JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Well, Reds, it’s that time of year again - one week to Christmas and I have about eight thousand things left to do. Every year, I swear I’ll be more organized and get ahead of it, and every year I… do not. It doesn’t help that I teach at the local community college, (last class on December 13) and I have to deal with finishing grading twenty students and turn the semester marks in to the registrar by the 18th.
I have so many items on my to-do list - finish shopping, wrap, make up beds for guests, buy food for Christmas dinner, etc, etc, etc - that it’s easier to list what I HAVE gotten done:
Mailed out presents to son in VirginiaFinished grading*edit on Sunday night: Nope! Still haven't gotten these done!
How about you, Reds? All squared away? Or does your to-do list look as long as Santa’s scroll of Nice and Naughty children?
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Ha ha ha ha ha. Sometimes I put things on my to-do list that I have already done just so I can have the joy of crossing them off. Right now, this minute, I have so many things to do that I can’t even make a list, and if I did, I would realize I should just give up because it’s just not gonna happen and everyone will have to deal with it.
Facing reality, my true to do list has one thing: Finish my first draft by THIS FRIDAY. So, see ya. Xxx
JENN McKINLAY: I have a book due January 1st so I got ahead of it, but I also streamlined. No Xmas cards this year, decorations are the tree and the outside lights, presents were kept to a minimum and that’s saying something since we only do something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read for gifts anyway (one of my better mom moves when the hooligans were wee lads). And this 
year (FINALLY) I dumped stockings. My people are grown. They do not need a million tiny things - ugh! - I only kept them going because “tradition” and I recently saw a meme that read “Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people.” And so went a ton of our usual “have to’s”.
I actually have some Christmas joy now. And the only thing on my to-do is to finish this forking book and make peppermint bark! Fa la la la la.
HALLIE EPHRON: And (As usual) I am WAY ahead of the game in terms of Christmas gifts. I already made a batch of chocolate-covered 
orange rind for my son-in-law. And, for the first (and LAST… too fiddly) time, a batch of rugelach. I’ve got all the grandkids presents bought AND wrapped. (Don’t hate me) and I’ll make granola (shhh don’t tell them) for my daughters. And that’s about it.
It helps that I don’t have a manuscript due. Working at my own rhythm without an end date for now.
I *love* getting Christmas cards and each year I send fewer and fewer. It’s harder and harder to find people’s mailing address. But it is SO lovely to reconnect with old friends. So I’m reassessing. But I really don’t like those e-cards – though I appreciate the thought… a topic for another day.
RHYS BOWEN: slightly less pressure this year as Clare and co are not coming because grandson TJ needs ACL surgery ( football of course). So only one bed to make and not a ton of food to cook. Mince pies and sausage rolls for 9, not 15
We hosted neighbors and son and dil for a decorating party so that’s done.
Also as I’ve had knee problems I’ve told people everything they want has to be a gift card or on Amazon. The result of which is a steady stream of packages to my front door. I do still send Christmas cards. I love getting them and staying in touch with old friends around the world although unfortunately the list has shrunk
I have already hosted my holiday tea and my son’s birthday so now it’s just Christmas Day.
JULIA: I knew Rhys was going to be on top of things because I already received her (and Lucy's) Christmas cards! Sighing with admiration.
LUCY BURDETTE: I got on a roll and sent cards to Shutterfly early. We have the company address and mail them, so we don’t get to write personal notes on every one. But at least they get sent. And I can keep track of address changes right on their website.
We are going to see the grandkids and family ahead of time, so those gifts were all wrapped and sent early. Jenn, your system was so, so clever. Every year I think, this is TOO MUCH STUFF! I will do shopping for Christmas food when we get back to Key West. I have not made a single cookie and this sad state of affairs may not be remedied…
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have never made cookies so that's one thing I don't have to worry about. I got the tree up, later than usual but at least it's done. Now I need to do our mantle and the dining room table and that's about it for this year on the decorating front.
I've done most of my shopping–all online–but have not wrapped a single present. I'll probably end up wrapping on Christmas Eve! Which is kind of fun, really, except that you don't get to enjoy the pretty packages for very long.
We will do stockings, because we love them. And there is a seven-year-old to treat! We will do Christmas morning at our house, and probably Christmas dinner at our daughter's (they have two ovens!), and probably only for five or six. Simple!
