A first

Today, as a first for me, I am borrowing some questions from the Wednesday Hodge Podge hosted by Joyce from From This Side of the Pond.  Today's theme is holiday decorating, most apropos.

1. a) Let's talk holiday decorating. On a scale of 1-10 where do you fall? (1=Scrooge and 10= Clark Griswold).

I guess I would probably give myself a 5 or a 6.  I love to decorate, but I don't decorate every corner.  And I try to keep it tasteful.
   
b)What's your favorite corner-room-table-space to decorate? Is it done?

 I'd have to say my hutch.  There's a picture at the top of the post, but the hutch is very likely to be tweaked when the Christmas decorations come out of the attic.

2. Is there a nativity scene in your decorating somewhere? Post a picture or, if it's special to you in some way, tell us why. Or do both-it's Christmas!

Yes, I mentioned this in a recent post.  My dad made the wooden stable and that's why it is so very special to us.  Thankfully, he also made them for married grandkids, so my grands get to see them every Christmas.

3. Do you live in a social neighborhood? If so are you glad? If not do you wish you did?

We don't really socialize with our neighbors, but we do all wave when we see one another, and some of our neighbors will chat if the opportunity arises.  At Christmas we exchange goodies with some of our neighbors -- I make cookies, and our neighbor across the street always brings us sourdough rye bread that he bakes.  It's fantastic.

4. As the saying goes, 'there's no time like the present'. How does that ring true in your life right now?

I need to just jump in and get some cleaning done so I have space to put the wrapped gifts and so that the living room is ready for the Christmas tree.  Then I need to begin wrapping the gifts and also work on obtaining a few gift cards/certificates.

5. Do you dread Mondays? Why or why not?

No, I look forward to Mondays in some ways.  It's a new start to the week, for one thing, and I also look forward to getting the house back in shape after a busy weekend.

6.  Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis-which on the list is your favorite holiday plant? Are any of these on display in your home right now?

Poinsettias are my favorite, though I did have a very small cactus once that bloomed on holidays.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King Day, Valentine's Day -- one year it bloomed on each of these.  I thought of it as a Christmas cactus since we received it in a Christmas gift exchange at church, but as time went on I became more puzzled.  I'm sure Vee could tell me what kind it is.

7. Share a favorite quote from a Christmas movie.

"Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it." My hubby's favorite quote from A Christmas Carol, which we have watched the Muppet version of with our daughter and son-in-law.  It's their Thanksgiving night tradition, I think, or used to be.  My hubby is tickled by this phrase every time he hears it, and often quotes it as he turns off the lights in the evening.  He likes darkness for the same reason Scrooge did: it saves money.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

 This Saturday we'll be taking three of our grandkids on a little outing that we do with them each Christmas season -- out to eat (this year it will be breakfast), then Christmas shopping for their parents and siblings (which we fund) and then to an ice cream sundae buffet.  Always fun times.

At the ice cream shop