Holiday Raves 2018

[iris lilies]

I love my Xmas decor this year, it fits my criteria for a good christmas holiday which is, do something different.

Doing the same old thing bores me to tears. So, I have a decorated mantle (not new) and a giant wreath gleaned from the dumpster (new to me ) and two decorated pots outside, filled with holly from our Hermann deforestation project.

I am already envisioning, in a happy frame of mind, taking it all down! It will be easy to dispose of since it is all natural materials but for the lights.

[Teacher Terry]

I got rid of much of my Xmas decorations a few years ago and also acquired a few new pieces which I am enjoying. I also kept a few old pieces that friends made for me through the years.

[iris lilies]

Well, mine is all natural stuff with exception of lights. That is why I can chuck it all in January. SO satisfying!

[Tybee]

We are going subtle this year. May or may not put up a tree, depending on travel needs. So far have up one Swedish candelabra, very happy with, one tiny German ornament that I found at a garage sale last summer, my old advent wreath with 2 Moravian candles I gave to my mom years ago and she never burned and two bayberry candles I gave her, ditto. Two wreathes, one outside door and one on kitchen door so the house smells good. Just plain with a bow. And of course the Christmas puzzle, which is kind of driving me crazy at seems incredibly hard if enjoyable, and it is making me fear that my brain does not work as well as it did when I was young.

And the outside lights--one string, blue, and an antique sled that I bought at a yard sale and refinished last summer.

[ToomuchStuff]

Love this.
2619

[razz]

Love this.
2619
I have a neighbour who did this Grinch scene exactly. He has deciduous tree in front with some balls hanging from it as well. That is it!

I like a little more. I have the two choir kids that my DH made in 1970 with two small LED floodlights shining on them in the front flower bed, some cascading icicles hanging from inside my front window, two urns with simple natural greens and two plastic candles that are over 20 years old on the garage entry area, a wreath on the front door and a small Rudolph on the entryway table.

Inside I have further reduced my decorations to minimal to decorate my 5 foot self-illuminated porch tree with the extra to be donated, a couple of christmas wooden plates that my daughter made me, a nativity scene plus my home-sewn placemats that I love.
The bin to store it all is getting smaller and lighter each year as I reduce the contents.

[JaneV2.0]

Five (five!) kind people helped, or offered to help me walk/open doors at the PO today, including a police officer. I appreciate their kind concern so much, but would rather not be attracting it. Bittersweet.

[iris lilies]

Five (five!) kind people helped, or offered to help me walk/open doors at the PO today, including a police officer. I appreciate their kind concern so much, but would rather not be attracting it. Bittersweet.
Unless it was icy, they should have left you alone.

I did offer my arm to one of my garden club lady friend who has a temporary leg problem these days, but that was for a step down and it looked like she might have trouble negotiating it because she is new at this.

[JaneV2.0]

Unless it was icy, they should have left you alone.

I did offer my arm to one of my garden club lady friend who has a temporary leg problem these days, but that was for a step down and it looked like she might have trouble negotiating it because she is new at this.

I agree--as I pointed out to one would-be helper "Unless you want me to take you down with me should I fall, it's better that you don't help." Or words to that effect. The officer was particularly persistent. I'm slow, but I get there. I feel like I'm traveling with a spotlight on me.

[Teacher Terry]

Disability etiquette says you ask and if the answer is no you leave. People should never insist.

[KayLR]

I have been having mixed emotions over my Christmas decorations this year. I do love what I have/do. But no one really comes to our house. The only ones who "enjoy" them are me and the hubs. And honestly, I think if I didn't put them up at all he wouldn't care. He does like the tree, and put it up for me, but then left me to decorate it. It felt/feels hollow somehow.

Our mantel is my favorite item: I put greenery on it with very small white lights on it; I made our stockings which look Nordic and they hang from iron reindeer hooks.

I now own (it was from my mom's house) a beautiful watercolor painting that one of her friends had created. It's a beautifully done old world Santa. I love it, but haven't hung it yet, because I think "what the heck?"

[Teacher Terry]

Kay, why not invite some people over?

[KayLR]

Kay, why not invite some people over?

introvert

[JaneV2.0]

On the other hand, I tried to turn away a woman who offered help with a shopping cart yesterday, and she ended up helping me twice, which I appreciated. But you're right, a polite "no thanks" should be respected.

In other news, my Christmas shopping is done, and I'm ready to wrap--except for the "Water Bear Don't Care" tee I got for my ailing relative. She loves her pool time, she's fond of bears, and tardigrades are practically indestructible, so I thought the message was perfect. If not, she can sleep in it.

[razz]

I have been having mixed emotions over my Christmas decorations this year. I do love what I have/do. But no one really comes to our house. The only ones who "enjoy" them are me and the hubs. And honestly, I think if I didn't put them up at all he wouldn't care. He does like the tree, and put it up for me, but then left me to decorate it. It felt/feels hollow somehow.