Oh, I do want to send some cards, even if they are late, but am waiting on my Christmas stamps to come from USPS!
JULIA: How about you, dear readers? Are you dusting off your hands with satisfaction for a job well done? Checking to see exactly how late you can order from Amazon? What's done and not on your list?
Photo credits: Rawpixel.com (Freepik.com) Gpoint Studio (Freepik.com) Senivpetro (Freepik.co) Cottonbro Studio (pexels.com)
The shopping is done, the presents are wrapped, the decorating is done, and the cards are getting written today. That leaves cookie-making still on the to-do list . . . .
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised you're organized and on top of things, Joan!
DeleteIt helps a lot that I buy ninety-five percent of my Christmas gifts over the summer and pack them away until Christmas time . . . .
DeleteI am inept at everything. My to-do list is a to-doo-doo list.
ReplyDeleteJerry, I'm deeply regretting the fact we don't have a crying-laugh emoji available, because that's what I did. Going to start referring to mine in the same way, now.
DeleteI've had a cold for the last 9 days (over now, but really disruptive.) And this coming Friday (22nd) is our 50th Wedding Anniversary, so we are having a dinner party with local friends at a favorite "events" restaurant. I'm excited about the anniversary party. Those, two things, though, interrupted Xmas preparations, (which get more minimal each year). This year I'm sending mainly Jacquie Lawson cards, which are beautiful, and one way to remember family and friends when you move out of country. And we are not doing gifts, per se for anyone out of country, as there is always customs to cope with at both ends. (We've also asked loved ones not to send us anything but cards, and online cards are okay.) We HAVE gotten Christmas bags for three major friends here, and are delivering wine and cheese to our neighbors on this floor. And yesterday I put up decorated the tree and put out our few decorations— candles and such. That's it. We'll be Skyping with some people, too.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, your minimal Christmas prep makes expat life in Portugal sound even better than usual!
DeleteHappy anniversary, Elizabeth! 50 years!! Congratulations! — Pat S
DeleteCongratulations on 50 years! Amazing!
DeleteThanks, all.
DeleteIt's just my husband and I so not much to prep. No tree. My son is buying the girls a gift from us and wrapping it for us, I did send him the money. Going to a restaurant for dinner. Basically just another day. I did get my husband a few little gifts. I got us ticket to see ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd coming up in March. We have so much stuff already that I prefer events for gifts now. I did send out Christmas cards to my family and we do some with one of my FB groups, it's cool getting a few intl ones.
ReplyDeleteExperiences instead of gifts is really the byword at a certain age, isn't it, Paula? I mean, really, once you're over *mumble mumble* you just don't need more STUFF.
DeleteEvents are my absolute favorite gifts!!!
DeleteI have three kinds of cookie dough in the fridge - will bake today and tomorrow. Nobody is coming for Christmas, and I wasn't going to put up a tree (window candles, wreaths, and creche have been up for two weeks). But then my d-i-l's family in Puerto Rico asked me about Christmas traditions, and the minute I got home last week we found a small tree and put it up - so pretty. Gifts are mostly obtained but not wrapped. Cards are in progress. Getting there!
ReplyDeleteYou sound on top of things, Edith!
DeleteWe do a minimalist Christmas here. Hubby bought his own big gift. I have a smaller (but needed) gift for him coming from Amazon. I buy books for the twin great grand nephew and niece (done, but not yet wrapped). My tree is a small Charlie Brown tree that makes me smile. We'll spend Christmas day at my niece's house and I'm taking a roasted veggie dish that is easy to prepare the night before and roast in the morning.
ReplyDeleteJenn, you have given me my favorite holiday quote of 2023: “Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people.” Glad I wasn't drinking my coffee when I read that or I'd have snorted it through my nose!
That IS a good quote!
DeleteI agree, it is a terrific quote. Worth repeating: "Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people."
DeleteThat quote deserves a needlepoint pillow. Someone get on it!
DeleteCommented on this already below, but I simply DO NOT want to have DEAD people as peers for many, many years. The living people are my peers. Elisabeth
DeleteI just told my husband that quote, and he loved it. He is the least traditional person in his family.
DeleteI love the idea of writing down things just to cross them off. I've heard it called a "ta da list."
