... it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Haven't posted since our Sicily vacation - and now it's almost Christmas. Only two more weeks.

Autumn seemed rather brief as our September in Sicily and mainland Italy was so  summery still. But I am not complaining. Seems that this year the festive season will come without any stress.

Why no pre-Christmas stress?

Well, one reason is that the gift-giving has been drastically reduced. There are only two grandchildren to buy gifts for and in our digitalized age this has become super-easy (I get links for the purchases I need to do from my son!).

The adults in our family are back to a minimalist form of gift-giving as last year's Christmas Eve had turned out just too austere with no presents! So we put all our names in a hat and everyone pulled ONE name to find a gift for. And we put a max of €40 on the gift, too. 

So the list of purchases is quite short and there is time and leisure to think of packing parcels for a lonely friend and her mother and far-away friends in Canada. 

Having time to enjoy while others rush around town

 Like today at lunchtime, no shopping to do, just a roll of wrapping paper for the big gift for grandson #1 ... so I was able to calmly walk around and enjoy some of the - still quiet  - Christmas markets around town.

Even less deco stress at home than other years

This year I don't even have to put up a christmas tree in my Dutch home. My dear hubby is leaving on a month-long adventure to Brazil and I will be spending most of the holiday at my mother's house in Germany. My sister is coming with her grown kids, my cousin ... there'll be a whole tribe of lovely women cooking up a storm and eating great food together (and preparing still more food for the rest of the family to come on the first and seconds day of Christmas). 

So the decoration is a bit minimal in my Dutch home, and some of it might even be transferred to my Mom's house in Germany!

... so wishing everyone out there a similarily peaceful advent season. May the weeks before Christmas and the holiday itself be filled with breathers and truely joyful moments.

​TAKE IT EASY ... the first noel was a very simple affair, too - no need to get all stressed out!