A sticky situation

I found this little countdown truck at Dollar General

I pause in the delivery of my sporadic travelogues to tell you what's been going on.

Every year we all go out the day after Thanksgiving to take Christmas pictures.

This is because we need them for our Christmas cards.

Blue-eyed cousins: Ember Rae and Rhett Gregory

This year, as in most years, the weather cooperated. It was cool but not cold, and we converged upon the Horseshoe on the University of South Carolina campus in downtown Columbia, to do the shoots.

I say shoots because each family gets their photo taken, and then if everyone is present and accounted for, I take a group photo of all of our children and grandchildren together.

Last year Andrew and Brittany weren't able to join us for this, so I was excited to get that shot this year.

We're all lit up in the kitchen

Once the multifaceted mission was accomplished, Stephanie and her family headed home to North Carolina.

The rest of us went back to our house to eat Thanksgiving leftovers.

Then it was Saturday, and on that evening we had hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on the grill and celebrated Ember's third birthday one week early.

Her mother created a barnyard-themed tablescape and decorated a plain white cake with piggies squealing as they slid down a mudslide of Oreo cookie crumbs. Adorable.

My kids' stockings are supersized

Then Ember opened her gifts and was so sweet about looking at each card, and politely saying thank you to each one, for each present.

At the start of the first official week of Christmas, I began the task of choosing our card and getting it ordered.

(To be more accurate, I didn't make a decision right away but at least I began the process.)

In due time, I got them ordered.

I received this little church at a gift exchange many years ago

Once I've made up my mind, I don't like to wait, so I go with CVS same-day pickup.

Then as I prepared to do my mailing (I order 140 Christmas cards; approximately 80 go out through the mail and 60 are distributed at church and amongst neighbors and other local friends), I realized that I was going to need Christmas stickers.

You'd think that would be easy.

But no.

When you come over, you can have your coffee or cocoa in a festive mug

First I went to Hobby Lobby, the mother of all craft stores.

I searched high and low -- even in the sticker aisle -- for Christmas stickers, and came up with nothing.

(To be honest, they may have had something Christmasy in the sticker aisle that would have suited, but it wasn't their week to be half-off so I would not have bought them anyway. But I don't think they had any.)

Stephanie and her family

Finally, in a last-ditch effort to locate what I was convinced surely must be there somewhere, I approached a worker in one of the (many) aisles devoted to the display of Christmas merchandise of every conceivable shape, size, and use.

The employee in question was a frazzled-looking older lady with a mop of gray hair that hung down in her face.

She peered at me from behind large glasses and a considerable quantity of the hair.

I made this mince pie and it did not get eaten. It's in the freezer awaiting Christmas Eve.

I'm just being honest.

She did not smile or even speak, at first, when I said: Hi! with my best pirate smile, and yes it is dazzling.

So I continued: Could you tell me where I might find Christmas stickers? Not the to-from kind that you stick onto a gift, but just regular Christmas stickers like you put on the back of a card?

Cherica and Baby Rhett

The lady hesitated and then said: Everything we have is out.

She gestured in a halfhearted way by waving weakly with one hand, indicating that if the stickers were "out", they would be in the vicinity. Or they could be anywhere.

I said: So you don't specifically know of any Christmas stickers?

Some of the TV room decorations

No, she said.

Thanks! I said.

Defeated, I queued up and bought the few things that were in my cart, and left.

Next stop: Walmart, for groceries. And surely for Christmas stickers.

Brittany and Ember

Except, once I had searched the greeting card and gift wrap and party supplies aisles, as well as the seasonal aisles near that area, and the second seasonal aisle elsewhere in the store at least a half-acre away from those areas, and failed to locate even the suggestion of a Christmas sticker, I decided it was time to ask for help.

I approached a worker who was fiddling with a display of Christmas baking items.

Hi! I said. Could you tell me where I might find Christmas stickers? Not the to-from kind to stick onto a gift, but the kind you put on the back of an envelope containing a Christmas card? I've looked everywhere.

These are some of our presents for the kids and grandkids ... theirs to us and one another will be added

This lady practically glared at me from beneath a Santa hat. She did not smile or encourage me in any way.

All of the Christmas stuff is in the Garden Center, she said.

I hesitated. Well ... except for the Christmas stuff at the front of the store beside the greeting card aisle, and the Christmas stuff crammed into the aisle behind you, I said.

