A Christmas Update...

Hello, Everyone!

I'm just stopping by for a few minutes to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  I hope your holidays are going well.  

Thanks to all of you who stopped by with comments during the "Not-So-25-Days-of-Nesty."  I may not have hit my target this year, but I had fun sharing some of my plans, favorite ideas and quotes, and I have LOTS of material for next December's posts.  In truth, I got to the point where I realized I could write about having the perfect Christmas, or I could put the computer away and actually have a perfect Christmas.  And so, dear readers, I'm taking a break until the New Year.  I'm going to knit, go for walks, make long phone calls home, and read sappy Christmas romances while drinking tea (and other, more "festive" beverages) by the tree and enjoy every moment that's left of the holiday season without a speck of guilt. I hope you do the same.

And so, my friends, Happy Holidays!  I'll see you next year!!!

Kim

Have YOURSELF A Very Nesty Christmas - Your Way!!!

Ah, traditions.  They bring families together, tug at the heartstrings, and give us a sense of where we're from.  Traditions are good.  

However, in our fast times, it can be a challenge just to get everyone in the same room for Christmas dinner.  You may find yourself feeling cheated of traditions.  Images of caroling, cookies swaps, sledding parties and craft nights are all well and good, but for many folks these events never get past the imagining stage.  Why?  Well, because some of our more traditional Christmas activities require an outlay of time, organization, and/or money, three things which often seem to be in short supply as the year marches to a close.  


The good news is, you can have traditions of your own, customs that will come to mean as much to you as carrying a flaming brandied pudding to the holiday table meant to your great-grandmother.  And great news - you can do it without losing your mind, too!   Using the KISS approach (Keep It Simple, Silly...I know, it's usually stupid, but I don't like to call people stupid),  here are some ideas to get you started:

• My cousin Valerie used to buy her children new Christmas colouring books and crayons for Christmas Eve, when they would all sit down and colour together before heading to bed to wait for Santa.  She said it was a great way to get everyone calmed down.
• Family board game night.  I know, it's kind of cliche, but it's FUN!!  
• My mother's Christmas Eve tradition was to buy my sisters and I new Christmas pajamas and a new Christmas book.  Much like the colouring, it calmed us down and got us off to bed to read.  She continued this right until we left home, and I have a nice collection of Christmas novels that I pack away with my decorations and am excited to rediscover each year.
• Another thing Mom did with us was to take us with her to get the Christmas grocery order.  On her first vacation day, we would get up early to beat the crowds and have a blast running around the store picking out our family's holiday favorites.  Afterward, we went out for lunch, usually to The Swiss Chalet for, what else?  The Festive Special.  What was so great about this (besides the fact we were spending time together) was that Mom turned something that could be considered a chore into a fun outing.  
• As part of her "Journal Your Christmas" series, my cousin Ainsley at Pattycake Manners shared a list of her traditions old and new.  I absolutely loved the ones about Pillsbury and the picnic!  See, KISS!!!!

 Do you have any sweet, special, simple traditions that mean the world to you?  If so, please share in the comments.

A Very Nesty Christmas - Me, Panic?

Hello, Everyone!  It's 1:41 AM here in Kitimat, British Columbia, and I'm up!  Why, you may ask?  Well, it's the most wonderful time of the year, and I've reached the point where there seems to be more items going on my "To-Do" list than coming off.  

It'sthemostwonderfultimeoftheyearit'sthemostwonderfultimeoftheyearit'sthemostwonderfultimeoftheyearit'sthemo-

Hm, sorry, what's that?  Sorry, I was nodding off dreaming of sitting by the Christmas tree with everything finished to perfection, sipping a glass of Baileys and basking in the glow of a job well planned, well executed, well done.  This fantasy, if it ever comes to fruition, will have to wait until next year, as I feel I may have slid past the point of being able to honestly claim I planned well.  The biggest enemies to my Big Ideas are 1. Delusions of Grandeur and 2. Mailing Deadlines.

