Getting a good photo this morning is a challenge. It’s so dark out there – even now, at 10:30 am. The gray skies and general yuck are the precursor to the rain that’s arriving this afternoon. We’re due for almost an inch of it. Yesterday was unseasonably warm and sunny.
Go figure.
These gray days are tough for me. I have to force myself to be cheery and positive. I’m realizing that they are best spent with a good book in which I can lose myself. I am very into reading lately, thank goodness. After the reading drought earlier this year, I’m back at it and, oh my, it helps enormously.
Understand that I have stacks and stacks of books to be read. Way too many! They’re on the ottoman, on the floor and on the bookshelves. But this particular stack is what I’m tackling at the moment.
Two James Lee Burkes that I haven’t read, the newest Susan Hill which arrived last week, and Joe Ide’s second in his IQ series. The third was just published, but I had somehow missed out on the publication of the second, so I’m reading that first. In fact, I’m reading it right now. I fell for his style when I had to read and review IQ, the first mystery in the series. He’s a wonderful writer with a unique voice.
And tomorrow’s mail will bring the newest Louise Penny! Heaven!
I had another long day in the city yesterday, but not as long as some, thank goodness. I left for the bus around 7:15 and got home around 4:00. Rehearsal went well – I worked with the young man who is taking over the lead male role. Since he’s primarily an Australian pop star (with a large following stateside) who has done a bit of television, he’s not used to speaking onstage in a Broadway house. I requested the rehearsal so I could take him through all of his dialogue and help him understand vocal energy, fully voicing the ends of his lines, articulating clearly – that kind of thing. He’s a great guy and eager to learn, so working with him is quite rewarding. He’s such a personable and polite young man. He takes over the role this Thursday and I’ll go back around mid-December to watch him in a performance and check in on his progress.
No Christmas decorating yet. You know I don’t do any of that until the second week of December. I may put up the lights on the porch, but that’s it until later. I like my holidays to be separate and, since we love to keep the tree up through the New Year, decorating now would be way too soon. I’ve never understood decorating before Thanksgiving and then dismantling everything on Christmas afternoon. Doesn’t the Christmas season extend to New Year’s Day? Or am I just old-fashioned?
There are times that I like being old-fashioned.
Besides, I haven’t even thought about presents yet.
Two questions for you today: When do you decorate? And what are you reading?
Happy Monday.
Nope, not old fashioned…then again, Christmas should be vintage! We put up a live tree, so we do the same. Frankly, I enjoy our Christmas decorations the week after Christmas, but the early birds are done on the 26th. It’s just my preference, left over from childhood when no one put up decorations before Thanksgiving. That being said, can’t wait to see your decorations (anticipation!).
Yes. I’m sure my patterns are based on what my parents did, as well. They never decorated until mid-December and kept everything up until the day after New Year’s Day. My dad grew up in a family that didn’t decorate their tree until Christmas Eve – a tradition in his mother’s German family.
My dad too. His mother decorated the tree on Christmas Eve to surprise the kids.
xo
Tina Marie, and Claudia,I was thinking Decorating the tree alone on Christmas Eve, Would certainly be quick,quite easy way,to do it. Hahaha.
Of course I joke! I read a lot of old stories where the tree was presented that way.
I imagine a big part because of the using of real candles on the tree.
I sure Love hearing others Traditions,and the reasoning behind them.
Thank-You, Claudia and Tina Marie. Judy A-
I think my grandparents would decorate the tree while the children were sleeping, so they woke up to it on Christmas morning.
My mom’s family (German background) also put the tree up Christmas Eve. And they only lit it once as they used candles. Mom tells the story of my grandfather lighting the candles as my grandmother stood there with a bucket of water in case the tree caught fire. As soon as the last candle was lit, all the candles were extinguished. I’m lucky enough to own some of those candle holders. They always go on my tree with candles, but they are never lit.
How lovely that you have some of the candle holders! Priceless.
I’m old fashioned, too! Our house is decorated now and we will leave it up until just after New Years. As it gets closer to Christmas Day things get quite hectic so I’m always happy to have the decorating done so during those weeks before, when I have down time, I can sit back and enjoy the ‘view’ all around me.
My sister does the same thing. She works long hours and so, she decorates on Thanksgiving weekend because she won’t have any time to do it later.
