Christmas 2020 (360/366)

TIME: 11:49 am

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

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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.

Wayback Wednesday (358/366)

TIME: 23 Dec 2006 - 3:32 pm
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Jack 

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His first Christmas with us was the only time he ever climbed the tree.

After that, he preferred to lay underneath it.

Alien Ornament (349/366)

TIME: 8:59 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Christmas ornament

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Here is a close-up of an ornament that gets the honor of being part of the "Ugly Ornament Tree"

I obtained her from eBay earlier in the year.

She is an alien (some may say she is an elf, but I say she is an alien)

Her head is made from a nylon stocking, she has little bead antenna and white ear muffs.

This newest addition is sitting on a branch, enfolded in the gum wrapper garland.

She keeps watch over us all. 

2020 Tree (348/366)

TIME: 7:25 pm

PLACE: Living room

SUBJECT: Christmas Tree

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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!

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.

Ledger-flake (032/365)

TIME: 7:49 AM
PLACE: Work
SUBJECT: Paper snowflake

Last year I forced my co-workers to cut out snowflakes from ledger paper I had on hand from my old auditing days.

We also made a paper clip chain for garland.

They went back on the department tree this year.

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 Craft (345/366)

TIME:  9:54 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Tonight’s Brownie craft

I took the easy way out this evening for our Brownie meeting.  Instead of working on a badge requirement that would have entailed work on my part, I just had the girls paint wooden trees and snowmen, then decorate them with Perler beads and sequins.  ‘Tis the season!
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Yes, I am way behind on my daily postings.  I have the photos, but need to do the blogging part.  Or maybe I won’t.  I might just do my catching-up off the blog while putting together my annual book of photos.   Not sure, yet, but I know this right now…I’m going to bed.