How was your First Week of Advent? Mine was splendidly quick? Busy? Blurry?

1) So while all of you where out shopping a year early and getting your Advent candles blessed, I was chillaxin’, knowing I had my Advent candles wayyyy in advance. My friend assured me it was going to be fine if I reused old candle stubs.  And I’m so glad she said so!  Because look! These aren’t stubs at all! These are whole – if not somewhat off kilter – Advent candles.  If these run down I’ll replace with the much shorter candle stubs. And yes, that’s a cake stand it’s sitting on. And yes that’s someone’s hat they haven’t put away and also the box of matches. The reason it didn’t bother me when I was taking the picture is that the kitchen table actually looks pretty good here. Just keepin’ it real, people. Keepin’ it real.

2) BUT! I will say that I was so proud of myself last year for putting all of the Advent candles and the Advent wreath in one big plastic tub.  It was with the Christmas books, too.  Efficiency. I was trying to plan ahead and thinking that this way I could only pull out one box of Advent/Christmas supplies if I needed to. You know how it goes, different years, different decorating gusto levels.  So there I was November 29 at 6:00 pm proud as punch that I had. it. all. together. Before Advent.
You know where this is going, right? I found the candles. But no wreath!  I was certain I had good organization skills last Christmas.  I knew it! But I couldn’t find that brass candle wreath.  Several hours, cabinets, and cupboards later I returned to the box and found it! Stuffed inside an old plastic/fake wreath. It was nestled so well I couldn’t see the little brass cups. In the end it was a win. I had everything I needed, but isn’t that always how it goes? Best laid plans and all that?

3) Hopping onto the crazy train.  If you follow me on Instagram, then you’ve already seen my new project. A grandmother has made five of these cloth books for my children.  They get looked at every year when the Christmas stuff gets pulled out. But not all of the books every year and not by each of the children. So…maybe each book gets looked at once a year, or maybe even only once every other year. I came up with a great plan! I’m going to turn them into quilts. You know so they stay special, if not intact. Goal for completion: when the last child leaves home. So far, I have one book disassembled. Ahem

4) I’m not sentimental, but apparently more than I think. Otherwise I could just give the books away. But they’re from a grandmother. And they’re homemade. So I feel obligated to keep them.

5) Also, is there a name for the universal law that states the busier you are the more projects you need to start immediately? I’m just wondering because everyone knows about Murphy.  But this other law seems to occur at an even greater frequency.  I need it to cover the odd phenomena of say…purely on speculation…having three quilts already started last year (last minute of course), and those quilts still not finished this year, and yet I am moved by the uncontrollable urge to commence 3 or 4 new quilts?  I know I can’t be the only one who suffers from this, else why would garage sales be so full of cast off art/crafts/handiwork supplies?

6) On an entirely different note, but still relating to Advent because it’s December, and what else can anyone think of?  I saw on the Internets last year “Wise Men Adventures.” Who started it? It’s a nice substitute for that blasted Elf on the Shelf (can’t stand that thing, and I’m sorry if I offend you but I just hate it). You take your trusty Playmobil wise men and set them off on an adventure throughout Advent. Last year my kids liked it well enough, although two of the three were a little old for it and the other likes to pretend he is.  And then there is that whole lack of follow through and creativity that consumes me late in the night right before I’m headed to bed and can think of nothing but my pillow but suddenly remember I haven’t set the wisemen off on an adventure.  I was going to skip it this year, but my kids went through the Playmobil container and brought all the correct men and their miscellaneous tiny accoutrements up to me.  So I set them up the first night of Advent.

I was proud of them. So proud. They were balanced precariously on my chandelier.  Not a word was said by any of my children.  Of course, this made me even prouder! I was so sneaky! Such a brilliant mother for thinking to place the wise men in a delightfully obvious location in our small home that no one even found them.  This went on for several days. Five days, to be precise.  And then I overheard my daughter chuckle to one of the boys, “He he. The camel is still up there, she hasn’t moved them.” When is it, exactly, that kids begin patronizing their parents?

7) Gosh I’m wordy today.  This is what happens when it’s rainy and cold and you don’t get out much. You start to ramble and talk nonsensically about nonsensical things.

So. That’s my 7 quick takes, though I rather think I failed on the “quick” aspect of the whole thing.  If you have anytime left, go on over to Kelly’s not-lyceum and read other people’s stuff. I doubt any of them are as wordy as me.

Psst…Is it rude if I invite you back to this little corner tomorrow? I host a little photo link up…finding beauty in the everyday, and then capturing these epiphanies through art.

 

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