ReplyDeleteHmm, this year has been kind of a strange year for Christmas. A lot of traditions have changed. Most of them were conscious choices that I feel good about or at least okay. We switched from a real tree to fake (my husband was tired of wrestling with a real one each year), we didn't do an organized family pic for the holiday card (just a lot of cute candids) and I reallllllly downsized on cookie making. And by downsized, I mean last year I made 200+ cookies for my son's grade school and this year I'm making some for us and for a few of our absolute favorite people. We don't host for Christmas and my husband does 90% of the meal. I'm in charge of stuffing and desserts so that's always easy. The presents were all ordered fairly early and I think they've arrived if the Amazon elves are no too overworked. I try to avoid Amazon but our credit card gave us tons of Amazon points this year. Hard to say no to free Christmas presents. . .
B/c I have less on my plate, I should have gotten a lot done right and feel super accomplished? Well, I did okay, but I must confess I feel a bit off my rhythm this year. That's what a ton of new traditions all at once will do to you. I have this haunting feeling there's something I'm forgetting to do but I don't know what it is.:-)
I feel like that quite a bit, Jill. I think it's the natural result of being betwixt and between - passing on the old traditions, but not having solidified (or still experimenting with) the new ones.
DeleteTa-da list! Love it.
DeleteOh, that's hilarious! Love that.
DeleteI have to get one gift card for a family friend but otherwise, there's nothing I need to buy. But I will be busy this week.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow the mystery book club I co-run at the Wareham Free Library will be hosting Julie Hennrikus for an in-person visit.
Thursday is Trivia Night and my team's gift exchange (nothing fancy).
Friday I'll be going over to my friend Ann's house. We'll have dinner (that gift card family friend is coming to my job on Friday with her annual gift of homemade cookies and candies PLUS she's bringing a pan of the chicken dish I love so much so I'm bringing that as dinner to Ann's) and watch the first half of the new season of Reacher on Prime Video.
And then on Xmas Day itself, Ann and I will be going to my sister's for dinner and book gifts.
Jay, you sound like the busiest person on JRW this week (except for those with book deadlines, which is busy in a much less fun way...)
DeleteI am pretty on top of my to-do list. Cards were mailed Dec. 6. Everything I have is wrapped and under the tree. Waiting on some online things to arrive yet this week. Pared down to something to read and either a want or a need this year. No grands and o make it fun. Only baking banana bread. Need to get groceries for brunch and dinner and some treats for the stockings. Off to play pickleball now so I am not stressing over any of it.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of pickleball at Christmas becoming a new tradition, Brenda!
DeleteI am in Jenn's company this year -- cutting it right down to...sentiment only. I have the ingredients for short bread but haven't yet made a single batch, and don't even have the ingredients for the granola we normally make and give as gifts. The spirit has not been sparked in this house this year, so my gift to all is to stay quiet and NOT be the grinch.
ReplyDeleteWe've all had Christmases like that, Amanda. I can recall a year or two when my most fervent emotion was gratitude the whole circus was over - and with three busy kids 'circus' was the right word.
DeleteMinimalism is my new modus operandi :)
DeleteI like Jill's name for the "ta-da! list".
ReplyDeleteWe have not had Christmas here for so many years, but instead of going to Michigan this year, they are coming here for a few days. So I have decorated my house, really for the first of the five Christmases we'll have lived here. Then I decided to have a brunch for seven longtime and dear friends last Saturday, which got the house the rest of the way, and forced me to haul out the Christmas Tree Spode. Still looking for the dinner plates!
I've bought most of the gifts, and the ones going to Greece are on their way. I still need gifts for three of my many darling great nieces (and a great great niece is on her way!). Wrapping is another story. This year I think I'm going to use fabric from my stash to do a Japanese-style wrap. I did this for the book exchange and the book got stolen solely for the pretty napkin it was wrapped in. We always reuse gift bags, anyway. I'm also cooking a Christmas midday meal, with this luscious pork roast I've made for years, and my daughter is bringing a blueberry pie, which I'm excited about. There will be seven of us at dinner, with our beloved neighbors at the table, too. Low-key, but I still have to make a bed, tidy, etc.
Your celebration sounds like mine, Karen, although my nephew who goes to university in Greece is getting an Amazon card; no mailing required. Jealous of your Spode - I'm a fine china junkie and I've always wanted Christmas Tree.
DeleteSo glad to hear other people reuse gift bags. I have a corner of my closet where I keep a stash. That and tissue paper and you're in business.
