Currently in December

After blogging the entire month in November for NaBloPoMo and then taking off a day felt weird. So here I’m again. But don’t get used to it – there won’t be daily blog posts. Ha. I am trying to catch up on work and work ahead of time to take off time staring December 17th. Let’s see how good that will work – as a freelancer it is not always possible but I am determined to make it happen. And as always my plans and thing I want to do and craft are piling up. Why is this season always so short. We have month of summer but that have to cram in the best time of the year in 4 weeks. Not fair. Lets see how my currently in December looks like. Thank you Anne for making us think about decorating, feeling, sending, smelling, and wrapping.

Decorating.
Busted. I have not decorated a single thing. Well I have lights up but they are hanging in the kitchen window since December 2019 or even earlier. I also have a paper star at the living room door that I forgot to put back in the box last year.Other than that nothing. Did I mention I have a bit of work?

Last weekend I was into a crafting Christmas zone though. My parents – currently in infected by covid and in quarantine – have gotten a little care package delivered that included Christmas decorations, pine twigs, candles, Cookes and yummy Kermakakku. Then I made another floral arrangement for my sister which we visited on Sunday. And when we got back late at night I just wasn’t up to it. I didn’t even put my eucalyptus and red berry twigs in the water. I guess too late now.

But I d not want to complain. I know I find time and peace some of these days. Maybe the weekend. Anyone else feels like one has to be in the right mood to put up Christmas decorations? If it is another task all the fun is gone. at least for me.

Feeling.
Quite alright after having such long work days. And after today went totally differnet than planned when I wanted to just air the apartment for a few minutes and suddenly the kitchen door slams and out falls the glass inlay. For the next 3 hours I was just trying to hunt down all the glass pieces that of course were blown into every single room except my husbands office. He had the door closed because he was in a call. Well, lucky him.

After that I needed a break and could have just sat on the couch with a book. But work.

However that is not what I was feeling. Throughout the whole thing I actually kept my humor, laughed a lot and smiled and took it totally easy. Couldn’t help it anyways. I usually get angry at things that I can’t control but this time I was just calm. Cleaned of the mess and put it behind me. I mean it is still not a cool thing and the dazzle with my landlord and the insurance is nothing I look forward to but at least no one was hurt. So yeah looks like when things get crazy I find my calm.

Sending.
lots and lots of cards this season. If you follow a long for more than a year you already now. I always sent out my handwritten Christmas cards to dear friends and family nearby and afar. For my freelance business I have only one real marketing thing and that is also sending out handwritten cards for New Years. And then I did sign up this year to send some extra cards to elderly people in retirement homes and care facilities that have no one thinking of them. So over all I assume I am coming close to 160 cards or so.

Now I haven’t started yet. And I haven’t made any Christmas cards yet either. But I am going to use up all the leftovers and see how far that takes me. I want to minimize a bit on my craft stock and this is a good way.

Smelling.
Candles. Cookies. And snow.
So basically I am smelling Christmas.

Well I light a candle every day when I sit down at the computer to start my workday. And that candle burns till I shut it and leave the (home) office behind. So If you stuck in a room with a candle for a while you know how it smells. I don’t like fragrant candles as they usually trigger a migraine. but I love my candle. Makes me happy.

And then of course cookies. I baked my Nougat Buttons last weekend and I have almost eaten them all. And I hope I can make some of my all time favorite Chai cookies before Christmas is here. What is your favorite cookie recipe for the holidays?

Wrapping.
The first presents already. I have really started on getting everything gathered earlier this year and so I have a lot of presents occupying my floor that nee to be wrapped. I have printed a version of my modern lineart calendar (a freebie for my blog friends) as well as the traditional photo calendar my parents receive. Also I have selected a few books and have a handful of DIYs lined up. I feel rather good this year about how far I am. I am hoping that once I do have time off that I can actually do a few more lovely crafts and gift more. Fingers crossed. Or maybe I just sit in my new reading chair and fly through one Christmas book after the next. Who knows.

I also did some wrapping for my Secret Santa Mug Swap partner Tanja. What a fun thing to send a little something aka a mug to someone and surprise with a bit of holiday cheer. I was also to unwrap my secret Santa today and already look forward having my morning coffee in my new mug. It is a very cool one, isn’t it. And best of all is that I was handmade in Thailand as part of project to ge help get people out of poverty and into steady jobs. I have to read up a bit more on this El Puente project. Maybe I also find the last Christmas presents there. Thank you Andrea for sending such a lovely gift to me.

And that is how December currently looks like. Full of stuff, happy moments, a bit of overwhelm and lots of ideas. Hope your December is filled with lots of joy and happiness .

Happy Holidays my online friends

Tobia