Pattern writing on a rainy day

Is it rain or is it snow? It is a mix tumbling down outside the window. I don't have any desire to go out in this weather and although I've started a new health regime where I challenge myself to get outside at least 30 minutes a day, I think today will be one of my resting days this week. Instead I have dug into writing out one of many patterns that has been neglected for too long. One promise I have made to myself is to finish all my patterns and projects I've started through the years. I want to become a Doer and not just a Starter.

It is nice to sit here inside in the warmth with a hot coffee and new baked gingerbread loaf as a snack. I listen to Swedish Radio and I can almost believe I am in Sweden for the moment. The language is comforting, even the traffic reports with its jingle feels like home. I think that no matter how many years I will live my life in another country, I will always remain Swedish in my heart.

Well, lets finish this pattern. Text editing today, step-by-step photos tomorrow. If the light allows. In winter it is always about the light. Searching it. Finding it. Chasing it. Catching it.

PS I would like to THANK YOU all for your precious comments on yesterday's post. Yesterday was a very dark day and hearing your advice and stories about how to handle this tragedy has been very helpful. Even though I couldn't be there at the ceremony, I will write my friend a letter and be there for her whenever she needs me. I might be of better use as a friend in a few weeks from now when shock and turbulence of all the practical actions has ended. So THANK YOU, for helping me. Guiding me. Listening to me. And just being there.

Kärlek
Annette

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Loss...

Today I'm lighting a candle for a dear friend and previous colleague. Last week she abruptly lost her son in an accident. He was in his thirties, fell on the mountain and hit his head. The last thing I heard was that he has donated organs to 4 people or even more.

I don't know exactly what happened but am distraught by the thought of the pain that my friend is going through. The loss of a child is every mother's biggest fear, correct me if I'm wrong. When my thoughts wander there, I quickly cut them off. I don't even want to go there in my mind. I have cried. I have felt helpless. What can I do as a friend, I wonder? What do I say? How can anyone comfort someone in such deep grief?

Today there is a funeral. My other friends will be there. I've chosen to not go. Partly because I have some important obligations but also because I'm not sure I can handle to see a mother fall apart when saying goodbye to her grown up son. I'm a very sensitive person. Emotional. It might be overwhelming to see... I'm scared of what a scenario like that would awaken in me.

My dear friend is a lively woman. Full of laughter, cheekiness and energy. She pretty much laughs all the time. I just hope and pray that she won't loose that ability now when a huge part of her heart is taken away by this terrible accident. Her son grew up with this wonderful woman and I believe that he would want her to continue to spread happiness and joy around her. I hope her light hasn't died with him.

One day I hope she can find comfort in the thought that she gave her son a good life, a good upbringing and lots of love a laughter. Maybe more than the average mother gives. Because of her cheerful personality. He was a lucky boy having her as a mother.

Today I'm lighting a candle for a much beloved man and son, for a family in deep grief and for anyone else who suffers from the pain of loosing someone dear. Lets take a minute and be grateful for all the things we do have in life. Things we should never ever take for granted.

Kärlek
Annette

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How to organize your Christmas clean up

If I could choose I would probably tidy up Christmas as soon as all gifts are unwrapped. Throw it all into boxes in rapid pace and run maniac with the vacuum cleaner and dust rug in hand. But as everyone else in my family really loves the Christmas decorations, I leave them out for a while longer. And I have learned to like having Christmas for a while into January.

I find the build up phase of Christmas being my favorite part. Taking out the decorations step by step, one box at the time each advent. And as I'm not allowed to take it all down at once, this has also become my procedure when putting it all away. One thing at the time...

This weekend I took away all the bloomed out flowers, the advent chandeliers, the winter village and the shelf decorations. I take my time sorting and packaging it all in a structured way to make it easy for us to get started next Christmas. Dividing it all into Christmas Box #1, Christmas Box #2 etc... Because I know what it is like when first of advent is around the corner and the kids get eager to get it ALL out at once. Being proactive and a bit organized when packing it all away will help next year when I simply can tell the them, without feeling stressed:
"YES! Go ahead. You can take down Christmas Box #1. Lets do it!".

Because we all are a bit stressed around Christmas. We want to do so much, fix so much, decorate so much bake so much, indulge so much, socialize so much, craft so much... You get it. We want it to be perfect and it can just become a bit to much at times. To organize the decorations in boxes is a great way to reduce Christmas stress for next year, like this:

Christmas Box #1

In the first of all my Christmas boxes I put my beloved window stars, the advent chandeliers with their moss and mushrooms, the winter village houses and people and the shelf decorations.
Because these are the things that will be taken out FIRST next year.

Christmas Box #2

Here I put my Christmas wreath and outdoor decoration supplies, the curtain pole decorations and wall hangings, cookie tins and boxes, Christmas flower pots for flower arrangements and doilies.

The last Christmas Box

In the last box goes tree decorations and lights together with Christmas stockings, as those things
are the LAST ones to get out in our house. Usually just a week before Christmas itself. 

Packing up tip
I use old shoe boxes, glass jars and zip lock bags to store all the small things inside the bigger boxes. I label my boxes and carefully wrap all decorations of delicate nature in bubble wrap or gift tissue paper recycled from unwrapping gifts.

I have more than three Christmas boxes (!!! You don't want to know how many!!!) but at least this gives you an idea of how I'm organizing myself. And now I'm enjoying doing the Christmas clean up. Without stress and pressure. One thing at the time. My stars will stay up a bit longer as well as the curtain pole decorations, probably all the way to February. Just because we love them so much. But the rest will go into safe rest in a Christmas Box until next year.

How do you clean up after Christmas and organize your things? Please share. It's always fun to swap ideas and make improvements when organizing, isn't it? That is why the organizing chapter in the IKEA catalogue is proven to be the most thumbed part, right?

Kärlek
Annette

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