The tree is almost decorated; I think it needs a little beaded garland pizazz, but we will see. I have hung wreaths and put garland on the stairs and over the double doors to the dining room and hung my GoodWill find- an “All Hearts Come Home for Christmas” sign. I have tied nutcrackers to the staircase poles with raffia; they look good there, not happy, but good. Now I have to figure out what to do with the rest – the potential army of rescuers.

But the main thing is I need something outside that is “Goldilocks God Damn JUST RIGHT”; people are tired of my putting strands of lights like floating stars on my tall bushes . . . and I am going along with them because if I don’t I will be the only one out there in the cold with those tall bushes and those tangled strands.

I’m thinking large wreath – but not too large. Maybe I could work two into the bare branches of the bushes on each side of the door so the wind would cause them to twinkle, but they could be steadied with guy wires to the stronger branches? This is how I work on projects . . . letting ideas develop. Sometimes people around me tend to panic, but I find it invigorating and festive feeling producing . . . even when I look at it and have a Gordon Ramsay moment: “AmeliaJake, you are seriously f____!”

But you take a deep breath and give it another go. I may or may not have a picture in a day or so.