Friday, November 28, 2008

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

I have noticed in the past several years that the "Christmas " season comes sooner and sooner each year. Does anyone remember when it was considered in bad taste to display Christmas items before Thanksgiving? I am speaking of stores. Not homes. Just wondering. In upstate New York, and most probably much of the northeast, people put up their out of doors Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. I think it must be because usually it is warmer and there is little or no snow on the ground. It makes sense to me. What doesn't make sense is that I often see Christmas wreaths and lawn decorations still out in May. It makes me smile. Not to be too harsh on people I do remember once (since moving here almost 12 yrs ago) that we didn't take down our fake Christmas tree until the last week of January or perhaps even the first week of February.
Speaking of fake Christmas trees.... I am usually a real tree kind of girl but since I am married to what (or is it who?) must have been the actual model of the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas" ,We have a fake tree. The afore mentioned "Grinch" won't let us put up a real tree until a week before Christmas and tries to take it down the second the gift opening is completed. So I have a fake tree so I can enjoy one of my favorite things about Christmas decor, the lighted tree. I do miss the scent of the real tree so I sometimes buy pine boughs or a pine wreath to enjoy that fragrance.
My other fave is the out of door lights. I find it nostalgic, festive, and get such joy out of seeing all the Christmas lights during the season. Does that mean I have out door lights to enjoy for the season. That would be a resounding yes. Do I get to enjoy them?? That would be a season deflating no. My Grinch will not put them up for me to enjoy. Last year I put them in the picture window in our living room though it looked a little tacky I enjoyed seeing them when I drove in my neighborhood on my way home from going places at night. I would put up the lights myself but we live in a two story house and have a two legged ladder. I am afraid of heights and I don't know how to use a two legged ladder. It's pathetic, I know. Also, If I start using that ladder I may as well learn how to run the lawn mower and the chainsaw.
Enjoy the upcoming Holidays!