The celebratory Delusions of Grandeur, well, any aspiring Martha will understand.  I have yet to perfect the timing of my visions.  For example, I decided to decorate my kitchen in a "Cookies & Gnomes" theme.  When it was pointed out to me that perhaps summertime would have been a good time to purchase gnomes (some foolishness about garden centers and end of season sales...) I explained that I didn't think of the theme until November.  Does nobody appreciate my genius???

And Mailing Deadlines...sigh.  For many, many years I was lucky enough to have all my gift recipients within driving distance, so we never had to mail a thing.  Last year was the first year we had to mail gifts, and - it did not end well.  After paying an exorbitant amount to an organization that will remain unnamed, and receiving their guarantee that, in exchange for said exorbitant amount my parcels would arrive well in advance of the holidays, they in fact did not.  They arrived well after, and having the exorbitant amount refunded to me in the New Year did not quite make up for the disappointment of not getting our gifts home on time.

But, I'm getting better.  My current state of panic is being calmed by contingency plans.  One of my Big Ideas of Delusional Grandeur this year was to make a lot of homemade gifts, and I did great.  However, the last few are dragging their feet coming across the finish line, which brings up my old friend MAILING DEADLINES!!  And that, my friends, is why courier services were invented.  For a fee (exorbitant perhaps, but I'll pay for reliability) I can actually BUY TIME!!!  It's like a miracle!!!

The great news is that once the gifts go off with the miraculous courier service this week, I'm back on track and only have to do "my" projects.  Baking, crafting, and more decorating are all on deck, as well as planning for our Christmas Party and Christmas dinner.  However, there is nothing on that list that will send me into a panic if it doesn't get achieved to the extent of my glorious visions.  Baking, crafting, decorating?  What gets done, gets done.  The party will go ahead whether I manage to carve an ice sculpture of my dogs (tee hee!) and roast a swan,  or if I just remove the dog hair from the furniture and open a few bags of chips (I was never a big fan of swan, anyway...)  And Christmas Dinner is safe in the freezer, so even if the clouds open up and it snows until New Year's, we'll have plenty of good stuff to share on Christmas Day!  

Me, panic?  No way!!!  

How about you?  Share in the comments...if you can spare the time!!!!!

A Very Nesty Christmas - Thought for the Day

"And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmastime."
Bob Geldof and Midge Ure
Do They Know It's Christmas?

A Very Nesty Christmas - Pattycake Manners Guest Post Mini Album Tutorial

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, 

and try to keep it all the year."

~Charles Dickens

Hi Everyone!  Sorry I've been missing for a day or so...I've been busy getting my Nest ready for the holidays and so I decided to give myself a day off!  However, to make up to you for missing yesterday's post, today I have a special treat!  My cousin Ainsley from Pattycake Manners is guest posting today and she has prepared a wonderful tutorial for a mini album that you could prepare to give as a gift, or keep for yourself.  Either way, it is a perfect way to "honour Christmas and keep it in your heart" all the year long!  I know I can't wait to make a few and I think it will be the perfect project to fill the quieter days after the holidays! Take it away, Ains!

"Hi folks! Ainsley here, from Patty Cake Manners. 

Kim and I have been playing with the idea of me popping over 

and guest posting on Nesty for a while now. We knew we wanted 

it to be something a little crafty, and since scrapbooking is kind of 

my thing, we thought I might go that route. Enter the arrival of the 

Christmas season, and there was no question as to what I 

wanted to share with all of you. I designed this little 

accordion album last year, while trying to figure out a unique
way to send some "cute kid" photos to my Mom.  Since then, 

this album has taken on a life of its own. I've made oddles 

of them for gifts, and have done them in a number of 

themes. I've used it in my paper crafting classes, and have 

passed on the "recipe" to family and friends. 

And now I'm happy to be passing it on to you during my visit
to the Nest!

1.  Gather your supplies. You'll need the following.
 
1 sheet of 12 X 12 cardstock
2 or 3 sheets of 8 1/2 X 11 cardstock in co-ordinating colors
scraps of patterned paper
embellishments ( buttons, fancy brads, rub-ons, stickers etc)
brads
ribbon
inks and stamps
paper trimmer
scoring blade
paper piercer
adhesive
scissors
 

2.  Cut two 4" X 12" strips of cardstock for the base of your 

album.  Score each strip at 4" and 8" and fold at creases. 

