Our Christmas tree is still up. We’ve been planning to take it down today, but neither of us is eager to do the deed. We’ve had such a lovely holiday season that we just aren’t ready to let it go. We gave ourselves the gift of a new water heater, shower nozzle and heat in the bathroom, we had a beautiful Christmas celebration with presents and coffee cake and Don making Chinese food for dinner, we took little day trips that we thoroughly enjoyed, we listened to beautiful music, we read and played and rang in the New Year, and we celebrated our little girl’s 16th birthday.
Somehow, the end of the holiday season signals the harsh reality of several months of winter ahead, winter without the sparkly lights and pretty tree. Sure enough, this morning is cold and very windy with gray skies.
Since we wait until mid-December to decorate, we’re not screaming “Take all the decorations down!” by this time. We’re still enjoying them. And since I decorated sparingly this year, we’re not suffering from an overabundance of the sparkly and glittery.
Will we take it down today? It’s a bit dry, but is holding up surprisingly well. Hmmm. We’ll have to see.
I tried to get photos of Scout’s little birthday celebration, but it was evening and the lighting in the den was not all that conducive to picture-taking. Just as we did last year, we gave her a little plate of treats and peanut butter and put it down in front of her, singing Happy Birthday. She always hesitates for a moment, as if she’s thinking “Really? You’re going to let me eat off a plate? What’s the catch?”
Mmmm-mmmm! Peanut butter!
Scoutie thanks you for all your birthday wishes! I’ve been reading them to her. She had a good day, that little minx. But she’s tired today. There’s been a lot of celebrating around this house lately and, frankly, it throws off her routine.
Finally, I thought I’d share with you a photo Don took of me last week when we were eating at the diner in Millbrook. He wanted to capture an expression on my face that he tells me he sees quite often.
He put it on Facebook with this caption:
This is how Claudia looks at me when I say something stupid.
This then, is pretty much how she looks all the time.
He makes me laugh, that guy.
Happy Monday.
Sue Silva says
Awwww … I love Don.
Claudia says
Me too, Sue!
Snap says
I saw Scouts birthday post yesterday and didn’t make it by to say Happy Birthday to your beautiful girl. So, Happy Birthday, Scout! I will take Christmas down this week. I always leave everything up until January 6 and then take down the outside “stuff” first. Love your picture and Don’s caption. I’ll be giggling all day. Happy New Year!
Claudia says
Happy New Year to you, Snap! And Scout thanks you for the birthday wishes!
Linda @ A La Carte says
That photo is priceless! Oh and I think the caption is hysterical! Gotta love a man with a great sense of humor. Glad Scout had a good day. Celebrating is a lot of work. I admit my tree is still up. I’m enjoying the lights so much at night I’m in no hurry to take it down. Today I am taking Mom to the clinic to get some tests done then grocery shopping. Enjoy your day.
hugs,
Linda
Claudia says
We aren’t either. Though it is a real tree, so at some point it will be too dry to keep up safely.
Nancy in PA says
Your expression says, “Seriously?”
Love that photo of the Birthday Girl taking inventory of her birthday treat. I know that happy pause.
Personally, I wish everyone would agree to leave their Christmas lights up for a couple more months. The lights are put away just when we need cheering up the most.
Meanwhile, it’s your house and your Christmas tree; you can do whatever you like, right? You’ll know when it’s time.
Claudia says
I think we’ll leave our outdoor lights up – we’ve done that before. Keeping them lit every evening brightens this darkish country road.
Donnamae says
Haha! That man of yours, is quite witty! ;)
Claudia says
Yes, he is!
Vera says
Great photo that Don took…and equally get caption. And Dame Scout, so glad she had a good day on her Sweet 16th Birthday and enjoyed her treats. She is a treasure for sure. Well, we were not going to have a tree this year since we were traveling, but the day before we left I came downstairs to find a table top tree (live) decorated and with lights on. Love it! We were away for a week, so just back to enjoying being home and we will not be un-decorating the tree or doing anything else for awhile. I love the softness of Christmas lights and candle light. Somehow it helps on these bleak winter days. Stay warm!!
Vera says
I meant equally great caption (not get caption…duh).
Claudia says
I love the Christmas lights, too. They’re so beautiful and cheery during the winter months.
Bonnie Schulte says
This was so cute,(your photo, and Don’s comment) and made me actually laugh out loud.
