Early, on the day after thanksgiving, the weather shifted, and the first frost of the season covered the ground. The animals don’t seem to mind the colder temperatures and actually they seem to prefer it. As the warm waters of our pond mingle with the cooler air temperature, a beautiful, misty fog hovers over the water.
After a quick tour of our lightly frosted property, I head back inside for a fancy treat–an almond-milk peppermint mocha. A special drink like this is perfect for the day ahead. Every year, on the day after thanksgiving, our family takes the Christmas decorations down from the attic to transform our home into a festive, sparkly wonderland.
Prior to decorating, a thorough cleaning is required. Possibly this deep cleaning is a cathartic way of releasing the months leading up to the holiday season. Whether they were filled with fond memories you hope to cherish for years to come, or speckled with things you hope to amend with the turning of the calendar page. Regardless of the reason, the days of this year are swept clean and made ready for the next season of life.
Now that the space has been emptied, it is time to refill it with cherished memories from years past. Each item from our Christmas collection tells the story of our family. The Hallmark kissing bears I bought to commemorate our first Christmas as a dating couple are now considered a vintage item. The beautifully beaded tree skirt that was passed down from my parents, acting as a reminder of Christmases from my teenage years. As I remove each ornament, I am reminded of a story or memory from my children’s growing up years. Ornaments they made as toddlers or ones we purchased while exploring new states. These are the memories I will remember always.
This year, we opted not to fully decorate the house or tree as we have a small orange kitten that is full of feisty, wild behavior. None of the delicate or fragile items will be placed out this year. The various items that rotate or hang low will remain packed away for hopefully, next year. The stockings will not be hung until the early morning hours of Christmas morning, when I can watch over them.
Once the inside and the outside of the house have been decorated, our final tradition on this full day of decorating is to turn off all the regular lights and allow only the soft glow of candles or Christmas lights to shine bright in the darkness. In this act, we are welcoming the season of hope, joy, peace and love. May the beauty of this Advent season fill your home with laughter and loved ones. Merry Christmas!
Watch the VIDEO below: https://youtu.be/SSkXDc8W1ns
Wonderful! I only put up the tree this year and of course the Nativity. Though the tree is new the ornaments are full of memories from years gone by.
That is a perfect, simple Christmas set-up! Merry Christmas to you and may God bless you!