No, she said shaking her head so that the white pompom on the end of her Santa hat bobbed around. Everything is in the Garden Center. If we have Christmas stickers, that's where they'll be.

That's all of them ... so far

Thanks! I said. Lies! I knew then that I was basically on my own in the retail wilderness.

Back to the front of the store I trotted, hooking a right towards the Garden Center (approximately a quarter mile away). Despite odds that were lengthening by the minute, I was feeling hopeful.

Through the doors to the Garden Center I went. It was in fact stuffed with all things Christmas: from fake trees to lights to tinsel to gift wrap to ornaments to wreaths, it was there.

I began searching for Christmas stickers. The gift wrap aisle made the most sense to me, so I started there.

My gnome is all set for the slopes

And they had tons of Christmas stickers! Except, all sixteen million of them said To: followed by From:.

I sighed and located a worker. This lady was actually very nice and smiled at me sweetly when I said: Hi!

I continued: Do you know where I might find Christmas stickers? Not the kind that say to-from but the kind that you plaster onto the back of a Christmas card before you pop it into the mail?

Audrey and Dagny Clare

Her smile, at first so radiant, did not stick to her face.

Oh no, she said. I'm pretty sure that the only kind we have say To: and From:.

But then, in a sincere effort to be helpful: Have you looked up front in all of the Christmas-themed aisles near the greeting cards? With the big Santa on top?

Oh yes, I said. Thoroughly. Twice.

This display adorns the foyer

She shook her head in sympathy. Then I'm pretty sure we don't have any Christmas stickers, she said.

I thanked her again and sighed and turned away. Yes! I had spent at least thirty minutes on my quest in that store, for something as simple as a pack of Christmas stickers.

Call it an hour if you count all the time I spent doing the same thing at Hobby Lobby.

For all in tents and porpoises, I gave up.

Andrew, Brittany, and Ember

That night we had church and on the way home I said to TG: Let's go to Kroger because I need a few things and I bet they will have Christmas stickers there.

Hope springs eternal.

And they did. There were ony two designs and one was Snoopy but since I needed so many, I settled for a theme that had not really been what I was looking for, but was pretty enough and Christmasy enough.

Note to the pirate: Take yes for an answer.

Here's what you'll see when you come to my front door

If I have your address, you got a card with one of these and I hope you didn't throw it away now that you know what I went through.

And yes please do pepper me with suggestions of where I should have looked for Christmas stickers, and how I should have started looking earlier, or perhaps even bought them online in plenty of time for when I needed them.

I have not thought of any of those things, or accused myself of poor judgment in this area, so please do have a go at me. 

Rhett was ready to rumble

In other news, last Saturday TG and I traveled to Simpsonville to the Cracker Barrel there (remember, Jeanette?) to have lunch with Henry and my sister Kay and her husband Pierre-Philippe.

Kay had a birthday this week, and I wanted to give them their treat-filled Christmas baskets that I'd made, so it worked out well.

I also took along a small chocolate cake that a (very nice) worker at Kroger ruined by writing my sister's name -- three letters! -- upon said cake in a way so disproportionate and odd-looking that I was truly flabbergasted.

We'll put this pillow at your back when you come to visit me

But I did not say anything except: Thanks!

Bygones. It did not affect the taste of the cake, which was truly fresh and delicious, and which we all enjoyed.

TG and I also got a birthday balloon for my sister and I clipped it to something in the middle of the table at the restaurant. As we were just beginning to drive home after the party, though, I remembered that we had not brought it out of the restaurant with us.

Ember's party had a barnyard theme

I texted Kay: Your balloon! We forgot it! She responded: I never even saw it!

Help me to understand.

Where was it? She texted. Floating above the table, I responded.

My lazy Susan is decorated with various things

Where, for all I know, it floats even now.

TG's philosophy at such times: Let it go. And he is right.

Dagny got sick and had to miss her Christmas program at church last Sunday night. She spent Monday at my house, sleeping most of the time.

She missed her balloon but we ate her cake with the funny-looking writing on top

But she recovered sufficiently to participate in her piano recital on Thursday evening (last night, as I write this), for which she played a simple but effective rendition of Silent Night.

Afterwards I asked her to pose at the piano. The result was a picture that prompted me to caption it when I sent it out later in a group text to Audrey, Erica, Andrew, Stephanie, Chad, Brittany, and TG: At some things she is a beginner but at other things she is not.

We're glowing to have a great time at Christmas

Eight going on eighteen, is all I have to say.

