. . . did advent begin already? . . .

. . . i guess 

today's as good a day 

as any . . .

. . . it's only december fifth . . .

. . . i should probably get out 

the advent calendar, no? . . .

{even though there are no kids around 

to fight over whose turn it is 

to put an ornament on the tree every day}

. . . it's pretty much vintage . . .

. . . i made it in november of 1981 . . .

. . . whoa ~ thirty-one years ago . . .

{it freaks me out to think i was only twenty-three when i made this}

 . . . i got it nearly finished 

before december started . . .

. . . but, we went ahead 

and used it that year anyway . . .

. . . shortly after christmas, 

my oldest daughter 

became very ill . . .

. . . she was fifteen months old 

at the time . . .

. . . she spent eleven days 

in the hospital . . . 

. . . with spinal meningitis . . .

. . . while she slept, 

i did the embroidery 

on each tiny felt ornament . . .

. . . french knot eyes . . .

. . . satin stitch stem, 

nose and cheeks . . .

. . . chain stitch on the drum . . .

. . . and blanket stitching 

around all of them . . .

. . . and, yes, i see 

i'm missing a blue window . . . 

. . . oops . . .

. . . for reference, size wise, in photos,

most people use a quarter 

or maybe a dime . . .

. . . that's probably 

because they don't have 

a really cool 1883 silver dollar . . .

. . . i do, though . . .

. . . it was given to me 

by my grandpa davis. . .

. . . my dad's dad . . .

. . . making it even older 

than my advent calendar . . .