On the other subject of the Christmas tree, because we put up our tree pretty early ( a Fraser Fir, so did not drop more than a dozen needles)DH was anxious to take it down before New Years day. I hated to do it, but when every thing was put back in place in the house, I was glad to have the work behind me, and all Christmas tucked safely away till next year. But, I know if Jeff was like Don, I’d be happy to have the tree up for another week too. Enjoy, why not, right? Oh, and Happy Birthday to Sweet 16!!!!! Bonnie in cold (windchill -32) snowy white WI
Claudia says
It’s really cold here today too, Bonnie! And I guess it’s going to get colder as the week progresses. Very windy and bitter today!
Annette Tracy says
Happy Belated Birthday to Scout. Loved her pictures. I know she’s probably worn out, but would love to have her write a post one day! She is so talented and I know everyone would enjoy hearing from her. My tree is undecorated, but still up. Since it’s faux and has great lights, we just enjoy it so much in our cold weather. Like you I didn’t get going til late this December. The nutcrackers are packed away, that is a lot of work there! So it’s looking a little duller now!
Claudia says
She’ll write again, but we don’t like to have her do it too often….Actually, she sneaks onto my laptop during the night and writes the post. So I have to hide it from her!
Maybe I’ll find a way to keep some lights up, even without the tree, Annette!
Missy says
Cute..I can imagine that look on my face as well….:)
Claudia says
I bet that look is on many of our faces, Missy!
Janet in Rochester says
Your husband is hill-arious! He should think about doing a little blog of his own. Just a little one – with a nugget of humor or a Don-observation or whatever every day. Or even other day. Bet it would be very popular. Oh and I agree with Nancy in PA. I always wish people would leave their outside lights up during the winter months. Once the lights “go out” after Christmas it’s depressing driving home from work, and during the dark cold days is when we need them the most. Oh well, I guess it’s Monday, huh? LOL. Enjoy your day!
Claudia says
He started a blog once, but he just wasn’t that into it. He reads mine and he writes lyrics all the time. I’d love him to have a blog because he’s a wonderful writer.
I decided today that we’re keeping our outside lights up throughout the winter. We live on a dark country road and I think they will cheer everyone up.
Janet in Rochester says
Good for you, Claudia! And you’re right – they will! :>)
Denise says
I enjoyed the photo Don took of you and laughed out loud at his comments. The tree is still up here as well. I’m thinking about finding a way to decorate with some lights to brighten up the winter months ahead.
Claudia says
Good idea, Denise. I’m going to leave the outdoor lights up and maybe run some twinkly lights somewhere in the living room or bedroom.
Eileen says
Our tree is still up at the moment. Growing up we always left it up until Grandma Hill’s birthday so I never feel rushed. The Wise Men didn’t come until tomorrow (Epiphany) anyway so we wouldn’t want them to get lost. At any rate, we just like looking at it and the needles haven’t started to fall and we’re just lazy.
Eileen
Claudia says
I don’t remember when Grandma Hill’s birthday was, Eileen. I’ll have to ask Dad. I’ve always wondered why everyone is in such a rush to take the tree down if they also celebrate Epiphany. Hmmm.
Love to you and Woody.xoxo
Chris k in Wisconsin says
We took the outside lights down last week, but inside, all is still decorated. I love it so. And being retired, I wonder what the rush is. So it remains up. “I will start tomorrow” (she said, crossing her fingers). And when it gets done ~~ it gets done. I cannot come up with a reason to rush about taking it down.
LOVE the caption to your picture. Many of us could probably have that same picture done, with the same caption.
Ridiculously cold here. Stay warm!! These are the days of hot chocolate, warm throws, and dreams of our summer gardens.
Claudia says
I, too, wonder what the rush is. After all, it’s winter, it’s very cold outside, and a tree with sparkly lights and lovely ornaments certainly helps warm up a room.
I’m sipping my hot chocolate at this very moment, Chris. Cold here – colder weather coming in the next couple of days. Yikes.
Genevieve Lopez says
Claudia, hold on until tomorrow. At my grandmas house it was always wait till January 6th. Then all the pretty stuff came down early the next morning. What’s one more day.Enjoy the beginning of this brand new year. Love to your little fur baby.
Claudia says
It’s still up, Genevieve – tomorrow is Epiphany, so we’ll either take it down late in the day or on Wednesday. It’s too pretty to take down!
dewena Callis says
Oh, that’s so cute! Scout, yes, but you too, Claudia, and Don for his FB post.
Happy Birthday Scout! I’m sure she is your best Christmas gift, Claudia.
My tree is still up, the barrel the decorations go in sitting beside it. I too have told myself that I will take it down tomorrow on Epiphany, Christmas music playing for the last time this season.
Claudia says
Ah, thanks for reminding me about Christmas music, Dewena. I think I’ll play some tomorrow. Scout thanks you for the birthday wishes!
