In the (St.) Nick of time.

  
I've worked to deadlines for years. 

My life in the magazine business went like this:

"Susan, we need an enormous papier mache pumpkin for a centerpiece.  The photo shoot is day after tomorrow.  Can you have it in New York by 5:00 tomorrow?"

Meanwhile, I'm thinking, "It will take AT LEAST 24 hours for a giant paper mache pumpkin to dry . . . what are you people smoking?"

But before I can process the assignment and voice my concerns, they've hung up and are busy dreaming up the next impossible task. 

And I've never missed a deadline yet.

But this one came awfully close!
I was actually afraid that Christmas in July was going to spill into August.

However, I'm pleased to announce that my Nativity project is finished (and I managed my usual bad snapshot!  Hooray!)

Christmas in July nightmare (working title), Susan M. Hinckley, 2011

Just in time to be plopped in a box and delivered . . . 

so I can leave on vacation tomorrow! 

After I do a few million other things that have been neglected
because I've been working like a demented elf.


Hope you're all enjoying the last precious threads of July and not giving a thought in the world to Christmas. I've done enough thinking about that for all of us!

Small Works will return August 10, 

relaxed and simply brimming

with post-vacation good cheer . . .

See you then!