A New Year

Yesterday (or so it seems) it was New Year's Day and now it is  January 12.  How does the time go by so fast? 

The first days of the new year were spent taking down the Christmas decorations and restoring order to my house.  I have often said that taking down and putting away was my favorite part of the holidays.  This year I didn't do as much decorating as I have done in past years.  I have a large amount of decorations and I think it is time to do away with some of them.  I read a book recently that spoke of a tree decorated with all the home-made ornaments that someone collected through the years. I felt like the author must have selected the ornaments from my big wooden box.  We made those same ornaments when my children were small -- some from hand painted basa wood -- some plastic, painted to look like stained glass.  We have the ornaments made with glitter covered styrofoam (complete with a picture of the child taken that year.)  One of my favorites is a "Palace Guard" made from a toilet tissue roll, styrofoam, red gingham fabric, etc.  We also have the small metal ornaments engraved with the names of the children.  Those came from Miles Kimbell.  I have lots of unbreakable balls -- those came from when we had small children and/or a cat.  I now use breakable ornaments -- we do lose one or two every year but we still have more than will fit on my tree at one time.  I know people who have started decorating more than one tree but I'd rather just get rid of some ornaments -- I don't have time to do more than one tree...and I really don't have room for more than one tree.  What happens at your house?  Do you decorate a tree?  One tree or more than one?

As we went about our errands today I noticed that quite a few houses had Christmas wreaths on the front doors.  We took ours down.  I need to make a new wreath for the door -- the one we hung this year is looking a little "old" as well it should -- it must be 20 years old.  Perhaps I will make a new one before next Christmas.

Well, back to my original purpose -- HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!  I hope 2012 will bring you great happiness.