DeleteJulia, my best friend started my collection forty years ago with four Tom & Jerry mugs, then continued adding to the set for a couple more years. I found most of the rest at discount home stores, most of which no longer exist, alas.
DeleteHallie, when my nephew 's oldest had a huge birthday party I caught him wadding up all kinds of fancy gift bags. I took him aside and gave him the 411 on saving big money by hanging onto them.
I've been saving gift bags for years! I was always so grateful when they were one of the fund raising options for those drives the kids had to do for boy scouts/band/football/ etc.
DeleteABsolutely saving gift bags!
DeleteI reuse them until not even taping the seams will keep them together!
DeleteIt is 9am on Monday, and I am about to edit the Christmas Letter 2023. There are only a doz that have to go in the mail, and have a bit of a hand-written bit of blabber, and the rest will go in a mass email. We have always sent Christmas Cards from as far back as I can remember. There was a Christmas Card Sunday, when the address box was brought to the dining room table and our parents would personally write out every card – and then they sent probably 100 cards. We would start to help and then easily got bored and left. That was a good thing as by supper time, they were snappish – can’t find this address but know they have moved, or maybe they might be get – you can feel the frustration.
ReplyDeleteSince we have been married, we have always included a letter in either the card or now the email. My son (43) informed me that nobody in this day and age sends letters, when I nagged him to get his story in. I replied that I love getting a letter in my card/email because it keeps me in touch with other people’s lives, and reminds me that just for a moment, someone, somewhere was thinking just of you, and hopefully remembering some good times. Besides, I was old, so humour me, and hurry up…
Today’s note is 2 double pages, pictures included. There are lots of good times included, no bad times (no one died, no real hurricanes), and lots of tomatoes!
After that, I just have to brace up to go and visit the kids. There is supposed to be a massive wind storm today, and possibly the world will end if you listen to the weather forecast. On the other hand probably nothing will happen and they will have cried wolf again.
I'm experiencing the massive wind storm - no world-ending yet, Margo, but I'm trying to do everything that requires electricity first, just in case. Your son's line about "no one sends letters these days" reminds me of my kids trying to get out of writing thank you notes with a similar line. My response, straight from my mother: "Maybe 'nobody' doesn't send thank-yous, but WE do."
DeleteIt doesn't really feel or look like Christmas in Ottawa on this rainy Monday. The December snow has washed away as we get grazed by this US Eastern seaboard rainstorm.
ReplyDeleteSo my Christmas spirit has not been lit & I am definitely behind schedule this year. No holiday decorations or cards sent. One thing done: I did buy the ingredients yesterday to make the almond stollen with marzipan and chocolate crinkle cookies that I give out as gifts. This Friday & Saturday are my holiday social events, so that's my deadline. Still thinking about what to do for Christmas Day meal. I did not make a turkey for Thanksgiving since I was travelling to Vancouver for 11 days later that week, but I am not really in the mood to do one for next Monday.
Opening the Bonne Maman advent calendar has been fun but I keep having a backlog of mini-jars to try since I normally don't eat bread for breakfast. So it's a good excuse to bake croissants (dough from France) for a taste-testing blitz!!
P.S. To JENN and HANK: Good luck with those writing deadlines. One good thing about being retired is that I no longer have multiple December 31 project deadlines. Working frantically between Christmas & New Year's Day was a PITA.
P.S. Ottawa historically has an 80% chance of a White Christmas. This nice graphic illustrates what we've had. I have been here since December 2013 so have witnessed the last row of Christmas weather.
Deletehttps://1drv.ms/i/s!AqZTLZWguVcHhLQ8Kca8OEyaaO0KRw?e=gie4e9
Interesting and daunting to see the number of green or only partially-snowy trees creeping up over the decades, Grace. Southern Maine used to appear on lists of 'most likely to have a white Christmas' in the US - when I moved here in '87, there was snow on the ground three out of four years on average. That's gone down to 60%, which isn't terrible, but there have been quite a few Christmases in recent memory with no snow on the ground and warmer than usual weather.
DeleteSince it's an El Nino year, we are expecting warmer than normal winter temperatures. I just hope we don't have a repeat of ZERO skating days on the historic Rideau Canal or melting ice sculptures during our Winterlude festival in February!
DeleteIn the meantime, Anchorage Alaska is having a record snowfall amount so far. They've already had 70", which is way early for them.
