The last bits of Christmas

We're on the last leg today. The tree is gone, the ornaments careful nestled into tissue and to their nooks and crannies in boxes. Today the house lights will come down* and I'll finally gather and sort all the things that need to be in the big gift wrap box and away it will go until next year. (Perhaps next year I'll share all the things I love gathering for gift wrapping purposes.)

I love beautiful ribbon and well considered wrapping and tags. This year I found the most beautiful tags at Blossom & Twig on Etsy.

These:

This pretty red bird,


















and this fellow with his crown. 









Oh! And these three:

Pears

God Bless Us

Stickers

I purchased a few for next year and look forward to using them. When they arrived in the crafted envelope I was excited and even more excited to find such gracious packaging inside -- I felt like I'd received a gift rather than receiving a purchase.

So before the Lovely Season of Christmas, it's joy, it's busyness and the brilliant Spirit we celebrate is behind us, I say go and gather for next year.

Me? I shall do as Charles Dickens and "honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."




*My neighbor John, who left for Thailand with friends with his Christmas lights on a timer and doesn't come home until Monday will win the leaving-the-lights-on-longest competition this year!

More Randomness - Ahh Spring.

I awoke this morning to heaps of cool air pouring over the open bedroom transom window and down onto my exposed feet. I quickly got up, covered up and then pokes a foot back out to soak it up. I love nothing more than a cold, white pillow case against my face. And apparently, a little breeze on the toes too. Ahh, Spring.

I was also met by the brilliant waft of Freesia fragrance, from the Freesia gracing my dining table and sending the "come breathe, slowly, deeply" message my way. Mine are long gone. These are white and light, light lavender. Big, huge Freesia. They were the one purchase I allowed myself to decorate the Easter table. (I have a box full of darling Easter specials to reuse, reuse, reuse.) But, I may just go right back to that overpriced market and buy another bunch. Ahh Spring.