Overlap two ends and adhere, to create a 5 page accordion 

album.
 

3.  From co-ordinating cardstock, cut four 3 3/4" squares, 

and four 3 1/2" squares. For best results, alternate colors 

as shown.
 

4.  From patterned paper, cut four 3 1/4" squares.
 

5.  Layer your patterned paper squares, your 3 1/2" squares, 

and your 3 3/4" squares on top of each other with a bit of 

adhesive. I like to offset them just a bit.
 

6.  Adhere your finished "layers" to pages 2,3,4, and 5 of your

 album, leaving page 1 for your title. (Make sure your title 

page is folding towards you, NOT opening like a book)
 

7.  Embellish one corner of each page with buttons, fancy 

brads, etc.
 

8.  Pierce holes in the remaining 3 corners of each page, and

use small brads to secure your "layers" to the album base.
 

9.  Your title page can be made in the same fashion as your 

other pages, using coordinating cardstock in 1/4" increments,

 scraps of patterned paper, and brads.  Embellish your cover 

with more buttons, brads, rub-ons, stickers etc, and stamp

 a sentiment if you wish.
 

10.  Cut a 16" length of ribbon and adhere to the back of 

your album, centering the ribbon top to bottom and left to

 right. This can be used to tie your album closed with a little

 bow in the front.
 

11.  Add four 2 3/4 photos to pages 2 to 5.
 

You now have a lovely little scrapbook, perfect for sharing

 photos with a loved one, or for keeping just for you!
 
* For information about any of the supplies used in this 

project, please visit my Stampin' Up! website!

What an awesome project, Ains!  Once again, thank you!

This should go without saying, but if you are going to share

Ainsley's design on another blog, PLEASE do the right thing and

give credit, and a link, where it is due!  Thank you one and

all for keeping Blogland a friendly and ethical place to 

share our great ideas!  

A Very Nesty Christmas - A Marshmallow World!

"It's a marshmallow world in the winter,
When the snow comes to cover the ground.
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day,
I wait for it the whole year round!"

- Carl Sigman

It's hard to deny the Christmas spirit when this is what you see when you look out the window!

 

Regular followers of Nesty will recall my mentioning that in Kitimat, we guage when the snow will finally land  in the valley our town is nestled in by watching the squirrel on Squirrel Mountain.  Well, our favorite rodent is well covered now, and so are our yards!  Can you pick him out in the picture?

 Did you find him?  If not, here's some help...

 

There he is!  I'm so happy that I'm finally able to show you a good picture of our squirrel! 

It's been brought to my attention that people were having difficulty commenting on Nesty last week.  If this happened to you, I'm so sorry!  I just love your comments and I truly appreciate that you take time to type up your thoughts on my little blog.  I believe the issue has been resolved, but if it happens to you and you feel so inclined, please drop me a line at nestyblog@gmail.com.  Thanks!

 

A Very Nesty Christmas - Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect."

~ Oren Arnold

A Very Nesty Christmas - Friday, December 3, 2010 "Gifts of Time & Love"

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas."  

~ Peg Bracken.

 

Earlier this week I posted about ways to have a heartfelt Christmas.  I invited you to share in the comments how you have made, or plan to make, your holiday meaningful in a way that transcends shopping and fuss.  One story in particular was submitted by a friend of mine about her and her family's tradition of bringing a touch of Christmas light to one of the darker places in our province; Vancouver's Downtown Lower East Side.  Here is her recollection in her own words:

After my father passed away, my mother didn't feel much like doing the same big family dinners, because she felt they would be too painful. She came up with an idea one year and it became a tradition until I moved up north. On Christmas Eve we would spend hours assembling hundreds of sandwiches (peanut butter, cheese, tuna, ham, and turkey). On Christmas morning we would drive into the downtown east side of Vancouver to an area called Pigeon Square, and unload the flats of sandwiches. This is an area of Vancouver that many won't even drive through. These were the people that society had completely forgotten, and most feared. In the end, they are humans, and they are hungry, and for the most part, completely alone. One minute there on Christmas morning, and you will never take your family for granted again.

