2016 Begins

Isn't a fresh start just grand?  Nothing like a new year to take stock, reorganize and begin again.

In 2015 I had a small calendar for keeping track of  my appointments and my volunteers.  I have to have a paper calendar to record my docents' shifts at the museum.  The iPhone calendar is great but I am on my phone while scheduling so that doesn't work for me.  For 2015 I found my planner at Micheals in the dollar (actually two or three dollars) section.  There were so many choices of covers, it was $1.50 and perfect.  Of course, they didn't have them for 2016.

Oh the angst!  The searching!

I found a small 2016 planner at our new bookstore in Lynden, Village Books.  It was closer to twenty dollars than one dollar.  Not a spiral, not inexpensive but it has the correct layout, pretty art between the months,  a magnet clasp to keep it closed and a ribbon bookmark.  I shall carry on with it for the year.  It is something I use daily and all year so in my mind it's a big deal.

 I picked up a new address book in Seattle.  My address book was getting to be a mess.  If only my family and friends could stay at one address.  Forever.  And please don't die either.

Many do not cooperate and so a new book was purchased, addresses filled in alphabetically using pencil.  A pencil for the movers!

 The artwork in my planner and my address book is eye pleasing which made the chore of getting everything filled in a joy.  All those blank pages and a sharp pencil make me a happy organizer.

 On Saturday I took all Christmas decor out of the attic.  I swept and tidied the attic and then began going through my Christmas collection. This was before I began taking any of the Christmas decorations down for the year.  I worked all day, sorting, cleaning, and organizing.  At the end of the day I still had three trees up.

 I'd like to do some crafting with extra ornaments and other bits and bobs in 2016.  I do believe if things are organized that I cannot really be  called a hoarder.  First and foremost, don't judge me.  Secondly, I have some cool junk. And thirdly, I have some cool junk that I didn't know I had. Sometimes when you have a large collection it is possible to forget what you own.  Remember, don't judge me.  And lastly, I love vintage Christmas and I will not stop the procurement of vintage Christmas.  Even after a long and messy day.

 On Sunday Hubby and I spent the day together in town. We stopped by Franny's sale, and wandered through Penny Lane where I did indeed find something that I didn't have in my collection.

A Crystal Pine Tree with all of the pieces in the original box and it was 75% off. Whoa!

So, it's obvious that I can't or won't stop collecting vintage Christmas.  Not even a day of cleaning, organizing and taking inventory will slow me down.  It just makes me love it more.

 We watched the first half of the Seahawks game at Red Robin while enjoying lunch.  Then it was home for a last lay about before the Christmas season ended at 5:30 a.m. this morning.

It was a wonderful ending to the holiday season with a Seahawks victory and Downton Abbey season premier.  It was a blissful Sunday afternoon and evening including some snow showers.
2016!  Here I come, rested and organized...