looking for light

 One thing I did this weekend was decorate for Christmas. Yes, a week earlier than I sometimes do, but this week ahead is going to be tough (three evening meetings) and I want to leave Saturday open to do a little Christmas shopping.

I admit, I almost didn't do it. I got in A Mood, which I do pretty easily these days, and said "why even bother? everything is bad, there's no comfort or joy in the world, I don't have time, I'll just have to take it all down in January" but then I decided I'd feel sad if I didn't, and better I do it on Saturday afternoon/evening then stay up too late some weeknight. 

First thing I did was change out the lights over the door and over the main windows. This took going up on the step stool so I also changed the furnace filter (the holder is in the ceiling) and flipped the calendar over to November.

The ones that look like a continuous line of yellow are the white lights, against the other colors I guess they look yellow. 

I also put up the snowflake lights. I like these but MAN do they tangle because of the little arms on the snowflakes

they also have a blinking function but they all blink in unison and it's a little too "shop advertising" feeling so I am leaving them on continuous-on

I put up the tree, too. It's harder with a knee that intermittently hurts but I did it. I might not have put as many ornaments up high as I did in the past, up on the step stool at one point I thought "it would be about the stupidest way ever to get seriously injured by falling off a stepladder doing something that was literally unnecessary"

But that, I also got done, and got the old favorite ornaments on. 

I did have two that broke while being stored - the pink toyshop (that one hurt a little, I remember finding it in the "before times" at one of the antique shops. It wasn't valuable - it was probably from the 80s at the earliest - but I liked it and it still made me sad). I also lost one of the faux-Scandinavian style ones but I had another like it. But I hate how stuff breaks or wears out and even if you're careful bad things can happen.

This is the view from my recliner, where I spend a lot of time in my living room

And the front of the tree. You can see I have a lot of "figural" ornaments

And more ornaments:

In the past, I used to regularly buy a new (or new to me) ornament or two. I hadn't for a couple years (pandemic, plus just.....didn't get out as much to do the antique shop circuit). 

I ordered one this year from an artist who does them 

Bernard and Bianca! One of the first movies I remember seeing in the theater (and the first I remember really liking a lot) was the original Rescuers. So it's nice to have this - it's just flat, painted wood, but it's nice. 

I guess it makes me feel a little better having the tree up. I'm hoping when I can finally relax (Thursday) I'll be able to enjoy it more.