DeleteThank you, Grace! Much appreciated!
DeleteYour stollen sounds delicious, Grace. Lucky gift recipients! And croissant dough from France! I'll have to do a bit of research on that one.
DeleteTree up and lit but not decorated. Today maybe? Checks already sent to children and grandchildren. They always fit and are the right color and have never ever been returned or regifted! This week we will bake date bread for gifts for Julie’s brothers and families. It’s her mothers recipe. We’ve done this forever, very easy and always appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI will also make mince pies and sausage rolls plus a fruitcake. Much easier than the dozens of cookies I used to make. That will happen next weekend These are for gifts to friends who stop by but mostly for us.
No present exchange either. We have all we want and more than we need. We bought half a dozen warm coats for a coat drive, the current fav charity. Up here on the tundra and a parka is necessary for walking to school and so many need them
Happy merry to all of you and prayers for Israel and Ukraine. Apologies to the world for our stagnant Congress.
Ann, I love the gift of coats for the coat drive! That's the real spirit of the season.
DeleteAnd my folks did the same thing with checks once we were all in our own houses with our own kids - a nice amount to get everyone gifts from Grammy and Grampy - and often enough left over to help out with the always large fuel oil bill in January!
Ugh anxiety! I have written some cards and the tree is up. I'm going to try to mail the out of town cards this am and buy some more stamps. The post office lobby opens at 6, so I can combine this with my morning walk. Deep breaths and one thing at a time!
ReplyDeleteI can tell you as the recipient of cards, Gillian, that I don't usually notice if someone misses a year or not. Hopefully, that takes some of the stress off!
DeleteI would have been done yesterday but for one egg. It might work out well because I can turn making cut-out cookies into a fun project for The Boy and The Very Nice Girlfriend.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am waiting on one gift from Amazon for The Hubby, but I think it's supposed to arrive this week. Lots of pretty packages under the tree this year courtesy of The Boy, who has a real knack for wrapping.
Oh, Liz, this (and wood-stacking season) is the time I most miss having teens around to help...
DeleteAs far as Christmas cards, what I've started doing is when I get a card in the mail, I write out a return card. Each year we've been getting fewer cards. I got a jump on buying presents this year now I just have to wrap them. I put up Christmas decorations which doesn't take that long. Family arrived last night and my daughter is a big help around cooking etc.
ReplyDeleteAnon, that Christmas card technique is BRILLIANT!
DeleteThat is a brilliant Christmas card idea. I have a friend who does that too.
DeleteI thought I would do that. Hasn't happened yet!
DeleteFrom Celia: Jenn wins the quotation prize. I am cutting back big time. I do a letter every year, why? Because I wrote one my first year married and in NYC. It's on airmail paper, several pages, handwritten and Victor took the original to his office and made copies for me to mail to family and friends overseas. Now it emails its way around the globe and will this year. My main goal is quiet enjoyment. There is so much glorious music on YouTube and last night I live streamed a concert from the NorthWest Chorale in Seattle. It was so wonderful and I got the first link via Facebook so a time call out to that cos. usefulness.
ReplyDeleteI want 'Quiet Enjoyment' to be my watchword this year as well, Celia!
DeleteCelia, can you get CBC? Yesterday they had Joy to the World where they go around the world and play 'Christmas' music all day. It was on yesterday, and was glorious. https://www.cbc.ca/music/joy-to-the-world-2023-a-guide-to-cbc-music-s-christmas-special-1.5062542
DeleteI felt like I got a late start this year, but I'm pretty much on time now. Gifts are wrapped, except for one gift card that was supposed to be delivered last Friday and hasn't shown up yet. Decorations went up after Thanksgiving, but that didn't include outside lights (sons didn't have time to put them up, but I didn't ask anyway, especially since they recently installed a burglar alarm for me).
ReplyDeleteMade two trays of fudge before Thanksgiving, so one is waiting in the freezer. Also froze some brownies left over from a recent party. Ordered Cheryl's Cookies for the first time this year--we each get to pick our individually-wrapped cookies, and I chose a bunch of flavors (24 cookies in all). I'm having Christmas Eve dinner (just six of us) with turkey and the sides, and Christmas dinner will be enchiladas at my younger son's house. Yum--can't wait!
