#WorldWatercolorGroup - Day 4 - Haul Out The Holly - Doodlewash
By Charlie

Haul Out The Holly!

Written by Charlie O'Shields

We got back home this afternoon, and I had a quick moment to make a little doodlewash of some holly for today’s prompt. While it was fun to visit family, it’s always nice to be back home again. Phineas was excited to see us when we picked him up from the pet resort. He’s not really tail wagger, as he likes to show a bit of restraint, but today, his tail and most of his butt were wagging happily when he saw us again. I titled this post with the first line from the song, “We Need A Little Christmas,” from the musical Mame. I can never remember all the words, but it’s such an earworm that, once I hear it, I’m singing and bungling my way through until I get to the bits I do remember. I’ve no idea if it’s one of my favorites, but it’s so memorable, it always jumps into my head this time of year. We have to wait until Saturday before we have time to get a tree and start decorating it, but I’m already excited and in the mood to begin!

Each year, Philippe and I get a couple important things to enjoy the month properly. The first is an advent calendar filled with chocolates and the second is a Lego City calendar for him and a Lego Star Wars calendar for me. We get them early, as apparently they’re also collector items, sell out fast, and the price nearly doubles by the time you get close to December. Each day this month, we put together our Lego for that day before dinner and then have a chocolate after dinner. Tonight, since we hadn’t started yet, we got to put together the first four little Lego bits, so that was extra fun. I’m not sure yet whether I’ll catch up on the chocolate, though, having eaten my way through Texas on our little break. I’m already feeling the need to do a little food detox so I’m prepared for the holiday treats ahead. Though, I’m really not good at showing any sort of restraint this time of year as my inner child nearly takes over entirely.

That said, I’m particularly excited for my new advent calendar as it’s from Germany and filled with different types of chocolate pralines, so there’s a lot more variety and the chocolates a bit larger. It’s in the shape of a rocking horse and is embarrassingly large, but I really wanted it. Thankfully, it was already 50% off, as the original price tag got the expected “Oh, la vache!” from Philippe (which roughly means, Holy Cow!, Crikey!, Sod It! Bugger It!… or an equally aghast combination of them all). At half the price, I won out and it’s sitting on the table now waiting to be enjoyed. I love getting little presents each day this month. It’s not the little treats themselves, but simply the element of surprise and the unwrapping. No matter what happened that day, I’m still giddy when I get a chance to see what’s coming next. And this weekend, in front of a crackling fire with maybe a bit of eggnog, while the dog curiously looks on, we’ll be putting up tree and lights, as we haul out the holly!

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About the Doodlewash

Da Vinci Paint Co.: Yellow Ochre, Quinacridone Red, Leaf Green, and Ultramarine Blue.  Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book.
 #WorldWatercolorGroup - Day 4 - Haul Out The Holly - Doodlewash

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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47 thoughts on “Haul Out The Holly!”

  3. Your holly is beautiful – especially seen through a flurry of snow! I’m trying to stay away from chocolate this year, as I’d eat the whole calender’s worth within a couple of days. Big chocolate addict, here. Strange to say – I don’t know the Christmas song from Mame and that surprises me because I’m also a Broadway song addict. Have to go listen it up!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 The snow was only temporary as it’s a bit of a distraction on the rest of the site. hehe… it will be back every now and then though! And you definitely need to google that song and listen to it right away!! hehe

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  5. I love that song too and have it in my head now – YAY! Your chocolate advent calendar sounds wonderful. I love your exuberance for the way you celebrate!

    Haul out the holly;
    Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.
    Fill up the stocking,
    I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now.
    For we need a little Christmas
    Right this very minute,
    Candles in the window,
    Carols at the spinet.
    Yes, we need a little Christmas
    Right this very minute.
    It hasn’t snowed a single flurry,
    But Santa, dear, we’re in a hurry;
    So climb down the chimney;
    Put up the brightest string of lights I’ve ever seen.
    Slice up the fruitcake;
    It’s time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
    For I’ve grown a little leaner,
    Grown a little colder,
    Grown a little sadder,
    Grown a little older,
    All:
    And I need a little angel
    Sitting on my shoulder,
    Need a little Christmas now.
    Mame:
    Haul out the holly;
    Well, once I taught you all to live each living day.
    All:
    Fill up the stocking,
    Young Patrick:
    But Auntie Man, it’s one week from Thanksgiving Day now.
    All:
    But we need a little Christmas
    Right this very minute,
    Candles in the window,
    Carols at the spinet.
    Yes, we need a little Christmas
    Right this very minute.
    Agnes:
    It hasn’t snowed a single flurry,
    But Santa, dear, we’re in a hurry;
    Ito:
    So climb down the chimney;
    Put up the brightest string of lights I’ve ever seen.
    All:
    Slice up the fruitcake;
    It’s time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.
    For we need a little music,
    Need a little laughter,
    Need a little singing
    Ringing through the rafter,
    And we need a little snappy
    “Happy ever after,”
    Need a little Christmas now.
    Need a little Christmas now.

    Totally cheated and cut and pasted from googling, but fun to sing through the words!! 🙂

    Reply

  9. hehehe, it seems you’ve caused a sing-a-long on here. I think your plan is awesome and it’s so wonderful for me to read your little preparations. I’m a kid at heart too but have always lived with more structured people. I’m the one who wants stockings hung, advent calendars etc. Nice to see I’m not the only one. :o)

    Reply

  13. Charlie! Your writing, and of course your painting fills me up with happy! Big smilin’, silly grinnin’, hummin’ (No g’s- I’m a Texas girl) happppyyyy! I’m in Miami with palm trees and sandals and really homesick for Texas and time to “haul out the holly”. YOU and your loves are my Christmas 🎄 this morning and I thank you! I’m also going shopping for an advent calendar! AND, painting holly! Merry Christmas Charlie!
    Debbie

    Reply

  14. It’s too early for me to start singing but I love the snow flakes falling on my screen . It’s a special treat to have snow in Florida while the air conditioning is still running. Glad you had fun visiting your Mom, I love Christmas time!!!

    Reply

  16. Love your holly and your story,,actually I like all your stories…it is so wonderful to have traditions and more wonderful to have something to look forward to…Enjoy every minute of everyday like it is a holiday,because it is….

    Reply

  20. Although my daughter and I will be waiting til this weekend to set up our tree as well, she has already been enjoying her advent calendar. A friend of my husband and I sent her one that has a line from the poem the Night Before Christmas under each door. So every day when she gets home from school, she reads me the next segment and then eats her chocolate.

    Reply

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