Happy 4th of July! I hope you're having a wonderful day celebrating America's 246th birthday, since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.
Earlier this week, I was in the fabric store. Rather than being greeted with everything red, white and blue, there were already two shelves filled with Christmas fabric. My first thought was, “it’s one hundred degrees outside. Who can begin to think about Christmas?!” But the more I thought about it, the more sense it
made.
For those who like to give handmade gifts, it is time to start. If you are one of these people, you may have already started on your gift-making. My next-door neighbor makes homemade vanilla for baking. That takes about a year to cure, so she has to
begin early. She will wrap and give them in December. It’s so easy.
Others make things that take more time to accomplish. My friend Maya likes to quilt and often gives Christmas-themed quilted gifts. (I was pleased to receive a beautiful holiday table runner two years ago.). She will likely be at the fabric store one
day soon, planning her projects and buying supplies for this year’s gifts.
Soon Christmas décor will hit the craft stores as well. If last year you looked at the wreath on your front door and thought, “I really
need to make a new one next year,” you might want to at least start planning or getting ideas. Selection of materials is better early in the season.
Even if you are not making your own Christmas decorations, it can be a great time to replace some decorations that have seen better days.
If you do a photo family Christmas card, summer is a good time to take some photos for it. Kids are home from school and there may be more opportunities.
Summer often sees some good sales. Think Amazon Prime
Day, among others. Even if you do not have specific things in mind for people, this is a great time to pick up hostess gifts to have on hand later on.
These days, supply chain issues can make things hard to get. So, buy when you see what you need.
There are other reasons to be thinking ahead to the holidays. Maybe you will have guests, like my friend Cathy who usually ends up with fifteen people as her siblings and their families come. She starts thinking months ahead, picking out stocking
stuffers, or replacing any linens that have become threadbare.
By the time the holidays get here, Cathy is ready.
Travel is experiencing an upsurge this summer, which could continue into the holiday season. If you are planning something special, it might be time to make some reservations.
I know it can be tough to think about winter holidays when the sun is shining, and you would like to be sitting by the pool with an icy glass of lemonade and a good book. But even getting just a little done ahead will ease some of the inevitable holiday disorder.
So as you're celebrating our freedom today, and enjoying all-things red, white, and blue, remember that the all-familiar green and red will be here before you know it.
Christmas in July? It's not a bad time to get ahead of the game.