Christmas decorations along with the tree goes up on the 13th if it is a Saturday or the first Saturday after the 13th. Reason for that is that the 13th is our anniversary. This will be our 38th year of marriage. Our tree comes down on New Year’s day too. The book that I am reading right now is “Mr. Churchill’s Secretary” by Susan Elia MacNeal. I am half way through the book. I want to finish the book by the 3rd of December because our library is schedule to close for some renovations. Estimation 6 months. There are other libraries. Just this library is in walking distance of us and I don’t like driving to the main library because of the crazy traffic. The weather here is dreary.
That’s a nice reason to decorate – and Happy Anniversary early!
I’m sorry about your library closing temporarily!
I agree about early Christmas. We wait to decorate and put the tree up, and leave it until the day we are tired of looking at it, which sometimes hasn’t arrived until late January!
I love looking at the tree with all the old ornaments and memories, as I’m sure most of you all do, too.
Sorry about the gray weather, Claudia. I find lack of sun deeply affects me and that’s one reason I live in the Sunshine State.
Happy Monday.
Same here – we’ll often leave the tree up until mid-January.
The weather and gray skies seem to bother me more and more the older I get, Cara.
I decorate after Thanksgiving but not set date. This year I put up the tree yesterday and had the Grands over to help decorate. Nothing else is up but will be in the next week or so. I don’t take it down until New Year’s Day or after. I enjoy the tree lights so the tree is usually the first thing up.
I just started reading Dark Scared Night by Michael Connelly. I enjoy his novels very much. This is Ashleighs last day here so spending special time with my girl before she leaves.
Decorating the tree with the Grands must be such fun!
I loved Dark Sacred Night. He’s such an excellent writer – never a false move.
Have fun with Ashleigh!
I like to focus on 1 holiday at a time. But as soon as Thanksgiving is over it’s on to Christmas. Day after Thanksgiving is house clean up, and take all the fall decorations down. By Sunday the tree is up and it generally stays up until New Years eve. I do like to have all the Christmas stuff put away before Jan 1 to start the new year fresh.
I just finished a Janet Evonavich, Stefanie Plum series book. Lots of fun, easy read. Turning off the news, and I started reading for awhile in the morning before I allow myself to pick up my phone. So far, so good.
I find I get the most reading done in the morning, Marilyn. It gets a bit harder to do later in the day. Enjoy your Stefanie Plum!
We used to have a real tree, but when we caught the kittens at the top, after scaling the trunk, we decided a tall tree was a bit dangerous. So we got an artificial tree. Good quality, but not the same. That was fine for many years. Then we got a new batch of kitties, and any tree, dangling ornament or hanging lights were ripe for the picking. So we went with small table top trees with ornaments and lights wired on. That seemed to curb their enthusiasm for holiday decoration play. Then my husband died, and unfortunately, the holidays really dimmed without him. We hang lights outside but that’s about it now, and we’re actually ok with it. Maybe some day my collection of snowmen, Santa’s, and geese in holiday finery will come out again.
As for books…still working on Donna Leon in the evening, and a couple of Judith Flanders during jury duty breaks. Today begins jury selection…. I’m also thumbing through my vast collection of craft books to find items to make for gifts. If I’m selected for the jury, I think the homemade gift idea may go out the door, or, at least, be limited to a few people.
All depends on whether you’re chosen for the jury, I guess.
Your family suffered a great loss and Christmas decorating should be on your terms. I totally understand.
For about 25 years we’ve had a party for my husband’s poetry group on the second Tuesday of December. Thanks to the protracted kitchen reno, that won’t be happening this year (or ever again, now that I’m able to break the cycle-hallelujah!), so I can leave the tree and decorating until much closer to Christmas. It comes down on Twelfth Night, the end of the Christmas season.
Books: Recently read Kate Atkinson’s “Transcription.” Also “So Many Ways to Begin” by Jon McGregor and Mia Alvar’s book of short stories, “In the Country.” Both authors new to me, both excellent. Am eagerly anticipating Hill’s and Penney’s new books.
I can’t always do it it, but I like leaving up until Twelfth Night as well.
