Santa snuggles
The Thanksgiving leftovers had barely gotten cold when I was planning to drag out the Christmas decorations.
By the way, if you know of a 12-step program that can help overcome an addiction to jolly seasonal decor, please send me the info. If you could see my living room right now, you would know I have a serious problem.
Melissa curled up between her beloved Santas.
After putting up the tree, hanging all the lights and otherwise decking all the halls, I got out the only decoration that excites Stormy, Coral and Melissa: two extra squishy Santa throw pillows.
I bought this pair of stuffed Saint Nicks half price at an after-Christmas sale at Decorator’s Warehouse five years ago. They were pretty silly looking but I like whimsical type decorations.
The first year we put them out, we noticed how much all of our dogs loved curling up with these pillows. Despite their resemblence to large stuffed toys, the dogs have never chewed them or mistreated them. They just love to rest their heads on them and we can’t resist snapping photos of them all curled up with Kris Kringle.
In the years since their holiday debut, however, these poor Santas have nearly been snuggled to death. Their beards are now dingy with dog slobber, their once rosy cheeks have faded and I will spend time tonight sewing up a little tear in one of the hats.
I told my husband this should probably be the last Christmas for these cuddly cushions since they have definitely seen their better days.
But no matter how tacky they may be and how well worn they now look, I just don’t think I have the heart to toss them in the trash when they give my pooches so much Christmas cheer.
November 28, 2012 - 6:00 AM
Before you throw them out, Nona, place them in a large pillowcase and tie it shut tight and place it in a front-loading washer on gentle/slow cycle. If they come apart, the case will keep all the stuffing from clogging up the washer and will keep the shape somewhat.I used to do that with my daughters stuffed toys. You can air-dry or place them in a dryer on gentle with a tennis ball to break up the clumps of fill.
The cure for having too much decorations is to keep them stored in an attic where having to pull down a small, rickety folding ladder and carry multitudes of boxes down, and then back up after Christmas is over, is the trick for me. I’m getting too old and beat up to do all that work!!
Nona, this made me think of The Velveteen Rabbit. The Santas looking tacky means that they are loved.
Why not let the doggies have them all year until they completely wear out?
@Liz: The dogs would love it. I just don’t think I can be the person that has Christmas decorations out all year round.
@Debbie: They are indeed loved. Thanks for the reminder of the lovely book.
@Sandy: That’s a good suggestion and I think I will try that just before we put the decorations away for the year. We keep our many bins of decorations stored in closets/garage/furnace room, depending on what floor they decorate.
I have a serious problem.
Just keep them in the large pillowcase that you wash them in, no one will ever know.
If the washing doesn’t work, maybe you should just decorate the dogs’ crates with them next year