It’s very quiet in my home this morning. By now, Audrey and Jane and at least 2 little boys and 2 doggies are usually here. The coffee pot is filled with its second round. The Twitter bell is tinkling away.
Not this morning. Audrey is spending time with her little guys in their little Santa land. And her in-laws are in town to enjoy each moment of the boys. Jane and her husband are spending a day off with their beautiful pups. And my husband left for work very early to get some things done during the quiet time.
So… here I am, surrounded with Christmas. I love to decorate. I love to see the shades of red and green in each nook and cranny. I love wreaths and bells and Santas and reindeer and trees. I love candles and poinsettias and garland and holiday plates and cups. But now I am ready to put everything away. Yes. I used to leave my decorations up for at least a week after Christmas, but I find as I get older that I welcome what’s coming next and I love to be ready for it. The New Year. 2009. A year of promise. Renewal. Resolution. I want my home clean and cleansed and ready.
I will begin the organization as soon as I press “publish” and get this post up. I have my XXL Zipoc Big Bags all ready. I have my dusters and cleansers and cloths to dust and wipe what’s been hidden for a few weeks now! I am ready.
I am ready to lovingly put away all things 2008 and get ready for 2009…
How about you? When do you begin putting holiday decorations away?
For now… gotta go. I have lots to do!
New Year’s Day is when our tree comes down and all the decorations go back in the upstairs closet. One thing that drives my wife nutty is seeing a browned-out wreath on someone’s door in February or even later. 🙂
We usually wait until Jan 1 to take everything down but, like you, this year I’m ready to get it all put away today. I am looking forward to 2009 and what it will bring for our family! Have fun today putting things away and dreaming of the new year! Thank you so much for your sweet comment from my Christmas post. Your family is very special to me, as well. I look forward to the day when I get to meet you guys! Perhaps that will be a part of the wonderful 2009!
We usually wait until New Year’s, but we may do it a bit earlier this year. It’s definitely not happening today, though! We spent the last two days traveling from place to place, and I am T-I-R-E-D today!
This year I didn’t even get 1/4 of my decoration out! All I managed was the tree. I think I’ll leave it up a little longer since I got it up so late to begin with. I usually leave all the decorations up until right after New Years, but with enough time to take it all down before school starts up again.
Happy cleaning! As I lay in bed recovering this week I actually thought about hiring someone to come help clean the house (something I’ve NEVER done before.) What do you think? My home is so dusty and dirty and needs a good cleaning I just can’t give it right now.
I don’t know when we are going to take our decorations down. but already this morning we were talking about how we were going to “decorate” the tree once it’s down. We usually put it out on the deck and then decorate with bird friendly items (popcorn strings, homemade suet, peanut butter and birdseed bagels, etc.)
I’m done! Everything is organized, packed, labeled and stored in my attic for next year! It took me 5 hours, but oh… do I feel accomplished! I left my Christmas tree up, my outside wreaths and lights and my mother-in-law’s small Christmas tree (in my kitchen, of course!).
Now Barry is taking me out to dinner… !
Bring on 2009!
-Sharon
I admire you Sharon for your energy and how you describe getting ready for 2009. I usually put everything away by New Year’s Day.
I usually put the decorations away the day after New Year’s.
I’m kind of with you Sharon. We used to keep the decorations up till the Feast of the Three Kings. Not so much anymore. My husband had the kids packing & hauling boxes away and taking down outside lights on 12/26. I was happy to “have my house back”. As I get older, I want less and less Christmas Clutter. I think I’m getting to the point where I’d be happy to just decorate with poinsettia plants!
We have always left things up for about a week as well, and this year will probably be the same. You are ahead of the game. 🙂 I’m always sad to see Christmas go, although the new year isn’t unwelcome!