Survey #188 Response from Debra
| Pronouns | She/her |
|---|---|
| Do you celebrate any holidays in the period from late-October to early-January? | Yes |
| What is your FAVORITE part of the holiday season, and why? | I love everything about Christmas—the advent markets all over the city, live music everywhere, meeting friends for Punsch outside at the many Punsch stands, stamping our feet to stay warm, picking out a tree, (rarely available before December 15, since they’re kept up until epiphany,) having friends over, baking, lots of twinkle lights and candles, decorating the tree, everything. |
| What is your LEAST FAVORITE part of the holiday season, and why? | I don’t like shopping at the best of times, for anything, so Christmas gifts are a complete stress, PITA, expensive to purchase and expensive to send. Also— I have almost missed the cut-off date for getting packages to Canada in time for Christmas. I have had gifts arrive in time for Easter. I need to get them off this week. I also don’t like receiving gifts that aren’t highly specific. There ought to be a universal rule that all gifts should be firmly restricted to books, homemade jams and jellies made by bustling women at church ladies’ bazaars, anything knitted by a grandma, and anything hand crafted by someone under 14. There. I just fixed Christmas for everyone. |
| How ready is your home for any decorating, gift-wrapping, and/or holiday entertaining that you have planned? | It’ll take me a few hours to get ready. |
| Describe the feeling, emotional state, or “vibe” you’d like for your home to convey to your family and guests during holiday gatherings, meals, and celebrations. | I like my guests to feel welcome, that they can feel warm, cosy, relaxed, well fed, and cocooned without being smothered. Lighting is important for this, and I have layered warm lighting, and dimmers. At Christmas my tiny home has to really readjust even to be able to have a tree, so it’s vital that I keep things very decluttered so there’s visual “room to breathe” for me, and my guests. If every surface has stuff on it, including things in use at the moment, like the kitchen counter, it can feel cramped and tight. I do everything possible before hosting that the food is in serving dishes barring the very last inevitable things, and while guests are arranging themselves to sit at the table I load the dishwasher and run it (it’s silent) while we eat. In the point between the meal and dessert/coffee I unload the dishwasher and load it up again with the plates and cutlery and run it during dessert. I have a bucket of hot soapy water ready to go in the bathroom where my washing machine lives so that the napkins can get tossed straight in as I am clearing up, to pre soak before I wash them the next day. I have a fully developed system because I often host up to 8 people at a time. For years it was weekly. At friends-giving or Christmas there’s more pressure because there’s more emphasis on the traditional food itself, which means a lot more time in shopping and preparation. |
| What gift would you most like to receive this year? | A balcony, 😂 |
Be the first to comment!
Comment on this survey response
Please use the form below to share a comment on this survey response. We ask that you keep your comments courteous and respectful. Polite disagreement is fine, but abusive language won’t be tolerated. Your comment will be held briefly for moderation after submission.
"*" indicates required fields
