The Anti-Black Friday

How did I spend my Black Friday?

Instead of shopping, I repaired:

I sewed holes in three items of my clothing, so I can continue to wear them. I’m not particularly good at it, but I don’t mind my revolutionary mending showing.

I created:

I had a hankering to create something that wasn’t food. Poking around down the cellar, I found a box of card-making supplies my mom had given us a while back. While watching the Eagles game, I went through the box, posted most of it on Buy Nothing, and kept a few things, including the paper cutter and some paper. Then I made a paper chain, which I’ll use somewhere once I put up all my Christmas decorations. Methodically working on something with my hands… I needed it.

I spent time with family, including our doggie cousin:

And, well, I did shop, but only at Goodwill, where I found two brand-new flannel pillowcases for $4.

At night, we partook of the free entertainment that is the Collingswood tree lighting, featuring carols sung by groups including F’s Madrigals. (And then episode 5 of Pluribus.)

My Thanksgiving was pretty anti-consumerist as well, come to think of it:

We visited my MIL in the rehab center before dinner, and I brought her flowers from the garden (mostly snapdragons), in a honeybear container from my container stash, with a little chalkboard sign from a package of same that my mom gave me. (Not a hoarder, I swear.)

I repaired a lampshade in my son’s room with clear Gorilla tape.

I created more mulch out of fallen leaves (with the lawnmower) and mulched the garlic again.

I repurposed a metal stake that I saved from the graduation lawn signs (NOT A HOARDER) to finally get my small lighted Christmas tree out front to stand up straight.

We had a wonderful dinner at my awesome SIL’s house, and brought home generous amounts of leftovers.

And OK, I did do some shopping online Thursday night… but only at a local independent bookseller.

Let the local, crafty, handmade and homegrown holidays begin!