JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Well, Reds, it’s that time of year again - one week to Christmas and I have about eight thousand things left to do. Every year, I swear I’ll be more organized and get ahead of it, and every year I… do not. It doesn’t help that I teach at the local community college, (last class on December 13) and I have to deal with finishing grading twenty students and turn the semester marks in to the registrar by the 18th.
I have so many items on my to-do list - finish shopping, wrap, make up beds for guests, buy food for Christmas dinner, etc, etc, etc - that it’s easier to list what I HAVE gotten done:
Mailed out presents to son in VirginiaFinished grading*edit on Sunday night: Nope! Still haven't gotten these done!
How about you, Reds? All squared away? Or does your to-do list look as long as Santa’s scroll of Nice and Naughty children?
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Ha ha ha ha ha. Sometimes I put things on my to-do list that I have already done just so I can have the joy of crossing them off. Right now, this minute, I have so many things to do that I can’t even make a list, and if I did, I would realize I should just give up because it’s just not gonna happen and everyone will have to deal with it.
Facing reality, my true to do list has one thing: Finish my first draft by THIS FRIDAY. So, see ya. Xxx
JENN McKINLAY: I have a book due January 1st so I got ahead of it, but I also streamlined. No Xmas cards this year, decorations are the tree and the outside lights, presents were kept to a minimum and that’s saying something since we only do something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read for gifts anyway (one of my better mom moves when the hooligans were wee lads). And this 
year (FINALLY) I dumped stockings. My people are grown. They do not need a million tiny things - ugh! - I only kept them going because “tradition” and I recently saw a meme that read “Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people.” And so went a ton of our usual “have to’s”.
I actually have some Christmas joy now. And the only thing on my to-do is to finish this forking book and make peppermint bark! Fa la la la la.
HALLIE EPHRON: And (As usual) I am WAY ahead of the game in terms of Christmas gifts. I already made a batch of chocolate-covered 
orange rind for my son-in-law. And, for the first (and LAST… too fiddly) time, a batch of rugelach. I’ve got all the grandkids presents bought AND wrapped. (Don’t hate me) and I’ll make granola (shhh don’t tell them) for my daughters. And that’s about it.
It helps that I don’t have a manuscript due. Working at my own rhythm without an end date for now.
I *love* getting Christmas cards and each year I send fewer and fewer. It’s harder and harder to find people’s mailing address. But it is SO lovely to reconnect with old friends. So I’m reassessing. But I really don’t like those e-cards – though I appreciate the thought… a topic for another day.
RHYS BOWEN: slightly less pressure this year as Clare and co are not coming because grandson TJ needs ACL surgery ( football of course). So only one bed to make and not a ton of food to cook. Mince pies and sausage rolls for 9, not 15
We hosted neighbors and son and dil for a decorating party so that’s done.
Also as I’ve had knee problems I’ve told people everything they want has to be a gift card or on Amazon. The result of which is a steady stream of packages to my front door. I do still send Christmas cards. I love getting them and staying in touch with old friends around the world although unfortunately the list has shrunk
I have already hosted my holiday tea and my son’s birthday so now it’s just Christmas Day.
JULIA: I knew Rhys was going to be on top of things because I already received her (and Lucy's) Christmas cards! Sighing with admiration.
LUCY BURDETTE: I got on a roll and sent cards to Shutterfly early. We have the company address and mail them, so we don’t get to write personal notes on every one. But at least they get sent. And I can keep track of address changes right on their website.
We are going to see the grandkids and family ahead of time, so those gifts were all wrapped and sent early. Jenn, your system was so, so clever. Every year I think, this is TOO MUCH STUFF! I will do shopping for Christmas food when we get back to Key West. I have not made a single cookie and this sad state of affairs may not be remedied…
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I have never made cookies so that's one thing I don't have to worry about. I got the tree up, later than usual but at least it's done. Now I need to do our mantle and the dining room table and that's about it for this year on the decorating front.
I've done most of my shopping–all online–but have not wrapped a single present. I'll probably end up wrapping on Christmas Eve! Which is kind of fun, really, except that you don't get to enjoy the pretty packages for very long.
We will do stockings, because we love them. And there is a seven-year-old to treat! We will do Christmas morning at our house, and probably Christmas dinner at our daughter's (they have two ovens!), and probably only for five or six. Simple!
Oh, I do want to send some cards, even if they are late, but am waiting on my Christmas stamps to come from USPS!
JULIA: How about you, dear readers? Are you dusting off your hands with satisfaction for a job well done? Checking to see exactly how late you can order from Amazon? What's done and not on your list?
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