wonderful time of the year

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I wish this tune was playing throughout my blog. I know its possible but my capability to insert it is quite limited.


I love the Christmas season because it is so glorious to gift and give to others .

I won't deny that I don't mind getting a gift myself, but it is much better to give than to receive as the proverb goes.

Mr. Man takes his holiday quite seriously from the comfort of his overstuffed couch and iPad. Packages arrive daily via UPS, Fed Ex, US postal service, and multiple other generic delivery people. The Letter carrier likes to hand the package off into the hands of the recipient. She says she feels like Santa, and people look forward to her arrival. (I am most definitely a fan of hers).

I'm on a first name basis with my UPS driver. He is here so much, I should just put his name on the door. He honks as he drives up, runs up the path, greets me, package handoff, and then jogs down the walk to his truck where he honks goodbye. Always a bonus to see his tan , well shapen legs too!

Today, UPS arrives with a happy honk. I open the door wide, arms extended and ready to accept my packages. There is a trainee today, aka a "Swamper", who is running towards me. He's all smiles, and has the package held out with extended arms to match mine. He makes the handoff, and he says, "Look at us! , we are commercial material! Where are the cameras and production crew?!"

I agree. Why isn't this moment being recorded?  Its a classic UPS moment.

I have no idea what's in these boxes, but it doesn't matter. It was fun receiving them. They feel pretty light so there's probably just packing bubbles in them. I'm very glad that my delivery people are fun and happy and don't slam dunk the boxes on the front porch!

Yes, it is a wonderful time and I don't want it to stop. Happy holidays!

Garland Wars

Suddenly it's December 2016!
How did that happen? What the heck happened to November, all the stories I was supposed to tell and was there ever turkey? It seems like a blur.

Now, as the world gears up to celebrate the birth of Christ, we start to adorn our houses  with festive greenery and lights and then take it up a notch indoors.

Amy Grant is singing Christmas songs to me as I try to stay calm and serene while hanging the door garland. It's a yearly battle that I seem to forget from year to year until I'm fighting the garland again.

 

  As I fluff and mold it to appear reasonably good looking, I'm envisioning the picture perfect holiday display seen at my friend Lisa's home which was ready for a photo shoot .  My hope is to achieve a mere fraction of her display. Some of us were just blessed with decorative talent. Okay, my hope is to get the damn garland up and make it stay up until after the New Year like it's supposed to!

  The garland I'm fiddling with is alive. Has a mind of its own. IT LIVES!!!!  It bites, scratches and fights back as I attempt to secure it for the umpteenth time. As soon as its on the house, it launches itself off the door , ripping the 3M hooks used to secure it along with it...and a fair amount of paint too!  Oh yeah! I remember this encounter. I've had it 30 times before. You would think I would learn my lesson and have a florist deliver and hang a wondrous bough of greenery over the door. Head shake NO, I am not a millionaire , so there is no florist coming to my rescue and I'm stuck indefinitely with this monster of a garland which spits bits of its "needles" at me randomly and makes a mess that  never entirely cleans up.                              (Note- above photo Is NOT my garland!!!)

                                      

There will be no ball, bangles, glitter or bling for my garland. It's a nice fake green. Half it's lights are out, and they took me a tremendous time to put back into it in the first place. I'm settling. Good enough. If you come over , kindly comment that the door garlands look "lovely and natural", even though they are hanging at every angle but straight. I'm counting on it staying put for another 3 weeks. I hung it on iron hooks imbedded into the stucco- yes, much to Mr. Man's dismay, I anchored it knowing that the new paint and stucco recently applied,  would probably suffer irreparable damage.

Now I have total garland war recall. No matter. I will forget all about this trauma as soon as I step back and admire my handiwork. That's the best part. Selective memory!

Amy Grant was a steady voice throughout my ordeal . Now she's reminding me, "There's a parade there, they have it made there, bring home a tan for NEW YEARS EVE". We do have it made here. This could be happening in a blizzard, or even a near freeze instead of sunny 68 degree weather.

Better luck to all of you attempting to Deck you halls. Fling it up there. I defy anyone who has a negative thought about the greenery around my doors. At least I'm trying. It makes me happy. I don't do it to impress anyone but myself. As I gaze at my garland twinkle lights , I am amazed that they twinkle just for me and stay put because I was determined.

May your December days be "Merry and BRIGHT", and may you have garland that minds you and hangs steady with a hundred twinkle lights.

Merry Christmas.