The big tree has starting to get decorated. I left instructions that Emma work on it tonight while I was at a holiday party (complete with silly gift exchange…more later).

 I told Margot that I would take a picture of THE TREE and here are the pics…this is the beaded wire tree that I actually did TWICE after selling the original model. It will become a family heirloom…because I will never do a third!

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And here’s a semi closeup…

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Loops and loops of wired seed beads making up the branches and a hundred or more teensy tiny ornaments attached to the wire branches. Oh to have both that eyesight and that patience again! (I’ll measure it later so you have a perspective of size)

The Gift Exchange: Picture 65 women in a relatively small space all with gifts in the $25 range (there are always those who can’t follow the rules!). One steal rule as we took 4 hours one night a few years ago with 3 steals! I had #54 and could settle in to watch the action and plan my strategy. No strategy really other than not ending up with something I wouldn’t want to have or feel good about regifting next year!

Somewhere around #42, my friend Susan’s gift is revealed…a campy purse made of gumwrappers…totally unique and slightly tacky…purchased from a shop in Rocky Point, Mexico…I HAD to have it. Person #42 seemed less than thrilled with it (you can tell how someone holds a gift during an exchange whether they really want it or they are dying for someone to take it off their hands). Silently I kept watch…no interest…the numbers tick by. #52…I’m almost there when WHAM! Someone gets stolen from and starts looking around at what’s available. She zeroes in on the purse and snatches it right out from under me. Who made that stupid 1 steal rule! I’m toast. And my strategy is shot. Sigh.