The tradition grew, and in the last two years before I moved away, I began collecting from co-workers who wanted to contribute. People gave flats of juice boxes, flats of crackers and cheese snack packs. In the final year, people started giving us clothes (socks, shoes, mittens, wool hats). It grew to a car load, and my fiance, mother, and my self were a little overwhelmed. The last year I was there, we had noticed something amazing. Our little idea had caught on, perhaps, or maybe it had occurred to someone else too. As we were unloading the last of the food, a tent was being set up, and one of the locally owned restaurants was setting up a huge day long free food venue. People didn't need to leave their possession un-guarded, they could eat with their dog beside them, and they didn't have to worry about the stigma some felt from the Mission soup kitchen down the street (as explained to us by a few every year). As far as I know, they have kept that tradition going on Christmas day.

As I walked past our food bank here (Kitimat) last week. My heart stung a bit. I want to do something here too.

Vanessa, thank you to you and your family for such a kind, selfless act, and for inspiring others to do the same.  And of course, thank you for sharing your memory with us!

Have a wonderful weekend! Are you decorating, baking, or shopping for gifts?  I'm going to be doing a little of everything, I think!  See you on Monday!

A Very Nesty Christmas - Thursday, December 2, 2010

"They err who thinks Santa Claus comes down through the chimney; he really enters through the heart."

~ Mrs. Paul M. Ell.

Nesty Christmas Happy # 1...

The Yuletide Fireplace is back!

Every year, a channel magically appears in our television program guide called "Yuletide Fireplace."  Click on it and your television screen fills with a crackling fireplace and the air is alive with the sounds of Christmas music.  A little cheesy?  Maybe, but it's pure nostalgic gold.  

We received a DVD of a Yule Log a few years ago and I think we surprised ourselves with how often we actually popped it in the player during the holidays.  We've also discovered that it's the perfect background music and scenery during holiday parties.   

The Yuletide Fireplace is actually quite an old tradition.  According to Wikipedia, the original film was created in 1966 by WPIX and was recorded in Gracie Mansion.  It aired during Christmas for 23 years, although the original 17 second recording was replaced with a longer version.  You can read the entire Wikipedia article here. 

The Yule Log program we know and love is no doubt a knock off of the original WPIX program.  No matter, it is still cheery and warm and so much fun!  It can actually be an absolute hoot during holiday get-togethers; we often find ourselves making a game out of trying to guess where the film loops, or of predicting when the hand will appear to adjust the log.  (If this doesn't sound that funny, you have to imagine it after a few egg nogs!)

We keep our television in the basement rec room, which I'm planning to clean and decorate this weekend.  You can bet that I will have the festive sight and sound of the Yuletide Fireplace keeping me company!

Tips for Having a Happy (And Organized!) Handmade Holiday!

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." ~W.T. Ellis

Ah, Christmas.  If there is one time of year that motivates us to don our crafty hat, it's you.  This is how our Christmas storage boxes have come to be lovingly filled with treasured collections that are almost anthropological in nature.  

One could argue that manufactured Christmas-a-bilia demonstrates the styles of the times quite well itself, thank you very much!  So it does.  But there is something about the homemade, the handcrafted, that can really bring to mind a time, a place, an era.

Look at your collection.  Got a smocked ball in there?  I'll bet you a sugar cookie it was lovingly hand crafted in the early to mid 1980's.  Ceramics?  Eighties again.  Knit items are a little trickier, since the grandma set never stopped knitting, but you may have noticed a resurgence of knit ornaments, tree skirts, and stockings since the turn of the millennium, when wool crafting experienced a renaissance.

You get the idea.  As timeless as an item may seem at the moment it is made, there will inevitably be something about it that will mark it as being distinctly "1985," "1994," or even, of course, "2010."  (And yes, I'm still reeling that we're living in 2010.  2010!!!!  We're space age!!).