Our mantel is my favorite item: I put greenery on it with very small white lights on it; I made our stockings which look Nordic and they hang from iron reindeer hooks.

I now own (it was from my mom's house) a beautiful watercolor painting that one of her friends had created. It's a beautifully done old world Santa. I love it, but haven't hung it yet, because I think "what the heck?"
I can relate to this feeling. I do have family visiting for a short time. Ultimately, I decorate for Christmas because I enjoy the change in colour and decor to make the winter brighter not to impress anyone else. There is something about a simple Christmas ritual that is comforting and comfortable for me. If anyone else enjoys it, that is a bonus. I must go and plug in my icicle lights. I have a timer outlet but have to hook it up with an app for my phone first.

[SteveinMN]

Love this.
2619
Almost as easy:
2622

(using the honored Japanese principle of "borrowed scenery")

[Chicken lady]

I have an 11ft tall Christmas tree in the addition. I got to put up all my ornaments for the first time in years and we had to buy more lights. It reminds me of my childhood and makes me very happy (mom and dad have a two story cathedral ceiling living room - they haven’t had a tree as small as mine since we moved to that house - I think 17’ was the record.) I am already seeing potential for adding more decor to this room when it is finished.

i cleaned and decorated my dining porch on Monday. There are icicle lights all along the top of the windows and dh plugged them in for me last night so I could see them as I came up the drive - illuminating my pretty new red patterned tablecloth and the centerpiece I put out every year.

saturday d❤️Gs is coming over so we will put the train around the tree. And maybe cut some cedar to make decorations for my house and his.

i still need to put the garland of tiny stockings my aunt made up in the hallway, plus switch out some pottery pieces for Christmas decorations and figure out where the flamingo goes this year (we have a Christmas flamingo. It is fabric over a metal frame - three feet tall with a very big Santa hat. It has big stuffed feet so it goes indoors.)

my first “Christmas event” was cutting down the tree on the 1st. Then taking the toys to the barrel at the fitness center last night. Next is doing the train with the boy. We used to all decorate together with music and snacks, but it was never dh thing, so I have just quietly worked at it a little at a time.

[JaneV2.0]

Almost as easy:
2622

(using the honored Japanese principle of "borrowed scenery")

I love this!

[rosarugosa]

Almost as easy:
2622

(using the honored Japanese principle of "borrowed scenery")

Love it, Steve - and that's a great new profile picture by the way!

[SteveinMN]

Love it, Steve - and that's a great new profile picture by the way! Thank you! It was time to retire the old one.

[nswef]

It sounds like you all are finding your way to the best way to do Christmas. Ours is pared down to a 3 foot tree with colored light. We bring it down from the attic, put it on the end table, put a wee angel on top that my mother made, put the cloth around and a 60 year old ceramic Santa and some candle figures. I put red bows on the railing outside and we're done. I do make sticky buns-lots of sticky buns for Christmas at my sister's. My mom used to make them. It takes a while to figure out what works and what brings joy. The lights bring me joy. I love outside lights that other people put out...I don't care how gaudy or simple they are, I love that people take the time to do that and I get such pleasure from seeing them.

[goldensmom]

I have been having mixed emotions over my Christmas decorations this year. I do love what I have/do. But no one really comes to our house. The only ones who "enjoy" them are me and the hubs. And honestly, I think if I didn't put them up at all he wouldn't care. He does like the tree, and put it up for me, but then left me to decorate it. It felt/feels hollow somehow.

Our mantel is my favorite item: I put greenery on it with very small white lights on it; I made our stockings which look Nordic and they hang from iron reindeer hooks.

I now own (it was from my mom's house) a beautiful watercolor painting that one of her friends had created. It's a beautifully done old world Santa. I love it, but haven't hung it yet, because I think "what the heck?"

Same here. No family or visitors, just my husband and me but I don't decorate for others, I decorate for us. I do it because I think it is pretty. My husband works 10 hour days so I do all of the decorating, include hauling in and erecting our 7 ½’ artificial tree. I know he likes it too, so it is okay that I do it for just us and I think it is okay for you to do it just for you too.

[KayLR]

Same here. No family or visitors, just my husband and me but I don't decorate for others, I decorate for us. I do it because I think it is pretty. My husband works 10 hour days so I do all of the decorating, include hauling in and erecting our 7 ½’ artificial tree. I know he likes it too, so it is okay that I do it for just us and I think it is okay for you to do it just for you too.


Thanks for that---I guess I just feel a loss of sharing with family, who now all have homes of their own or live far away. I will try and just enjoy it for myself.

[Teacher Terry]

When I moved far away I knew I wouldn’t be going home every holiday so started inviting friends over and that tradition has lasted for 22 years. Even when all my kids lived here one day would be family and one friends on Xmas. Out of 5 kids we now only have 1 living locally. Things change.