Week in Review – Holiday Spirit
Sunday
I was off today and had intended to run some errands,
but I couldn’t motivate myself to leave the house.
So I did indoor chores, like laundry and dishes and…
well, nothing else.
😉
Monday
On the way home from my aunt and uncle’s tonight,
I saw so many houses with holiday lights, winking and blinking on the eaves
and the door frames, draped over bushes and wrapped around evergreens.
I caught glimpses of Christmas trees, peeking out from living room windows.
It made me happy.
Tuesday
I worked a closing shift tonight, meaning I drove home at 10pm.
Tonight I saw at least 5 or 6 deer out and about on my country commute,
but all in places different than where I normally to see them.
There’s nothing particularly noteworthy about that; it just seemed odd.
Wednesday
Louis and I drove out on the field to take some pictures of the sunset
(Well, I drove. Louis just rode with me.)
When we got back in the car, I smelled something…um…unpleasant.
Louis had rolled around in it while I was busy looking elsewhere.
Louis is a good dog, but he hates to get in the tub.
By the time I got him all cleaned up, I was the one in need of a bath.
Thursday
I was feeling like I needed help getting into the holiday mood,
so I decided to listen to some Christmas music on the way home.
It took 20 minutes of my 30 minute commute and 3 scans around the dial,
but I finally landed on a station playing Christmas songs.
When you don’t want something, it’s everywhere.
Friday
I’ve been thinking about whether or not to decorate for Christmas.
Last year, I went all out. And nobody saw it but me.
It takes so much time to decorate, and even longer to un-decorate.
It’s nice, but I’m not so sure it’s worth it.
I’m thinking I’ll just visit other people’s decorations this year.
Saturday
When I went to work in the afternoon, the weather was pretty mild.
I was thinking that it’s hard to get into the holiday frame of mind,
because it just doesn’t seem to be cold enough outside for Christmas-time.
When I left work, it was cold, cold, cold!
I changed my mind; I can do Christmas in warm weather.
.
Items of Interest:
My Country Commute by me (in which you can ride home with me on my photo blog)
I’m dreaming of a geek Christmas by Todd Pack (in which Todd makes a list for Santa)
I’ll Never See Rudolph the Same Way Again by thesinglecell (in which watching a beloved Christmas cartoon has the exact opposite effect as was intended, albeit much funnier)
Take That, Thanksgiving! by Wayne (in which we learn why Christmas kicks Thanksgiving’s butt)
.
steadily skipping stones 
I hate taking decorations down. When I started putting up my Christmas decorations I finally took the rest of my Halloween decorations down. All my husband does is gripe about holidays and my kids don’t appreciate them anymore but I like how I feel when my tree is up and I light a candle that makes me feel Winter. 🙂 Maybe, just a small tree? 🙂
That’s the up side, is that wonderful Christmas spirit that gets a boost from the decorations. If they weren’t all packed up together, in the way back of the closet, I would pull a few items out just for that.
My mom goes all out every year, all by herself. But it’s worth it to her. Also, she’s not a sit still kind of person. I can sit still. In other words, it’s a value vs energy expenditure kind of situation 😉
When I do put them up, I can be guaranteed enjoyment for quite a while, since it’s usually the end of January before I get up the will to pack them back up again.
I don’t have a Christmas tree anymore but I do bring out my snow village. I also have a couple of poinsettia plants and a door decoration. Oh, and candles that smell like the Christmas tree I don’t have.
I do have some Christmas tree scented candles – that’s something I can definitely do easily. I got a fake tree a few years ago, one of the skinnier ones, because it just got too difficult to try and do a real tree by myself. Even that thing is a big hassle, though.
When my children were at home, we put out all the decorations. The only reason I do much now is because of the grandchild. And even then, not as much as I used to. The older I get, the simpler I want everything.
Me too – the simpler, the better. I started paring down my personal and household items a few years ago, and though it’s super hard for me to part with anything, I never have looked back.
Of course, for me it’s also simpler not to vacuum…or dust…
Both my kids are coming home this year (next week!) so I’m going to go all out with the decorations. If they don’t come home, or we go to them, we usually don’t bother. Like Yearstricken said, I’m keeping it simple these days.
I’m glad your kids are coming to you – that’s the kind of motivation I would need. But it does make the home very festive and it brightens your mood so much. Someone just mentioned on their blog how peaceful and nice it was to have the tree lit up in the evenings, and I had to sigh. It is.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday together!! And I hope you get the kids to help you take down the decorations before they leave, haha!
We decorated last weekend. It was the first time in a long time — maybe 6 or more years that I felt like pulling them all out, and making much needed repairs. Amanda and I even made a few new ones. Don’t know what is wrong with me, I should be experiencing SAD by now. Maybe I’ll snap out of it soon. Until then, Happy Hollidays!!
I was thinking about you recently and wondering about how you were feeling with the early nights. Of course I forgot to ask you about it, haha. But I’m glad you’re feeling good. I’ll have to come over soon and see the house all decorated.
I can’t wait to go home and see all the decorated houses! I am still at school so I am not quite in the holiday spirit yet, but I’ll be home soon. 🙂
I remember those days. I don’t miss having exams and papers and all that reading to do, but I do miss having wonderful things to look forward to. You don’t realize how exciting and wonderful anticipation is until you don’t have it any more.