Christmas 2020 (360/366)

TIME: 11:49 am

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: SD and the dogs, Jack behind the tree

*~*~*

This is a different Christmas.

MonkeyBoy is overseas and DramaQueen is in Florida with her boyfriend's family.

But, we have StellaDella, Mulder, Jack and the new addition of Miss Scully who all sat for the traditional Christmas morning photo. (Tessa is hiding in the basement.)

MB's girlfriend came by later in the day for dinner and we facetimed MB for a good hour.  I also video chatted with DQ as well.

I will take what I can - and look forward to when we can all be together again.

2020 Tree (348/366)

TIME: 7:25 pm

PLACE: Living room

SUBJECT: Christmas Tree

*~*~*

I REALLY am not/was not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. Besides the COVID that affects everyone, we had the loss of HH's mother; we had to make the hard decision to end Oreo's pain and say goodbye to our sweet girl; MB was deployed to Afghanistan, DQ and SD are dealing with health issues that I can't fix...the list goes on.

I didn't want to put a tree up.

I didn't see the point.

But I did it anyway.

It's not the traditional tree we usually put up, but 2020 has not been a traditional year either.

It is what we call the "Ugly Ornament Tree" - all the strange, unusual and unique ornaments we've found and obtained over the years, displayed on a "feather tree" with a gum wrapper garland.

There are a couple of other little decorations in the living room. And I did put lights on the porch. But I did not decorate anywhere close to the Christmas explosions I've had in past years.

Minimal, but meaningful.

This also means there is less to put away after the holidays - another plus!

Throwback Thursday (338/366)

TIME: 12/3/2005- 11:23am
PLACE: Murphy Company Xmas party
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy (6-1/2 yrs) StellaDella (almost 3 yrs) DramaQueen (8 yrs)
and Santa!

*~*~*

15 years ago was a Saturday and we went with my Dad to a Christmas party thrown by one of the contractors he worked with.

This photo went out with the Christmas cards that year.  I haven't sent cards out for several years now.

Time marches on.

Griswold-ian (336/366)

TIME: 8:27 pm

PLACE: Around town
SUBJECT: Christmas lights

*~*~*

I would probably never decorate my house like this - because I am lazy.

So I am glad someone else has the energy and the wherewithal to project Christmas spirit in this manner.

I salute them.

Wrapper Chain (052/365)

TIME: 2:20 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Gum wrapper chain

At an auction about two years ago, I discovered an immensely long (at least 5 yards) gum wrapper chain in one of the box lots.

Immediately, I was consumed with possessing that wrapper chain.  I persuaded the auction assistant to take it out as a separate item so I could bid on it without having to also take all of the other stuff  in the box.

He graciously did so. I bid $1 and braced myself for someone to bid against me. No one did.  What? Silly people, did they not know the awesomeness of this gum wrapper chain?  I won and he handed me the plastic bag.  Then bonus! I discovered a second slightly shorter chain in the bag as well. It was a Christmas miracle in July. I spread the joy and gave that one to my sister.

The one I kept is long enough to use as a garland for my special ornament tree.

It’s perfect.

Christmas Morning (050/365)

TIME: 8:51 AM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Kids and dogs

Another annual photo tradition.

Kids and the dogs in front of the tree before opening of the gifts.

The dogs were not very co-operative this year – I was lucky to get this one without anyone moving.

Stair Picture 2017 (049/365

TIME: 7:21 PM
PLACE: Dad’s house
SUBJECT: Cousins

We made it to another Christmas Eve at Dad’s house.

The “Annual Stair Picture” was taken.

It looks like it’s getting a little tight.

Garden Glow (046/365)

TIME: 7:15-8:30 PM
PLACE: Missouri Botanical Gardens
SUBJECT: Garden Glow

Forced family fun was implemented this evening at the Garden Glow in the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Half-lit tree

Luminaries

I call this one “The Angel of Death”

But I think the Christmas theme comes with the green light and red (eye) windows?

Maybe I just have a dark sense of humor.

Are we having fun?  It’s hard to tell.
I think a flash was needed here.


StellaDella and MonkeyBoy had fun portraying two of the eight “Maids a Milking”


They all look a little happier here.

I love these guys.

Broken (035/365)

TIME: 10:06 PM
PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Broken ornament

I finally started putting ornaments on the tree.

In the process, this one fell from a branch and shattered on the floor.

It was one of the the ornaments Mom gave me after I moved into my first house.

It hurt seeing it broken – but I keep reminding myself that it’s just a “thing” and that I have other ornaments from her.

Still, I’m a bit sad about it.

Santa Heads (029/365)

TIME: 11:41 AM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Santa picks

Rights now?

This is all the Christmas I have out.

I’m slightly behind this year.

Topsy Trees (027/365)

TIME: 8:38 PM
PLACE: St. Louis Zoo
SUBJECT: Trees

My dad’s former employer invited him and his family to their Christmas event which was held at the St. Louis Zoo.  DramaQueen, StellaDella, 2 of my nieces, my sister-in-law, my sister’s mother-in-law and I accompanied him.

After a delicious dinner at the McDonnell Center, we walked through the Wild Lights displays.

It was a mild evening and there were tons of people there – last year it was cold and much less crowded.

Even so, it was nice to see the lights…

…and the kids had a good time.

Christmas 2014

 
TIME : 8:54 AM
PLACE: Living Room
SUBJECT: Stella, Claudia & James

Merry Christmas!

