Holiday Gifts – TIME!

Every year this time I overcommit. Every year. Without fail. This year I was convinced I would do things differently. After all, I am not working for a corporation, I am not commuting 2 1/2 hours by plane each week, my family is doing okay, and my only travel plans are post holiday to sunshine. One would think all those things would lead to oodles of time to leisurely bake cookies, trim trees, cook scrumptious dinners, and make everyone’s gift with weaving or knitting – preferably with my handspun yarn.  After all, Martha does it – well, she makes liberal use of a glue gun, but still…

So, here I sit, with my dog disemboweling his latest toy, carols on the iPod, and let’s just say I have realized sooner than usual that all of these things are not going to happen.  And I am okay with it.  I feel totally relaxed.

First, most of those cookies really don’t get eaten.  I used to make dozens of fancy cookies – baking for 3 days straight which became more and more stressful as the rest of my life became more and more demanding. This year, I might make two or three types (our traditional favorites – chocolate chip, something called a Bassler, and rum balls).  These are only ones that actually get consumed. Looks like I won’t need to break down and buy that extra bowl for my mixer either.

Second, all those big dinners don’t really need to happen – I never get to spend time with my guests if I am cooking.  So I have planned 3 or 4 make-ahead casseroles and invited my guests to contribute something they like to make. My guess is that no one will miss the turkey or roast beef and I will enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

And last but not least, I have had time to knit and weave up a storm and enjoy it. My latest set of towels looks pretty dang nice despite using some old knitting yarn I had given up on long ago. What is especially fun is that I just tied them on to the previous warp. The colors are cheerful and bright – and not the slightest holiday colored. My handspinning is coming along nicely too, if a little more slowly than I had hoped. I have even knit a hat or 5 (including a few of the fun Cat Bordhi Anemone hats) – 3 for presents! So a few people are getting handknit, handwoven, maybe even handspun gifts. (I do have one more big knit on needles – but a week and a half is a long time, isn’t it?)

I think the real difference this year is, despite making the big plans, I don’t seem to be letting them get in the way of having a glorious holiday. I am spending my time, but I seem to be doing it more wisely. Toby and a tennis ball beats Martha and a glue gun any day.  Happy holidays.