American poet Robert Frost once wrote that, “You can’t get too much winter in the winter.” And the same seems to go for holidays. Whether it’s spending six hours periodically basting a slow-roasting turkey or attaching twinkling fairy lights to the exterior of your home, holiday chores are seemingly endless.
Adding insult to injury is the shape of your home itself. How can you get ready for the winter holidays when piles of autumnal leaves and summer toys still litter the yard? Perhaps spring and summer rains have caused the paint to peel. You really can’t afford to let that go through winter precipitation as well.
Even if you don’t plan to have guests over, your neighbors won’t want to spend another winter looking at the shabby state of your home. And if you do plan to have guests over, then you won’t want to welcome them into a dusty, cluttered environment. Fortunately there are some easy steps you can take to prepare your home for the holidays.
After a few years of waiting too late to begin preparing for the holidays, last year my wife and I decided to start early. After making a list and checking it twice, we categorized the items according to priority. Here are some of the things that couldn’t wait.
My wife is as crafty as she is thrifty. One of the most admired decorations throughout our home is a piece of twine that hangs from one end of the fireplace mantle to the other. As the holiday cards begin arriving, she hangs them on the twine with alternating red and green clothespins. It’s simple yet meaningful, and our family and friends always enjoy seeing the card they sent us hanging with the rest.
On the other hand, another family member bakes an assortment of cookies to prepare for the holiday. She piles them onto a heavy crystal cake plate and keeps it covered with the cut glass top. It stays on a holiday-themed placemat at one end of her countertop where guests can easily help themselves to a delicious snack. It is a thrifty yet priceless gift to all who visit her.
Are you prepared for the weather? At the very minimum, you should have spare flashlights and batteries, an emergency radio, a first aid kit, and candles in a place that’s easy to reach if the power goes out during the night. It’s also a good idea to keep some non-perishable goods and bottled water on hand in case it takes the utility company more than a few hours to restore service. If all else fails, you can roast marshmallows in the fireplace and make some delicious s’mores.
Mark Harris is a freelance writer who works from home. When he and his wife decided to update the window treatments of their home, they visited www.sunbeltshutters.com for the latest information about using interior shutters in place of other types of shades. When he isn’t working, Mark prefers being outdoors where he can participate in activities like hiking or kayaking.
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Tags: Holiday home decor, home cleanup, home maintenance, home organization
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