We planted a tree off of the corner of our deck last spring so that we have have morning shade in the future. In the mean time, I sprang for an umbrella. I chose a reddish brown that closely matches our house. The umbrella has a smaller layer of fabric near the top. When the umbrella is closed and tied, it looks like a Franciscan friar's habit and cincture. Arthur put the umbrella in the basement for the winter, so now every time I go in the back room in the basement, I am thinking Franciscan.
I have been Christmas shopping. I have to share my excitement over the beautiful 18" dolls that I found at TJMaxx in St. Cloud. They carried two different brands, both Jillian's Closet dolls and Our Generation. All were so well dressed that I had a hard time deciding which one to buy for my granddaughter. I had already purchased a doll for her at Walmart, but these were so much nicer that I bought one, and returned the Walmart version. I got a Jillian's Closet doll with a pink sweater and tulle skirt. Same price that I paid at Walmart for a far prettier product with more well-made, detailed clothes.
After I got home I did an Amazon search for 18" doll clothes. What a hazardous territory for me! So many cute choices. Again I had a very hard time deciding, since I did not want to spend more than $15. I finally settled on another pink dressy dress and a pair of pink "patent leather" shoes. Ari will just have to wait until next year to get more outfits. And I will continue to look at garage sales to increase the wardrobe for the American Girl doll which we have here at the house. Of course, another option is that Grandma can start sewing dresses....
I have been spending so much time shopping this week that my plans for sewing have gone by the wayside.
I went to the doctor to have that "thing" on my finger checked. I have had it for years. The last time I asked the doctor what it was, she did not know. After canning applesauce it got irritated, and a call to the nurse resulted in another appointment. This time the physician assistant looked at it. She knew immediately that it was a cyst. After draining, she knew that it was a Ganglion cyst. After looking it up on the computer, I know by the location that it was a mucousal Ganglion cyst. When it fills again I will probably go to the hand doctor and request removal. It is in a location where it often gets bumped and poked.
