Around the Cottage in Janurary

This Christmas season, I had my halls decked extremely early, and when the holiday passed, I was ready to say toodle-doo to what all of a sudden felt  like clutter.  So, on the 26th, the marathon pack up began.  Surprisingly, the tear down goes pretty fast. I have to be very organized to make soooooo many things fit into one closet under the stairs. 

And it did fit! I had my doubts because I had added some decor to my previous years' stash.

As glad as I am to streamline in January, I can't bear to put it all away at once, and always leave a bit out. Like the angel wings mounted on burlap over my bluebird and roses paintings.  They will stay up through Valentines.  And over the windows in the grand fairies' craft nook, I have frosted branches and white lights.  To me, those are considered "winter decorations."

And it has been TOO COLD to put away the outdoor stuff.  

This girl doesn't seem to feel the cold.  It has been hard to convince her to come in when it snows.  Although, right now, it seems hard to convince her of anything. She has developed a stubborn streak.  Sugar has been the most perfect pup I've ever had the joy to work with. So, I think I took  her good behavior for granted and stopped working with her.  She got into some bad habits and we are back on a training schedule again.  

She is only 8 months old, and I have to remember she will be a puppy for at  least another year, even tho she is such a big girl now.

This big girl isn't ready to complete give up on our Christmas cocoa parties in front of the tree. I miss them too, but have to limit them to December while the tree is up and sparkling, to keep them special.  But they are hard to give up on cold turkey! So we have been having some tea parties with our favorite dolls as a transition into January.

The girls, as well as I, have a very hard time going from so many fun holiday activities to "real life."  We are already on the countdown to December 2018!

Having a special Valentine party to look forward to helps. If you'd like to come too, please check out the details on my previous post.