Christmas has exploded
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
If you decide to pop by the Hodge Household in the next few days make sure and wear some light but effective overall body protection. Christmas has exploded at the Hodge household. I’m talking big time deck the halls exploded.
I could not be happier.
Tez and I are in our ultimate element.
It would be silly to pretend we are embarrassed or concerned with the Christmas clutter strewed about the house like non-controlled apple strudel. There are literally mounds of lights tumbling out of several cardboard boxes waiting to be introduced to the numerous large Christmas bags heaping with garlands and tree branches. Sparkling, flashing, coloured lights of all shapes and size (star shapes, oval, pear like, spiral…) quiver and vibrate with beauty and holiday enthusiasm.
Soon those cheerful, thrilling, bedazzled lights will be satisfied with a comfortable place to call home for the holidays. They will not have to look far as all around this living room space is being cleared for the Christmas invasion. Away with the standard home décor of boring pillows, traditional coffee tables covered with family pics (that no one sees), and calm coordinated end tables and bookshelves once again boringly adorned with books and materials that no one really looks at. Instead, make room for the candles, pinecones, branches, Christmas bows, hanging cards, snowmen…
Our first major tree is already standing in the living room upstairs, alas only one set of lights on at this point, but it trembles in anticipation of playing host to more pulsating orbs of warmth and glitter. That will occur once the second (old beat-up and smaller) tree is set up in the downstairs hockey room (tiny den) and I’ve covered it in lights. Leftovers and extras return back upstairs. Then the real fun begins.
In truth that is when we are happiest. The moment we put our hands on some of our favourite Christmas baubles and pick that ‘perfect’ spot for each memento on the trees. Each single decoration carries an individual valued tale or historical memory and with the placement of the item comes the tradition of either verbally announcing or mentally acknowledging history. The tree collection of baubles is bountiful and varied from the new shiny ‘light-up’ one received last year to the oldest grey and withered item that was on Grandma’s tree that I remember as a child. (Every year it is one of the last lovingly tucked away in the bauble box and one of the first carefully set free for the new festive flaunting). So many tree trinkets, so many reminders of friends and family.
Then there comes tinsel (depending on your home cat count) and perhaps candy canes and bows feeling bullied by screaming additional tree garland for a place to hang. Literally.
Somewhere in the living room there is a potential wall where I can tie a ribbon and then drape received Christmas cards to display.
Of course the real challenge is finding a corner amidst the already demanded space for my tradition homemade Christmas village display. It always looks amateur, but everyone politely lies and tells me how cute and terrific it is. Friends humour me each year by buying more ‘village’ components that are either out of scale or repeat pieces but, hey, it’s the thought that counts.
About the only thing we do not do together is shopping for each other’s gifts or wrapping presents. I wrap almost all the gifts for family or friends. In fact I have even wrapped my own after Tez conned me by suggesting the item was for son Arthur.
These are all parts of the traditions that make the next month at the Hodge House so much joy, and we are huge on both tradition and memories. Tez and I are the perfect decorating duo.
She has her favourite things to do which she excels at and I have a few passions which I can hang my hat on. I’m good with fine tuning trees, Tez is good with cookie sheets.
My God is she good with cookie sheets (and pie shells, tart shells…). She kicked the baking dust off last week with an apple pie. She liked the two pieces I left her, lol. I told her it was good.
Already – and she is only rolling the dough- the house is starting to smell like Christmas. She has spent the last few weeks warming up with baking bread and making apple sauce, and apple butter – so she’s primed for crafting the always desired favourite shortbread, sugar cookies and perhaps mincemeat tarts.
Right now, as I am unravelling a plethora of cardboard boxes and plastic storage containers around, the delicious smells of gingerbread are floating into the living room.
I will soon start searching out our holiday season record collection.
Tomorrow we will hopefully create time to write some cards (and actually get around to mail them).
Our evening is winding down now. It’s time to prepare a large container of home-made non-alcoholic apple cider. We will set out a smaller container of cider for tonight, however there is a very thirsty sized Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum right next to it.
If you wish to pop in, then do so. Just make sure you wear a helmet and/or shin pads. Christmas is waiting!
Merry Christmas already!
