A Narnian New Year

Something I have wanted to do for years now, is celebrate a Narnian New Year... where everything is snowy white, glistening with glitter and just a touch of childlike wonder. After the decade that was 2020, it seemed right to begin this adventure in 2021.

Because of COVID scheduling issues, getting our kitten neutered happened JUST before Christmas. And because we tried two types of E-collars and he flopped about like an alligator in a death-roll with one, and was choking himself on the other... we felt it wisest to simply stay with him 24/7 and keep him from licking his surgical site ourselves. So the three of us have spent nearly two weeks now taking day and nighttime shifts closed off in a single bedroom, stripped of everything climbable or that could be hidden underneath/behind. 

How bad can two weeks of shift-sleeping be, we asked ourselves? The answer is:

PRETTY

DARN

BAD!

We are all exhausted. We opened our Christmas gifts quickly while taking turns holding a wriggling kitten still doped on kitty-morphine, and as of today we still have three more nights of sleeplessness ahead of us... NOW spent with a kitty who has been fully awake and aware that he is incarcerated against his will in a room of nothing-fun-to-do, and is grumpily trying to escape whenever he gets the chance. Monday can NOT come soon enough for us! We're ALL ready to put our rooms and lives back together, and get a full night's sleep! 

Between Berlioz needing constant supervision and the fact that my son worked both NYE and New Year's Day... we decided to postpone our annual game & movie all-nighter until next week. We have white foods and treats planned, and a small stack of games ready... but we're waiting until we can actually enjoy the evening all together. 

For decorations, we started by putting all wintry-white ornaments on our Christmas tree with seven glittery lions, and bringing two LED-birch trees out from the girls' bedroom where they were being used as ambient lighting. 

We kept our Christmas wreath on the front door, and hung giant sparkling snowflakes from a white garland along the ceiling between the living room and kitchen/dining room.   

 An all-white bird from Target's seemingly endless supply of seasonal bird figurines and a pair of decorative window-frames stand in the alcove between the kitchen and dining room.

For the dining room table, we took our white lantern and filled it with acrylic "ice" and two tiny Waldorf dolls my sister made for me nearly two decades ago. 

And atop the console by the front door, we placed a family of white deer and a pair of white felt trees. 

The only complicated part, was deciding what to do about a lamp post. Purchasing one may happen in the future, but for this year to save money I decided to make one with what I had on hand. 

With a leftover sheet of foamboard, plenty of glitter, a bit of parchment paper, and several hours with a ruler, craft blade, and hot glue I managed to create a lamp post lampshade for the turquoise table lamp near the front door. 

2020 was insane. Our New Year's celebration is on hold, and we are all in need of a proper night's sleep. But our house is glistening, and does look just a bit Narnian. 

The winter of 2020 is ending. 

Spring is coming.