The snow finally fell here in the midwest where normally we live hail and hardy year round, however, today my little one fights the flu. In between holding and comforting her, I am trying to get my 'to-it' together to start to scrap a few holiday projects.
I'm struggling this year with getting to my projects. Is it the cold that keeps me from getting to it? Or something else this year?
I've been reading holiday stories the past couple of days -- you know, the kind you need a tissue box for. I've been reading all the little sweet ones I used to read to my first and second graders too. I love stories about Christmas and giving and I was hoping the stories would take me to the mental space I need to get to but haven't yet.
I've had my tree up since the day after Thanksgiving. Usually that is a dedicated shopping day -- breakfast, lunch and shop 'till you drop. Not so much for the sales, but for the fun of opening up the holiday season out amongst the holiday-goers. Instead we put on Christmas CDs and made cocoa and tried to get into the spirit of things while decorating our home. It looks wonderful, but not.
I couldn't find the right lights for my yard this year. Last year I used some spiral trees and garland. While the lights work fine I didn't have the patience this year to untangle the ridiculously thin strings so the spirial could hang in its proper tree shape. I hate that it is dark in front of my house this year. There is something for me about the eery winter haze about the air and teeny lights about the neighborhood. I've never been able to describe the feeling that seems to draw me someplace unknown, yet familiar, as I look about between the cold air at the lights on the homes near mine. I want mine to have that same feel. I need to try a few other stores and see if there are some options I haven't considered yet.
Today is December 7th, the flu will pass before long and when it does I'll turn up the heat and get to work. A few good ol' Christmas stand-bys from the video cabinet and some hot Vanilla Creme and I'll be good to go for a long night of playing with my favorite stash of paper and embellishments. I hope!
I hope the holidays are full and enriching for those of you reading along here. I hope you return here again, and comment too, when your feel inclined. My goal is to make more posts in '06. Possibly even use this forum for some specials and a gallery from my scrap store.
Holiday wishes & blessings!
Joi/AKA Scrap-To-It!
