Everyone knows this is a busy time of year, but who am I to break the custom? ;o)
It's so busy this time of year!
I think I completed the last of my Christmas shopping yesterday, but I've only wrapped one little thing so far... And I still have some serious work to do in the next several days, if I'm going to finish a few hand-made gifts I'd like to have done in time for Christmas. No matter how much I tell myself that I will start gift-shopping and -making early this year, I never seem to manage it. Time always ends up being scarce in December... and I don't exchange gifts with that many people!
I've recently come across a couple of people online who make at least one gift item per month, through the year. For handmade gifts (that you're fairly sure the recipient will still need by the end of the year or won't be able to buy in the meantime... or can use multiples of...), that seems like a very sound plan. Maybe-- just maybe-- I'll try to adopt that course of action, myself. I really enjoy making at least some of my gifts myself (even if it's just a little something extra), but falling short of time diminishes the pleasure. (Of course, if I know myself as well as I think I do, even if everything were done and wrapped in July, I'd still find something to work on and worry over at the last minute. Some of us just can't seem to help ourselves.)
I've kept up with taking a photo every day of December so far, but I'm not as good about posting one everyday... and some of them are pretty lackluster (see above re: busyness of the season, etc.)... Still, something's better than nothing. (I don't think I'll try to do this again next year, though... It's just too busy a time of the year to bother much with photo challenges.)
We haven't sent out any cards yet... I just put up our stockings yesterday (and finally put away the boxes we use to store our Christmas decorations)... and we've yet to do any Christmas baking.
BUT-- We have at least a few treats planned. I will make (and eat far too many of) the iced/glazed roll-out sugar cookies I like the best. (I love those things; as a result, it's best if I don't make them more than a few times a year.) Donald is going to make Lucia kattar (lussekattar?) one of these days, too. (They're saffron buns-- a yummy, slightly sweet, traditional Swedish bread eaten on Lucia Day... which technically has already passed, since it's celebrated on December 13th. That's ok; we always have our Lucia buns well past Lucia Day.) Donald's also going to make some sort of rice pudding dish-- another Swedish Christmas tradition. (And one that he enjoys alone, in this house. Rice pudding holds little appeal for me... Kind of like glögg, which also failed to impress. Sorry, Swedes! I still like your lussekattar a lot... And your "house cheese" is extremely yummy... Also your boiled and fried potatoes with dill, your meatballs, and that gravy you serve with the meatballs and potatoes... Your pizza is very good... as is your candy. And I've even learned to eat crispbread, on occasion.)
There may be one or two other goodies up our sleeves, too. We'll see...
The song got it right-- the weather outside is frightful. Chilly, wet, and raw. But fortunately, we've no place to go today, so we can stay cozy, dry, and warm-- take it easy-- maybe play a board game this afternoon-- and generally just enjoy the comforts of home. (And possibly I'll spend some time working on my little Top Secret Projects.)
Hey, I even think my case of the sneezy sniffles (which showed up yesterday afternoon) aren't as bad as they were and could be fading away altogether! (So maybe I won't come down with a cold right in time for Christmas... Maybe.)
I hope you're enjoying a pleasant Decembery Saturday as well!
