December has arrived, and with it the craziness of the Holiday season. I’ve decorated This Old House for the first time in the spirit of Christmas, but I wish I could tell you I was feeling more of the joy. With the passing of the “Thankful” holiday, while there is much I am grateful for, the flip side are the worrysome issues that remain. Their weight is heavy, I’m finding they don’t mingle well with this time of shopping, spending and our tendency towards overindulgence.
Mike’s proffession in particular has taken a hard hit in this down-turn of the economy. Along with us there are many subcontractors, craftsmen and laborers who are out of work or watching their business of 30 years dwindle and in some cases, close up entirely. Homes are being lost to the bank, life savings and retirement funds being used up for today’s survival, mom and pop stores closing for good. (our artisan shop among them). There are family and friends struggling with health issues and money woes and relationship crisis and we are not immune. As for the job market, which I am scouring daily, it’s currently a dismal landscape.
In the news this week is the story of a deranged father who has “displaced” his three sons after attempting suicide and admitting himself to a hospital. He will not say where they are…what an a**. The police are not hopeful. I keep thinking of what the boys’ poor mother is going through, you’de have to shoot me to end the insanity. I am praying they will find those boys alive and give her back her life.
As for the state of this country’s affairs. I’m not even going there. I’ve decided to avoid the news all together because there is surely not much I can do in my little corner of the universe to fix any of that.
SO… in an attempt to create an escape for my family and myself, I have decorated just about EVERYTHING that stands still in This Old House. If you’re idle for more than a few minutes around here, you’re in danger of the same fate.
I was touched by your post. My heart breaks for those that are less fortunate during the holidays when they have so little for themselves, much less to give.
I will say that you decorated This Old House fabulously and it gave me the opportunity to just see how beautiful and warm your home is. Maybe I missed a post with the grand tour. In any event, I am in love! And your festive decorations make it all the more cozy! So nicely done, Karen!
Happy holidays!
XO,
Jane
Oh Karen–such a warm and welcoming home you have! We know about downturns, using up our retirement, living on credit cards until they ran out (now paying back) and illness. But I love this season. I love the music. I love the decorations. I love the secret packages. I love the cookies and the good smells. And I love your pictures! So here's to you and yours and to friends who keep you close in their hearts! xo Cait
Beautiful post and home.
Your decorations are beautiful! I haven't put any up yet…feeling a little scroogey this year. I think tomorrow we'll decorate an outside tree to try to get into the spirit.
Your photos are simply phenomenal! On a more sedate note, it is incredibly sad, about those boys. I feel so bad for them. Life can be so incredibly cruel. No one is immune in this economy. I think everyone is about one paycheck short of disaster these days. All the more reason to fill our homes with cheer. Because we are all lucky to have the roofs over our head.
Brenda
Karen, your whole home is beautiful and now looks even more warm and inviting for the holidays and cold weather. We had to tell our kids that we just don't have the money to spend this year either. It's funny we see things getting better around here, very slowly of course, but yet our income has dwindled. My husband is on the banking side of this issue and he has had do many builders go belly up. They paid till they had no more to pay. The bank he runs does deal mostly with new construction loans and those have not existed for two years. He has had no bonus (which are no way like the guys on wall street, I wish) for three years now and no raise. He also took a ten percent pay cut this year to just do everything possible to keep the bank afloat. So many have gone down and many friends of ours are unemployed because of it. I hope things change quicker than they are. Building has slowly started back here. I know people are mad at the banks, but they have no control. The FDIC has so many new rules and they have made it harder and harder for the banks to do anything. BTW, my husband works for a small community bank not the big boys. O.K. I have ranted enough.
It is hard sometimes to keep up the season's cheer. Just looking at all the warm rooms in your house is a great way to help.
BTW – I've been unemployed for 1.5 years! It's hard living with so much rejection week after week. I'm rethinking my career path. 🙁
I've thought so much about those three little boys; it breaks my heart. Your home looks so beautiful, Karen. You have a gift, for sure. ((hugs))
I have thought about those little boys too…what is wrong with people today. It's just awful! My heart breaks for those suffering this holiday season. This was a beautiful and heartfelt post, Karen. I will keep you in my prayers.
Your house is stunning! What a beautiful job you have done!!!
The house looks lovely! I, myself have given into the magic of the season and am choosing to spend time with those who I love and who have supported us during this difficult year. Time is free…however to us it is the greatest gift we have. May the New Year bring you many blessings my friend!
Loved, Loved, Loved your house tour. It's all so beautiful!
I on the other hand still have my fall wreaths up. Oh do I need to get with it!
A lot of people here are really struggling too. : (
I love all the decorations you have though. Everything looks beautiful and warm and inviting.
Thank you for sharing your home and your thoughts with us like this…both are absolutely beautiful.
I hope you are looking for work in the area of interior design…you excell at it!