Beth K. says
My goal is to leave the Christmas cheer up until the end of bleak January, then celebrate Valentine’s Day. Our little lighted table top tree is artificial and more Victorian than Christmas, so no problem leaving it up. My decorations aren’t the Santa type but ornaments in jars and atop McCoy white vases, greenery, angels, pine cones, snow globes, candles…glittery light and cheery things. I want to celebrate the spirit of Christmas all year and leaving the Christmas cheer up longer helps ingrain the spirit in me. I’m still listening to classic Christmas music and basking in the candlelight and holiday memories in the evenings. Who want to get rid of cozy cheer when you are a “Christmas in Connecticut” type of decorator?
Claudia says
Indeed! And you know I am a “Christmas in Connecticut” decorator, for sure!
I think it’s great that you are keeping things Christmasy. If our tree was artificial, I’d keep it going indefinitely, but alas, it’s real. But it’s doing pretty well and Don agreed with me that today was NOT the day. We’ll take it on a day by day basis.
Debbie Price says
Claudia,
You and Don are a couple of hoots!!! That expression says it all!
Hugs to you both (pets to Dame Scout),
Deb
Claudia says
Thank you, Deb!
Vicki says
Ha! Cute photo and caption from your other half.
I drove around last night at sunset; it was incredibly clear. Today we have the winds off the eastern desert and it was 73 degrees before 10am. The weather can’t decide what it wants to do in SoCal. My mom would say, “This is the kind of weather that gives you the bends!”
Anyway, big moon rising in the eastern sky with the electric orange streaks of the setting sun to the west. With a bit of blue still there, neighborhoods were already lit up with street lights…and Christmas decorations! I was AMAZED at the number of houses who not only still had their house lighting going, on the exterior, but also the number of nativity scenes and Christmas trees still sparkling inside people’s homes! I loved it. I came home and said to my husband, “We took our lights down too early. The whole town is lit up. I can stand in the driveway and see seven houses ablaze with lights and we look dark and sad.” A little note to self for next year…don’t be so quick to let it all go away.
I love the lights. Fairy lights. I bought up a whole bunch of them on half-off sales over the past days. My husband goes for the LEDs but I think they’re glaring, even the multi-colored ones. I can remember when ‘old-fashioned’ mini lights were thought to be innovative…cool lights. He thinks they are energy drains. But I’m threading some of them in my fave places around the interior for now and then. They cheer me with their soft and gentle glow. I’ve watched the TV chef from Britain, Nigella Lawson, for years…long before she got her present notoriety…from when she was married to her first husband and her kids were just tiny little ones…and one of the things I’ve loved about her production sets for the TV filming is how she strings red or white lights in what appears to be kitchen/dining/den/library spaces which I’m sure, with the often-dreary weather in London, brightens up the living/filming areas of the home/set. (I think after the first year of trying to film in her own house and kitchen, she started using another place for the filming; Giada does that, too. It’s understandable, not only for privacy, as a TV crew running cables and their own bright lights all over the place can create havoc and kinda ‘tear up’ your house.)
So, to sum up, you’ve been smart to extend your blissful holiday as long as possible! We had taken down the Christmasy reds & green lights off the exterior but left blue/whites, and I bet we could have skated through January with them still twinkling. Uplifting & magical.
Claudia says
Our lights are still up, as is our Christmas tree, Vicki!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces says
So great to have a husband who makes you laugh…love it! Happy birthday to Scout!
Claudia says
He makes me laugh all the time, Linda!
Betsy Pringle says
Hi! I have had some changes in my life and am able to enjoy the slower paced joys–like following your blog once again! I, too, do not decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving dinner is on the table but take my time to enjoy the process both before and after. Of course my tree is up and smelling wonderful as it ages toward the door. Enjoying all your wonderful sharing. Birthday blessings to Scout–a little late from Bessie (my basenji) and me! Warmly, Betsy P.
Claudia says
Thanks for the birthday wishes, Betsy!
MelodyA says
I love the look on your face, I think you have an inquiring look, and that you are interested no matter what outlandish idea is being said. I haven’t commented before but I love your blogs and your sensibilities. I think you are beautiful and a charming person. Happy New Year! and enjoy the decorations, my are still up as well as they provide a lovely twinkle on these cold, cold days of January.
Claudia says
Thank you for your kind words, Melody.
Our tree is still up!
Kathy says
Awwww what a sweet post. Lovely photo of the three of you. My tree is still up. I love it! It’s all about the wonderful lighting it gives to the room. Also with everything frozen outside its so nice to have nature inside!