Some of the lights at the Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg.

I am someone who celebrates Christmas though in the past few years I have found it more difficult to enjoy than I used to. This year I have been concerned about how I will feel without Mom with us to celebrate. Last year I found myself in a bit of a funk and that was with Mom; I think that Covid had taken it’s toll on my Christmas spirit.

With that in mind, I have launched myself into everything I can do get into the spirit of the season. We picked out a tree at the Anderson Valley Farm Supply on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, though we didn’t put it up in the house for another two weeks. I made a point to go to Elk and then Boonville for the crafts fairs in each town. We drove over the hill to Ukiah to join the Good Farm Fund annual dinner. And just this past weekend we made it to the Botanical Gardens for their Festival of Lights. My sister in law and I also drove to Point Arena the weekend before and visited the crafts fair there as well as driving down to the pier and watching the big rollers come in.

I decided to do as much shopping from local sources as possible and I have met my goal. We spent a day in Fort Bragg and Mendocino, then another day I spent in Ukiah. The next project was wrapping the gifts and I worked on that nearly every day and it is now done, a week ahead of time. I also ordered my cards and they will go out today. I’m feeling pretty good so far.

We also really put an effort into decorating the house this year. In past years I have hardly felt like doing it - some years no one sees the inside of the house but us and so I don’t want the bother. This year we have purposely invited small groups of friends for dinner so that we can share the decorations and feel the joy of the season. The only thing I haven’t done is make the garland I wanted to - and I don’t think I will get to it. But I have the supplies for next year and with the supplies maybe I can get it done early - this year the rains happened to coincide with my free time so I never got any branches cut.

We are heading to my in-laws in Cottonwood this week for a couple of days, then our granddaughter and her parents will be joining us for Christmas and hopefully, a few days after as well. My brother and his family will also be at our house for Christmas dinner, so I am really looking forward to that.

I hope you are able to enjoy the season and any holiday you celebrate. The lights around the towns are very pretty and there’s every excuse to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or hot cider. I wish everyone joy at this time.

Christmas is coming!