January 2, 2020 - 111 - "Decluttering Christmas"

 

       Yesterday there were bubble lights on the mantel and icicle lights twinkling from the eaves.

     Today we've gone to a Zen starkness.

     Ahhh...  New Year:  new space.

     We have enjoyed coming home to see the tree peeking from behind lace curtains.  We like to sit in the living room admiring the ornaments on the tree and the garland on the stairwell.  The 'Believe' welcome mat (with jingle bells along the edges) has cheerfully greeted everyone at the door.  It's been fun to see Michael's Mom's Christmas china in the kitchen cupboards...and on the table throughout the season.

     But there always comes a time when cozy charm morphs into aggravating clutter!

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     Michael was ready to take it all down on the 30th, but I was still enjoying it.  (And not yet in the mood to tackle the project of putting it all away.)

     On the 31st I noticed it seemed to be getting a little bit stale.  By the morning of the 1st...it had to go.  

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    We've pretty much perfected getting it all out.  There are already little nails under the railing on the stairs where the garland swag gets tacked.  There are hooks in a baggie on the garland we use on the mantel.  I know exactly where our regular china goes in the boxes.  We're a well-oiled machine when it comes to putting out Christmas....and I noticed this year that we're even faster at putting it all away.  Or maybe we felt extra-motivated this year.

   





      I usually say that I love to see it all put out...and I love to see it go, but this year I think the 'seeing it go' part was the more satisfying of the two.

     Ahhhh..the thrill of empty table tops!  It feels like hitting the 'Reset' button; clearing the decks for a new year. 

    The holiday build-up of clutter just makes the January clear-out that much more dramatic.  

  

     It's like the squiggles of the messy Etch-O-Sketch drawing just got shaken up and we now have a pristine place to draw the future.

     Here's to fresh beginnings!

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"To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year."

-E.  B. White

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Not going to lie:  I would prefer if Alexa would do this chore.