I have books and magazines and notebooks with ideas for cute gift tags, pretty bows and clever decorating tips and I happen upon them at odd times of the year. I think I'm going to remember that when it comes time to get ready for Christmas, and visions of storybook Christmases dance in my head: wreaths hanging in every window, extra meals waiting in the freezer, the house full of the scent of baking cookies, handmade gifts for everyone from the daughter to thevet to the mailman, each room decorated to the hilt with Christmas quilts and wallhangings.
Then reality asserts itself and I don't remember to hunt up those cute Christmas buttons I've been saving, or where I put that magazine page with how-tos on creative bow-making. We use fabric bags or yardage to wrap for the family here, with gift bags or paper-wrapped gifts going outside the family. I want to dress them up, make them special with little floral picks and bells and vintage ornaments, pinked edges to the fabrics and tulle bows, and handmade fabric gift bags with appliqued Christmas trees and stars and nativity scenes.
Instead, I slap a stick-on bow and stuff in some tissue paper and voila!--grab it on the way out the door. Or, it's 1 am Christmas morning and I'm blearily trying to find those gift tags that came in the mail from someone pleading for donations this holiday season. (I have no shame. I use the tags and the address labels and only send money to those I have already chosen to support).
Next year, I tell myself. Next year I'll start in February or March, making my own Christmas cards, making my gifts, crafting cute little beaded ornaments to attach to gifts for co-workers and friends.
But February comes around and dozens of seed catalogs fill my mailbox, and then it's April and I'm digging in the dirt and turning my face to the sun, and suddenly July is here and it's hot out there so I stay in and quilt, but only bright colors, or maybe even fall colors come late August, but just can't get the Christmas thing going. Then boom! -- I'm in the same boat as last year, and the year before, and the year before that.
Maybe I'll just start as soon as my company leaves on the 28th...
Yes, that oughta do it!
8 comments:
I could swear that you were telling the story of my life in your post. I'm gonna guess and say that there are probably more people in our boat than not. Each year, I have visions in my head of how perfect my Christmas is going to be. Somehow it always turns out to be nothing more than a pipe dream. Oh well, theres always next year, right? rofl
Mele Kalikimaka and Hauoli Makahiki Hou. Be safe and enjoy the holidays!
Aloha!
well, since you do sooooooo much for Halloween it's kinda hard to get much done for Christmas...unless you wanna do BOTH at the same time........
could be done...
scarecrow ornaments and santa shaped pumpkins.
set deadlines, write WARNINGS (reminders) on the calendar. Have Halloween done by Oct 1st and then spend 3 months on Christmas....don't worry, trips to the local Walmart will help get you in the mood early...they always have Christmas stuff out before Halloween!
;-)
It's all part of holiday tradition - it wouldn't feel like Christmas if you did it any other way *s*
Yes, you are singing my song too. I wanted to make ornaments and do some baking and more decorating, and very little of it got done. Maybe we should lower our expectations of what we can do this time of year and be happy with it.
I am in the same boat. I always think that I am going to finish my gifts early and be ready, but there just isn't enough time! It is so hard to make Christmas themed items in the summer. Oh, well. Maybe I will start in January this year?
Merry Christmas!
Pat and I said we're going to start getting ready for Christmas in July! I am going to put it on my calender. No more putting the last stitch in that quilt on Chrimstas Eve!
I swear we are either going to have Christmas in July or else we are going to START Christmas in July!
Wow, that sounds soooo familiar! I'm in the "next year will be perfect!" phase right now myself. I am trying to remind myself that as far as the kids are concerned, every year is perfect. :~)
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