Today is the coldest day of the week.  It's only 10 degrees now going to a high in the low to mid 20's. The sky is a beautiful blue and it's sunny.  Not going to melt any snow, though, much too cold.

I did get my errands run yesterday but I forgot something.  One of the errands was to get my flu shot (Yes, a bit late but better late than never!) and I usually wind up resting after a flu shot because I am exhausted and have a headache...side effects of the shot.  So that's what happened...I rested rather than finishing the decorating.  See what I did there...I put my needs first which is what I was talking about yesterday.  When you need to rest, you simply need to rest...period!

There's another element I hope you will include in your schedule.  It may seem opposite of rest but it isn't really.  It's getting enough exercise.  No, you don't have to go to the gym (unless you want to) but you need to move.  And as you get older, continuing to move (even if it's a bit uncomfortable) is very important to keep mobility into your senior years.  

Walking, stretching, yoga or gentle exercises (check out the YouTube videos for seniors) will benefit not only your body but your mental faculties.  I get up early (5:00am) and get my coffee or tea, do some light chores like putting the dishes away and catch up on the news.  By 6:00am I am on the indoor cycle (a gift from one of my sons) for 30 minutes followed by a fifteen minute YouTube exercise video working on core, strength or balance.  

If exercise is not in your schedule now, maybe you can make exercise a goal for next year...but start early (like right now) and slow.  Don't try to run a marathon, listen to your body and start out slow (Maybe only 10 minutes of walking) then each week add a bit of time.

Today's crafts use cardboard and paper towel or toilet paper rolls, some glue, a bit of paint or fabric, a bit of yarn and if you have it some decorative yarn.

First, the paper towel rolls.  Cut several one inch segments and flatten.  Then using glue (or a glue gun) and connect them, starting with two at a time...

From there you can glue the two section pieces together...as many as you want to create unique patterns...

You can paint the rolls before cutting if desired.  You can add glitter to the edges or you can leave them plain.  Add a ribbon to hang on the tree, in a sway, on the windows, etc.  Very inexpensive, very easy and they look really spectacular in person!

The second decoration is another cardboard tree cut out of a box...

These are like the trees I made for the winter village but much larger.  You can then paint them or cover with fabric.  I had some fabric left from a shirt that was worn out but still had some okay portions and I used that to cover both sides of both pieces, simply cutting a single cut in the areas shown on both pieces.

After covering and sliding the two pieces together, I glued yarn on the edge to cover the cardboard...

Finally, I had some decorative shiny yarn left over from a craft and added that to the edges and this is what it looks like...

Make several and group them together for a stunning display.  Oh, and remember the folded magazine/paperback trees from yesterday.  Here's a picture of three different sizes and types of magazines...

That's all for now...countdown to Christmas is two weeks and two days.  

Talk with you tomorrow...