I still do stockings for my grown sons and daughter-in-law, but I made the executive decision this year to forego wrapping the stocking stuffers (See's wrapped their half-pound boxes)--hurray! Other than that, we give each other Christmas wish lists, which makes it much easier to buy gifts. I had a hard time coming up with my own this year until I finally realized that the nearby Harris Center has gift cards, so that was my main wish (I love going to concerts and events there).
Happy holidays, everyone!
Margie, good call on not wrapping the sticking stuffers. When I was growing up, NONE of Santa's presents came wrapped, and it wasn't until I got to college and started comparing notes that I found out that wasn't the case universally! The reason was supplied by my mom when I asked: "Because I hate wrapping presents."
DeleteI wisely continued that policy with my own family, and it's saved THIS elf from lots of stress and strain over the years - thinking of the time Santa left 4-year-old Youngest a three-story doll house...
The non-wrapping of Santa is interesting. When I was a new mother, a more experienced mother told me she always wrapped them, because if the nosy kids found Santa loot, they didn't know what they were getting. Henceforth, each kid was colour-paper coded, and put in a bag in the top of the closet. They never caught on.
DeleteWe never wrapped Santa gifts--we must not have been nosy enough kids!
DeleteTicket to fly to sister's home, on Christmas Day, has been purchased. Niece's gifts are ordered and scheduled to arrive, at the house, on Wednesday. They are addressed.to my sister. I'm chipping in on my nephew's gift. I need to order the breakfast food to arrive sometime next week. My niece does most of the cooking for her mom, so I thought it would be nice to get a surprise breakfast.
ReplyDeleteMom always had cards with the Wise Men so even if they arrived after Christmas Day they were within the Twelve Days of Christmas. I haven't sent cards in years. I have my poinsettia and actually remembered to water it.
Deana, sounds like a wonderful day in store! I've never flown on Christmas Day, but I've heard nice stories about how warm and informal it can be.
DeleteI like your mom's Wise Men idea - that's why I prefer cards that say, Happy Holidays, 'cause New Year's and Epiphany count, right?
Finished with Christmas shopping. Thought I was finished with grocery shopping before Christmas. Looks like we will need another run to the grocery shop one more time before Christmas. Oh dear.
ReplyDeleteFinished sending Christmas cards in the mail. Just want to relax and not go out before Christmas and not risk catching any of the viruses that are out there during this winter season.
There are too many things that I try to do during the year.
Julia, may I ask if someone can help you with some of the things that you need to do? Work shared is halved, as they say.
Diana
Thanks, Diana - Youngest is coming home on Friday, so she'll be around to help, and I'm outsourcing several tasks. One of the guests on Christmas Eve will pick up our traditional Chinese dinner (probably Thai this year) on her way over, for instance.
DeleteI had to laugh at "Looks like we will need another run to the grocery shop," because there's ALWAYS another run to the store needed!
And I am working on holiday cards, I really am. In batches. They go out when they go out!
ReplyDeleteHank, you and me both. I think I finished sending all of the holiday cards. Diana
DeleteThere are twelve days of Christmas, Hank!
DeleteJENN. and HANK: Good luck with these writing deadlines!
ReplyDeleteDiana
Thank you so much! it is the tiniest bit stressful....xoxoooo
DeleteThank you, Diana!!! Much appreciated!
DeleteStarting at the bottom of the comments and then going back to the top - i wanted everyone to know i did show up, in case my power goes off. It's blowing like CRAZY in southern Maine - virtually half of Victoria's town is out. Right now only 16% of my town, so fingers crossed...
ReplyDeleteBe safe
DeleteFingers crossed your power stays on, Julia! We are getting a wintry mix of rain and snow at the moment, but the wind is not bad.
DeleteUp to 29% of households out now. The good news is it's almost sixty degrees F (15.5 C)! Got the woodstove going, of course, but I'll need it more for food prep than for heat if I lose electricity.
DeleteI'm way behind on everything and don't really care this year. Hoping to finish the cleaning and put the tree up today. I'm not decorating it--with a young cat in the house--nicknamed Mr. Menace, I don't want to spend the holiday shooing him away from the tree or worrying about my keepsake ornaments. It's artificial and prelit--love the lights, so that will suffice. I did bake cookies--youngest nephew's favorites, although I'm not sure those will last until Christmas. Shopping for dinner probably tomorrow morning, after the grocery stores restock today. Will get the snow globes out of storage after the tree is up--that will be the extent of my 'decorating.'
