Happy New Year!

It seems like forever since I've been here, although it has been only a week.  I popped in only once to change the header from "Christmas" to "Winter".  Once again, my neighbor's red barn is... to me... a thing of beauty.

We enjoyed a lovely Christmas Eve with Mr. & Mrs. Christopher.  This was the most enjoyable Christmas season I've had in years.  I think part of it was managed expectations, partly all the glitz and glitter of the decorations and music and books, and I loved hearing from so many of you. 

Now well into my seventh year of blogging, I have found the best part of it all are the friendships made... most of us will never meet in person this side of Heaven but definitely kindred spirits.  :)

I normally don't mention anyone specifically as I don't want anyone else to think I am soliciting a gift!  However, I must send out a thank you to Cherri as I do not have an e-mail or snail mail address.  Your gift was lovely and your note made me giggle! 

I purposefully pulled every Christmas box off the shelves in the garage this year and left them in my office-craft room.  It hasn't seen such a mess since Christopher lived in that room! 

A couple days after Christmas, every decoration except what was on the tree was placed on the dining room table and the family room floor.  For three days I cleaned out Rubbermaid style containers and then rearranged the Christmas decorations safely in each clean box. 

Broken items beyond repair, crumpled tissue paper, and loose ornament hangers were all tossed into the tall kitchen trash container where they should have been placed years ago.  The last decorations to be put away were the ornaments and then the tree.

Yesterday morning I did the same with the two large Christmas bags which hold all the other bags, ribbon, whole tissue paper, stickers, etc.  They are now organized for the first time in years.   One can accomplish a lot when done a little at a time!  :)

So... after four exhausting days, it was good to wake up this first of January, 2013 to a lack of clutter and one huge project under my belt.  This was actually the beginning of my #1 organizing project for this winter... the garage!

We are enjoying a quiet day here at home for New Year's Day.  A day of rest and hot beverages is just what is needed to bring in the new year!  Oh, and yes... Victoria has had lots of attention this week.  How could one resist that face?