Katie McCormick could not believe who she was staring at in the slush/snow filled ditch. Just a few minutes ago she was humming jingle bells (and going over her mental check list) while her Painted pair of horses Matches and Snickers were pulling the smaller wagon, minding their own business until Matches stopped and side stepped the ditch, looking at into it with ears pricked forward, and nostrils wide. Katie got out of the wagon and walked along the muddy yet crunchy ground.
In truth she was not going to be out there at all. For you see, she had it all planned out on what she was supposed to do which was decorate for CHRISTMAS! Damn it!
Day 1 (26-27th of November)
The boxes get unloaded from the attic of the house-so many boxes and touts. After setting the boxes in the living room and getting the sort of sorted. It was time to get the outside.
· Lights for outside unpacked and unraveled (all the fencing and house outside décor)
o Simple white lights the colored/crazy ones get placed further into the woods and around the perimeter
· Greenery and wreaths unpacked and organized to their spots
o Doors, windows, windowsills, railings, fences
· Basically, hang everything up that is outside as soon as possible
Making sure the lights work as she goes does take some time as there are a few that had to be thrown as they were too old or could not be fixed.
Day 2 (28-29th of November)
· Finish what was left of the outside lights (also make sure everything was picked up)
· Yard decorations (there are not many, just a few outside trees)
o A few of the icicle lights, hangings lights, some deer, horses, angels, etc
· If there was nothing to finish, then inside décor unpacking and organizing
Day 3 (29-30th of November)
· Each room has at least a tree of small size.
· Mudroom has a medium sized tree mostly full of deer, elk, moose and wildlife, hunter, ornaments
· Bedrooms
o Some simple décors of green and red (not always simple she went all out in some rooms)
o Most of the décor was a rustic feel to it but the general theme was the same
o Antlers have been used
· Living room
o The main tree (will save that for dead last)
o The little Christmas village (spread around house as well, will save for later)
o The nativity (the main one on top of the fireplace or underneath the tree)
o Main decorating (small Knick knacks etc.)
o Fireplace decorating (the garlands and must decorate the deer heads)
· Dinning room
o Greenery and some lights
o Mistletoe
o Holly
o Make table look nice
· Kitchen
o Just a few Christmas knick knacks and greenery
· Basement/game room
o Another tree (this one has the ornaments that won't break as easily)
o The Christmas stories and movies on display (the main ones are in the living room)
o Extra greenery and ornaments
Day 4 (30th of November)
· Decorate the Barn and Stables
o Just a few lights around the barn doors, outside stall doors, and some wreaths and a tree or two, unless already did them before then don't worry about it.
· Clean up
o No trash in the yard or house
· Relax (finally)
o Getting into the hot tub with a chilled bottle of red wine and a plate of chocolate
But does that happen? NO! She is already in on the 3rd of December and Katie managed to get done was the lights in the woods (colorful ones) and the garlands and lights along the fence and stables. Turns out she had to go to the grocery store, get more feed for the animals, chop and store firewood and then made sure she had enough gas for her 3 generators. Why? Because there was talk of a massive blizzard coming her way and with-it sharp knives of ice and a good 6 more feet of snow. Why did she agree to live in on her Grandparents Estate? She missed the Kansas Prairie, just for this reason.
Anyway, after going around to her neighbors to drop off their requested items (she shops, bakes, makes various items for them) she was heading home. She was able to use her big wagon and hitched, Matches and Snickers and went along the slushy road. Sometimes it doesn't seem to be worth clearing the roads just the three days ago to get slush and more snow.
But as it happens getting back to the present problem Katie looked into the ditch, she could not believe her eyes...Anakin Skywalker, and R2D2. "Well hell." she said as she rubbed her forehead.
Her wagon would be just big enough if she fit them just so...a giant living game of tetris. R2 was going to be the biggest problem. She looked at her watch and looking at the sky it would be better to just get going.
It was R2 that was rolled up the little planks she had and heaved him to stand upright, strapped him up, and as soon as she wrapped Skywalker in blankets, Katie picked up the reins and told the horses to "Git!" and soon the horses were off, she had them pick up the trot to get home quicker.
_TIME SKIP_
Katie drove the team into the massive wagon barn and turned the horses around as the door was shut by the opener (she had installed a door opener like you would in a garage so she wouldn't have to open and close it all the time manually.) As she was getting out, a certain Astro mech was rebooted.
R2 was confused. His pilot and his clones were on ship when BOOM! and then cold and darkness. Where was his pilot? Where were the clones? He swiveled his head and saw his pilot but no clones, or snips, old man or... anyone else from the mission. Where? R2 looked down and used his boosters to lower himself down. Rolling across and getting out his electric prod, it has been useful a time or two. A person comes out and he is ready! ((he makes that yelling noise and I cannot write that))
Katie sees him coming towards her and she starts backtracking, "Easy R2, calm down!" she says panicking, "We have to get your friend inside the house, or he might get sick(er)."
R2 is a reasonable droid and agrees with this human female. He puts his trusty weapon away and hums looking around the place. "Have a look around and if you are able to help me get your Jedi in front of the fireplace in the house. A bed will have to wait." Katie knew the walk to the house would not take too long but with a person that is 'dead' weight changes things. Normally it would take her to walk to her house from the wagon barn about 5 minutes on a good weather day but with the slush, mud and yuck carrying a 6 foot and some odd tall guy, this could take a while longer.
R2 started to roll out the door heading towards the massive house. "What are you doing?" She asked him as she made her way to follow him. R2 then beeped at her and then started to roll over the path, making it smoother and safer to travel. Granted, it was not perfect, but anything was better than nothing.
"Thanks, R2". said Katie as she made it to the house and got Anakin onto the thick rug in front of a now blazing fire. She draped a blanket over him and set his head on a pillow. With R2 a steady guardian, she took care of Matches and Snickers who were patiently waiting to go back into their stalls, along with their food, and those of their fellows who were waiting.
_TIME SKIP_
She was exhausted. Having to feed Matches and Snickers and then feeding the rest of the herds and flock, putting away the wagon in its proper spot but after 2 hours it was done and she hoped that her guest wasn't awake as that would be bad.
R2 was busy exploring this home and was liking it so far. Cozy, warm, but was huge! Maybe this human was a politician or something? It was a little dark inside so his optics could not get an accurate read however, he saw a large pile of boxes along a wall. His curiosity getting to him he started to roll over but he heard his pilot start to wake up. Deciding to save it for later he kept his original post.
He listened as he heard a door slam shut and saw the human female was back, he whistled a greeting. "Hi, R2 is he still asleep?" R2 gave an affirmative beep "Well, I have to start making some food, and when I start the food, I really do not want to take off Anakin's clothes, but he does not need a cold." Katie went into the large kitchen and R2 went into recharge, Katie looked out the window and was very happy that they were all inside as the blizzard was here.
