Christmas preparation has begun

I can’t believe it’s December already. Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday that I was cleaning up the flower beds in preparation for winter. Wait, it was just yesterday. Today’s unseasonably warm weather should allow me to finish that task.
I love warm, sunny weather. Winter is not, and never has been, my favorite season. Yet, I love Christmas. All the cheerful carols playing incessantly on the radio, compel me to sing along. I mean, attempt to sing along as I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. As much as I like Christmas music, I am puzzled as to why it has to be played in each and every store. A little quiet would be nice sometimes. With all the political correctness these days, I’m surprised some grinch hasn’t suggested banning it all together or at least balancing it with carols from other religions. Do other religions have carols? That’s something I’ve never wondered before.
Christmas means shopping and I have barely begun. I am not one for battling crowds to save a few dollars, preferring to wait until the stores are a little less crowded. At least half the gifts need to be wrapped and in the mail soon. I have only purchased one real present so far. But I have no intention of shopping today. It is much too pretty outside.
Cleaning up the lawn and gardens is merely an excuse to be outdoors. I am blessed to live in a place where the air is fresh and clean. I once lived in a place where I could look out my front door and see a layer of ugly brown haze lurking on the horizon. As a result, sinus headaches were a common occurrence for me. Thankfully, those days are over.
We are hosting Christmas dinner this year and I have been in a cleaning frenzy. That will have to be suspended today as I take advantage of the warmer weather. No matter how much I get done, there is always more to do.
December. I check the calendar again. Yep. Only 25 more days to get the yard and house in good enough shape to host the upcoming celebration. No more doctor appointments for my mother are on the schedule so that will help. My sister-in-law is not so lucky as she has a minor surgery coming up soon. She should be completely recovered by Christmas. The rest of the family is currently healthy. That, in itself, is reason to celebrate.
I could leave the scraggly flower stems to overwinter, knowing that the wind and snow will eventually knock them down. Sometimes I leave certain ones for the birds to enjoy. Not this year. This year I am determined that everything must go. The sedum is the only thing that will get a reprieve as it does look pretty with a cap of fresh snow and the stems are sturdy enough to stand up in rotten weather.
The wind is kicking up. The evil squirrels are chasing each other up and down the bare branches of the trees. I can once again see the jail as I look out my window. The leaves that blocked our view all summer are sprinkled across the lawn. Trash is accumulating in the bushes. I truly wish that styrofoam drink cups would decompose completely if left outside for more than a few hours.
I must end this column and get busy picking up trash and cleaning up dying foliage. As quickly as time goes lately, it will be Christmas before I know it. I really can’t believe it’s December already. Where does the time go?