Laughing here! I SO get the sentiment....particularly since Mr Z died, it's just not as much fun to have the house decorated for Christmas, I must admit. SO, I plan dinner parties, etc., which "force" me to get into the decorating and I'm always glad I did afterwards...until after Christmas and things need to be put away, that is...right? Less and less....you're absolutely right. And, probably, less and less is also about how our yen for 'things' becomes outweighed by our appreciation for the real 'reason for the season'? Just a thought! Happy eggnog! mmmm And, by the way, re the eggnog "with"...THAT seems to be enjoyed 'more and MORE'~!!!
Yes, dear children, Santa Claus is real, Even though so many don't agree. Santa lives wherever people feel Sweet and kind in all sincerity,
And show their love with understanding gifts, Not gaudy, foolish, merely costly things. The gift of Recognition often lifts A sagging spirit high, and lends it wings.
Elves aplenty fashion tokens bright, as Xanadu excursions, jewels and such. If connected well, these brings delight. As Substitutes for love, they're not worth much.
The more we spend, sometimes, the less we give. Santa comes to hearts that love to live.
It's that time, ain't it? Last weekend the weather was beautiful and the neighbors were putting up lights and decorations, but I went for a bike ride instead...
SF, I got the last of the outside lights put up today.
Except for polishing the silver, my biggest Christmas decorating is done -- and the earliest ever this year because last week my good friend Sharon came to help me with some housekeeping (waxing floors and washing windows). She helped me haul out and put up our little Christmas tree and some other Christmas decorations. Every room in the house, except for my home office, has something Christmasy in it now. I'll grab a few Christmas knick-knacks for the office later this week.
Getting the decorations out of that tiny and cramped closet is a difficult task. It's a useless closet, really, and too small a storage space for this house.
For the most part, the Christmas shopping still remains. I have some online ordering to do (meat-o-grams, one for Warren and former blogger The Merry Widow).
On November 25, I managed to order two gifts for delivery. Amazon rules!
AOW, I NEVER had more responses to an email I've sent with a 'joke' like I did when I sent this to people very early this morning! My sis's was the best "Smell and everything!" :-) I hadn't even thought of it being an air freshener! ...
Yes! And isn't it so SO much more fun to put things UP than to take them down :-) Still...I may get my rear in gear and get some things out this weekend; early for me. I have Christmas pillows for the couches, various other things that are less overt than other things that will come out about two weeks before! I have planned some dinner parties so it'll make me get more decor up!
Yes, less and less. We gave away our tree 2 years ago, and now I put up a small ceramic lit tree I inherited from my mom. But I still remember our bible teacher who died this year. Well into her 80's (and a widow) she still got her tree up. She had so much joy in her face when she'd mention her decorating for Christmas. We're pretty much down to that one tree and a wreath. But I still get joy out of it.
that's because some of US decorated her house :-) I believe she had something like 50 Crystal crosses and 50 crystal angels, too...beautiful stuff! I miss her so much.
Baysider and Odie, A similar situation here. With all the medical paraphernalia here in our living room, there is no space now for the tree we used have. How glorious that tree was from 1982-2008! Mostly handmade ornaments from my students -- and a few family heirloom ornaments as well.
But life is what it is. This old house has no other first-floor room to accommodate Mr. AOW's hospital bed, potty chair, and scooter.
I love decorating the house, but I hate all the trouble and effort later when it's time to put the Chrsitmas decorations back into storage.
I just find it hard to get into all of it with only one visit of the grandchildren. And the furniture has to be relocated. And I'm lazy anymore. And a procrastinator. So, I'll do it tomorrow. I've got lots of time, they won't visit til Christmas Eve.
Once, when it was becoming clear that the software company I was working for was going down the tubes, my suite mates and I, in response to a 'decorate your suite for Christmas' event, took some Christmas wrapping paper, rolled it up into a ball fo trash and tossed it into a corner. When the judges came through, we just pointed to it. We didn't win. But that's Ok.
We welcome civil dialogue at Always on Watch. Comments that include any of the following are subject to deletion: 1. Any use of profanity or abusive language 2. Off topic comments and spam 3. Use of personal invective
Laughing here! I SO get the sentiment....particularly since Mr Z died, it's just not as much fun to have the house decorated for Christmas, I must admit. SO, I plan dinner parties, etc., which "force" me to get into the decorating and I'm always glad I did afterwards...until after Christmas and things need to be put away, that is...right?
ReplyDeleteLess and less....you're absolutely right. And, probably, less and less is also about how our yen for 'things' becomes outweighed by our appreciation for the real 'reason for the season'? Just a thought! Happy eggnog! mmmm
And, by the way, re the eggnog "with"...THAT seems to be enjoyed 'more and MORE'~!!!
______ YES SANTA EXISTS ______
ReplyDeleteYes, dear children, Santa Claus is real,
Even though so many don't agree.
Santa lives wherever people feel
Sweet and kind in all sincerity,
And show their love with understanding gifts,
Not gaudy, foolish, merely costly things.
The gift of Recognition often lifts
A sagging spirit high, and lends it wings.
Elves aplenty fashion tokens bright, as
Xanadu excursions, jewels and such.
If connected well, these brings delight. As
Substitutes for love, they're not worth much.
The more we spend, sometimes, the less we give.
Santa comes to hearts that love to live.
~ FreeThinke - The Sandpiper - Christmas, 1995
It's that time, ain't it? Last weekend the weather was beautiful and the neighbors were putting up lights and decorations, but I went for a bike ride instead...
