It's a Wrap - Christmas, 2014

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

Knocking Back Stress (aka Resisting the Urge)

I'm trying really hard not to feel like I'm running behind!  In the last few days, I have learned that both my daughter, Bonnie, and my mother have put up their Christmas trees and started decking their halls! 

Then I go online and browse through my favorite blogs and see a Winter~Wonderland~Holiday~Bonanza going on out there! 

Oh, my....OH, MY!!!  The temptation, the urge, the feeling of obligation to keep up is pounding at my door!

However, I am truly resisting the urge to start dragging out boxes and crates.  It's an undertaking that simply takes more than one day to accomplish.  I haven't had a day yet to devote......

And perhaps that is a good thing! 

I have decided to view it this way ~

It is too early to decorate for Christmas and Life's pace has reminded me of this.  Next week, after taking the time to stop for a day and give Thanks in an appropriate manner, I will have the rest of a long weekend to prepare our home for Christmas.  This is the way it will be.  This is the way it is working out.  And I accept that.  

So, until next Friday, I am putting self-imposed guilt and stress on hold, refusing them entry into my flow.  While many will venture out in the dark hours of early morning that day, I will sleep in for just a bit.  Then I will get up and have a nice cup of coffee with pumpkin spice creamer in it.  I will dress in comfy sweats and put on Christmas music.  Finally, I will take my time and decorate with holiday cheer until my heart is content. 

Until then, I will just have to settle for reflecting on some of my images of Christmas (and the related decor) Past.......

 

And feel at peace with the way this will fall into place.

Blessings to you on this chilly evening ~

Jane

Making Memories....

What a magical evening this Mimi just had with Ansleigh and Trayden! 

Their mommy needed to finish up some Christmas shopping, so she dropped them by here as the sun was setting.  We loaded up car seats and headed over to McDonalds for a bite to eat.  Happy Meals all around....even the french fries were smiling!

When our tummies were full, we wound our way across town to some friends' house ~ 'cause we heard they were having a special visitor this evening.....

Yep, it was the "real deal"....the one and only, jolly ol' St. Nick!  He greeted them with a hug when we arrived. 

Then he pulled them in close for a chat on the porch.  Ansleigh was totally captivated and could not take her eyes off Santa. Well, neither could Trayden, for that matter!

They had his undivided attention and he had their's....

And, in that moment, all was perfect in their world! 

Thanks, Stacy and Dave, for opening your hearts and home to bring a whole lot of Christmas spirit and a little bit of magic to your friends and neighbors!  There just aren't enough people like you two in this world, but I'm so thankful our paths crossed and we could share this wonderful Christmas memory with you!

Big hugs all around....

Jane

Triggering Christmas Memories

Our large tree in the living room is filled with so many special decorations.....I have been collecting unique ornaments since I was a child!

It was a tradition started by our next door neighbor, whom we affectionately called NaNa, when I was probably only about 6 or 7 years old.  She selected a special, albeit inexpensive, ornament for her granddaughter, my sister and me every year.  My mother quickly adopted the same practice.  So, by the time I was grown and started my own tree, I already had quite a collection.

Of course, some of those early additions have not survived the years.  But, I still have many of them and they all have a special place in my heart.  Among them....

 

 

There are a couple of ornaments that I clearly remember making.  This wooden candy cane was my effort when our fifth grade class painted ornaments to decorate the class tree.

And this beaded candy cane was made in a missions class at church about the same time.

I was fortunate enough to find a box containing a few of my grandparents' ornaments after my grandmother passed away.  They are among my favorites!

 

 

Throughout my adult years, I have continued to add unique ornaments....those that catch my eye or "speak" to me.

And, of course, I love the set of Shiny Brite reproductions (found in Fredericksburg on a hot summer day, no less!) and the clip-on candles I found at Dollar General (gotta love the dollar store for some great decor on the cheap!)....

 

Our tree may be a hodgepodge of many different types and style of ornaments, but it is filled with wonderful memories.  I get a warm, fuzzy feeling just unwrapping the ornaments and placing them among the branches each year.  

Every once in a while, I toy with the idea of starting fresh and decorating a tree with a specific, cohesive theme or color scheme.....but, it's always a fleeting idea!  

How about your family's tree?  Do you have some of those priceless, irreplaceable and sentimental ornaments like I do?  I would love to hear about it if you do!  

And now for lots of vintage inspiration, I am linking with Debra at "Common Ground" for "Vintage Inspiration Friday". If you love the use of older ornaments and such when decorating for the holidays, I guarantee you will be blown away!

Relishing the moment....

Jane

Memories and Traditions...Where did the Time go?

With Christmas fast approaching, I am keenly feeling the effects of an empty nest. So much so, that I drug out my box of old photos last night and went browsing through them. (How DID we manage before digital cameras?!?!?)


Now that the kids are all grown and pretty much on their own (Eddie Dale and I have seven between us, ranging in ages from 18 to 29), there is so much I miss:

* The pitter-patter of excited little feet scurrying through the house.

* Finding bits of sticky candy cane here and there.

* The necessity of finding new hiding places for presents.

* Pictures with Santa and Christmas programs at Mother's Day Out and school.

I even miss all that penny-pinching and budgeting it took to help Santa out each year when the kids were younger!


I recall the simple traditions we had when there were little ones around. On Christmas Eve, I always prepared a big pot of stew and a skillet of cornbread for dinner. Then, after baths, the kids were dressed in warm and fleecy footy-pj's and loaded into the minivan. I would pop in a casette tape of Christmas music and we were off to cruise through town, looking at lights and scanning the skies to spot the red glow of Rudolph's nose. Upon arriving back home, we would open the presents under the tree and set out a plate of cookies for Santa (with a nice big carrot for the reindeer) and try to settle down enough to sleep.


Christmas mornings were joyous with children in the house, indeed! After the rush to the tree to see what wondrous things Santa left (I personally know that Santa had a very difficult time deciding whether to come to our house right after the children fell asleep or wait until morning and try to catch them still sleeping!), I would begin the preparation for a feast at midday. It never failed that there were toys scattered from one end of the house to the other and someone was always under foot as I rushed around the kitchen, but I wouldn't trade for those times.


Now, don't get me wrong! I love the traditions that Eddie Dale and I have established since we married six years ago. We still go look at the light displays and listen to Christmas music, just not always on Christmas Eve (thanks to his wacky shift schedule). And now we usually have all the pups loaded into the truck with us instead of kiddos. I still bake, and go all out with the decorating, and listen to Christmas music too loud! And I still love to sit in the floor with my grown children as they open each present, oohing and aahing (I just need help getting up!).

The Holidays have changed for us, it's true. But that's not a bad thing. Christmas is just a bit slower, perhaps a little less frenzied. We are reminded in different ways of the Blessings of The Season. Although I cherish those moments from Christmas Past that stand out in my memories, I treasure the moments of Christmas Present that will be my memories in Christmas Future.

What kind of special traditions do you have with your loved ones? Are you chasing little ones and hiding presents? Or are you at a place in your life when you slow down a bit and reflect a little more? Each stage in this journey known as life is unique and special. My holiday wish for you is that you find all the joy where you are in your life - right now.

Special Holiday Hugs,

Jane