Pictures of the "attic"

I forgot to take "empty" pictures upstairs. The first is an armoir (came with the house, and way to large to remove) ... I use it to house Easter, St. Pat's, and 4th of July decorations.
The second is a few of the piled up packed up boxes. Every box upstairs is numbered (including all non-holiday ones), and I have a master list of what's in each box.
I really hope this will make next year much easier, in addition to being able to find everything else that's stored up there. Last picture, the little forest of trees, covered with an old sheet; and a wall of boxes beside the trees.

Packing it all up

For being supposedly "organized", it's sure taking me a long time to get everything packed away. I do have a few semi-good excuses. First, we've spent a lot of weekends out of town. With elderly parents (and a very dear brother) in one direction, and a son with his wife and 2 kids in another direction, we've been on the go a bit. Plus, we've had some extremely abnormally cold temps. Because the cost of gas is so dear, we've kept most of the house pretty cold ... and sorry, I just can't bring myself to be packing up boxes and lugging them upstairs when I need to wear gloves in the house!
Several things happened this weekend. We passed a payday, and got a bit more gas (still have to be careful with it), so turned the heat up just a bit. The weather and other conditions finally allowed my dear little friend and I to have a "play-day" ... which means she helped me. A LOT!! :) She completely dismantled and packed away the big tree, which had seemed to be a sticking point for me.
Today the sun came out, and even though I didn't have help I got a lot done. I have 2 more large boxes to carry upstairs tonight and that will be it for today. I haven't finished clearing the clutter from the living room; but the dining room is mostly cleared now; and I do have Valentine decorations out.
We'll be going out of town again next weekend. Hopefully the one after that I'll finish getting all the Christmas upstairs. Well, possibly except one or both of the white trees that are still up. I'm really enjoying them! LOL! But if I can get everything else done, I'll be satisfied. It may still be March before I get the "regular" decorations back out, but that's ok. Last year it took me until September! LOL!
Next post, a few pictures upstairs.

January 2010 - the Beginning ...

... or is it the end? LOL! OK, I've not updated for awhile; but, I've not started undecorating yet either. Yesterday we got started cleaning and organizing the upstairs room. It's not "really" an attic .. but it has no heat or a/c. It's been used frequently as a bedroom, but now it's just storage. As my son slowly gets his things out, I get more and more room to organize my thngs. The vast majority of what's up there is seasonal decorations (mostly, of course, Christmas). My goal is to not only have all the Christmas stuff neatly packed and listed, but to also have a list (numbered box system) of everything else that's up there. I hope to have Christmas all packed away by the end of January (may not make it becaues of other plans for the last 2 weekends; but "mostly" will be good enough). The snowman collection & tree will stay, and several of the smaller trees will probably stay as well. There's a small blue tree that looks nice in the buest room; and I may even leave the lavender tree in the back bathroom. Just because. I have a 3.5' black tree that has red lights and silver ornaments. I think I may change the silver to red and white for a Valentine tree.
My goals for today are to finish cleaning upstairs; bring down empty boxes to begin packing; take the fiber-optic tree from the stairwell up; finish laundry, clean the kitchen and front bathroom, and update my calendar. I need to get busy!

I took a short video of my upstairs, and wanted to upload it. But alas! My server refuses to do that. I will take some pictures later today.

Reviewing

Wow! I have a follower! I'm so excited! Thank you!

I have to get busy this morning - going out of town this afternoon. But during the coming week, I will update with my review of Christmas 2009, and my initial plans for 2010. Clearly, it's not too early to start! :)

Merry Christmas

I have no followers at all, and I don't think but 2 or 3 people who even read this .. but to those few, I thank you! :) And I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

I haven't followed my "schedule" too closely; but Christmas has arrived anyway! :) Each year is a learning process. Next year will be even better. One very important thing I have learned is that all the pretty decorations and baked cookies and wrapped gifts mean nothing if you don't have family and friends to share them with.

We are celebrating the birth of Jesus. Nothing will change that. But all the extra "trappings" that seem so joyful dim a little unless they're shared.

Merry Christmas!
Happy Birthday Jesus!

And some more pictures

Here are a bunch more pictures from my house. Hopefully in the near future I'll have the time and energy to go in and label them! LOL! Meantime, hope you enjoy sharing my house.

Other pictures

A few random Christmas pictures from my house.


Garland over doorway and quilted hanging




Arrangement on mirror over mantle




Mantle




Snowmen on hall shelves





Kitchen window topairy 1




Kitchen window topiary 2




Fiberoptic poinsettia




Nativity on bookshelf




Angel in the Window




Ceramic church




Chandelier




Top of bookshelf




Tiny ceramic Nativity




Nativity on side table




Small Nativity on cake plate