As I mentioned on Monday, this year I've been embracing homemade gifts and I'm really excited about them!  For fear of ruining the Christmas morning surprise, I'm not going to get too specific, but followers of this blog will know that I knit, sew, and paper-craft, so you can use your imaginations until after the 25th, when I will share my creations with you.  It's been a lot of work, but it's been so much fun and it's given me a good excuse to indulge in some really nice supplies; all in the spirit of giving!  I've become a total yarn snob, so the recipients of my knit creations are getting very spoiled indeed!

While making your Christmas gifts by hand is a lot of work, there are steps you can take to ensure it's all a labour of love, not a panic inducing race to the finish (still-tacky glue will not mail well, my friends!) Based on my experiences this year, I have compiled a list of tips to help make your homemade holiday experience happy and organized, so that your handmade, heartfelt offerings will bring a warm smile for years to come (not to mention a round of "Awwww, that's so 2010!).  Enjoy!

Tips for Having a Happy (and Organized!) Handmade Holiday:

• Have a plan - Know what you're making, who it's for, and what you need to complete it.  If, like myself, you live off the beaten path, keep a supply list going so that you can make sure you get everything you need when you go shopping "in town."
• Be realistic - New to sewing?  Then perhaps you shouldn't attempt a queen size quilt for your mom.  Start with something smaller, like a decorative panel.  Short on time? Maybe only make a few gifts this year, or make one simple item (like an ornament) to include with your store-bought presents.
• Consider logistics - Where is this gift going?  Shipping is expensive, so be sure to consider that when you are deciding what to make. A homemade bookshelf may not be the right gift to ship across the country.
• Consider cost, both actual and perceived - While some homemade gifts are ideal for those on a budget (think bath salts, cookies, and homemade coffee mixes) the reality is that craft supplies aren't cheap.  So while you may think that hand knit cashmere bed socks would be your mother-in-law's heart's delight, the reality is that they would end up costing you upwards of $200.00 in yarn.  Someone who doesn't know the cost of yarn and textiles (and really, who except wool crafters and fashionistas does?) will just see socks.  Consider using a luxe version of a more affordable medium. (And for the record, my MIL would totally appreciate the value of cashmere socks!  Maybe someday!)
• Have a support network - My cousin Ainsley (of Pattycake Manners) and I had a cyber crafting night last week, updating each other on our progress via email.  It was fun (read her post about it here) and it motivated me to keep plugging away at that evening's project so I'd have something to report.
• A housekeeping tip (which will make sense if you read Ainsley's post, as well as this one by me) is to keep any beverages you are consuming in a travel mug.  If you attend a lot of group crafting activities, consider adding a travel mug to your bag of supplies.
• Another housekeeping tip - When you are sewing or paper-crafting, tape a plastic shopping bag to the table next to your workspace, and sweep your clippings, corners, and threads into it as you go.  A greener alternative would be to move a garbage bin next to your workspace.

 So there you go, the Nestygirl's collected crafting wisdom for Holiday 2010!  I hope you find something helpful in my list to assist you in making your homemade holiday gifts a reality!


Happy December 1! Today marks the start of 25 days of Nesty!  I'm so looking forward to sharing my holiday preparations with you.  And to those of you following me on Twitter, I promise to be back soon!


Today is the first day of Hanukkah!  Happy Hanukah!!

Heartfelt Holidays!

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby

There seems to be a feeling afoot, a movement if you will, to re-examine Christmas and how we celebrate it.  It could be the result of several years dealing with a stinky economy, an attempt at meaning and stability in an uncertain world, or perhaps an effort to return to a time where family and true friendship were enough. I'm not sure. My not-so-scientific conclusion, however, is that we aren't celebrating less, we're celebrating more.  With all our hearts, in some cases.

I worked retail for several holiday seasons, and let me tell you, I've seen the bottom of the holidays and it ain't pretty.  I'd never really seen pure rage until I watched a woman seethe in a lineup during a no tax sale.  Add to that the stress that we all put on ourselves during the holiday season and it left me wondering...why?  What are we all getting out of this?  Because I have a distinct feeling that, if she didn't spontaneously combust in the food court, what Rage Lady's family probably got out of it was their gifts hurled at them during the world's angriest Christmas morning.

