Happy December First! Can you believe that we are starting the last month of the year, and that there are only 24 days until Christmas? Next week I need to get out and do some serious shopping so I can finish up my Christmas errands and then mail everything! For this week’s Thursday Thirteen, I’m going to share some of the things I do each year that makes Christmastime warm and bright.
- I set up my Christmas tree. Although I have not done that yet. I’m a little late, (usually the day after Thanksgiving) because I have been REALLY busy!
- I sit down and hand address my Christmas cards. It’s an act of love because I have arthritis in my hands. So forgive me if the envelope is a bit unreadable. I really do try.
- I go to Christmas Fairs and enjoy the music, decorations and smiling faces.
- Baking. I used to bake for my family, for myself. Now I tend to bake and then give it away.
- I pick out a toy and then I donate it to the Marine Corps. They do the Toys for Tots.
- I keep a little wallet in my purse with dollar bills. Then whenever I pass a Salvation Army Bucket, I pop in a dollar and wish the volunteer Merry Christmas!
- I start listening to the “Holly” channel on XM Radio.
- I start planning Christmas dinner. Not sure what we’re having.
- I help out at The Festival of Trees, which is a charity event, benefiting those in need in our town.
- Watching my favorite Christmas movies. My absolute favorite? “It’s A Wonderful Life”.
- I also make a simple jello salad, that reminds me of my grandmother. Make lime jello, pour into a dish you have put pear halves and maraschino cherries (in the pear half). Chill and serve with either mayonnaise or whipped creme.
- Hubby and I have German Stollen Bread Christmas morning and we also enjoy Lebkuchen cookies.
- I even buy gifts for the dogs! Best of all, they know how to open them!
It’s a Wonderful Life is our favorite too!!
And I love lebkuchen (I can take or leave stollen)….thankfully our Aldi’s sells pretty good lebkuchen or I can get it via friends from our Army commissary.
Sounds like you are really getting into the spirit. I am lacking this year. I have to force myself to decorate. Will probably start next week. Hopefully the girls will help.
I can´t believe how fast time is flying!!!
We helped Mike, Karan and Abby decorate their tree last night. It really got me in the Christmas spirit! Now I want to get our tree up and few more decorations around. Enjoy! Love YOU, Mel
The Stollen reminds me of my hubs wonderful grandmother (Oma)…she made the best! Enjoy this month of advent Maribeth. I think White Christmas is my favorite holiday movie but I love A Christmas Story too.
Sounds like you are ready! All of the gifts that have arrived at the house are wrapped and in the Living Room. The tree is late getting up this year, but should happen this weekend. Slowly but surely, Christmas is starting to sprout around my house. Still haven’t pulled my Christmas cards out of the attic. I really need to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” I have never seen it, or “Miracle on 34th Street”. I’m a bad little elf! 😉
I did my Christmas decoration yesterday, but I didn’t put up a tree, as we are celebrating in Amsterdam. But it looks very nice. I put some pictures on my blog tomorrow.