12 Oakdale

After obsessing, especially at night, yet not doing anything, last Monday, about 2:00 PM, I decided to start decorating for Christmas. My first project was my gingerbread house. Even if it were the only decoration, at least we would have that.  (Grant had put up the outdoor lights the previous Saturday, so that was done.) I was really tired. Perhaps from my jogging program; perhaps from missing sleep. But, whatever the case, my plan was to do a little, then set the timer for 20 minutes for a rest in my recliner. This actually made creating the house go better than usual. I carved out the windows, put in the broken LifeSaver pieces for the window panes, then let the candy melt in the oven. Rest. Check the light for the house and cover the cardboard in new wrapping paper. Rest. Decorate the house. Rest. Put the house together. Rest. Add the roof. Admire my work. By pacing myself, the panes had time to set, and the frosting for decorating and for gluing the pieces together had time to...

The stockings are hung, not by the chimney, but on the bookcase using new stocking holders. Grant got the stockings for our first Christmas, almost 40 years ago. We have a wreath Stephanie bought at a fundraiser she supports, and the greenery and candle center piece Betsy sent me for a birthday and Christmas present.The house smells wonderfully. I indulged my love of poinsettias, buying 2 large red and 2 smaller pinkish at a 4-H fundraiser, then driving to Gainesville for the horticulture students’ annual sale. Unfortunately, the first two days’ socially-distanced reservations were booked, so all the Bubblegum pink were gone by Wednesday, when we could go. I settled for 3 Marbled Star and 2 Carmina Hot Pink. My friend Diane gave me an arrangement with a red and white spotted one in a ceramic poinsettia bowl. Enough? Never. Outside, I put up LED lights along the garage eave, which may be my last time of hanging lights. Climbing up and down the steps tool probably should not be in my fut...

 We went to the grocery store! The first time since we moved the Windermere. The plan was to be at Publix at 7:00 AM, and checkout ASAP. Almost made it. Arrived at 7:02, which some of us consider on time (Grant), and some of us consider late (me), but the excitement of actually going in a grocery store outweighed my grumpiness. I did have to encourage him to shop the list and not get sidetracked into browsing, moving as quickly as possible.  Our only slowdown was asking where to find mincemeat, which stumped the employees and didn’t appear on their phone app. One year my stepmother made her own mincemeat. Since I don’t have a deer carcass, I’m going to look online. I have been an online shopping fool, with Christmas presents already bought and shipped for most of our children. One left, and I have a meh idea which I can always do last minute. I’ve also ordered fairy lights for the yard, stocking holders, and snowflake votive candle holders. I’m considering a lighted sleigh tha...