ReplyDeleteMy gift to myself is time to sit, time to myself--I'm slowly feeling my way into a new story--and that makes me very happy.
Flora, that's a wonderful gift of the season, and an important reminder that Christmas treats are supposed to be those things we don't have much of everyday - which in our world, is often time to sit and time to oneself.
DeleteHere's hoping the power stays on! I remember the Christmas Eve when we had no power and had to cook dinner at a family member's house. This is a transition Christmas for us. Not good or bad, just different.
ReplyDeleteOkay, next year we have to do Holiday Disaster Stories and we're going to want all the details then, Margaret!
DeleteWaiting for the wind and rain they've been predicting today... hoping nothing falls on me or the house.
ReplyDeleteIf you stay in the house, Hallie, you reduce the chances you'll get squashed, at any rate!
DeleteOh, I am so far behind! That’s all I have time to say!!
ReplyDeleteDebRo
LOL!!
DeleteAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! That's me, running in tight circles as if my hair was on fire. Two Christmas concerts at the end of the week, health problems that will complicate my even being there for those concerts, presents not yet delivered, cards not yet addressed, a Christmas broadcast voice-over to do . . . And looming over it all, a career decision that will mean a major shakeup in my life. And, yes, I need to make a to-do list to try to wrangle all that into submission. But I will wrangle it into submission, and probably by the end of the week. Because hear me now, Fates, I really want a week off for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI'm just sayin', Gigi, there will be a lot of people who "got sick" during the Christmas celebrations and need to take time off, and you could be one of them...
DeleteWishing you all the best with the health and the decision, Gigi!
DeleteI'll settle for saying Happy Christmas to all and calling it done at that :). We're having a simple Christmas this year. I'll cook, no tree due to a new puppy, our stocking are packed with our ornaments so those are not hung but the chimney with care or otherwise. Neither of us could think of a thing we wanted that needed to be boxed so - - - it will be a low stress, high fun, holiday!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds delightful, Kait!
DeleteI am pretty much caught up though admittedly I went lowkey this year. I mailed out just a few Christmas cards and only had 2 gifts to buy. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteLow key seems to the the theme for most of us, April, so you're right on trend!
DeleteHope the wind doesn't blow you away, Julia. It's picked up here in the last 15 minutes, and is howling.
ReplyDeletePublic service announcement:
Loads of cardboard boxes coming into your homes this month. Please remember to remove all plastic tape from the boxes before you place them in your recycling system. Tape cannot be recycled, and most communities have no way to separate it from the boxes.
I am pretty much done for a change. I got on the Christmas shopping early this year. All online. Tracked packages coming to me. Received and wrapped and mailed out to giftees. Wreath on the door, lights around it on the porch. A few Christmas decorations in the downstairs. No tree this year due to husband's later than planned arrival. A few Christmas notes sent out. I doubt I'll bake anything but you never know.
ReplyDeleteJenn, an extremely scarey thought: to be a peer of dead people. That is just a no go for this very much alive person. ;-) Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteI'm writing a book about a necromancer protagonist so my mind has blurred the lines. LOL.
DeleteFascinating. Elisabeth
DeleteTake the pressure off. We are technically in Advent right now. "Christmas" is 25 December through Epiphany in January. So Chirtmas cards can go out well into January.
ReplyDeleteA pet peeve here--If you are going to bother sending a card, often the only communication with people for the whole year, PLEASE include a note updating us on your year. Just a few lines will do.
💯 agree, Libby! — Pat S
DeleteI have presents bought. But now I need to get them wrapped. I was going to start on that yesterday, but it didn't happen. And I've got this cough that isn't going away, so I'm not feeling super well. Plus I've got some reading to do before I head home to spend time with family this Friday. And stuff at work that no one else will do. So I'm not behind, but I still have way too much to do.
ReplyDeleteFeel better, Mark!
DeleteWe are in Maui. Gifts that are needed for Christmas celebration with our daughter purchased. It is their year with his parents. We are celebrating the weekend after Christmas with them. Son is in Italy, he spends alternate years with us for Christmas. His wife from Italy spends every Christmas with her parents. We will celebrate with them in January, and buy their gifts online to arrive by then. Dinner outside on the beach on Christmas Day.
ReplyDeleteNo holiday stress this year. Christmas is much less commercialized here we have noticed.
