July 2013

I know I Seriously dropped the ball on this blog.  I won't *promise* to do any better this year, but I will try.  Things always change; but around here, the changes have been pretty drastic.  Things could change even more drastically this year (the degree of probability depends on who you talk to!).
HGP starts up sometime in August I think.  They never put the schedule up until the last minute.  And I never follow the schedule exactly anyway.  But, this year should be easier on the cleaning end of things.  I've been going through my house for the past few years, cleaning and purging as I go. Unlike in the past, I won't be leaving the house as much, and *should* be able to schedule things better.  
I already have a set amount of $$ set aside for Christmas; but following the plan on shopping just doesn't work for me.  I can't buy the grands' gifts that far ahead, not being sure what to get.  And of course there are still at least 4 birthdays between now and then.
My decorating will have to change a lot this year too.  Because of DH's health I've had to rearrange several rooms; and that will effect decoration placement.  But, I'm sure I'll work something out.  Much as I hate to admit it, I will probably have to scale back a little.

I will have to check last year's notes - if I made any - about what to do/not do this year.  But then again, as I said, things are different now, so maybe last year's notes wouldn't help me much.

Anyway, this is just to say - to myself mainly - that I'm going to try to follow HGP, or at least a modified version of it - again this year.My goal is to have the whole house clean (which shouldn't be an issue now, as I mostly keep it clean), go through every shelf, drawer, closet and box and purge, do all my shopping and wrapping by Thanksgiving.  And to finish decorating by the end of the weekend after Thanksgiving so that December is free to just enjoy.  I know I can't go to the shows and parades and such that I love, but I can watch the TV specials, and I can have  (or TRY to have) friends and family over here.  And maybe I can bake, if I can get someone to help with recipes (I have some enlarged; I may need someone to type up some and email so I can enlarge and print).

A very lofty goal of course - but unless DH's (or my) health takes a drastic turn for the worse, as long as I keep my goal in mind and don't get discouraged, it's quite doable.