For many of us, this time after Christmas is Chill Time. A time to rest and catch our breaths after all of the preparing for Christmas. Chill Time is a time for movies, fires in the fireplace, daydreaming, and naps.

Here at Kar-Fre Chill Time is a chance to clean up our desks, finish up paperwork, and plan for 2010.

Here’s Kris using her Chill Time…perhaps ordering all kinds of cuties for Spring, sweeties for Mother’s Day, or garden goodies….Nope! Believe it or not she’s ordering for Christmas 2010!

Even Kar-Fre gets into Chill Time–look at our amazing icicles!!  They’re pretty during the day, but so worth a drive by at night!

Of course, my dear niece, Maddie, had to give the icicles a taste test. Now, that’s some Chill Time!!  We hope you’re enjoying your Chill Time!

It’s Kar-Fre’s after Christmas, WOO-HOO IT’S OVER sale!! All of our Christmas goodies and treasures are 60% off…while they last!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!  Our elves are AMAZING!  They create Christmas magic and are so gosh darn jolly as they do!! It’s no wonder that each and every gift that leaves Kar-Fre is filled with holiday spirit and bring such smiles and happiness to all who receive them!

Linda Carlson makes sure our coolers are filled and beautiful, and creates lots of the behind the scenes magic that you never see, but makes the rest of us do our jobs so MUCH better!  She also is our main elf greeting our customers in the shop and on the phones!

Fred helping one our favorite customers load up his truck with decorations. One of the things we love most about this holiday is just what you love…catching up with friends that we may only get to see this time of the year. It truly makes us feel warm and fuzzy!!

Julie Brazeau may be making centerpieces in her sleep at night after this week!! Each centerpiece she creats has a special touch with the ribbons, flowers, or ornaments she chooses to add to them. In this picture a fresh idea had struck her and she was working out the mechanics of her latest creation!

Our facilities manager and elf, Dan Maurer, is busy loading and routing our sleighs to be sure all of our deliveries get on their way in the NICK of time!

My sweet niece, Lucy, is busy helping her mom finish bouquets, filling ribbon racks, waiting on customers, and helping Grandpa organize deliveries. She’s a great Elf in training!

Kyle is quite the versatile elf–he makes deliveries, clean flowers, waits on customers, pretty much anything that needs doing. Here he seems to be getting some cleaning tips from his Grandma.  Yes,  mom is here too! She helps create centerpieces and keeps the workroom clean and tidy!

Our evels are ready to make your holidays Kar-Fre!

Our Sam the Snowman bouquet has been such a huge hit, that we’ve had another idea…just in the NICK of time!

Our original design Santa Centerpiece is sure to bring a HO! HO! HO! to all who receive it. Our ceramic keepsake Santa is surrounded by fragrant evergreens, snowy pinecones, and pretty red velvet ribbons.

Don’t be naughty, be nice and send someone our Santa Centerpiece!

With apologies to Barbra Streisand ( and Kyle, who cringes whenever I make any reference to The Sounds of Music) here are a Few of My Favorite Things…

This is my winter rendition of a 70’s terrarium! I’ve taken a cute patootie snowman, a norfolk pine tree, and add some snow in this glass jar…to create a winter scene that “grows” on you!

Whether you have some one who needs to be reminded that this season is all about being jolly, or you’re going to an ornament exchange, or your need a little something more a gift that you’ve wrapped this Ho Ho Ho ornament is the perfect thing!

These Santa bags have been a big hit with all the girls as bag to carry this holiday season, but I gave someone a cd last week and it fit snug as a bug in the bag.  As my sister says…”It’s all about the presentation!”

I originally ordered these ADORABLE nightlights to give as gifts, but couldn’t get as many as I needed and I happened to carry them out front to see what I could combine with them, and they sold 2 of them speedy quick! I would never stand in the way of commerce or the recovery of our economy so they are now for sale!  The cute head bobbles within the snowflake, and it’s a bubble light so when it’s plugged in, it not only sparkles, but  bubbles too!! 

What are your favorite Kar-Fre things?

I’ve been saving today’s post for a day like today.  A day where we’re feeling overwhelmed by all there is to do–the baking, the shopping, the cleaning, the Christmas cards, the wrapping, you know the list of things to do that never seems to have an end.  You start to feel grumpy, whiny, and crabby!

Appreciate this incredible photo! 

Back in late August a soldier based in Kuwait contacted the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce executive director, Rose Treml about hosting a Kuwait Sycamore Pumpkin 10k Fun Run the same date and time as the Sycamore Fun Run, just on Kuwait time.  Through emails they worked out shipping Pumpkin Fun Run bibs and shirts for all of the runners. They initially anticipated 30-40 runners, and ened up with over a 100 runners! The Sycamore Pumpkin Fun Run runners shirts this year were pumpkin orange. Rose was quickly notified that shirts that color would put the soldier/runners at danger as targets, that white shirts would be safer.  Shirts and bibs were sent with the Chamber wishes for much success. These pictures arrived last week, and I knew that there would come a day when we all could use a reminder of what’s really important and very fortunate we are…

Suddenly all that there is to do seems so insignificant  and it’s hard to say anything bad about the cold and snow.  If someone asks, I’d like Peace on Earth for Christmas.  How about you?

Don’t you just LOVE this frosty fellow? This is our Sam the Snowman bouquet–a Kar-Fre original I might add!! The bouquet is a long lasting mixture of evergreens, with snowy branches and pine cones tucked in, some sparkly silver balls, and pretty bows with Sam the Snowman as your focal point.

With proper watering our Sam the Snowman bouquet will last throughout the season, and Sam will be a sweet keepsake for years to come.

Simply call 815/895-6558 and we’ll be happy to deliver Sam anywhere in our delivery area!

Last night Kar-Fre Flowers hosted the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce new members reception and the Sycamore High School Madrigals joined us and performed!  We were thrilled to have such a great turn-out and had a blast sharing Christmas cheer with friends and fellow business folks. Premier Catering from Voluntary Action Center provided delicious hors de oeuvres and Choice Liquors offered a fascination sampling of wines. YUMMY!

The Madrigals were incredible-I’ve been humming Wassail since I got home last night.

The Madrigals create such holiday spirit wherever they perform–we were tickled that they could join us!

Among the friends that joined us was our former designer and pal, Teri Kleckner  and her sweet daughter Elizabeth.  Can you believe how big she’s getting?

Elizabeth has told Santa that she would like cymbals for Christmas. I do hope he brings her mom and dad ear plugs!

I was so keyed up after all of the fun that I went home last night, and started baking!  My family loves Pachyn bars–a sinful mix of butter, nuts, chocolate, etc.  

Why not come visit Kar-Fre today…Pachyn bars, hot coffee, hot cider, warm and fuzzy customer service, and gifts galore that you’ll adore!