In the absence of anything profound (or even coherent) to post today, I'm going with the annual holiday meme. It's been all over the blogisphere, but I snagged this one at Knitorious. (Thanks, Vicki.)
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? In general, wrapping paper, but his year we are using mostly recyclable boxes.
2. Real tree or artificial? This year, fake. We've done both.
3. When do you put up the tree? Day after Thanksgiving, or that general weekend.
4. When do you take the tree down? Once upon a time I used to leave it up until Epiphany which also happens to be my sister's birthday, but now we usually dismantle around the new year.
5. Do you like eggnog? The polite answer is,"no thank you". (bleck)
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Ice skates. We generally spent my birthday (the 26th) up north and I lived to ice skate on the frozen lake. Not that I'm any good, it was just fun.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Amazing Husband, no question. Thank goodness for Amazon Wish List.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Youngest daughter, Kysa. She's pretty diverse in her tastes and always makes a very specific list. Always has. :-)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope. We did when I was a child. I remember we had one cat that would push all the cast of characters out and sleep in the manger. Poor baby Jesus, still no room for a bed.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Cards. Love them.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't remember a specific thing, but I had a beloved aunt (she passed this year) who consistently sent me the worst gifts ever, bless her heart. It become a sort of celebratory moment for the family when I opened her gifts, each one worst than it's predecessor. She really did try.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Wow. Maybe "Elf". "Love Actually" is a good one.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I try to have a plan before Thanksgiving, but we draw names for two families and we don't find out who our person is until Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Oh gosh no. Never.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My ex-husband's mother used to make pepparkakor that were to die for. I miss them much more than I miss my ex. (whom I do not miss at all.)
16. Lights on the tree? Color, color, color, color and more color. LOVE the colored lights. They make me happy, happy. I have them in every room and outside.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh goodness, there are so many. I adore "In the Bleak Midwinter". I'm particularly drawn to the more melodic songs that make you feel calm and blessed. Not so much love for "Jingle Bells" or "Frosty". Anything Windham Hill has produced is high on my list and Shawn Colvins Holiday Songs and Lullabies is my all time favorite holiday album.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home and happy to be there.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Nope. I can sing the Preamble, though.
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning. We do breakfast at our house so the kids can get off to visit other family members.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Nothing of any import.
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have these little porcelain birds and bunnies that clip on to a tree branch over a light. My mother passed them down to me and I will do the same for my children if they want them.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? A Blackberry, a new Ipod, WORLD PEACE. The usual stuff. Mostly I just want everyone to have a good, memory making day.
24. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. A smultzy white star with multi color lights.
25. Favorite Christmas dinner? We always do breakfast and in general, it's Swedish pancakes. This year we are teaching the kids how to make them. By noon everyone is gone and the party is over. Honestly, my favorite dinner is always anything I don't have to clean up after.