Deck the Halls

We had a lovely Thanksgiving Day with my family. And on that day the decorating began. My sister Laurie had wreath makings gathered - greens, frames, bows and glittery things. Each household came away with a start on making the season merry and bright. - Then on Friday while many were out shopping, we got busy here at home. I cleaned off shelves and dusted off beams. Tom took advantage of dry weather to start the process of getting the lights done. He finished this morning and they look so bright and sparkly! - Those shelves I cleared off, the ones that were displaying my pottery collection, now are full of my Santa collection, of which this is just a very small part. This afternoon we worked together on the garlands on the beams. - The kitchen eating area garlands are decked with felt gingerbread men and patchwork ornaments I made many years ago. I haven't had them up for a few years, but this year we're going all out. The decorations in the dining room have a Scandinavian theme, with hearts and straw snowflakes.

We still have a bit more to do, and later in the week we'll put up the tree. That will take hours.

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While this was going on, I have been in communication with my daughter, my son-in-law and my son, through phone calls, secret emails, and texts, going over the wish lists we published just before Thanksgiving. We're claiming dibs, getting advice, checking on sizes, explaining the unclear. I've done quite a bit of shopping on line, and actually did go to one store Friday evening for one purchase.

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But the reason for going all out on the decorations? My grandchildren are coming to me here in Seattle for Christmas this year instead of us going to Colorado. Daughter Jill has informed me that we must put up every decoration we ever used in the years she was living here.

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We're doing it, and gladly, for good reason. Isaac and Irene have never seen them.

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But now we're tired, so we're taking a day off. Tomorrow we're taking a field trip. Some of the breakfast ladies are joining us to ride the new light rail downtown to have lunch at Nordstroms and check out Westlake Center and Pacific Place. While we might make a purchase of two, this is not a serious shopping trip. We're just going to have fun.

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Oh, and I got my fruit cake baked today, too.