Final Countdown Week 2013

It is now just under one week to Christmas Day.  I am not where I wanted to be now; but considering all the unexpected circumstances I’ve been dealing with, it’s not too bad. 

I am happy that I got started early with going through the house room by room.  While there will always been more purging to do (especially with losing my vision – not much point in keeping a lot of things, such as books).

I did not get as much done as in previous years; but considering that the more problems I encountered, the less help I got from the ones I had most counted on .. it’s not too bad after all. 

My biggest problem at this point is with shopping.  I did not “plan ahead” to not be able to leave the house, or to not be able to drive.  For that matter, shopping is no longer fun when I can’t see things; and shopping on line just isn’t possible at all.  I used to prefer waiting; but clearly my priorities in that regard have to change.

Also, in the past I started just after Halloween to get decorating done.  This year I waited until after Thanksgiving since I had a big crowd here for that.  Since I did less .. and since I’ve had extremely limited chances to do “holiday things”, it’s worked out OK.  I’d like to think for next year I’ll go back to decorating early.

The truth is, I have no clue what will be my situation by next year.  I hope I will still be here in this house I love.  And I hope DH will still be here with me.  But in truth the only thing I can pretty much count on is that my vision will not be improved (and will most likely be a lot worse).

That being said, I need to revise my whole plan and start in January.  My original plan was a room a month, and I need to go back to that. 

This year there will be no piles of pretty packages.  There will be no big Christmas dinner.  I expect (I hope)  our grandsons will come by sometime in the evening; but that depends on what time they get to their dad’s house (might be too late to come here).  In the end, it will most likely be just another day here.  But it will be one with pretty lights anyway. J

Early December Update

I am very happy to report that while I won't have anywhere near as much as past years, I will have Christmas decorations.  I see very little hope of anything in the yard.  But a friend came over for a few hours yesterday to help me inside.
I had managed to get all of the fall decorations packed and upstairs; and I brought down the boxes of linens and had those in place.  She helped me bring down 7 bigger trees (4 and 5 feet), plus a few smaller ones.  Two of them need lights replaced (on half the tree), but that's not bad all things considered! LOL!

Today I have the rare opportunity to get away for a whole day!  It was supposed to be for a parade (with my DGD in marching band); but it's pouring rain and the temp is dropping rapidly .. so the chances seem very strong that the parade will be cancelled or postponed.  Since care for DH has been arranged, I still get the day with my DIL. :)
Tomorrow I hope (rested and refreshed) to begin "filling in".  Oh, nearly forgot, the friend also helped me unpack and *place*  a box of Nativities.  I still hope to bring down some of the nutcrackers and some of the snowmen.  And I may also bring down a few Santas  It's going to depend on how DH is doing (how much of my time is spent caring for him ... he has good days and bad days, and no way to plan ahead for that).  Except for the trees that were never undecorated, they are "naked" .. and may stay that way.  I can't see well enough to really do much about decorating them.  And since what I mostly see are the lights, I'm quite happy with them just having lights! LOL!

I will post pictures when I get a chance.