ReplyDeleteSF,
DeleteI got the last of the outside lights put up today.
Except for polishing the silver, my biggest Christmas decorating is done -- and the earliest ever this year because last week my good friend Sharon came to help me with some housekeeping (waxing floors and washing windows). She helped me haul out and put up our little Christmas tree and some other Christmas decorations. Every room in the house, except for my home office, has something Christmasy in it now. I'll grab a few Christmas knick-knacks for the office later this week.
Getting the decorations out of that tiny and cramped closet is a difficult task. It's a useless closet, really, and too small a storage space for this house.
For the most part, the Christmas shopping still remains. I have some online ordering to do (meat-o-grams, one for Warren and former blogger The Merry Widow).
On November 25, I managed to order two gifts for delivery. Amazon rules!
____ A Visit with Pa Grouch ____
ReplyDelete'Twas the week before Christmas
And Papa Grouch here
Made a pact with the Devil
To stay home this year.
The cupboard was bare
And the table unclad
Because of this grumpy
Self-centered old Dad,
Who'd decided it all
Was too much of a strain
That denuded his wallet
And caused him great pain.
Mama was despondent
The babe on her lap
Did nothing but howl
And spit up its pap.
The children were mopey
Their eyes sullen slits
They thought Papa'd gone mad
And had lost all his wits
When on the front lawn
There arose a great clatter
The neighbors had come
To see what was the matter
With no wreath on the door
Or lights on the eaves
They thought Papa'd grown poor
Or been looted by thieves
So up to the housetop
With garlands they climbed
Stringing green'ry and lights
Till they got all begrimed
The ladies walked in
With caskets of food
Then set up a tree
While the children they wooed
With carols in harmony
Sung at the door
With lighted red candles
That dripped on the floor.
Then in marched Tom Turkey,
Who went straight to the oven,
Saying, "Pluck me and stuff me,
I'm dyin' for lovin.'"
He made not a squawk
While they chopped off his head
Plucked out all his feathers
And stuffed him with bread
And onions and apples
And sausage and sage
And quite enough butter
To pay a week's wage.
The cranberry mold
Like a rubicund belly
Shook and shimmered itself
Like a gem made of jelly.
The scent of cinnamon
Ginger and pine
Along with the turkey
Smelled simply divine
A baker on crutches
Who only could hobble
Said, "Soon that old bird
Will be ready to gobble."
The men midst cold ashes
Placed branches for Yule
Their crackling splendor
A marvelous tool
For cheering and warming
Pa Grouch with his pain,
Who was soon moved to say,
"I've no right to complain.
"With neighbors like you,
I feel it's a shame
I ever indulged
A desire to maim
"The Spirit of Joy,
Good Will, and Good Cheer.
I promise you all
I'll be nicer––next year."
Then placing his thumb
At the tip of his nose
He waved them Good Night
And to bed up he rose.
But I heard him exclaim,
As he moved past our sight,
"Don't let the door hit your butt,
When you leave. Now GOOD NIGHT!
~ FreeThinke
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAOW, I NEVER had more responses to an email I've sent with a 'joke' like I did when I sent this to people very early this morning!
ReplyDeleteMy sis's was the best "Smell and everything!" :-)
I hadn't even thought of it being an air freshener! ...
This photo was one of my Facebook finds. When I posted it there, my FB friends raved!
DeleteIf only we COULD get away with such carefree decorating!
Yes! And isn't it so SO much more fun to put things UP than to take them down :-) Still...I may get my rear in gear and get some things out this weekend; early for me. I have Christmas pillows for the couches, various other things that are less overt than other things that will come out about two weeks before!
DeleteI have planned some dinner parties so it'll make me get more decor up!
FT,
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas decorating is not as minimalist as what is depicted in the photo.
However, this year I have cut back a bit more. I need to have the time and the energy to enjoy the Christmas Season, which I love.
Yes, less and less. We gave away our tree 2 years ago, and now I put up a small ceramic lit tree I inherited from my mom. But I still remember our bible teacher who died this year. Well into her 80's (and a widow) she still got her tree up. She had so much joy in her face when she'd mention her decorating for Christmas. We're pretty much down to that one tree and a wreath. But I still get joy out of it.
ReplyDeletethat's because some of US decorated her house :-) I believe she had something like 50 Crystal crosses and 50 crystal angels, too...beautiful stuff! I miss her so much.
DeleteWe've gone to a 3 foot tree from our yard on top of a table, but this could be next.
ReplyDeleteBaysider and Odie,
ReplyDeleteA similar situation here. With all the medical paraphernalia here in our living room, there is no space now for the tree we used have. How glorious that tree was from 1982-2008! Mostly handmade ornaments from my students -- and a few family heirloom ornaments as well.
But life is what it is. This old house has no other first-floor room to accommodate Mr. AOW's hospital bed, potty chair, and scooter.
I love decorating the house, but I hate all the trouble and effort later when it's time to put the Chrsitmas decorations back into storage.
I just find it hard to get into all of it with only one visit of the grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteAnd the furniture has to be relocated.
And I'm lazy anymore.
And a procrastinator.
So, I'll do it tomorrow. I've got lots of time, they won't visit til Christmas Eve.
Once, when it was becoming clear that the software company I was working for was going down the tubes, my suite mates and I, in response to a 'decorate your suite for Christmas' event, took some Christmas wrapping paper, rolled it up into a ball fo trash and tossed it into a corner. When the judges came through, we just pointed to it. We didn't win. But that's Ok.
ReplyDelete