It's hard to change habits and traditions, especially holiday ones. But this year, my family is determined to cut down, cut back, consume less. No wrapping paper, except for wrinkly sheets saved from past years. Presents wrapped in newspapers and brown paper bags are tied with reusable fabric or net ribbons. We're decking the halls with not much more than candles and fodder from the garden. I admit a little barter is going on with neighbors - yesterday I swapped camellia branches for some red-berried viburnum and rose hips.
It's simpler, more creative, cheaper and feels right to shop only for special gifts, and not fall into repeating all those rote things that are more routine than inspiration. The holidays feel unsustainable at their usual level of consumption - I know we're saving time, money, effort and angst, and that feels good.
I'm giving paperwhite narcissus as gifts, tied with wide, net ribbon that can be used over & over. If you forgot to start paperwhites a few weeks ago, or, like mine, yours aren't flowering at the right moment, (how to orchestrate timing is always the devilment of it!) Swanson's Nursery, luckily, has done it right. They offer 4" pots of beauties for only $9.99, at various stages of development.
It's fun to figure out new uses for favorite objects . I'd never noticed that this glass bird (below), which was made by Whidbey artist Meredith MacLeod and usually resides in my back garden, is kind of Christmas-colored. Yesterday I moved it to the front porch to greet holiday visitors. The bird is garnished in twigs of cryptomeria, purple-leafed Hebe 'Amy', and the swapped viburnum. It's not a wreath, true, but it's original, free, and everchanging with a variety of greens from the garden.This morning, the greens are lightly dusted with frost for an effect lovelier than I could have dreamed up...