And now we are in the thick of it, with Christmas a mere eight days away.

All of my gift shopping is complete with the exception of a few stocking stuffers that I plan to pick up next week.

Dagny is eight going on eighteen

Everything is wrapped and waiting under the tree.

Before it's all over we will have Melanie's birthday party on the 22nd, followed by first Christmas (the same night but as separate events) with Stepanie's family, one Christmas party (Christmas Eve buffet at Erica's house), second Christmas (with Chad, Erica, Rhett, Audrey, and Dagny on Christmas Day), and third Christmas (with Andrew, Brittany, and Ember on the 29th).

Merry Christmas from TG and me and all the family

Then we'll blink once or twice and it will be 2023.

I plan to enjoy every single last solitary second of it and I hope you do too.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Weekend

Comments

[Ginny Hartzler]

Thank you for taking me sticker shopping with you. It was fun, though frustrating! And no, I do not have any more suggestions, you went to all the stores that I would have gone to. The photos all turned out beautifully! Your golden skinny tree is gorgeous, as is the adorable little church that looks like it is lit from within. And what a wonderful idea to display your chistmas mugs on a themed tray!! Simple, but so effective. I must start doing that for various holidays. I have a lot of mugs for various times of the year. i love your white foyer table, and you decortied it gorgeously!

[Jennifer]

@Ginny ... haaaha well to be honest I left out the part about SEEING some Christmas stickers SOMEWHERE a few weeks before I "needed" them ... and I walked right on by. I don't remember where it was but probably someplace like Dollar Tree, haaahaha! So that's my lesson learned for next year. That tray was 60% off at Hobby Lobby, bringing the price to $1.20. I grabbed it (and three mugs, haha) because we all (except Joel and TG) drink coffee with dessert and everyone loves to pick a festive mug! Thanks for the compliments on my decorations; I do so love to decorate as I know you do too, with all of your thoughtful details throughout the house. Merry Christmas my friend! xoxo

[Mari-NanciThank]

Thank you for your beautiful Christmas card. And I really appreciate the sweet and sparkly sticker!!!!!

Since I never enjoyed sending Christmas cards, and so stopped doing so, years ago, I have no suggestions for finding stickers. -smile-

Btw, I am commenting, for the first time, with my new laptop. And happily, everything works perfectly here, on it. Must have been my old computer, which did not want to play nicely, with your blog. So delightful to have everything super smooth now.

One *sadness* is that I no longer use my pink, light up keys, clickity-clack keyboard. But am mastering the laptop keyboard, which I could not do, at the beginning. Every little thing I master, on this new laptop, and using my blog, on it, is a Joy!!!!!

And makes this *Vintage Lady* happy, to still be able to master new things!!!!! -smile-

Gentle hugs...
Happy, Peaceful and Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!!
Mari-Nanci

[Jennifer]

@Mari-Nanci ... what wonderful news, your new laptop! I smile just thinking about you being all techy up there in your snug warm happy home! And I envy you your ability to be honest about not enjoying the Christmas card thing. We don't get NEARLY as many as we send, but for now I feel it's the right thing to do, so I continue to do it. Someday it will be a relief to forego the whole thing, not least the expense! Now, as to your pink keyboard ... I have a few of those and they work with my laptop! Just saying. Maybe yours will too? Ask your grandson or son and I bet they can tell you! I'm hoping that the remainder of your December with your beloveds will be merry and bright, happy and meaningful! Love you my friend xoxo

[Barb]

I smiled as I read of your sticker adventures and looked carefully at the photos. I may have even laughed out loud at some points because Bob said "What?" and I said "I'm laughing at something Jenny said". He knows you well enough at this point, he doesn't question me further. Exactly what did you mean when you said "so far" on the family group shot? Possibly I'm reading too much into it.... Dagny looks quite mature and accomplished in her piano photo - as though she's just performed at Carnegie Hall. We are also decorated for Christmas, and Bob even ventured into Walmart (his nemesis) to buy tiny colored lights for our back deck wreath. This was while I still had the ankle casted and couldn't do any shopping. It's off now, but I must be careful, so he's still having to run most of the errands. Enjoy your Christmas holidays with family Jenny. Hugs, Barb

[Jennifer]