Hey, you got out of having that party! Congrats!
glad that long day at work is done and you are home with lots of new books to read! you’ve given good reviews of louise penny books before so i hope to check them out some day.
hope the weather improves for you. as for me, i LOVE, LOVE, LOVE water, gray/rainy days and a good storm where no one and nothing gets hurt. it reminds me of the vastness of the skies, the power of nature and it obviously helps farmers, wildlife and plants (as long as there’s not too much rain). plus it’s like permission for me to stay home, putter, knit, nap …!
to answer your questions:
i don’t really decorate for Christmas or any other holiday. i have a tree of angel ornaments out year-round and i get a wreath from my beloved parents. that’s about it. i am not a “scrooge”; it’s just a tougher time of year for me so i make it easier at home and get my fill of decorations elsewhere.
not reading anything right now because i am on a mission to knit a pair of socks for my father as a Christmas present! (please and thanks … does anyone know how to pick up a dropped knit stitch – that’s dropped three rows – when it’s next to a purl stitch? is it the same as picking up a dropped stitch in plain knitting?)
hope you and don have a great week ahead!
kathy in iowa
meant to add …
i stopped caring about trends after i graduated from high school, am old-fashioned in most areas of my life and am okay with that. just not into button-up shoes and bonnets, thank you!
xo
We’ve had a lot of rain this year, though. A LOT. Far more than normal, so any sort of enchantment with a rainy day is gone, gone, gone.
Meredith would know the answer to your dropped stitch question. I’ve done it myself, but it’s been too long to remember how!
I think everyone needs to do what is right for them, as to Christmas decorating. There was a year here when Don was away at Christmas and I barely decorated. It actually led to our decision to only have a small tree in the future. Much easier.
And when I lived away from home in apartments for so many years, I didn’t decorate and left the decorating to my family members who I would be visiting.
I have no set decorating days as long as they are between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. I remember in the long ago past being upset if the tree wasn’t up by Dec. tenth, but the day after Thanksgiving is always the target. And it’s not New Year’s Day for me if the tree isn’t still up! I like Margaret’s Twelfth Night idea, though, so if I do get a tree up this year, I’ll aim for that as take-down day.
I haven’t read anything, but newspapers for way too long. But, as real books don’t do well at the shack, I’ve been contemplating a Kindle. Do you like yours at all?
I do like mine. I often use the Kindle app on my iPad, though. I much prefer a real book, but when I’m traveling or just trying to save money, reading via the Kindle is just fine. You should get one. There’s a new Kindle Paperwhite out.
Good morning from the wet west coast!
I agree; Christmas decorating should be the first week of December and no sooner. But I also like how the Europeans put up their decorations the week of Christmas and keep them up through the second week of January (Epiphany?).
I am a New Year’s Eve (12/31) baby and raised by a single mom. Some birthdays were “postponed” to January/February depending on the budget for the year. So having the Christmas Tree up through the New Year gave me comfort and became part of my birthday. So our tree stays up until the first week of January. I’ve even rationalized in years past, to have our indoor Christmas lights on through Mardi Gras but I know that’s pushing it!
As for reading, I’m in the middle of “The Weight of Ink”, by Rachael Kadish.
Cheers!
Indoor Christmas lights are so cheery, Deborah – especially through the dark winter months!
Claudia, I couldn’t agree with you more about cheeriness of Christmas lights in the dark winter months. The glow of the lights combined with the warmth of a fireplace and/or stove and smells of winter spices drifting from the kitchen is the perfect nesting scenario.
cheers!
They’re going up today, Deborah! It’s so gray and gloomy here that I need to see them!
Good Morning, I decorate the first week of December. But I start my music by November 1st. But during November I only listen to instrumentals of the carols and hymns. Mostly Celtic. I put away the everyday dishes yesterday and got out a set of my Christmas dishes. I have at least three sets, but only one set comes out each year. I also have tea sets, bowls and kettles. All the dishes are used for everyday. I don’t entertain much, except family. I have a small tree that sits on an end table, and some Lucy and Me Bears. And a few snowmen. Not a lot of decorating. My favorite Christmas thing is the music. By December Sinatra, James Taylor, etc. enter the picture. Enjoy all your reading.
Oh forgot! I just finished “The Lilac Girls.” Very good.
Oh, Tana, wasn’t that a wonderful book?? It is so hard to describe some of those WWII books as good or wonderful, but I’m sure you know what I mean. It was very memorable!!
Thanks, Tana!
I like how you map out what Christmas music you’re playing according to the month! Love that.
Hi Claudia,
Thank you so much for recommending Michael Connelly and Louise Penny! I have enjoyed discovering them. And also, listening to them on audio, that I can get at the library, while I am painting–risky because it gets pretty exciting!
Thank you again for the recommendations,
Alice
I’m so happy you’re enjoying them. Two of my absolute favorite authors.
