It's time, I guess

It's getting close to Christmas. I'm really not in the mood for it tho. I decided to haul out the under the bed Christmas stuff to dress the place up a bit thinking it's time, I guess. Charles and I put up the silver tinsel to hang the Christmas cards.......

My mom always mailed hundreds of Christmas cards. She just loved mailing them and getting them. I remember every year dad counting how many cards came and just smiling and shaking his head, feeling so lucky to have so many friends. So every year I send out about 30 cards or so. It gets more expensive every year, but I just can't help myself.

Then I put up the plastic canvas wreath my Reka neni made.....

She loved to do crafts and she'd make just about anything you can think of from plastic canvas. It amuses me to put up the cracked old things up. I picture her stitching and laughing. She had the best sense of humor, and always had chocolate in her purse for any kid that might be around.

I pulled out the advent wreath....

I made it years ago and it's falling apart, but still I just can't see parting with it.

I pulled out the place mats that mom Gale gave me and the calendar thingy and the ginger bread hanging thing that I made when the kids were little...

It's all up now. I still don't feel overly Christmasy, but it's kind of nice being surrounded by all of this old, cracked, and dusty stuff made by all of the people I love. I guess part of the Christmasy feeling is in the memories of loves gone.