@Barb ... well I'm just glad I could make you laugh while your'e semi-laid up with that ankle! I was sorry to read that it's not going quite as well as expected but I know you'll do exactly as the doctor says and will mend good as new for spring! Ugh TG hates Walmart too and all but refuses to darken the door unless I insist, haaaha! The only thing I meant by my remark was, I'm hoping for a few more grandchildren, and surely a couple of those girls will oblige me sooner rather than later! Yes Dagny is quite the "miss priss" as my mother used to call me, haaahaa! Merry Christmas to you and Bob, my friend! xoxo

[Mari]

This was a lovely post! Your decorations are so pretty! The tree, the little church, the mugs - all so charming and welcoming.
The photos turned out beautifully. I can't believe little Ember is now 3, and she is such a pretty little girl. (Brittany did great on the birthday cake!) Stefanie's kids blew me away - they all look so much older. Why do they have to grow so fast? And little Rhett in his cute outfit, blue eyes still shining...
Dagny is also growing up and looks very poised at the piano. Every one of them is so cute.
You and TG's photo is really nice this year, and somehow you seem to be looking younger. How do you do that?
We got our card today, sticker and all! I did notice that sticker on the back - a nice touch, but I'm sorry it was such a hassle to find, and that workers seem to be not in the best frame of mind...
Merry Christmas to the whole Weber family, a group that is a blessing to many, including us!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... Thanks friend! You know how much we like our cute little touches around the house because you do the same! Home is just more homey with all the details just so. Yes our Ember is three, and Rhett is seventeen months, and Dagny is growing by leaps and bounds, so tall and graceful! Melly turns eighteen in a few days, Little Andrew will be eleven in February, and Allissa will be fifteen in April! It's really getting out of hand, haha! Thanks too for the compliment! I don't know about looking younger but I feel pretty good so I'll take it! Yeah the whole sticker debacle was my fault; I should know better than to try to find something when I actually need it and not six months beforehand, haaahaa! Merry Christmas to the Bon and Mari clan too, who are no less a blessing to so many! xoxo

[Jeanette]

That is a wonderful picture of your family! How frustrating it is to look for something at store after store and end up having to settle for whatever you can find! I admit I might have just bought the to/from stickers and cut the words off! LOL! How nice that you got together with your sister and BIL at "our" Cracker Barrel. I bet that balloon is floating somewhere on the ceiling! Did you sit by the window for good picture lighting? I love the picture of you and TG! That picture Dagney is beautiful and she is so grown up looking! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family, my friend! XO

[Donna]

Hahahaaa...cheeky thing, you!!! Lolol
Had the best laugh at your orders to bravely chastise you! The Pirate? No Way!!lolol
The family photos are gorgeous, as usual...and!!! Dagny??? It's already been eight years since we learned of her magical existence? She's already a beauty...
Merry Christmas my hardy matey...my sweetest of friends.
hughugs
Donna

[Lori]

I had to laugh and shake my head reading your quest to find stickers and how customer service is lacking at some places. For the most part, I've noticed great customer service but have had my share of the dead stares and shrugged shoulders saying I don't know.
All of the photos are amazing!! Your grandchildren are growing up so quickly and I don't think anyone could be any cuter. That is a gorgeous picture of you and TG.
As always, I enjoyed hearing about everyone and seeing your fabulous decorations.
If I don't talk to you before, have a very very Merry Christmas with your family!!

[NanaDiana]

I might have giggled right out loud a bit reading this. I have had similar experiences looking for something specific...met with doom at every corner. lol. I got stickers a couple of years ago at a Hallmark Store. Sadly, that store has disappeared now. Next year you can probably order stickers (not the to and from kind-lol) online somewhere---just a thought.

Love the little piggy cake and the other cake is quite beautiful with the BRIGHT PINK KAY on it...lol

Thank you for the lovely card. Now I have to dig out the envelop...shame on me for tossing it...to have a gander at that sought out sticker.

Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family. Love- Diana

[Jennifer]

@Jeanette ... hahahahaha no I did not request window seating because my sister and her husband and Henry will complain if they have to wait and I did not want to be the cause of that as it was lunchtime on a Saturday and they were busy! So we sat at that first round table just inside the dining room and although I am not fond of that spot, I kept my mouth shut, if you can imagine that!!!! And wow I never thought of buying the to/from stickers and cutting that part off! That's actually not a bad idea but too late now! BTW I need your address, haaha! Merry Christmas xoxo

