Projects and Promises
Over the years, my enthusiasm for holiday decorating has ebbed and flowed. Some years, I am a classic overachiever; other years, I am overextended and overwhelmed.
Between 1996 and 2003, the Sidetracked Sisters held craft shows where we created and sold handmade Santas, melty snowmen, and even bare-breasted angels. I loved getting ideas from craft books and then adding my own flair. I added beads to the angels’ halos and tea-stained the linen fabric for the snowpeople. A friend made beautiful jewelry with beads, so naturally, I had to try my hand at it too. I made my own beads from Sculpey clay and added wire embellishments.
But sometimes (even without kids!) I was overextended. One of my most popular creations was a 30-inch spindle Santa. I had purchased an armload of architectural railing spindles at the flea market in St. Charles, IL. I attached a flat wooden base and painted them blue, green, or burgundy. Then I added a face with a puffy white beard. But the fun part? The hat. It was made out of flannel, topping the festive guy and hanging a good eight inches down the side.
For Christmas, however, I only gave my mom the promise of a blue spindle Santa. She finally brought it to a family gathering last year and made me paint the face. It was only 20 years late.
The years after the craft shows were colored by the arrival of my kids.
One year, I was just thrilled that we managed to get our tree up and decorated. My husband and I began a tradition of getting the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. That took care of half the battle. Most years, I would put on the lights, and the kids were mostly responsible for decorating in whatever way they could. This resulted in one memorable year when all the ornaments ended up on the bottom half of the tree.
During this time, I also gave my mom and Judy an “unconventional” gift. I saw a beautiful (and EASY) scarf in a fancy Door County boutique and thought to myself, “Why, I could make that SOOOOO easily.”
I bought the crinoline and thread. I already had all the beads I needed. Then I wrapped up all the materials and gifted them the “ingredients” for the scarves, along with a promise to complete the project.
Ummm… needless to say, those scarves are still a work in progress.
Looking back, I’ve come to embrace the reality that not every DIY project will get finished, not every tree will look like a magazine cover, and not every promise will be fulfilled on time (or ever). The holidays aren’t about perfection—they’re about the moments we create and the memories we cherish.
So, this year, I’m planning to celebrate the holidays with my usual mix of ambition and chaos. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even finish those scarves. (But don’t hold your breath.)
Click here to check out other Sidetracked opinions
Click here to listen to the Sidetracked Stories podcast
Want to create your own legacy? Join the Sidetracked Sisters and start now!
Ever thought about working with a Life Coach? Are you a woman over 50 who feels unfulfilled in your long-term relationship? Lisa can help you rekindle love and joy, and avoid a “gray divorce.” Check out Lisa Hoffman Coaching.
#sidetrackedsisters #sidetrackedlisa #sidetrackedlegacies #legacywriting #legacystories #writeyourownlegacy #LisaHoffmanCoaching
Don’t stop here—peek at the rest of our Sidetracked Sister shenanigans at https://www.linktr.ee/@SidetrackedSpark
