It’s Beginning to Look…..

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‘Twas 2 weeks yet to Labor Day

But all through the store

Fall items were on sale

They are needed no more.

For in the eyes of Hobby Lobby

Christmas is near

No matter the hot weather

Santa’s coming, I fear.

In search of autumn colors,

I entered with hope

To find only Santa,

I don’t think I can cope.

          (With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)

Christmas tree 1It seems I do this every year about this time. I feel as though I’m ahead of the decorating game. I enter Hobby Lobby sometime mid-August to look for some fall decorations for a wreath or perhaps some orange flowers to put in the vase in my Volkswagen Bug in honor of the upcoming season. Fall, that is.

I am greeted before even entering the store with a display – a veritable forest, in fact – of artificial Christmas trees of all shapes, sizes, colors and price ranges.

Whaaaaaat? I look quickly at my phone to confirm that the date is mid-August. Perhaps I am involved in some sort of time travel, just as Claire Randall in the Outlander books (of which I’m the only remaining person who hasn’t read a single one!) But no, I look outside and see people are wearing shorts and flip-flops. The temperature hovers around 90. The grandkids have gone swimming. Not a snowflake in sight.

I tentatively enter the store to see…..

Christmas decorations hobby lobby

And…….

Christmas decorations

And…..

xmas decorations

It’s true. Hobby Lobby is knee-deep in Christmas decorations. The remaining autumn finery – a few scroungy orange daisies and a sad-looking scarecrow or two – are on sale at 40 to 60 percent off. Despite the fact that it is only mid-August, apparently Christmas is near.

I remember when people complained that Christmas paraphernalia began appearing just after Halloween. That is a full two-and-a-half months from now. Most of our kids aren’t even back in school! I would be overjoyed if they waited until Halloween.

Perhaps I’m just crabby because by now I have Facebook friends who are talking about all of the Christmas shopping they’ve already done. Maybe it’s just that thinking about Christmas makes me think about snow and that makes me eminently cranky. I just need to get through my summer and fall birthdays before I can begin thinking about Christmas shopping. Please God!

I must admit, though, that this display made me think about A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Lucy’s idea of the perfect Christmas tree. A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the best things about Christmas….

aluminum tree

Better go pull out my Christmas gift bags. Happy Hanukkah!

Have you started your Christmas shopping?

6 thoughts on “It’s Beginning to Look…..”

  1. I am finished Christmas shopping for Maggie and you and Beckie are next on my list. The bad news – Maggie’s birthday is in October and I don’t have that gift bought yet. P.S. Why are boys so hard to buy for? I’ll end up buying Bj’s Christmas gifts 2 weeks into December.

  3. The worst is when you ask a someone working in one of the stores to steer you toward the fall decorations. They look at you like you’re from another planet!

  5. As an extreme hobby lobby shopper I will defend them by saying two things; One, they just go from fall/Christmas decor to spring/summer. Everyone notices about the early Christmas decor but no one seems to notice the garden stuff going up in December. Secondly, crafters who are making things to sell seasonally have to get going early. Other than that, I have no idea why the trees need to go up so early. I was there this morning getting things for a wreath when my 3 year old asked if we could put up our tree when we got home. Um, no, son.

    • You’re sweet to come to their defense. You’re right; I don’t complain about the garden stuff in December because I’m so darn happy to see it!

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