…from Oreo too!

TIME: 9:19 AM
SUBJECT: HandsomeHusband

His boy bought him a Cardinals hat.


TIME: 9:22 AM
SUBJECT: Grandpa

He can wear these while drinking coffee out of his “World’s Greatest Grandpa” mug from prior years.

Animated (365/366)

TIME:  6:16 PM
PLACE:  Uncle Albert’s house
SUBJECT:  Uncle Albert, Shayne, StellaDella and Uncle Albert’s Christmas animatronics collection

It all started back in the 1990’s with Uncle Albert taking a trip to Branson, Missouri and purchasing that frog on the left.  It has since grown to a large collection of these singing, dancing, rocking and ear flapping electronic pets.  It’s quite a sight when they are all going at once.

Ice Skate (361/366)

TIME:  3:59 PM
PLACE:  Front door
SUBJECT:  Ice skate “wreath”

I took the day off work so I could go after-Christmas shopping with my sister, niece and DramaQueen today.  Boxing day is my favorite day to shop during the holidays as the pressure and stress of purchasing the perfect presents for Christmas morning is out of the door.  Clearance sales are on and I usually have a bit of Christmas gift $$ in my pocket.  I bought a some ornaments, clothes for myself (jeans, cords and a couple of shirts), a stylus for StellaDella’s Kindle and a t-shirt for MonkeyBoy.  The crowds were small/non-existent during our early morning (7am) shopping time.  It was nice.
~*~*~*~*~
I had pinned this idea to my Pintrest board back in September.  I finally unearthed my ice skates (a $3 rummage sale find this summer), filled one with 70%-off wintery floral picks I found when Christmas shopping last Monday and hung it by its laces on my front door. Voilà!

Christmas Morning (360/366)

TIME:  7:32 AM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT:  The kids and the dog

As is my tradition on Christmas morning, I was able to torment the kids by insisting on taking a shower and getting dressed before any presents could be opened.  Then I made them sit in front of the tree while I took several photos and demanded that they “look happy dammit!”  All were pleased with that Santa gave them.  I can tell that they are growing up…the only toys were SD’s stuffed Sock Monkey (seen here), a plush “wolf skin” rug, DQ’s Eeyore pillow pet and a couple of video games. Clothes/perfume/makeup/art supplies/a Leatherman made up the rest of the gifts.

Christmas Eve (359/366)

TIME:  9:27 PM
PLACE:  Dad’s house
SUBJECT:  StellaDella and her Kindle Fire HD

SD received the “best present ever!” from Paw-paw…a Kindle Fire HD.  Now maybe she’ll stay off of my phone and my laptop. 

Mandatory Reflection In Christmas Ornament Photo (358/366)

TIME:  9:32 PM
PLACE: Living Room
SUBJECT:  Photographer and tree reflected in a small vintage mercury ball ornament

It is not the holiday season unless this type of photo is taken and posted on a 365 blog.  I am fully clothed – I prefer not to be responsible for burning my (few) reader’s retinas.

Christmas Fun (359/365)

“At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.”

Thomas Tusser (English Farmer and Writer. 1524-1580)

TIME:  7:03 AM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  StellaDella, DramaQueen & MonkeyBoy

I hate using the flash, but had to do it this morning to get a decent shot of the kids.  This is right before the presents were opened.  They were all very happy with their gifts.  We do have an issue trying to get MB’s new Turtle Beach headset to work with his Xbox 360, but I think a trip to the store tomorrow for a compatible cable with fix that right up.
~*~*~*~
My gift?  Glad you asked.  I must have been very good this year. (Or, more than likely, I whined so much about it that DH decided he couldn’t take it anymore and bought it to shut me up.)  I am now the owner of a Canon EF-S60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens!  Can I get a “Woot-Woot!”  I played around with it a little this afternoon.  I think I’m gonna like it.


TIME:  2:25 PM
SUBJET:  Blade


TIME:  2:34 PM
SUBJECT:  MB’s eyelashes (he was napping)


TIME:  2:41 PM
SUBJECT:  Bubbles in a bottle of Windex cleaner

TIME:  7:14 PM
SUBJECT:  Radiatore noodles

Traditional Stair Picture 2011 (358/365)

“Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends.”

Margaret Thatcher (British Politician and Prime Minister. b.1925)

TIME:  8:09 PM
PLACE:  Steps at Dad’s house
SUBJECT:  9 out of the 11 grandchildren (or 81.8%)

Here they are…almost all of the grandchildren sitting for the traditional stair picture at Grandpa’s house on Christmas Eve.  My brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew from California weren’t able to make it into town for the holidays.  We missed having them with us.  Shortly after this photo was taken, we Skyped them so they could be with us while the little ones opened their gifts from Grandpa.  Hmm, next time if they can’t make it, we’ll have to place the netbook on the steps while the two kids on the webcam and take the photo.  That way we will have all of the grandchildren in the picture!

Shining Star (356/365)

"Dear brightest star o'er Bethlehem, O let your precious light shine in with hope and peace toward men in every home tonight."

“A Thousand Candles,” Swedish Carol

TIME:  4:10 PM
PLACE:  Westfield Manor, Independent Living Community
SUBJECT:  Electric star

StellaDella’s Girl Scout troop helped to deliver Christmas baskets to seniors at an independent living community.  After all the baskets were delivered, the girls gathered in the lobby and sang Christmas carols to the residents.  Santa and Mrs. Claus even showed up to join in the caroling.