Polly helps to make the season bright

Okay, so some might say it’s too early but I have been looking forward to this for probably ten months and so over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been starting to gather things here and there to make my Christmas season especially bright this year. The advent calendars I wanted to make for my host sisters turned out to be too big a crafts project for me to take on, but I made some stars to put into the three windows of this apartment of mine.

They are so easy to make - even for someone like me who has never really done anything crafty before - and I’ll make more to put literally everywhere.

I also bought an advent wreath already, albeit not a very traditional one. It only needs candles and it’ll be ready to go. I remember when I was younger, we used to have the oldest advent wreath anybody’s ever seen. Somehow a wooden structure held up the candles; only very narrow candles could fit into it and so they would burn down before Christmas and it was just generally pretty damn ugly. But my brother and I were as excited as they come when each Sunday morning the next candle was lit.

And now I have my first own advent wreath which still feels a little awkward, a little too fresh. There are no memories yet. So far it’s just a random piece of Christmas decoration so… - yeah, why not, let’s call it Polly. Her, I mean.

There. I already feel better about this.

Also, when I was out shopping today, I bought this plate because you can never have enough reindeer plates. In fact, this may be one of my mantras: the world needs more reindeer plates.

But isn’t it all so pretty? So very, very pretty?

Since I’m already so deep into this whole Christmas enthusiasm (much deeper than one should be in mid-October), I think I may make some cookies this weekend. And place them on my reindeer plate. And then squeal with anticipation.

Honestly, though - scarfs and mittens and warm boots in the snow? Hot tea and glühwein? Christmas markets in Aachen and in Maastricht and in my hometown Bielefeld? Candlelight, seductive smells and excessive Santa decoration all over the city? Picking out a Christmas tree and the fresh forest scent of the tree, that special Christmas scent, in the living room? Good food and glowing faces everywhere, red cheeks when you’re walking through the cold and feeling so wholesome upon returning to the ridiculously over-decorated apartment?

If only it could all get here faster.