Time to review the list of Joys for December: some were activities that were joyful and some were simply things that brought me joy:
1. A warm house - The house as been kept warm! This is my one extravagance!
2. Cozy knitted blankets and throws - The blankets are very much in evidence, including the "Christmas" one that I crocheted.
3. Homemade soup - Soup was made and shared with friends and neighbors.
3. Homemade soup - Soup was made and shared with friends and neighbors.
4. December Monthly Photo Mini Challenge - I participated in the December photo challenge and enjoyed doing so.
5. Winter decorations - Most of the winter decorations were put up, this year, and enjoyed.
6. Look forward to my daughter's planned visit home for the holidays - My daughter was able to come home for the holidays and her being able to do so has brought us both much joy!
6. Look forward to my daughter's planned visit home for the holidays - My daughter was able to come home for the holidays and her being able to do so has brought us both much joy!
7. Make/send some holiday greeting cards - I made and sent some holiday greeting cards, some in time for Christmas and others in time for the New Year.
8. The Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt - I participated in the Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt for December.
9. Knitting - I knitted myself another sweater (although I didn't finish sewing it together).
10. Hot cocoa - Didn't have any.
11. Bake a pie - Didn't bake a pie.
12. Make a special cake with daughter when she comes down for the holidays - We plan to do this in January.
13. Winter gardening - Planted some cool weather vegetable seeds and they are growing!
14. Enjoy some candle light in the evenings - I enjoyed lighting a scented candle, several evenings, this month.
15. Make a list (of holiday gifts to give); check it twice! - I made my holiday gift list and checked it more than twice!
16. Make holiday gifts to give - I made the majority of the gifts I gave, this year; they included jars of jam and chutney and knitted items such as scarves and socks.
17. Drop off gifts (since we will not be visiting in person) - Gifts were dropped off and while I didn't have the pleasure of seeing them being opened, I had the pleasure of knowing they were appreciated, as people called or texted me their thanks and sent photos of them wearing the socks I knitted, etc.
18. Bake cookies - Daughter and I baked some spritz cookies; some were included in the gifts we gave others and the rest are being eaten by us (me, mostly!)
19. Watch holiday specials on TV - Enjoyed watching several holiday specials on TV.
20. Listen to holiday music - Listened to holiday music and sang along, as well!
8. The Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt - I participated in the Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt for December.
9. Knitting - I knitted myself another sweater (although I didn't finish sewing it together).
10. Hot cocoa - Didn't have any.
11. Bake a pie - Didn't bake a pie.
12. Make a special cake with daughter when she comes down for the holidays - We plan to do this in January.
13. Winter gardening - Planted some cool weather vegetable seeds and they are growing!
14. Enjoy some candle light in the evenings - I enjoyed lighting a scented candle, several evenings, this month.
15. Make a list (of holiday gifts to give); check it twice! - I made my holiday gift list and checked it more than twice!
16. Make holiday gifts to give - I made the majority of the gifts I gave, this year; they included jars of jam and chutney and knitted items such as scarves and socks.
17. Drop off gifts (since we will not be visiting in person) - Gifts were dropped off and while I didn't have the pleasure of seeing them being opened, I had the pleasure of knowing they were appreciated, as people called or texted me their thanks and sent photos of them wearing the socks I knitted, etc.
18. Bake cookies - Daughter and I baked some spritz cookies; some were included in the gifts we gave others and the rest are being eaten by us (me, mostly!)
19. Watch holiday specials on TV - Enjoyed watching several holiday specials on TV.
20. Listen to holiday music - Listened to holiday music and sang along, as well!
21. Play the piano (carols) - Learned to play several carols on the piano.
22. Sing some carols - Sang several carols, both by myself and with my daughter.
23. Play a board game - I tried to play a game by myself (UpWords), but, wasn't really in the mood for it and didn't enjoy it as much.
24. Watch Midnight Mass from the Vatican - I watched the broadcast of Midnight Mass from the Vatican
25. Spend Christmas with my daughter - I spent a lovely Christmas with my daughter; we dropped off gifts to family and friends and enjoyed the Christmas dinner that was brought to us by a friend.
22. Sing some carols - Sang several carols, both by myself and with my daughter.
23. Play a board game - I tried to play a game by myself (UpWords), but, wasn't really in the mood for it and didn't enjoy it as much.
24. Watch Midnight Mass from the Vatican - I watched the broadcast of Midnight Mass from the Vatican
25. Spend Christmas with my daughter - I spent a lovely Christmas with my daughter; we dropped off gifts to family and friends and enjoyed the Christmas dinner that was brought to us by a friend.
26. Winter flower arrangement - I enjoyed several flower arrangements made with flowers from the garden.
27. Make some candies - Didn't make any candy as we received plenty as gifts!
28. Bake some bread - Something to look forward to in January.
29. Learn to bake scones - Again, something to look forward to in January.
30. Annual year end almsgiving (done a little differently, this year, since donations will be sent to the Temple in lieu of holding it at home) - Donations were mailed to the Temple.
31. Celebrate New Year's Eve - New Year's Eve was celebrated in the company of my daughter! We toasted the New Year with non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider, I boiled a bot of milk until it overflowed for good luck, and made milk rice which we ate before we went to sleep!
I didn't do all the joyful activities I had listed, but, I did a fair number of them and December turned out to be a very joyful month. January's list of joys will include some of the baking I didn't do in December!
Did you make a list of joyful activities to do in December? If so, were you able to do some (if not all) of them? Will you be making a joyful list for January?
You got most of them in and it certainly sounds like it was a very joyful month!
ReplyDeleteIt was a very joyful month, Martha, except for when I was worried that my daughter might not be able to make it home for Christmas! :)
DeleteI always plan to bake more around the holidays, but don't as there is so much other good stuff around to eat. We'll see if I pick it up in January or not. I tried my hand at making yeast dinner rolls that didn't turn out great. I definitely need more practice. Maybe I'll make that one of my January goals.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I tried to make yeast bread - I baked a loaf of brick! I guess I killed the yeast with too hot water and the dough didn't rise properly! Perfecting your yeast rolls sounds like a fun thing to do in January. I am planning to bake more in January, myself.
DeleteI enjoyed reading through your list and it's lovely to see that you did most of the activities you'd planned.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. Yes, I did quite a few joyful activities, didn't I? It was a good month. :)
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