It is a bright morning – cold with blue sky.  A splendid beginning to the week when all the festivity begins.  The days leading up to The Week Before Christmas are filled with lists, decisions, the more elephantine tasks (such as getting all the indoor and outdoor decorations up), and some unavoidable disorder.

Now, with the house tinseled up inside and glittering with colored lights outside, with the logistics worked out (mostly) and decisions made, a sense of order returns to the house.  And I am ready for Christmas.

Okay, I am ready for The Week Before Christmas.  And I am ready to savor it.  This is the week when the kids come home from college.  There is a tree in the living room – a stately one quite naked at the moment and he seems like a large forest beast quietly visiting (he smells divine). 

There begin to be cookies.  Croatian specialties (Cvite and Kiflice) and then the old family favorites like Christmas Shortbread, Lemon Bars, Frosted Sugar Cookies and on and on! – and, finally, on Christmas Eve the Finnish Tortuu (butter and cream pastry pinwheels dolloped with prune sauce) 

Presents are still hidden in the house, but the Elf Room stands ready with wrapping paper, scissors, ribbons.  Many Christmas cards are written, but there are still many to go – and I smile as I make these mini-visits with friends and families knowing that my greetings will arrive in the midst of their celebrations.

Today is the day I make peace with the fact that some knitted gifts will be given on the needles, not quite finished.  But, of course, I keep knitting!  My week will be spiced with joyful secret knitting.