lately i've been finalizing my Christmas gifts list, and working on buying the gifts on my list that aren't home baked (those will be baked and sent/given closer to Christmas). i realize it's early to be working on Christmas gifts for many people, but i always like to get things planned out and the gifts bought ahead of time -- so i'm able to relax and enjoy the holiday season, and my budget isn't 'slammed' all at once with the cost of all the gifts.
so for today's Question of the Day, let's talk about the upcoming holidays (not just Christmas -- can be Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or other upcoming holidays) -- (your answers can be simple 'yes' or 'no', or as detailed as you'd like)
Have you started planning for the holiday(s)?
How about gift buying or gift making -- have you started that yet?
Are there any 'traditions' you/your family follow every year? (like decorating for the holidays, sledding or ice skating, family gatherings, church or synagogue services, etc) Any 'traditions' you follow for your cats?
Is there anything in particular you're looking forward to this coming holiday season? (for example, a new cat or kitten(s) and their first Christmas with you)
i'll go first!
i've been planning my Christmas gifts list for at least several months now. i don't generally buy a lot of gifts, the exception being for my snick and jaspurr. i enjoy going 'all out' for my cats Christmas, and it brings me so much joy to see them enjoying their Christmas stockings and gifts. i have all snick and jaspurr's gifts bought now. i'll be buying two gift cards later this month -- Christmas gifts for my mom & aunt, and a close friend of mine. i have one more batch of homemade applesauce to make and freeze -- and a jar or two of that along with a jar of homemade strawberry freezer jam and jar of homemade apple butter, as well as a from scratch cinnamon-sugar cake and a package of wine-soaked wood chips (for use when grilling) will be my gifts to my brother and his family. i'll be baking many pans of peanut butter brownies for gifts this year -- for neighbors, the two post office people here, our vet's, and my mom and aunt (they'll also be given a loaf of banana bread).
i don't decorate for any holidays, and we don't put up a Christmas tree. i always celebrate the holidays with my cats. starting in late november, i'll space out giving them their big and medium sized Christmas gifts. then on Christmas Day, i give both cats their Christmas stockings. we watch Christmas movies leading up to and including Christmas Day, and we start listening to holiday music the day after Thanksgiving. i always call my mom and aunt on Christmas Day, to wish them a Merry Christmas. my 'tradition' is to always plan a quiet and relaxing day for my cats and myself for Christmas; this is one of snick and jaspurr's gifts, because they love our quiet days together so much.
this year i'm very much looking forward to snick and jaspurr being given their stockings together. last year at Christmas jaspurr had only been with us (as a foster, at that point) for about 2 1/2 months, so we were in the early stages of integrating snick and jaspurr then. since they've been integrated, their relationship has continued to develop in good ways. on both jaspurr's and snick's birthdays this year, snick taught jaspurr what she always did with her brother (litter mate) mickey, which is to check out and play with your own gifts for a while and then switch so you get to play with the others gifts for a while too. so i think they'll do well together with their stockings on Christmas Day, possibly with a little 'direction' from me.
How about you?
so for today's Question of the Day, let's talk about the upcoming holidays (not just Christmas -- can be Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or other upcoming holidays) -- (your answers can be simple 'yes' or 'no', or as detailed as you'd like)
Have you started planning for the holiday(s)?
How about gift buying or gift making -- have you started that yet?
Are there any 'traditions' you/your family follow every year? (like decorating for the holidays, sledding or ice skating, family gatherings, church or synagogue services, etc) Any 'traditions' you follow for your cats?
Is there anything in particular you're looking forward to this coming holiday season? (for example, a new cat or kitten(s) and their first Christmas with you)
i'll go first!
i've been planning my Christmas gifts list for at least several months now. i don't generally buy a lot of gifts, the exception being for my snick and jaspurr. i enjoy going 'all out' for my cats Christmas, and it brings me so much joy to see them enjoying their Christmas stockings and gifts. i have all snick and jaspurr's gifts bought now. i'll be buying two gift cards later this month -- Christmas gifts for my mom & aunt, and a close friend of mine. i have one more batch of homemade applesauce to make and freeze -- and a jar or two of that along with a jar of homemade strawberry freezer jam and jar of homemade apple butter, as well as a from scratch cinnamon-sugar cake and a package of wine-soaked wood chips (for use when grilling) will be my gifts to my brother and his family. i'll be baking many pans of peanut butter brownies for gifts this year -- for neighbors, the two post office people here, our vet's, and my mom and aunt (they'll also be given a loaf of banana bread).
i don't decorate for any holidays, and we don't put up a Christmas tree. i always celebrate the holidays with my cats. starting in late november, i'll space out giving them their big and medium sized Christmas gifts. then on Christmas Day, i give both cats their Christmas stockings. we watch Christmas movies leading up to and including Christmas Day, and we start listening to holiday music the day after Thanksgiving. i always call my mom and aunt on Christmas Day, to wish them a Merry Christmas. my 'tradition' is to always plan a quiet and relaxing day for my cats and myself for Christmas; this is one of snick and jaspurr's gifts, because they love our quiet days together so much.
this year i'm very much looking forward to snick and jaspurr being given their stockings together. last year at Christmas jaspurr had only been with us (as a foster, at that point) for about 2 1/2 months, so we were in the early stages of integrating snick and jaspurr then. since they've been integrated, their relationship has continued to develop in good ways. on both jaspurr's and snick's birthdays this year, snick taught jaspurr what she always did with her brother (litter mate) mickey, which is to check out and play with your own gifts for a while and then switch so you get to play with the others gifts for a while too. so i think they'll do well together with their stockings on Christmas Day, possibly with a little 'direction' from me.
How about you?