The Hanging of the Garlic

No, we're not an Italian family. Neither are we obsessed with keeping vampires at bay. But each year we have to "hang the garlic"! Let me explain.
As I've told you earlier, I seem to decorate for Christmas in a certain "order" - some things are first to be put out, other things are always done later. When my children were younger, we always held off on putting up the trees until just days before Christmas, since once they were up the kids would be bouncing off the walls knowing that Santa's arrival was not far off... Along with the trees, another "leave it till the last job" is putting the garland on the stairway. I always get my hubby to help me as it is one long piece and much easier to handle with four hands rather than two. I don't know why it's always been one of the last things to be done, it just has. And once it's up, it seems like it's "OK- we're ready now. Let Christmas begin!"
One year, when Laura was probably about four, she asked when we were going to put up the garlic? I said "the garlic"??? "Yes Mummy, the garlic. Can we do it now?" I was stumped as to what she was thinking of... Finally she said- "You know, the garlic on the stairs, with the bows." I then realized she meant the garland. We have called it "The Hanging of the Garlic" ever since...
So, today, I Hung the Garlic!!
Let Christmas begin!

Peace,
Linda

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...