SO windy and rainy right now--I have NEVER seen it like this! xxx
ReplyDeleteSo, this topic made me think I had better do something as I had done NOTHING! Guilty me just put a cherry pound cake in the oven. I can gift it, use it, or save it for us for dessert all winter.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile back at the printer – tried to send the letter down to he who harrumphs a lot to print – he put a new JUNK programme on his printer which doesn’t recognize how to print 2 sided, and of course he doesn’t have Adobe. So I go to print it on mine and I already know I am low on cyan ink, which is why I sent it downstairs. Replaced the cyan, it jammed. Fixed the paper jam. Now it thinks it is out of black…How long and how much work is it to print 11 pages?
Think I will go outside and stand in the non-wind. The cats have been out all day singing and dancing. So far, no Armageddon…. The printer however may be space-bound. Look up – waaaay up….
Sorry to send this to all, but
ReplyDeleteTo the woman who lost her son:
This will be hard year for you. The Christmas after we lost our 2-year-old was next to unbearable even though we still had 2 kids who survived. You will blubber and probably not be able to do many things. It broke me up to go to church and (not) sing Angels We Have Heard on High. I have not been back to a Christmas service since.
I could tell you things will get better, but that is not what you need to hear. Do what you can to survive this year, and the next, but remember there are always people willing to help you through. Reach out to them.
Margo, sorry for your loss, no matter how long ago now. My sister and I, not feeling up to cheerfulness our first Christmas after we lost both our parents, went instead to a special service for those grieving a loss. It was comforting. I've seen notices lately for similar services, called "Blue Christmas."
DeleteThank you Flora - you never forget, but after a while your memory gives you mostly the good times. She would be 41 now, but will forever be 2 1/2 with blond pigtails, and a humour like none of the other kids. As Robert Muncsh says Love You Forever...
DeleteBodhi Day was December 8th Yule is this week. Nome St will be finished by the 23rd. We have the Yule wreath up. As far as the feasting, it is not happening on Nome Street. Well sorta is. Amy's saliva glands have not come back, so eating is still a challenge for her. We are planning to have a 2 person ice cream social on the 25th. Best of all, healing continues and we will go out tonight to view holiday lights. On Nome St. we call this "binking". May your winter holidays be filled with binks.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness I still have six days until Christmas Eve, which is when I serve our Christmas dinner, but we're only five to cook for this time, so I'll make it. No tree this year, only one type of Christmas cookie (baked today), some presents bought, most cards sent. I still love Christmas, despite it all.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a neighborhood called Christmas Card Lane so our front yard has been decorated for weeks. Tonight and Wednesday I am hosting two different groups of girlfriends for a fire pit night (where we sit in the driveway and watch the chaos walk or drive by).
ReplyDeleteWe spent Thanksgiving with the newlyweds and brought as many presents as we could pack. They’re very organized with their Amazon (and some things remaining on their) wedding wish lists so we bought from that. They’re going to be with her family in Texas so requested anything that needed to be sent go to their house before rather than have to schlep it from TX. Hubby and I decided we aren’t exchanging gifts since we don’t need anything. First time since we’ve been parents (and since all of our parents have passed) that we’ll be just the two of us. I am SO excited — no traveling, no big meal to make (but I do need to order the Honey Baked Ham…), just relaxing and, on Christmas night rooting for our 49ers (probably in our pjs!). — Pat S
Blessings for your Christmas, Pat. Elisabeth
DeleteThank you, Elisabeth. And the very same to you and yours! ❤️🎄💕
DeleteYou're doing all and only what you can do, Kathy., which is exactly right. Glad you'll be with family for Christmas without having to do all the work. Sending you love and fierce hugs.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you, Kathy, with much love.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Edith and Debs. I heard a line in a movie the other day, "I've always done what had to be done," implying that no matter how much you feel like hiding away from the world and not doing a damn thing, you end up doing what needs to be done. I had to buy Christmas and birthday gifts and contribute some food, so I will. I hope I don't offend too many men, but it's what women have always had to do, to take care of certain responsibilities no matter what.
ReplyDeleteTo read about your traditions make me smile. Everyone has a different take not the holiday. WE ALWAYS give Christmas jammies and each new in-law just has to deal with it. Hank, I took add to my to-do list things I've done. It makes the list more manageable!
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