During one of our conversations, my husband and I, who both adore Christmas, revealed that we were actually starting to feel sad around the holidays.  And so, to paraphrase Mahatma Ghandi's famous quote, we decided to "to be the change we want to see in the world."  

In this spirit, we do something a little different every year to fill our hearts with Christmas Cheer (sorry, I couldn't resist!).  One year, we only gave gifts that supported a charity, like the World Vision Gift Catalogue or Ten Thousand Villages.  Another year we skipped both our family's Christmas dinners and had our own instead and invited a friend who was on their own that holiday season.  Yet another year we hosted the family dinner. 

What was really neat about all of this was that we realized we weren't the only ones feeling this way. Lots of friends and family were busy injecting meaning into their holiday observances, too!  A popular movement back home is the "Adopt a Family" program.  I've participated in this at work and it's so much fun.  You get a "wish list" with all the kid's wishes.  The parents don't usually ask for anything but I don't know anyone who doesn't include at least one special gift for the parents.  In addition to the presents, you also purchase everything they'll need for Christmas dinner and stockings. There's also an "Adopt a Senior" program now, and I know some folks (including some seniors!) who are supporting that program this year.

It's not for everyone (and for that, capitalism is eternally grateful).  One acquaintance told me in no uncertain terms that they would never be happy without tangible gifts under the tree (in response to the World Vision gifts I was planning).  I just think that's sad; I get the warm fuzzies just thinking about how happy my Papa was to "receive" his rooster and two hens.  I'm often reminded of the episode of Friends where Phoebe says that good deeds are actually selfish because they make you feel so good.  That may be true, Phoebe, but I'm willing to chance it!

This year, I'm embracing homemade gifts.  I've been crafting up a storm and I'm really excited about them!  My inspiration has been the Christmas Eve excitement that was felt around my in-law's tree a few years ago, when my husband's aunt handed out the hand-knit presents she'd made everyone.  But more about that on Wednesday, when I'm going to share with you Tips for Having a Happy (and Organized!) Homemade Holiday!

Here is a list of quick and easy ways to add some heartfelt meaning to your holiday celebration:

• Don't forget our furry friends!  Most shelters are in need of food, litter, and even old blankets and towels!  Pick up a bag of kibble and drop it off at your local shelter today!
• Here's a warm fuzzy that's actually warm and fuzzy (and costs nothing at all except time).  Many animal shelters are looking for volunteers to walk dogs or cuddle cats; what a perfect holiday outing for you and your family!  (Be sure to call first, some shelters have age restrictions on who can actually handle animals).
• Many grocery stores and restaurants have drop boxes for food bank donations.  Pick up some non-perishables and give a gift that will resonate well past the holiday season.  Some grocery stores even sell pre-packaged kits of the items most needed in your area .
• Keep your community safe!  Volunteer to be the designated driver for a Christmas party, or volunteer with your community's safe drive home program (if they have one).  You could even commit a Random Act of Kindness and spring for a cab for someone who needs one.
• Speaking of Random Acts of Kindness, a popular movement is to pay for the car behind you in the drive-though line at a coffee shop.  See a frazzled looking mom in a van behind you?  You could make her day!
• Contact your local hospital, senior's home, or assisted living facility and inquire if there's anything you could do to brighten someone's holiday.  Think carol singing is cheesy?  Then you've never done it in a hospital or senior's home (be sure to bring Kleenex!)
• Another RAOK!  Next time it snows, take a moment to shovel the steps of your neighbor (especially if they're elderly).  
• A classic Christmas practice is to volunteer at your local soup kitchen to serve Christmas dinner.  You'll look at the blessing that is your home and life with new eyes.

I could go on and on, but frankly, I'm interested in your ideas!  Share in the comments; I may even include your idea in one of my holiday posts!

Wednesday is a big day, as it is kicking off 25 days of Nesty!  I'll be keeping to my Monday, Wednesday, Friday posting schedule, but on the days in between I'll be sharing snippets of Christmas Cheer!  See you then!

 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

 "The dog is the god of frolic."

