Every December, I like to take a few minutes and jot down a few things that I want to be very-sure-not-to-forget-to-do this month.
This is not your typical to do list, but a bit of a dream list for December, the things that make the Christmas season special and memorable.
The problem with life in the modern world is that the entire holiday season (if not the year) can be consumed with busyness and distractions. Somehow what we really wanted to do gets left behind.
And sometimes what I really want to do are the simple things:
Make some gifts, spend an evening writing out Christmas cards, have friends over for a Christmas coffee, read a Christmas book, go for a walk and admire the lights, listen to live Christmas music by a local church choir, bake Grandma's H's holiday apple cake, and call people I have missed over the year.
Not big things, right? But things that easily don't happen if I don't plan for them.
Every year is different. Sometimes there are many things I'd like to do. Sometimes just a few.
The end of December used to fill me with regrets at what didn't get done, feeling I was run by a schedule that left the important things out. For years I blamed the lack of time and busyness, but it was my lack of planning and simply committing to a few things that was mostly the problem.
Now, after I do this exercise, I pull out the planner (add in some stickers to make it fun), schedule activities in and – if I am really on my A game – I'll start texting invites for the group events. The season ends (usually) filled with more meaningful activities than in previous years. I don't get everything accomplished, but a few meaningful things are. That is something to be thankful for!
About those peonies...
This is the first time I've ever seen peonies at Christmas time! My youngest sister Kjj called me and told me she'd seen them in Trader Joe's. Well, I zipped on down to the Trader Joe's in NYC on 23rd St, really not sure I'd find them. But there they were!!!
These peonies are from Chile, not local. I believe it is rather warm in Chile right now, so it is their blooming season. So, we have not discovered a peony that blooms in our winter season, rather we are importing these lovely flowers in.
I'll take it. Afterall, peonies are always a beautiful addition to a room.
Notes on Painting the Christmas Peonies
