Christmas Day, 2014 - about to go into the history books, as it is already 10:37 pm.
But, it will go down as a terrific one!
Our big family celebration was last night, on Christmas Eve. As any empty nester knows, once your kids are grown and married, with families of their own, you must start sharing them with the "in-laws". So, after attending Christmas Eve worship service, Eddie Dale and I came home to finish preparing a non-traditional TexMex dinner. It was a fun, rather chaotic, affair here in our small and cozy cottage. But, I wouldn't have traded it for anything!
We stayed up late, watching "A Christmas Story" and slept in this morning. Today was pretty low key, with a simple midday meal and plenty of time spent dozing in front of the final holiday movies on the TV.
And, now I am sitting in Eddie Dale's recliner, Pepper snoring loudly beside me and the hubby snoring loudly in the bedroom a few feet away, watching "Julie & Julia" for about the 28th time.......
And plotting my approach for taking down and packing away all the Christmas decor tomorrow!
I usually take everything down pretty quickly after the holiday. My plan to get started first thing in the a.m. is intensified because an entire section of our pre-lit Christmas tree has apparently "gone out" this evening. Being slightly OCD, this is troubling me greatly......
(A different section was not working when I dragged the tree in and started to decorate all those many weeks ago, which necessitated spending about an hour removing the pre-strung lights - stupid little plastic clips and all - and restringing it with more clear lights. Trust me, it was frustrating and exhausting - and I only went to the trouble because it was sleeting outside that day and I was really feeling too strapped for cash to shell out money for a new tree when this one was only three years old!)
Anyway, my philosophy on un-decorating is pretty much like my philosophy on removing a band-aid - just rip it off as fast as possible!
Now that Christmas is over and done, I must admit I am ready for our home to return to "normal". In fact, I am actually looking forward to dusting the surfaces of my furniture currently buried under layers of garlands, lights, snow globes and candlesticks - and, of course, a nice thick layer of dust!
Before I go to bed and fall asleep to dream of the fresh and pristine place that our home will be by this time tomorrow evening, I will leave you with my favorite photo of our tree this year - by far, one of my favorite trees that has come together over the years. This was taken last night after everybody arrived with their presents to exchange - and it is looking pretty apparent to me that the middle section of the tiny white lights was dead last night.....but, it's still pretty, don't you think?
Hoping you had a most wonderful and memorable Christmas, too!
See you back here soon for another visit on the porch....
Jane
Your tree was lovely, and I have to say I have always adored that mirror that is above your piano now!
ReplyDelete