Quote:
Originally Posted by gomoho
Back in the day I use to decorate like crazy. One day my husband came home and said the house looked like Macy's. Over the years I have pared down considerably and now only have and put out my very favorite things I have saved from the past. I enjoy the simplicity and not killing myself to get everything just so. Enjoy the holidays and remember the real reason for the season and will be well.
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We enjoyed the neighborhood decorations, that all were kind of synchronized, in THE VILLAGES neighborhood where we stayed last November. We were hoping they would have lit it all up on Thanksgiving, but guess they were all waiting for December 1st or closer to Christmas; by then, we were gone. It showed "neighborhood unity" as a whole.
Since we returned home December 1st with all the "to do" chores piling up, it was our first Christmas that we decorated very very sparingly.
Rather than the tall trees of the past, I brought down a few of my "PETALS" pre lit artificial trees (if anyone recalls PETALS)......plugged them in and they were great for "instant cheer".
Certainly not like the floor to cathedral ceiling trees of old when all of our kids were home, but still festive.
I also put out TONS OF BATTERY POWERED CANDLES from QVC.
I used to have all the "real" flame candles but since all the grandchildren arrived on the scene.........I feel these are safer and give the same warm ambience. Even this year I have them all across the fireplace mantelpiece, the glass coffee table, etc. and in all the other rooms as well.
We didn't put up a big tree again this year.........as it's just MORE to put away. So, yes, we are downsizing........after years of hyper decorating.
My husband DID put up our LED multicolored lights on our front porch railing and also going down the front porch steps........plus lit up the hanging evergreen baskets from the front porch roof overhang.......
Other years he would continue those LED lights all along the front white picket fence.........to the property lines......it looked great. Also, lit up the lamp post.
He'd also put out a flock of "lit up" reindeer on the front lawn, on the side lawns and on the back lawn "hill".........the grandbabies loved them and would help him put up the last one........Rudolph.....on Thanksgiving day.
The "reindoons" as the littlest one called them, "moved their heads".
All of our neighbors, who are our age now, have downsized to "less is more"..........guess it just happens as one ages.
We also did the advent calendars for our kids.....and put the trains around the bottom of the tree.......the nativity set , ditto.
I gave my original creche which I inherited from my mother in law, to our daughter and now she follows the same tradition I did........of letting the children take turns carrying one of the figures to the stable, etc. each day leading up to Christmas Eve when they put baby Jesus in the manger.
It's nice to know that our daughter continued that with her children.
What we don't do for our kids. To make memories..........
Now, we are just ready for our long winter's nap...........