Following HGP, week 1

For years now I have developed and (semi) followed my own countdown plan. It has worked reasonably well. This year a lot of things are different. One thing, for example, is that I usually start in August. This year I had a lot of things going on in August (visiting family, grandkids visiting, other family visits); plus, it was the hottest August on record here. Another thing that is different is the way I'm taking vacation days (that I need to accomplish my decorating). I'm taking a couple of long weekends in November, instead of a whole week at the beginning. As I **gasp** get older, I find I run out of energy quicker. Imagine that!! :) So breaking up the schedule seemed to make more sense. Also, starting in December I will only be working part-time. That will give me more time to accomplish some of the things on my list that I would normally try to be done with. I will note, however, that shopping is not one of those "get-it-done-early-and-over-with" things. I enjoy Christmas shopping! Plus, it's last minute before I even know what my grandkids want. I will also have more time for baking cookies or whatever, instead of trying to get it all done ahead (and then figuring out how to juggle freezer space!)
This year I'm going to try to (loosely) follow the Holiday Grand Plan (a yahoo group). I will, of course, have to tweak it to suit my house and life. But it's a good general plan. Today starts Week 1. Here is a list of the things I hope to accomplish over the course of this week:
1. Get all my lists and schedules organized, printed, and put in a binder for easy reference.
2. Print out monthly calendar pages (well, that one has to wait until I get printer ink! LOL!)
3. Do a quick overview of "family values" .. i.e., deciding what's important to my family and myself before figuring what to include in both prep work and holiday planning.
4. Make several lists (oh boy, I'm really good at lists! LOL!): a room-by-room evaluation of things needed to "spruce-up"; gift lists; card lists (if I decide to do cards, which I'm still not sure of); menus; activities to be included on the calendar; shopping lists (gifts, groceries, craft supplies, etc.)
5. Begin buying stamps if I decide to do cards. I've already started gift shopping, so need to continue to watch for items.
6. The area to clean/organize for this week is the "front porch". I don't have a front porch. I have a front door that is never ever used. I have a strange porch that looks like it was meant to be a carport (but is actually too small for any car), with entrances to the back hall (family) and the dining room (company). I hope during cooler months to do a good cleaning out there. We just did a "quickie" clean up prior to company last weekend. I will try to follow the plan for the part of the porch that shows (I have a junky part sectioned off by a lattice wall - best project we ever thought up!). I had put an old rug out with my table and rockers; but DH ran over it with the lawnmower (he forgot to turn the blades off), so that will have to be trashed. I might be able to salvage some area rugs, but that's all. I will clean the doors and storm doors; try to find places for at least some of the excess clutter; and just generally make it look nicer as much as I can.

I will try to report back on progress during the week, or at least by the end of the week, prior to next week's list.