I suppose I could have titled this "I Suck at Holidailies"! Even though I "solemnly vowed" to update this blog regularly during the holiday season, I've really struggled just to get in twenty posts during the entire month. Well, there's regularly, and then there's regularly. You know?
So the Holidays are over for another year. We still have our tree up, but that will be coming down soon. We usually leave all the Christmas decorations up until Twelfth Night (which, depending on how you count it, would be tonight), but this year we'll probably leave everything up until this weekend when M is home and can help with the dismantling. He's much better at organizing these things than I am; if I did it by myself, half the ornaments would get broken and the other half would be stashed someplace and never seen again.
The outdoor lights will probably stay up until January 15th – that's the date decreed by our condo association. After that, all Christmas displays must be eliminated from balconies and doorways, or fines will be imposed. Well, in theory anyway. But I'm such a rule follower, I'll never find out if that is or isn't just an idle threat.
One of my Holiday traditions is my annual jigsaw puzzle. I'm a big fan of jigsaw puzzles at any time of the year, but for some reason I always get puzzle fever at Christmas – usually have several new ones. But this year I only worked one – a "vintage" Springbok puzzle showing a wreath decorated with Keepsake Ornaments from Hallmark (another of my addictions). It was just challenging enough to be interesting, but not hard enough to make me want to abandon it halfway through. Most years, M waits until I get stuck towards the end, and then pitches in and finishes everything up. But this year I did it All By Myself! (And, no, that's not a Snuggy I'm wearing – just a woolly red shawl.)
Well, I guess that's about it. Oh, except for the Holiday Movie Wrap-Up. But all I'm going to say about that is that we managed to watch almost all of M's "must see" films this year. The only two we missed were "Miracle on 34th Street" (not one of my favorites) and "Love, Actually." Oh, and once again this year I didn't watch "Prancer," which I always say is one of my favorites, but which I really only watch because it has Sam Elliott in it. Oops! [Note to hubby: Sweetie, if you're reading this – it's really only Sam's voice I'm in love with!]
Your house looks so festive! Mine looks so half up, half down! Of course, Rollie helped with that by insisting that the tree skirt was his new found blankie. My stuff is still up too and if I can muster the interest I will be dismantling it today. However, I have my Lenox ornaments on the dry sink and I really like them there -- they may stay out.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a place to "puzzle" but I don't really -- I like doing puzzles as well. Allen enjoys them too so maybe I should find a place.
I really like your balcony deco. We don't put any lights outside at all anymore and I put out a jingle bell wreath that is still out there and the wind sort of tore it up -- must have been strong wind since the dang thing is metal!
Anyway, your place looks lovely -- maybe you should just leave it up -- well, of course, except for the balcony --- you don't want the condopolice after you.
Hi Joy, Well---it's over (or almost over). We took our decorations down the past couple of days and they are now ALL put away for another year.
ReplyDeleteI love jigsaw puzzles. We used to keep one going on a card table for months and months. Each family member would contribute when they wanted to.
Thanks for your musings.
Hugs,
Betsy
Oh, Joy... you have got to know that Sam Elliot is one of my favorites, too! He can just stand and stare, and I'd watch him. I think the biggest mistake ever made was not to cast Sam in "The Bridges of Madison County." Clint just didn't do it for me in that movie. Sam would have! ;-)
ReplyDeleteMy house is a wreck: closets a mess, decorations still up, thank- you notes not written, etc. I'm taking a chunk of time and trying to get a handle on this before the year kicks into full gear. Think of me as I wade into the mess...
XO,
Sheila :-)
I loved getting a peek at your doll collection! Your terrace is beautiful, but I'm sure you're not sitting out there. Brr.
ReplyDelete