Usually I've started by now. Last year I took day after Thanksgiving and the whole following week off as a vacation and did everything. I'd love to have a real tree, but I'd forget to water it, so I have a nice looking artificial one-- it's safer that way. I cut some branches from my holly bushes and my pine tree outside and bring them in. And I found out last year that there's a guy at the farmers' market that has fresh mistletoe. I wrap it in netting so the the berries won't fall to the floor where the cats could get them.

This year I'm having some remodeling done, so I can't start decorating yet. I'll get my Christmas cards in the mail this week. I don't bake as much as I used to-- the kitchen in this house is a lot smaller than the old house. I found a bakery that makes Springerles. I used make them myself, but they're supposed to dry overnight, and I don't have a place where I could lay them out without the cats getting into them.