Pages

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Packing It Up

19°f/-7.2° C, gradual cleaning but very cold all day. The snow began to melt in the afternoon.

Today's project: packing up the Christmas gifts. 

14 grandchildren, 6 great-grands, then my sons and daughters-in-law plus a few friends makes for quite a pile. I need to add ribbons and bows to pretty them up, but I don't wrap anything anymore--gift bags are my best friend!



6 must be mailed: 2 to Colorado, 1 to California, 1 to Tennessee, and 1 to Florida. 


I am almost done but as always, there are a few additional gifts to pick up. We don't spend a lot, really. I pick things up all year, make some things, etc. But it is such fun to put the gifts together when it's time! Because these boxes are heavy, flat rate postage is best. I won't mail them all the same day either; my mail carrier is great about picking up my packages so I try not to overload her on any given day. 

That was about it for today. Larry had 3 appointments in Huntington but he canceled as the roads were still in bad shape. Not the day for a 5 hour round trip! 


31 comments:

  1. Everything is so nicely organized! You have many people to send gifts to, how lovely! Thank you so much for sharing, and I also want to thank you for your visit and kind comment on my blog! I post on Mondays and Thursdays.
    I really appreciate your kindness! I hope that you have a wonder filled evening and rest of the week ahead. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know about organized, but I try! Stop by again, Linda, always lovely to see your name here.

      Delete
  2. We couldn’t deal with that given our postage rates.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our rates aren't great. This lot will cost about $125 to ship. I could send gift cards instead, but I can't find any for homemade apple butter, pickles, green salsa, dried Italian herb mix...

      Delete
    2. I spent $84 to mail a small package to my daughter in the UK. More than the contents were worth, probably, but it means a lot to me to know she has our gifts to open Christmas morning.

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. It's the cost of a huge family, Tom! But well worth it to me.

      Delete
  4. That’s a lot of gifts to prepare. It reminded me of my grandmother who gave gifts to her 23 grandchildren and kids and in-laws. They usually had something she sewed or crocheted with a few other little things. The most amazing thing to me as a kid, was she never used tape on her packages, just ribbon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My mother did the same, June. 36 grandkids, and every one would get a gift of some sort, until they married anyway. Then she started doing the great-grands. Nothing big, of course. But always looked forward to.

      Delete
  5. That was me, June at Live and Learn. I forget to sign in.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That's really awesome. You have got so much done! Hope the weather gets warmer there. It's 11C here...crazily warm for Dec.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It warmed up overnight, now we have a cold rain and wind. Yuck.

      Delete
  7. I started wrapping for mailing yesterday. A slow go! Next year I should just order fruit or something!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's great that you still send packages, especially with the current postage rates. It's nice that you are considerate of your postal carrier, too. Stay warm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I once was a substitute mail carrier, Martha, so I have some sympathy for them at this time of year. The regular carriers always took off before the holidays, so i had some heavy work days. And that was before everyone started shopping online! There was no such thing back then, just mail order..

      Delete
  9. You have so many! Grandies, I mean. Good for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, they are a wonderful bunch too :) I am lucky indeed.

      Delete
  10. Large families overwhelm me! You are so organized, I could use a tutorial.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, as the oldest girl in our big family, I learned early. It sure has been easier since I retired.

      Delete
  11. I didn't realize that we had it so easy - once big package mailed to B.C.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have to send daughter Sarah her gifts but I must wait for a box to reuse. I need to check what USPS limits are for size.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am almost completely out of boxes. I ordered some from USPS back in September but they never arrived. So if I sell on Ebay I will have to find some, or buy them, which I hate to do

      Delete
  13. Like you, I have gifts in the mail. However, I haven't wrapped things for under the tree yet. I need to get with it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Still plenty of time! I haven't bought a thing for Larry yet. He wants a scope for his deer rifle and I am clueless.

      Delete
  14. Oh I like gift bags also and we reuse them year after year putting new tags over old tags! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your mail carrier must love you for your thoughtfulness on not loading her up. I think it's great that you are so organized. Me not so much this year.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congratulations on getting your shopping and shipping done! I',m so glad I don't have to ship any presents, they probably wouldn't get them until after Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  17. We have all ours done and posted but not our own, we take turns in the dining area, so we don't know what we've bought each other!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh, cold in your place! And so many family members! I gave up on this years ago after asking what they wish for and there was not a thing (I am thankful they are happy just like that).
    I used to do what you do, all year round, I see something, I get it - but...the Nieces have so much my Brother even asked me not to give pressies and as the older one has diabetes I food is out of the question, so...
    Yay to yours!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Comments are moderated so may not appear immediately, but be assured that I read and enjoy each and every word you write, and will post them as quickly as possible.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...