D Day

Yesterday was what I not-so-lovingly refer to as D Day, or Decoration Day.  It's the day, usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving, where my house gets transformed from it's everyday look into its holiday best.  It takes me HOURS and other than the hauling up and down of decorations and accessories, it's a job that I'm not willing to delegate, so I get cranky.  The predicted crankiness has become a joke in the family.  I get cranky just thinking about doing it.  I worked on it for seven hours yesterday and I'm not quite done.  The tree is up and the 1300 lights are on it, but that's all that's on the tree.  I still have some more lights to put up in the family room. The dining room table needs its holiday setting.  But for the most part, I'm feeling done and not nearly as cranky.  It's good to be done.

The reason I endure all of this nonsense is that I LOVE the result.  The payoff is huge for me.  My house looks it's best during the holidays.  The reds, golds, greens and plums in my decor really lend themselves well to holiday decorations.  The lights on the arrangement on my foyer table bounce off of the leaded glass in the door and really sparkle.  My Santa collection is big and jolly and so fun.  When the lights are up, it seems to hide the scratched floors, dull paint and ugly sofas that I'd love to replace.  You know, all of those things that you look at with a critical eye and wish you could change if time and money weren't considerations.

So why did I start a week early this year?  It's Thanksgiving week and between now and Thursday, every single brother, sister, inlaw, niece and nephew on both sides of our families are coming into town.  That has never happenned before.  It's like the planets alligning or something.  On Thanksgiving Day, we have dinner at 2pm at my parents with my family and at 6 at Andy's house with all of his family.  While I'm not hosting a dinner, I still want the house looking pretty for the holidays because none of our out of town relatives ever get to see it like this.  Oh, and I have to bake six pies, make mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, my ambrosia that everybody loves, and assorted other treats.  Tomorrow is parents and grandparents day at the elementary school and I have to do my monthy trip to feed the people at the homeless shelter tomorrow (that always sneaks up on me!).  So I've got a busy week and it's nice to get D DAY out of the way for another year. 

I always plan on taking pictures of the chaos that it is before it's done, but as usual, I was in too foul of a mood to do it!   Oh well, like I always say on the day after....that's a layout for next year!  I have taken photos of the results, as you can see.......

Comments

[Heather]

Looks beautiful Barb!!! ;) We are going to Ohio again this year so I just don't do much decorating since it is such a hassle and we aren't here to really enjoy it much.

[Becky]

I bet it looks fantastic, Barb! My stuff goes up this weekend and I can hardly wait!!

[Ginger]

Girl - I can only IMAGINE how gorgeous your place is during the holidays! WOW!

G

[wendy]

it looks lovely barb and i'm insanely jealous! but i'm off to ohio for the holiday so i don't have any pressure to get it done....which means it'll take awhile! LOL enjoy your week!

[Kelly Edgerton]

I so understand wanting your house dressed in its company best so that your out of town relatives can enjoy it. That makes complete sense and I'm thrilled that you were able to fight through the crankies and get it done. Now you can sit back and enjoy it for the next month. YAY YOU! That is exciting. I love your pictures. They just "feel" like Christmas. Thanks for sharing those. I'd love to see your house. It sounds beautiful.

[Tina]

Aaaahhh...that time of year again, bringing out the Santa's and the snowmen, and all of those yummy smelling candles...
hard to believe it's almost Thanksgiving. Where has this year gone? I'm sure your house looks cozy and beautiful Barb!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
-Tina