  All I have to say about that is .... it was an exciting game.  Just wish the outcome had been in the Steelers favor.   The Steelers fans outnumbered the Cowboys fans in the stadium and we saw a lot of Terrible Towels waving in the wind!  It was a beautiful sight!  Our seats were great - we were about 15 rows up from the field in the corner of the end field.  I have the best daughter in the world - she got us good seats .... if she could only have assured us a win!!

After a visit with our financial planner Monday morning and another quick visit with one of Jeff's old high school friends (who still calls me Mama!), we hit the road to San Antonio.  Sammy traveled most of the trip great but she was pretty restless on the final leg.  I finally got in the back seat with her and she settled down.  We stopped off in Austin to see our friend, Heidi and her 11 week old baby, Reed.  Awww - so adorable!  She is doing good with him and it is amazing to see her as a mom! 

We arrived at Ashley's house and after unpacking let the two cats meet each other .... not good!  Ashley's cat, Bogart does not meow - she is a mute cat but she has her claws.  Sammie does not have claws but she can definitely hiss and bite.  They just do not get along!  So at night, they sleep with their respectable owners and we shut our doors.  During the day and evening, we take turns letting one of them have the run of the house.  Although Sammi is pretty scared to even come out of our bedroom.  She spends most of the day curled up on the bed.  I really don't know what to do about it and hope they work out their differences and at least tolerate being in the same room.  Last night while we were watching tv, Sammie came out into the den.  Bogart was on the couch with Ashley & Sonny so Sammie came and sat in my lap.  Ashley had to hold on to Bogart to make him stay there.  Sammie didn't have any interest in going over to see Bogart.  And just now, Sammie & Sonny were still asleep when Bogart pushed his way into the room.  All I heard out here was hissing!  Sammie had crawled in her carrier and Bogart was trying to get her to come out and play.  Poor Sammie - she has never been around other cats so she is really scared.  Guess we'll just have to keep them separated while I'm here letting them take turns wandering around the house.  Anyone else have any experience with this? 

Ok - how about a little Christmas trivia on Christmas Cards!  I finally got mine in the mail this week - I was mailing them along the way as I finished them.

The first commercial Christmas card produced was in London in 1843. John Callcott Horsley produced them for Sir Henry Cole. The scene depicted both adults and children, sipping wine and having a spirited time. It was a bit controversial but proved to be a lucrative endeavor. The cards, a total of 2,050, sold for a shilling each. One of these cards sold in a 2001 public auction for about $36,062.80 in American dollars!

The early Christmas cards rarely depicted snow or religious scenes. They leaned more towards flowers, fairies, and other fanciful designs depicting the oncoming of spring. Again following the earlier traditions of Winter Solstice! Humorous and sentimental images of children and animals became popular as well as elaborate designs, shapes and decorations.

Louis Prang produced the first American Christmas card in 1875 in Boston, MA. Sometimes he is referred to as the “Father of the American Christmas card.” For graphic designers, you should know who this man was. He produced many beautiful lithographs for various items … books, postcards, cards, maps, etc. Actually he started in wood and steel engravings and then went to lithography. At first this was a very lucrative business for him but then printers came out with cheaper reproductions, ending this aspect of his business. He is also known for his endeavors to improve art education in the US, publishing instructional books, and creating a foundation to train art teachers.

Towards the end of the Victorian period, postcards became very popular. But by the 1920’s, cards and envelopes returned as the popular preference. During World Wars I and II, many cards were produced with a patriotic theme. During the 1950’s more humorous and risqué cards hit the market. The only prevailing type of card that has remained popular are the home-made, or hand-made, cards. Producing the cards was a family tradition right along with decorating the tree, exchanging gifts, singing carols, etc. Many often accepted the card to be the gift as it was made, not produced, from the heart and carried a high sentimental meaning. Consensus was hand-made cards started due to economic reasons. Now many produce these for artistic reasons or to avoid the commercialization of Christmas.