This is one of my favorite times of year.\u00a0 I like the end of the day, usually when I have a good part of the house to myself.\u00a0 It’s taken me a long time to get into the Christmas spirit this year.\u00a0 About ten days ago I needed to begin baking for things that had to go into the mail.\u00a0 I felt a little of the spirit then, but it didn’t really sneak up on me until this weekend.<\/p>\n
Cop Car has teased me about what I consider to be a simplified Christmas.\u00a0 Yes, I’ve put up swags and wreaths, but it’s about a quarter of what I once did to ring in the holiday season.\u00a0 I chose to decorate with two large poinsettias, and two arrangements with small poinsettias, ivy, cyclamen (and one other white flowered plant I don’t recognize).\u00a0 I like the uncluttered look, and the plants bring color into the house.\u00a0 The planted arrangements will last much longer than cut flowers, and I got it all at Costco, so you know I’m feeling thrifty!<\/p>\n
My side of the family gathered on Saturday evening for a meal, and to do a Christmas gift exchange.\u00a0 We had a fabulous meal, to which everyone contributed.\u00a0 None of us needed to cook, though.\u00a0 My niece provided enough for several days of meals.\u00a0 It was lovely to see some of my great nieces and nephews who were tiny when I saw them last, and almost grown now.\u00a0 My youngest sis and her family were the only branch of the family not represented, and I miss seeing them.\u00a0 When the girls were small they all came to celebrate with us, and Mother.<\/p>\n
Early today, I tidied the living room, and hung the stockings.\u00a0 A little more Christmas spirit snuck up on me.\u00a0 I cleared the clutter in the public areas of the house, and contemplated what I needed for dinner. I put the tree skirt around the little Sitka spruce that decorates my house all year long,and watered plants.\u00a0 I put a few more decorations out.\u00a0 The only thing I didn’t get to was hanging ornaments from\u00a0 the chandelier.\u00a0 I might still do that, just to enjoy it for the next two weeks.<\/p>\n
I decided that I wanted to make a nice dinner for Dear Husband and the son who lives with us.\u00a0 I settled on Sullivan Island Shrimp Bog (a pilaf with shrimp and bacon), green bean casserole (his request….I would have done steamed broccoli), a simple salad with romaine, strawberries and walnuts.\u00a0 And, I found an Ice Cream Cake Roll.\u00a0 My Dad loved that dessert, and so does Dear Husband.<\/p>\n
I caught up with my Facebook friends after dinner, cleaned up the kitchen, and then sat down to wrap our grand daughter’s gifts.\u00a0 It’s amazing how fast you can wrap gifts when your husband has the remote and he’s sleeping through a science program about the universe!\u00a0 I was done in record time! *G*<\/p>\n
So, in a few minutes, the house will be quiet, and I’ll have a private moment to commune with the Christmas tree.<\/p>\n
I wish for you the blessings of the season.\u00a0 I hope that you will all have the chance to celebrate with family or friends. For those of you traveling, I pray for your safety while on the road.<\/p>\n
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is one of my favorite times of year.\u00a0 I like the end of the day, usually when I have a good part of the house to myself.\u00a0 It’s taken me a long time to get into the Christmas spirit … Continue reading