-Henry Beecher Ward.

Yesterday was one of those perfect, magical days that really made you feel like the holidays are just around the corner.  Snow had been falling steadily since Wednesday and our world was encapsulated in white.  A trip to the local grocery store revealed that the first load of Christmas trees had arrived, and the entire parking lot smelled festive.  Inside the store, I noted that the "Christmas Foods" had made their annual appearance.  You know the ones I mean, fancy chocolates and cheeses and fascinating breads that only appear during the holiday season.  Storefronts and homes and telephone poles were suddenly alight with Christmas cheer.  We'd even attended our first festive party of the season earlier in the week.

There was just one thing left to do to put us in the Christmas mood...

Walk the dogs in the snow, of course!

If you can resist the sheer joy that is a dog in the snow, then you are made of tougher stuff than I.  Molly is and always has been a winter dog; she handles the cold extremely well and is very agile in the snow.  Our Tinky is all heart and gives it his all; despite his wee size he can hold his own in the snow, even if he does require a bit more coddling once he is home.


Once my pups were warm and fed, I settled in for an evening of Christmas crafting set to my favorite holiday mix.  The scent of cinnamon berry candles filled the air; My world was bursting with Christmas!  God bless us, everyone!

What little rituals or traditions do you follow to put you in the Christmas mood?  Is it something you can plan for, or do the stars have to align?  Share in the comments!


A Happy (if belated!) Thanksgiving to my dear American friends!  I hope you had all the turkey and pumpkin pie you could hold and that you are having a wonderful time at the Black Friday sales!


NB - For those of you concerned that Molly has shrunk, have no fear!  This is an old, old picture of her from when she was a puppy.  I promise to take some newer ones soon!

Festive Choices!

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  The question is, when does it start?

A popular discussion topic in person, on Facebook, and in blogland this weekend has been decorating for Christmas.  Some people have been polling whether it's too early to decorate, while others are happily declaring that their decorating has commenced!  All around our town, folks are putting up their exterior holiday lights.  However, considering the forecast is calling for snow (which in these parts can reach depths of several feet), this is a practical exercise.  Nonetheless, a couple festive souls have flipped the switch, casting the glow of green and red lights onto their streets.

It all leads to the question; when is the best time to decorate for Christmas?

I'm a firm believer that if it makes you happy, go for it.  Granted, this theory would be stretched if it were August.  My general rule is to wait until after Remembrance Day, and then start moving things out gradually. I start with my "winter" items (snowmen, snowflakes, etc).  Heading into December, I'll begin adding more Christmas specific items, with the grand finale being the reintroduction of the tree.

It's a funny thing about the tree.  I used to wait until after December 15 to put it up.  Mind you, I used a fresh tree, so keeping it fresh was a consideration.  Last year we cut our own tree with friends.  The tree cutting expedition had to accommodate several schedules, so we went a little earlier, and I found it quite pleasant to have my tree up earlier than usual.  

In years past, when I was working, we had some last minute situations.  I would have great intentions of having my decorating complete by December 15, but something would happen and it would get pushed back.  One year in particular we had to go tree shopping quite late in the season; it's a great story (now) but you'll have to wait until December to hear it!  Suffice to say, it was interesting.

I've relaxed a lot on the "rules" of Christmas.  Like I  said, whatever makes you happy is what's important.  This year, I'm starting early and enjoying the whole process, from unpacking my treasures, to deciding where to put my favorite snowman, to sitting by the fire in the the glow of Christmas light, sipping hot chocolate and Baileys.  To achieve this, I'm going to begin doing a thorough late fall cleaning this week, and when it's complete I'll start moving in my "Winter" stuff. (One of my cousins was explaining the concept of "Winter" versus "Christmas" decorating on Facebook today.  I smiled, since this is a conversation I have several times throughout the festive season.)

As for the tree?  This year I've got some novel ideas regarding my tree (or should I say, trees?) that I'm going to keep to myself for the time being.  However, I will share that I'm aiming for earlier rather than later.  Stay tuned!

So, I'm interested; when do you begin decorating for Christmas?  Share in the comments!