@Donna ... YES basically NINE years since we learned of Dagny's magical existence ... can you believe? What a treasure and a blessing and a joy she is. What would we do without her? I remember the way you sent a big package of baby things and then sent ANOTHER big package of baby things!!! Just so like you. And you're a wise one for opting not to upbraid the pirate for letting a little thing like stickers sneak up on her, haaahaha! Merry Christmas to you and Larry and Crystal and Tim and Will and Sam and Everett and Sloane and Libby and whatever/whomever I have left out! Love you all so much xoxo

@Lori ... Thank you my dear for all of your kind words and how grateful I am to have gained your friendship in blogland. Like you, I find that most everywhere I go folks are extra nice but there is always that one ... or two, haaaha! Merry Christmas to you and your beloved! xoxo

@Diana ... Hahaha don't dig it out of the trash! It was just a sparkly snowflake! But yes I did meet with doom everywhere I turned, wahhhhh! I wouldn't dare try to by the quantity of stickers I need at a Hallmark store (although there is one five minutes from my house) ... I wouldn't be able to afford that! Yes I already thought bout getting out ahead of it and ordering online. Why not? I order everything else online! The cakes were really something, were they not? Tasted good too! Merry Christmas to you and all your beloveds! xoxo

[Bijoux]

What precious pictures! I gave up on family Christmas photo cards after my oldest got married. It was too hard to get everyone together and looking presentable! At least we get a photo card of the grandkids now. I could soooo relate to your sticker story. I have also noticed the lack of stickers of any sort in stores because Middle Child makes homemade Valentines every year and teaches a Little Lambs class at our church, so she is always looking for stickers. Dollar Tree used to be a good source, but no more. I'd suggest a teacher supply store, but I'm afraid there are none and teachers must buy stickers online now? I'm not sure, but it is frustrating.

Have a wonderful extended Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour. Lots of Love from the CLE!

[Carla TePaske]

Oh Jenny, as always you tell a good tale about customer service and not being able to find what we are looking for. Oh yes, yes.
We have a similar Hobby Lobby employee at our Hobby Lobby. Ha! Maybe they are related.

I loved all the family photos.

You are right Dagny knows how to take a photo... Ember does too. ;-)

Enjoy your Christmas and sliding into 2023!!

[Debbi]

Hi there Jenny, so glad to see a new post from you, and love all the pretty family pictures! Everybody looks great, and my goodness the grandkids.... just WHEN DID THEY all grow so much and get so big?! Family pictures turned out very good this year. I was laughing so hard reading your post though.....Jenny---I could almost have written it word for word......(ask my hubbyLOL)......I also went into STORE AFTER STORE searching for stickers for the Christmas cards..........what in the WORLD???!!! Is there a sticker shortage or something now?? LOL I didnt find ANY. And that's always the "finishing touch" before I put my cards into the big mailbox in December. Not this year. I was able to laugh though, at how you and I were doing the exact same thing.....and how many would just be like "well it's not IMPORTANT is it?" Well yes, it kind of IS....if that's your years long tradition, right? ha ha LOL. I also still am stunned at how people ACT that work in stores nowadays........they are just, well YOU KNOW. None of them want to actually HELP. "what we have it out!" syndrome I call it. I just cant believe how when we are out and bout, how people act nowadays............People are nuts. LOL Hope you are enjoying your holiday and all things CHRISTMAS, despite the sticker debacle. LOL Love ya, HUGS!

[Jennifer]

@Bijoux ... I hear you but I just insist on the pictures because whenever we are all together and I forget to take them, I just kick myself about it! It's easier at the holidays than any other time and we all tend to look presentable all the time so that part is easy. Yes I am quite sure that online would have been the place to find the stickers but I let it get away from me. Lesson learned. Here is hoping that you are safe and warm this frigid Christmas and enjoying every bite and every morsel and every hug and kiss and smile and peal of laughter from your loves! xoxo

@Carla ... Yes that must be it! They are related, haaahaha! There's one in every store. They probably exchange surly Christmas cards MINUS stickers on the back! And agreed ... Dagny and Ember are to the manner born. Social media is to blame, I'm thinking ... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your beloveds! xoxo

@Debbi ... Really? You went through the same thing? Haaahaha! YES it DOES matter that the piece of mail is "finished" with the touches that make it special! And I HAVE rubber stamps but somehow a sticker seems more appropriate on a Christmas card. As for customer service ... in most parts of the US I fear it is gone with the wind! But we can still have a merry Christmas and I wish you an ultra-happy 2023 with Mr. Front Porch and the Fairy Granddaughter and the baby dolls and dogs! xoxo