Today I finished putting away all the Christmas decorations.  Mainly the tree and a few straggler items.  I had started on Christmas day mainly out of boredom, did a bit more on the 26th and did the tree today.

I am always so excited every year to drag all of that out, meticulously put it all up in just the right spot and then sit back and admire all the splendor.  All of this starts the day after Thanksgiving with the tree following shortly after.  But come Christmas or a few days later, it is all just too much and loses some of the appeal.  I forget to turn the outside lights on, the candles don't get lit that day and I don't see it all the same way.

This year it happened much sooner than normal.  Could be because my family and I are going out of town to see the Grandparents for New Years and the idea of waiting until the 2nd week of January to put it all away was not an option. 

Today I carefully took all the ornaments off the tree, but didn't dwell on each one like I do when I put them on.  I didn't remember back to when they were first bought or given or made.  I didn't tear up looking at the ones my son has made over the years in school which is certainly what happens when they go up.

So for today, I finished that task and my husband, Steve, is so very happy that the house is finally back to normal.  Furniture back in its rightful place, needles swept up and all the Christmas boxes are tucked away until next year when it begins all over again.

May be a few days since we are going out of town tomorrow, so until next time...

The Beginning

I was spending an evening with friends a few months ago talking about everything and nothing and the conversation got around to blogging, or "journaling".  It started my mind on an internal journey of why I have always loved the idea of putting my thoughts to paper,  and will buy the journal, write a few entries and then stop.  I’ve decided to start this blog, mainly so I can gather my thoughts on an array of subjects and hopefully dispel my husband’s nickname for me, “80”.  I start things and then get 80% through or less, get bored and move on to the next one idea, thought, or project. 

I have named this Add a Finishing Touch because for me, that is what truly brings everything together.  Whether it be the icing on a cake, the sprinkles on a cookie, or the decorative ribbon on a package.  It is also what makes me excited to go on to the next thing and maybe will inspire me to "finish".  I am hoping my girl friend goes on this journey with me.  We often share recipes, project ideas, swap items and inspire each other.  I am looking for that to continue here.

I find that we are in so many ways attempting to gain back the things we tried to get away from as children.  We are both from a rural town in Northern California, I had horses, chickens and so forth growing up but yearned for a more “exciting” life.  As we got older we have found ourselves in Southern California and all that goes with it. 

A faster pace, absolutely, not sure if the “excitement” part ever really came to life in the ways we thought they would.   Now with our children mostly grown we are looking for ways to simplify and yet we don’t want to rush out and buy the pre-packaged food, pre-made clothes or fill our homes with the “in” furniture.

I am looking to this blog in hopes that I will finally be able to bake that “perfect” pie.  (Although I have to say, my husband hasn’t minded the many attempts.)  Finish that Christmas Quilt that I started so many years ago.  And learn a few things along the way, both physically and spiritually.

I am sure that the beginning of this will have longer entries than other days as I gather my thoughts and the direction I want to go in that day or week.  As I start though, I am hopeful that this will be the one thing I finish. 

However, in writing that I find myself wondering how I will know when I have.   Will this be 31 days to a [insert word here]?  Or a journey to finding what it is that I am truly passionate about.  As I have often thought, “maybe the reason I haven’t finished a particular task” is because I haven’t found one that holds my attention.    I have realized once I quit that the end is no longer important since I have lost interest part of the way through.

Originally I thought I would start this on 1/1/2012 as a New Year's Resolution, but even that was putting something off, so I am jumping in today and will see where it takes me.

See you tomorrow…