Christmas Decorations and Gift Giving

I finally finished decorating the Christmas tree a couple of days ago, so most of the decorating is done at our house now.

When I purchased the 8 ft. tree a few years ago, I wasn't thinking that a ladder would be necessary to to reach the top.  It's so pretty when it's done, but I'm not sure how many more years I'm going to want to climb a ladder!

My sweet neighbor was my inspiration for doing more decorating this year.  She's my age, but became a widow almost two years ago.  When I went over to her house the beginning of the month, her house was like a Christmas fantasyland.  She had four Christmas trees between her living room and family room, and several lighted garlands and wreaths.  I came home thinking if someone who lives alone has such a vibrant Christmas spirit, then I should kick my Christmas spirit up a few notches.   

Our governor extended the closure of dine-in restaurants until January 15th [COVID precautions], so since I'm not working I have plenty of time for decorating.  I think I'll leave everything up until mid-January to enjoy.  I just have a couple more things to do in the living room yet, and I'll be done.

My Christmas shopping is all done, and my hubby is the official gift wrapper at our house. It's a job he volunteered to do many years ago and never stopped.

It was such fun shopping for my great-granddaughters.  Juliette is a year and a half so she's getting a 16-inch Raggedy Ann doll and book about how she came to be.  Did you know Raggedy Ann dolls have been delighting children for over 100 years?  When she was made commercially [she was patented in 1915], she and her brother, Andy, were perfect diversions from World War I.  A Raggedy Ann and Andy museum exists in Arcola, Illinois that was founded by the doll creator's granddaughter.

I love learning the history of things and discovered the first Raggedy Ann was originally a rag doll that belonged to Marcella Gruelle's grandmother - a gift she received on Christmas Eve, made from scraps in a sewing basket.  The rag doll underwent some refurbishing before she was given to Marcella on her 5th birthday.

I remember buying my daughter, Lori, a Raggedy Ann doll for Christmas when she was little and two generations later the timeless doll is under the Christmas tree again.

Evie is three and a half, so she's getting an Anne of Green Gables doll and book.  For her birthday I'll probably get her the DVD series to accompany it.  Anne has been around in literature since 1908, created by novelist Lucy Maud Montgomery.  While I didn't plan it, I smiled when I realized both girls were getting dolls named Ann[e].

I love, love, love the way my granddaughter Tiffany's Shutterfly album turned out.   It's 10 x 10 with a hardcover and 64 pages of photos of her and I at tea time through the years.   The cover is a photo I had taken of Tiffany, her sister, and cousin [all three are my granddaughters].

The wedding album I had made of my daughter Lori's 2014 Valentine's Day wedding also arrived and is lovely.  These albums were so much fun to put together, and you can't beat the quality of Shutterfly albums.  They're such a nice way of preserving memories.

I bought myself a couple of tea-themed tops - because I can't resist tea-themed clothing! Just wanted to share them with you.  The top came from Serengeti [an online source], but didn't come with the dickey.  That was ordered from another source.

A lavender sweatshirt with teacups, which I'm wearing as I type this post.  It's so warm and comfy and came from Haband [an online source].

A Mrs. Claus apron and Santa hat is ready and waiting for me to wear when my family comes over on Christmas Eve.

I bought my spiral-cut honey glazed ham today, and ordered the Cannoli birthday cake for Jesus from the local Italian bakery.  Jerry will pick it up at 7:30 a.m. Christmas Eve.  I will focus on the rest of my menu on Tuesday and Wednesday.

My boss sent me an e-mail today saying he needed me to make 25 more Tea to Go gift baskets, so that's on my agenda for Monday.

How are your Christmas plans coming along?