I guess when it comes to decorating for Christmas…I’m a little bit flexible. The outdoor decorations went up on Black Friday…because the weather was nice. I haven’t done anything inside yet…maybe this afternoon I’ll start. Our tree usually doesn’t go up until around the 10th…but, this year London Son will be here for two weekends…weekdays will be spent at Trek headquarters. So…I’d like the tree to be up for him. The tree etc., usually stays up til after New Year’s Day. It really depends on how we feel. Sometimes the clutter of Christmas gets to be too much….so things come down early. This year, I thought I’d really scale back even more than I have been to avoid a cluttered Christmas.
As far as being old fashioned? Yes…I am about certain things… I’ll admit to that. I’m definitely not trendy….just trying to stay relevant…but, the old-fashioned is right there beneath the surface. I was raised in the 50-60’s….so I guess I just can’t help it.
I’m still reading Origin by Dan Brown. With the holiday, I didn’t do much reading….and while it is good…it is a little slow. I’ve got the Louise Penny on my Christmas list…hope Santa is good to me! ;)
I might put up our outdoor porch lights this week, Donnamae, just because they’re so cheery. We’ve varied things some years, as well. One time, we were both leaving for jobs out of town, so everything was down before New Year’s Day.
A belated Happy Birthday,Claudia! As for decorating,I never start until December and slowly add something each day. I have just read Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney and highly recommend it. I smiled often while reading it. xo
Annette, I LOVED that book!! I felt like I was walking with her that entire night. What a life she had!!!!
Thank you, Annette. Yes, I’ve heard a lot of good things about that book!
Well, I hope you don’t get slammed with the Michigan snow after your rain. It is pretty — no arguments. But I’m not ready yet!
Books first — right now I’m almost done with “Quick Curtain,” by Alan Melville, a 1934 Brit mystery that’s part of the British Library classic mystery series. It’s rather fun and a pleasant diversion. I’m getting ready to enter the December chapter of Vivian Swift’s “When Wanderers Cease to Roam” — I love her work, painting and blog and this is one I read every couple of years. Just finished “The Japanese Lover” by Isabel Allende. I tend to stay “easy” in December — too many other distractions.
Decorating — I’m starting now. I do a lot (it looks like Christmas threw up in my house when I’m done and I really don’t care. Minimalism, schminamilism!) I leave it up till Twelfth Nightish. None of the trees are up yet, but probably by next weekend we’ll be close. With TG so early this year, not pushing as much as I might if it was the 27th! Enjoy your day.
No snow here. We already got slammed two weeks ago – 11 inches!
I’ve read a few of the British Library Classic mysteries and have enjoyed them.
Your choice of reads are always spot on, Claudia. I know you know how to pick em!
I decorate about 10 days before Christmas, and this has changed somewhat after now living alone! I am reading non fiction at the moment “Black Man with a White Coat”. I am also recovering from XEN eye surgery for glaucoma. My new specialist/ surgeon just happens to look like Barack Obama and has his same cadence. (I love that) He is
at Duke Eye down here in NC. I trust him completely to keep me healthy in my eyes. Hope you all are well! I think I miss wearing
a little bit of eye liner but I will survive!
I’m glad to hear your recovery is going well, Katheryn! Take care of yourself, my friend.
I have had so many books come in from my “hold list” at the library, I can’t keep up. I am reading “The Clockmakers Daughter” and it is sooooo slow. I usually love Kate Morton books, but I am really struggling with this one. I have to send several back to the library because life is just too busy right now. (Plus, another 4 just came in!!!!) Crazy.
When I worked, I always started decorating the evening of Thanksgiving, and had it all done by the following Monday as I took that day off for completion. 4th Quarter was our busiest time at work, and if I wasn’t decorated by then, it wasn’t going to get done. Habits are hard to break, and I still use that schedule. But it is just the 2 of us, and we LOVE sitting by the tree lights and just enjoying it. Always keep everything up until 12th Night. (although there have been times it was more like 18th night.) But truly, what is the difference?? As long as we are enjoying it, I don’t care what others think. We really don’t have much company after the holidays, so it is just us sitting here being happy. I can’t find anything wrong with that!!
Hope you have a good day. Happy reading to all!! And decorate when you want to decorate, and as much or as little as you want to do. Diversity is a wonderful thing so enjoy what you want to do and smile and wave to greet your neighbors who may have a different idea. We are all in this together!!
I know what you mean. Though I haven’t ordered any books from the library lately, sometimes so many books would come in at once that I ended up reading none of them because I couldn’t do it all in two weeks.
I love the tree lights, especially in the darkness of the early morning.
