Undecorating for the New Year

When do you put away the holiday decorations? I know, Epiphany. But yet, the tree is starting to drop needles, and Epiphany occurs on a Thursday this year, smack in the middle of a work week. I have the tree lit up this morning, enjoying the twinkle and sparkle of it for another day or so-- I will be undecorating tomorrow, while bread rises. It's time to re-establish the rhythm of busy-ness, I guess. I will leave the window candles until the batteries fade completely, and the wreath will stay on the door a little longer as well. All the excitement and preparation for the holidays leaves me a little tired, but it's worth it. The undoing of all the glitter and glamour takes a lot less time, a lot less thought and preparation. It's a stow-and-go affair. And it's both sad and satisfying. 

We don't decorate for Valentine's Day, or St. Patrick's Day, so the house will be boringly normal for quite a stretch of time. I don't even do much about decorating for Easter (though last year I did buy a light up Easter egg swag-- and no, I do not put it on "blink"-- that was terrifying when I tried it). I don't decorate a lot, actually, come to think of it. Not even for Independence day-- I don't festoon my home in patriotic draperies. I have a small welcome flag by the front door that I change with the seasons; that tends to be my nod to decorating, I guess. 

As Holly gets a little older, though, I suspect my decorating will take a turn: construction paper hearts and paper chains, hand-print turkeys and so on. I am really looking forward to it. Celebrating with a small one who is experiencing it all for the first time is so much more fun. 

Happy undecorating, folks! I think it makes a lot of sense to enter the new year with a clean house, anyhow. It's symbolic and good housekeeping. For today, though, I'm still enjoying the sparkle.

Take care,

C