Done

• These last felt nativities bring my total up to eight this season. I’ve gotten a bit faster at them, but each set still takes about five hours. I’m looking forward to making something else now.

Plan To Do

• I still haven’t started a handmade gift for Newt. I’m thinking of felting her a Princess Leia – if I can bear to pick up my needles and roving one more time before Christmas.
• I have plans to take Newt out to buy her Dad a gift. I did 99% of my shopping online this year; it should be fun to go on a shopping date with my girl.
• The turkey that I didn’t cook for Thanksgiving is defrosting in the fridge. We’ve invited Grandma to sleep over on Christmas Eve. After church on Christmas morning, we’ll open our gifts and then I’ll get cooking (the meal, not Grandma).

Cross your fingers for this:

Not this:

Not Going To Do (and I don’t feel even a bit of guilt)
I feel like I got a late start this year, so there were some things I just didn’t get around to doing.

• I didn’t send cards this year, though I do have a letter half written. Maybe I’ll send it for Valentine’s.
• I didn’t bake a thing, but I’m okay with that. Besides, I think Newt will have all the baking buttoned up for us this week. She’s making cookies at a 4H workshop this afternoon and fudge or peanut-brittle with some friends later in the week.

I can live with no baby Elvis in the manger this year.

I’m feeling the need to draw inward for a bit. To spend some time at my home and hearth, enjoying my family.

Things will likely be quieter around here for the rest of the year. Not completely silent, mind you: I have plans to share a recipe tomorrow and a book review sometime next week, but if I’m not here every day, don’t worry. I’ll just be alternating between lounging around and making merry with my two favorite people:

That reminds me of one more thing I didn’t do this year: family photos. This one will have to do. Newt is actually about that tall now anyway, without having to stand on a chair.

Just in case I don’t get around to saying it: I hope that your Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanza, Solstice and/or Festivus) is very merry and that you are surrounded by those that you love.
I also hope that if you have a chance to wear a fake mustache, you embrace it wholeheartedly.