Yay for decorating as you want to. I love reading all these responses.
We like a live tree so usually put it up between the 10th and 15th to keep it fresh as possible for the 25th. I enjoy getting out the ornaments as many are souvenirs of trips all over the world. Presently I am reading Barbara Kingsolver’s “Unsheltered.” She gets a lot of her personal beliefs in through the dialogue of the characters, but I am enjoying the two story lines.
Yes, especially with a live tree, one has to take freshness into account!
I usually decorate sometime the first week of December…this year I am debating the hassle of putting up a tree that only the two of us will see.
I am reading my 22nd book in a 32-book series by Patricia Wentworth: The Miss Silver Mysteries. This series of books was introduced in the 1920’s and are very entertaining.
Isn’t it nice to know that you still have more to go in the series? I love that feeling.
I usually decorate for Christmas a weekend or two after Thanksgiving and take it down right after New Years.
I just finished reading Jodi Picoult’s “small great things.” I loved it. The book really educated the reader racial discrimination on a personal level. It illustrated how a black person can do everything right and still be destroyed by prejudice.
I am having a hard time finding books I enjoy anymore.
I think Mere read that book, too. She really liked it.
no Christmas decorations up at our house yet except for one tiny bell-ringer ornament on the outside door handle.
On books, I volunteer in the elementary school library, and recently discovered Raina Telgemeier’s book “Sisters”. My grandson checked the book out and I have been laughing my way through it. He asked me last night if I had ever laughed this hard at any other book! The summary on the back states “Three weeks. Two sisters. One car. A true story.” I love the story of the car trip taken with their mother and younger brother, with flashbacks to younger days – wanting a younger sister, having pets, etc. This enjoyment has been a true surprise.
I am also reading 1997 publication “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” by Jean-Dominique Bauby. An amazing story, written after the author suffered a devastating stroke leaving only use of one eye blink. Using blinks to spell out words, he tells of his life & dreams although paralyzed.
I’m waiting on the next Louise Penny book, can’t wait to reconnect with Inspector Gamache now that he has retired.
Love your description of that book, Jan.
Louise Penny’s newest arrives in my mailbox today.
Little bit jealous of your acquisition of Louise Penny’s latest.
If you would like to read “The Diving Bell and The Butterfly”, send me mailing info and I’ll put it in mail. A quick read, powerful words.
Oh, so sweet of you, Jan. But I’ll find it here. You must keep your copy!
Hello! We always decorated our tree on the 14th of Dec. and I sure hated taking it down. We waited till after the 1st of January. I always wanted to enjoy the season as long as possible. All the work that goes into it, why not enjoy it as long as possible.
The book that I am reading is Indianapolis. The authors are Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic. I have read a lot of books on the Indianapolis because my husband’s Uncle was on board. This book is very detailed.
I am trying to decide what to read next. I have a mystery calling me but which one? Isn’t it wonderful that I have choices.
I agree. I like to enjoy it as long as possible, as well.
The story of the Indianapolis is haunting, isn’t it?
I still follow the old traditions of the UK and decorate late in December and the take everything down on twelfth night…very bad luck to leave them up after that! However, many people here now follow the American way of decorating much earlier.
We live in a 17th Century old house with beams and inglenooks..so it really comes into its own at Christmas ..logs burning, candles, a real tree and evergreen garlands..I’m a bit lazy beyond that and keep it all simple!
Oh, your home seems made for Christmas!
No Christmas decorating happens in my home until December 1st and it stays up until New Year’s eve. I’m currently reading An Unhallowed Grave by Kate Ellis, it’s the third book in the Wesley Peterson murder mystery series.
Do you take it down on New’s Year Eve or on New Year’s Day?
Always New Years Eve Claudia
xo
Tina Marie, and Claudia,I was thinking Decorating the tree alone on Christmas Eve, Would certainly be quick,quite easy way,to do it. Hahaha.
Of course I joke! I read a lot of old stories where the tree was presented that way.
I imagine a big part because of the using of real candles on the tree.
I sure Love hearing others Traditions,and the reasoning behind them.
Thank-You, Claudia and Tina Marie. Judy A-
I love hearing about them, too, Judy!
Hi, I put on Christmas decorations up December 1 and take them down sometime in the new year. Reading at the moment, Steve Waugh The Meaning of Luck. He was our Aussie cricket captain, and is a great guy. Enjoy your decorating.🎄
Thanks, Wendy. I’m not quite ready, but I have a feeling mine will be up by December 9th or so.
