Noble November

Well, it was not much, and it did not actually touch the ground - but we did have snow last night! This morning we awoke to the beauty of hoar frost, ice still visible in the water buckets outside. There is a certain beauty to winter, a cold quiet majestic beauty.

The month of November is a sombre month, a time between the colours of October and not yet the holidays of December. I must admit I am fond of this noble month. A time of reflection and stillness, a period of waiting.

In under a week we will observe Remembrance Day. I think this is the month that reflects so much the feelings of sacrifice and duty that are reflected in our Veterans. A stillness, that in it's very quietness gains our attention, our moment of silence.

I wish we all take a moment each day this month to reflect upon what has been given, on what is lost, and what is sacrificed to win. As our tears are silent, I pray we allow our actions to speak for us.

Holiday Grand Plan - Family Room Week

This week we turn our attention to the family room. I do not have a family room... but I do have a space that my boys spend their free time, a section of the basement where they play games and 'hang out'. Looking at this space I can see that seating is an issue, the current futon does not fit in how they use the space; they prefer individual seating - on wheels! So I am hunting on Kijiji for computer office chairs (six). This will do double duty, seating when they are playing console games, and with the height adjustment lever they can fit along the table to play board games. Another storage unit I need to look for is a three drawer file (preferably) metal unit to hold their papers beside the computer area; also a blue box for paper, and an area to hold gamer books/ magazines would be very useful!

This is a time change Sunday - check your smoke and carbon monozide detectors. Give them a good cleaning and replace the batteries! While your at it, review with your family the procedure in case there is a fire - and ensure the fire extinguishers in the kitchen and garage are ready. This is also a good time to check the first aid kit and add any needed supplies to your list. Before winter storms begin - look in your vehicle, do you have an emergency roadside assitance kit? Add needed items to your now growing master shopping list. Is it time to schedule a tune-up, and to put your snow tires on? While I am on a safety roll, this is also a good time to ensure your 72 hour emergency kit is ready! Check dates on food items, add them to your general food stores if needed, and replace with 'fresh' items. Replace batteries in flashlights.

Cleaning and Organizing:

• Family Room


• Family Room checklist
  

Holiday Prep:

• Make 1 batch of holiday goodies


• Make 1 extra meal for the freezer


• Buy 2 items needed for the holiday meal


• Buy 1/8th of gifts


• Work at least one hour on gifts or crafts


• Take down Halloween decorations and store


• Start fall clean-up of the flower/shrub beds, mulch


• Go through the winter coats and accessories - give away unwanted items, make list of needed gear for this winter


• Make a family wardrobe list, include what you plan on wearing for the holiday photo, Mass... for casual and formal holiday get-togethers

To Print:

• Family Room Checklist


• Reality Week Checklist
• Master shopping list

Enjoy your day!

Where have all the trick or treaters gone?

Each year we seem to get a little less trick or treaters; but, this year was by far the smallest turn-out. Is it just a shift in demographics? Or H1N1?

My son's Halloween movie night with friends, slowly became a family only affair. As the weekend came closer, his friends began to develop flu symptoms. He decided to cancel, keeping the parents of two girls left on the list pleased - as they where concerned about the flu numbers too. (Their school dance was cancelled till further notice to limit the spread of the virus.)

As we walked my youngest son around our town, I noticed on many streets we where the only people out! There was plenty of homes decorated, smiling jack-o-lanterns welcoming, but no children.

Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but it does make me sad to think it may be reduced to a cultural notation one day. I really did miss it this year; handing out candy, admiring the creativity of costumes, and exchanging greetings with neighbours. Even the ritual of someone stealing my pumpkin in the night.

Happy Hallowe'en!

I hope your door was graced by many witches, ghosts, and goblins this eve.

In search of spiders... and none to be found!

Walk Into My Parlor
- by Mary Howitt

"Will you walk into my parlor?"
said the spider to the fly;
"Tis the prettiest little parlor that you ever did spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."
"Oh no, no!" said the little fly,
"to ask me is in vain;
For who goes up your winding stair
can never come down again."

This year was all about spiders!

I have searched in vain to find spiders! The boys wanted something a little more spooky then our fall scarecrows and pumpkins, I do not like gore; so spiders are a compromise. And really, spiders ARE creepy. My arachnophobia husband is not as keen on the idea of 'theme decorating' our veranda in spiders - he is thinking clowns would be a better choice... mean, mean man! Spiders are creepy, clowns are evil.

Creating a Christmas Countdown Notebook

Let's create a Christmas Countdown notebook!
Following the CEO's advice, be creative - keeping in mind it needs to work for you! I like binders, I find them the most versatile and easy to add or omit sections as the years go by.

Some ideas for sections:

• Calendars


• Master gift list (include an area to keep receipts)


• Budget


• Meals and menus


• Entertaining


• Recipes


• Decor (include photos or drawings & notes of previous years)


• Traditions


• Parish services


• Advent worship


• Christmas music


• Activities/ Events (family, for your area)


• Volunteer/ charity


• Stockings


• Secret Santa/ 12 days of Christmas


• Tree (I keep a list of family tree farms we visited & what type of tree for the year)


• Grown-up parties or events (attending information, include babysitter needs - book early!!)


• Services (items such as emergency snow removal, a pharmacy that is opened LATE info, furnace service, mechanics open during the holiday, florist, turkey/butcher, dog groomers and boarding information...)


• Crafts


• Storage (list where it is, and what is in it...)


• Instructions/ manuals (never toss how to put that 'thing' together, or what 'that' button means)
  

... this list is endless, and really depends on what YOU need! Check out the Christmas Planner Tour !

Enjoy your day!

Christmas Countdown

Today is the first day of the Christmas Countdown. The CC is celebrating it's 11th year... I have been following the countdown for 10!

What I like about the countdown is that it is free(!), it provided me with the framework to 'fix' what was not 'working' for us, and improve our families overall enjoyment during the holiday season. I think the most personal key factor was that following the CC... doing the readings, networking with other CC'ers... led me to fix a problem I had for years - the after Christmas Blues . By following the plan I was able to better organize my time, spreading the holiday out to a more enjoyable pace - not treating it as a mad dash to the finish line ending on Dec. 25th! Now I actually celebrate the 12 days of Christmas - starting on December 25th, not just as an observance, but as a time to celebrate! During the twelve days I enjoy spending time visiting with family and friends, hosting get togethers in our home; all at a much more relaxed pace.

To print: Get organized week

Today's reading : Ready... Or Not?

Today's recipe: Boo! It's pumpkin poop

My boys will find pumpkin poop in their lunch bags on Friday. My eldest son receives black/orange sour candy, my middle son sugar free black/orange 'smartie' like candy, and the youngest black/orange gum balls. I have not done this in a few years (3!). Should be fun!

Enjoy your day.

sources:

miniwrapers

stampdoc

Organized Christmas

60 days till Christmas!

The countdown at Organized Christmas states we only have 6o days till Christmas! For me this is one of those checkpoint dates; a time to take in what I have done, and what needs to be done still.

Another checkpoint is when the Christmas trees arrive in parking lots! We cut our own tree at a family farm not too far from our home, but seeing the arrival of beautiful evergreens at the lots, makes me excited! I love the idea of counting down, be it an Advent calendar, a desk cube, or altered clipboard... watching the days drift closer to Christmas seems to bring out the kid in all of us.



Sources:

Tracy's Craft Room
Sizzix
Kid's Acitivty Box
Souper Saturday

Enjoy your day!