A Return to Normalcy

The normalcy is Christmas -- it's gone. Banished to the basement. At least for the first eleven months of 2011!

It's a chore but much less so than it once was for the greens go in a trash bag and do not have to be stored in a bin and that bin taken to the basement!

After the "glitz" of Christmas with greens and lights and reds and greens, I like the simpler look of January. It seems refreshing. Probably what the Arts and Crafters thought after the over abundance of the Victorian era!

The table at the bottom of the stairs with poinsettia gone and plant returned to it's "rightful" place!
The living room mantle with no greens or pinecones -- but the addition of two new pieces of Oriental soapstone -- big pieces! Alas, not Christmas presents but rather a find on New Year's Eve when we went to the city to some of our favorite haunts. They were a steal of a deal -- reasonably priced to begin with but then they were half off!!!

The poinsettias are gone from the dining room table and the blue and white bowl stands empty -- awaiting a dinner party and a flower arrangement!

The only bit of Christmas left -- the red carnations that were the centerpieces for luncheons the week before Christmas and the centerpiece for Christmas dinner itself. Gone are the wee trees and the paperwhites now have pride of place on the sideboard. They're budding and I've two more pots to start tomorrow -- January and February are paperwhite months at Linderhof!

I so enjoy decorating for Christmas -- getting out the old things and adding greens to mantles and bowls. But I also enjoy January and the sparseness that happens because all of Christmas is gone.

And with the sparseness of January comes cleaning -- from basement to attic and all closets, cabinets and drawers.

It's almost a month long project but when it's done and everything is clean and everything is tidy, there is such a sense of accomplishment.

The house smells of vinegar and wax and lemon and just clean!

I'm starting tomorrow -- in the basement!!!!

Since putting up decorations qualifies as a Met Monday, taking down decorations does as well. Please join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see other metamorphosis this Monday!