We start decorating the end of November ,but not until after Thanksgiving. We have a live tree and put it up during the middle of December. We take it down after New Years. I just finished Jane Austen’s Christmas. It was interesting. I learned a lot of things I did not know about jane Austen. Claudia, enjoy your books.
Marilyn
I’ll have to look for that book, Marilyn!
I usually don’t start Christmas decorating until the calendar says December, but Brian’s been off work (vacation) since Thanksgiving and he said he was in the mood to start dragging the boxes of stuff up from the basement this weekend. So, the decorating began yesterday and ended today. I will admit – it was overwhelming for me. I had stuff unpacked and all over the coffee table and floor to deal with. I got frustrated deciding where to put everything. So I packed a lot of it back up. The only thing left to do is put new lights on our tabletop tree (our only tree) and hang some ornaments. I only keep Christmas decor up until the 26th or 27th, then it all gets packed back up. To me, Christmas is over on the 26th. I like to start the New Year with a clean slate and a clean look.
Reading…I’m in a dry spell right now like you were. All I’ve been reading lately are magazines. My books have fallen by the wayside. I’m hoping to remedy that soon.
Saw from your previous posts that you mentioned both The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Kominsky Method. We watched the former when it first came out (can’t wait for the second series!) and the latter just recently. Loved both.
Since we’re now using a small artificial tree, most of the bins stay in the shed and it’s a lot less overwhelming. I’ve consolidated everything I use into a couple of boxes that are stored under the stairs.
Sorry about your dry spell. I know how frustrating that can be. And you just lost your beloved pet, which makes it hard to concentrate on anything, I suspect.
Claudia I’ve been “away” so to speak and just caught up with your posts from the last week or more today. So sorry I missed wishing you happy birthday greetings so happy belated birthday, I also very much enjoyed your poignant post about getting from then to now and the sweet stories along the way. I had started watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and agree it is so entertaining and enjoyable. Such a great escape from the daily grind. Sometimes everyday life gets in the way of appreciating the wonderful things happening outside our own little bubbles and your blog helps me focus on things other than my own. Thanks so much for your blog and the generosity you share through it.
Any escape is welcome right now, Karen. Thanks for the birthday wishes!
The earlier the better-whatever works…sometimes we have had Christmas when family can come at Tgiving and not Christmas-little ones enjoyed decorations-now in an apartment I miss those boxes and boxes of Christmas that have gone to family and friends!! A small tree suffices! A remarkable season that should last and last!!
I agree! We need sparkly things and pretty lights!
Good morning all! We have a 3′ tarnished tinsel tree put up when the mood strikes. One year it was decorated with my grandmothers beautiful old crystal jewelry, one year small birds we collect. This year small glass balls, stars and snowflakes that have accumulated for a few years. I made small paper houses with flicker candles inside to sit under it that creates a warm shimmer to the silver tree. Also, through the years, mother and I painted small plaster houses that she used in her home. They are now part of our home in her memory, with little lights under them and on a flow of cotton with lights under it. I just want to be in that snowy little village. Magical!
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of Louise Penny (wow, as usual) and a YA called The Aviary. Thanks for all the recommendations here. I have a feeling we will need a few for snowy days ahead as well.
Stay warm. Verna
It sounds beautiful, Verna!
Thank you!
I often wonder how we have come to begin Christmas right after Thanksgiving? My parents never put out Christmas decorations until the week before Christmas and when I was very young, the tree went up on Christmas Eve!
I will probably put my tree up around the second week of December and I leave it up through the 6th of January. I like to keep the 12 days of Christmas!
What am I reading? I’m reading Our Homesick Songs by Emma Hooper, I’m liking it so far but am only about 50 pages in.
I’ll tell you how – marketing. The stores put out merchandise right after Halloween and people have bought into it.
I like the twelve days of Christmas, too!
When I decorate (which hasn’t been much the last couple of years), it’s after Thanksgiving and stays up until Epiphany (around January 6). I may have to try out the tree this year. I have a ton of Dan’s family’s ornaments to go through to share with my sister in law and/or donate plus I am curious as to how the dogs will do with a Christmas tree…
Give it a try, Leanne! I’m hoping the dogs will do well with the tree.
I agree with you about keeping holidays separate. I like the Twelve Days of Christmas and leave everything up until or near January 6. So I don’t do any Christmas decorating before December. And then, a little at a time on the weekends when I’m not working.
Sounds like a very good plan!