O Christmas Tree

          It’s no secret--  I go a little gaga over Christmas.  I’m not one of those “Wait until December” folks who cannot imagine buying gifts until then; I buy them all year and tuck them away.  I start humming Christmas songs at the first snap of cold weather, and yes, I decorate as soon as the last bit of Thanksgiving gravy is gulped down.  Sometimes sooner.  This is our Christmas tree this year:

          Okay, I do not want to be on Santa’s naughty list, so I will tell the truth: It’s just one of my trees.  Here’s a tabletop one:

          Here’s a kitchen one:

And here’s the dining room one:

          Maybe it’s the glitter and sparkle, maybe it’s the spirit of goodwill that’s in the air, maybe it’s the whole magical Santa bit, or maybe it’s—wait for it—the actual celebration of our Savior’s birth.  But I cannot wait to fill my home with the sounds, smells, and sights of Christmas.

          And, like many a misguided woman, I try to get my husband’s opinion on the little details.  Last week I said to St. Bob, “What do you think about hanging gingerbread men instead of sugar cookies this year, from the chandelier in the kitchen?”

          Immediately I can tell from the look in his eyes that he has no idea there have ever been sweets hanging from the light in the first place.  He thinks for a minute and then says, “So how does the panel work, exactly?”

          “What panel?” I say, rolling out the dough.

          “The panel of judges that comes over to evaluate your decorating.  Is it, like, four people, or five so they can break the tie in a vote?”

          And that is how you get on Santa’s naughty list.  Or at least my naughty list.  It’s a risky business, getting sarcastic with a woman who controls the cookie dough.

Get on Santa’s good list by purchasing one of my novels here.  Wait until you see the selection—there’s something for everyone!