So I guess the holidays are really over now. M was on vacation the last couple of weeks - taking advantage of all that "use it or lose it" leave that federal workers sometimes end up with at the end of the year. And I've gotten very used to having him around all day. But today, it's business as usual, and he's back at work. I've got lots to do to keep me busy (thank you cards to write, new books to read, mountains of laundry to do, mountains of dust to vacuum away, a small mountain of Christmas cards to do something about), so I won't have time to sit around and brood, but it's definitely quieter around here this morning.
I typically get rather melancholy during the holidays, but this year I really didn't have time for that. For some reason, this Christmas season seemed more than usually frenzied; and it also felt as though it ended almost as soon as it began. One minute we were straightening out all the Christmas tree lights and putting out all the decorations, and the next thing I knew we were toasting the New Year - and I have no idea what happened to all that time in between!
But I think that was a good thing. The other thing that's helping me stave off the doldrums this year is the fact that we've still got the tree and all the outside lights up. We usually take them down around Twelfth Night, and this year they may even stay a little longer than that. They definitely cheer me up, but I
will try to get them put away before the spring thaw hits. Although if our condo association would allow it, I'd probably leave the outside lights up all year. And the Christmas tree, too. I think I must take after my grandmother - it was not at all unusual for her to leave her tree up until Easter, some years. I think one year they hid eggs in it for me and my cousins to find!
However, now it's time to start thinking about what lies ahead in 2010. And though I always like to think that after Christmas, spring is just around the corner, I realize that winter has really just gotten started. But this year, I'm determined not to let that get me down. I know winter has its charms, and if I just stay positive and upbeat, I'm sure I'll be able to find some. Maybe. A few anyway. Someday. Right?
And speaking of winter, this is the
last photo I'll be posting of our infamous snow piles. Last one. I promise. For today, anyway.
(
Click on photo to enlarge.)
This photo was taken by my husband, with his cell phone camera. Pretty good, huh?
Inner passage.
Lower depths.
Central thoroughfare.
From afar.
It's been a while since I posted a Random Photo Monday shot – Monday is not my snappiest day of the week. And I know everyone is probably tired beyond belief of seeing Christmas decorations everywhere, but I really had to show these off. The red and green wooden stars here were Christmas gifts from my littlest cousins in Texas. And I mean really little – ages not-quite-three-years and a-little-over-one-year. Their mom sent along photos of the kiddoes decorating these ornaments, and they are super cute. I have a small collection of star ornaments (like the gold wire star here), and these fit right in. Our tiny tree was too small to hang them on it, but they looked really pretty on the china cabinet, don't you think? (Click on photo to enlarge.)
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
