It would be the 16th day of Christmas, would there be such a thing, and my tree sits, post-festivities, on my curb waiting for the yard waste truck tomorrow. I'm not especially forlorn about this as I am thankful that someone will come and haul it away to be chipped up and recycled which means I don't have to figure out how to dispose of it.
My decorations came down last night and were neatly packed away, the job about 90% complete as of this writing. It didn't take too long, and by the weekend my house will be back looking it's usual January self. I've repeated this putting up and taking down pattern now for many years and plan to continue it for many years to come. As an empty nester, it provides an annual opportunity to think about the joys of my Christmases past, when my kids were small, then bigger, now biggest, and what a fun and goofy family I have.
There is a clear glass ball ornament with Tip's pre-school photo secured on the inside with cotton balls, Kate's high school photo from her junior year in a gold paper frame with a tassel, a dozen handmade needlepoint squares from an college friend in California, a few hand embroidered ornaments that I did myself many years ago, a white ostrich-feather poof I bought at the Dickens Fair in Sacramento when the kids were 8 and 10 and they had their photo taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, a wooden cruise ship commemorating the family's cruise to Alaska for the grandparents' 50 anniversary. There are four handblown glass ornaments from the 50's given to me by my mom and formerly hung on the Christmas trees of my own childhood. And many others, mostly handmade, or wooden, or straw, or silly, like Santa on a snowboard. And the German Santa puzzle, 500 pieces, which Tipton actually tackled again this year, with contributions from anyone passing through, and was completed before New Year's. I liked that we did that.
So, onward with 2008, and only 11 months until my lovely Christmas house comes together again.
I can't wait!
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6 comments:
But you know what I hate? I hate getting the house all undecorated and all the stuff put away until next year and then days later finding one tin angel ornament that didn't make it into the attic.
Really. I hate that.
Moi aussi Nayb - and you know I'm sure to find something hanging out before the trunk is finally closed for the year...
xo nayb
WOOHOO! I love Christmas. I can't wait. Only 11 more months!
(people throw tomatoes at me. I don't know why the people do this.)
Well, Dear Nayb, we have our goofy oysters, mince pie and anchovies in common. Now, here's where we differ. I never put anything up for Christmas. Not one piece of tinsel. Nothing. I'm a scrooge.
Most of my sweet ornaments were either lost in moving in '98 or worse...broken by kitten that decided to live in the tree until it came down. My fault on both counts. Christmas is not what it used to be....we are alone most holidays....I think a wind of change needs to start blowing.
No way you are still putting away Christmas. pft.
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