I cleared out the living room/dining room completely and set up this year's Christmas tree. It was the biggest one I could afford that I thought would fit in the house. I got out all the solstice decorations from the past 27 years and put them all on and around the tree. That's been a part of my Solstice celebration since 1986, the date of the first ornament that I have. Place something on the tree that represents what you want remembered from the past year. When you have 15 to 35 people participating each year, that amounts to about 500 very unusual ornaments.
We had nineteen guests for the party, so Michele's tables were set with the traditional red depression glass. (It's for sale, by the way. Want it?) Her theme was teal and silver for the rest of the décor. It really looked great.
And so did Michele, relaxed and making mashed potatoes with cream cheese and cabbage just an hour before the first guests arrived. She was in her elegant black dress before the doorbell rang. The kettle on the left contained about fifteen pounds of corned beef--my contribution to the food for the evening.
Another important part of the solstice ritual is lighting the Yule log. Each guest expresses a wish for the coming year as they light their candle. The following year, we dump anything we want to forget from the past year on the log and burn it! It will be strange to be in a different environment next year--probably no fireplace, out on the road in my little trailer.
By morning, everything was cleaned up, the guests were gone, and we were ready to start meeting with the real estate agents who were making presentations about how to sell our house. One thing is for sure, we'll have to get about nine-tenths of everything that is currently in the house out of it.
On Christmas morning we had a simple breakfast of scones, mimosas, and coffee. Of course there were crackers, so Michele and Quinne got to wear their princess crowns.
Next comes the big task of getting the house on the market. Our target date to go live is January 15. Tomorrow! Sadly, getting the house ready also involves repainting some of our favorite areas. The red fireplace is now cream. The patterned paper in the hall is now white. And all the writing that Quinne put on her walls had to be painted over. Some classic material that I will always remember.
On Twelfth Night, January 6, I burned this year's Yule log. Since I no longer have a place to store things until next solstice, nor do I have any idea where I'll be, I had my own little ritual and closed out the Solstice Celebration Era. My next will probably be much more intimate and private. New rituals for a new life.
By Friday the 10th, the house was ready for photos. I couldn't believe how good it looked. We'd spent four person days in the yard and I hauled 2,100 pounds to the dump. There are still things that have to go. We've torn the house up again to put it back together, moving Michele's stuff to her new apartment and getting Quinne's ready to go to college this spring. But here's a pretty impressive collection.
My quick amateur photos aren't bad, but the professional photos are stunning. I can hardly believe that we lived there!
But it is truly the end of an era. We lived here for 18 years. Tomorrow, about the time I leave for Texas, it will be officially on the market. Brokers' open on Thursday. Public open houses on Saturday and Sunday, and sold on Monday. That's how it works, right?
For my part, Sunday should find me near the Dallas/Fort Worth area, ready to resume my journey into warmer climes. See you then!
