Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 7th Day of Christmas Part 3: New Year's Eve

 Sunday, December 31, 2023

The 7th Day of Christmas

After cocktails Dale and I ate dinner. We had baked chicken breast with roasted broccoli and buttered spaghetti noodles. 

We watched When Harry Met Sally which culminates in a scene taking place on NYE. Dale's never really liked this movie before but this time he said he actually enjoyed it. He stayed awake for the whole thing this time so that probably helped. 

     

Leftover pumpkin pie from Christmas for dessert. 

I changed into my robe. Sylvester climbed up on my lap.

Had we gone out I'd like to think this would have been my outfit. 

However, going out was not how it unfolded this year. It was a quiet and laid back New Year's Eve at home and we were in bed my 10:00. Who knows what 2024 will bring. The 2020s have so far turned out to be a turbulent decade. A couple years ago I gave up saying the new year couldn't be any worse than the previous. I guess one can only plan for tomorrow but live for today. I've tried to live by that little nugget of wisdom in the past but going forward I'm going to really try to put even more of the emphasis on the live for today part. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 7th Day of Christmas Part 2: New Year's Eve Day

Sunday, December 31, 2023

The 7th Day of Christmas

The overnight snow accumulated a little bit. It's not that it hasn't felt like Christmas this season but now it actually looks more like Christmas. 

Dale and I went to brunch at Creekside today. After that we went to Lunds to pick up food for dinner. 

                          

Had a couple Macanudos this afternoon while Dale took a nice walk. 

Came inside for cocktails with Dale (but first changed into my velvety blue blazer) and we listened to more of my Christmas playlists. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 7th Day of Christmas Part 1: The House by the Poppy Field

Sunday, December 31, 2023

The 7th Day of Christmas

Recently finished reading The House by the Poppy Field by Marjorie Bowen. It's another title from Seth's Ghost Stories for Christmas series. 

According to the teaser on the back of the book, "After having lived a largely solitary life, Maitland returns to his ancestral estate and soon finds himself increasingly obsessed with the magnificent field of poppies surrounding the home - as well as the man harvesting them."

Along with the harvester a couple of other mysterious figures appear but, are they all really there?

Seth

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 6th Day of Christmas: Dinner with Mike and Charisse

Saturday, December 30, 2023

The 6th Day of Christmas

Mike and Charisse invited us over for dinner tonight. 

For the drive over we were getting a little rain that was trying to turn to snow.  Very slippery conditions. 

We brought over a bottle of white wine to share and a nice red velvet roulade from Lunds for dessert. 

We started with cocktails. Mike had martini makings set out for me.

They had quite a lovely smorgasbord set out for dinner with lots of tasty options. We had a good three hours to talk about all our surgeries, troubles at work, looking ahead and preparing for retirement, and of course our funny cats. I think we came to the conclusion that despite the trials that occur at this stage of life we're at least gaining a level of wisdom we didn't have before to help counter it all. 

While getting ready to leave we discovered the rain had indeed turned to snow and that there was a light dusting covering the ground. We said our goodbyes and were careful walking to the car and driving home because the rain had left a thin layer of ice under the snow. I can't remember the last time I had to brush snow off the car. Too bad this all didn't happen a week ago allowing us a bit of a white Christmas. Oh well, no matter. This holiday season has been quite wonderful even without the typical winter optics. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 6th Day of Christmas: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Saturday, December 30, 2023

The 6th Day of Christmas

Watched the old Rankin/Bass Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer this morning. Fun as always. 

      

One of the special features on the DVD is a trivia selection. Did you know that five dogs pull Yukon Cornelius' sled? They are: a collie, St. Bernard, dachshund, cocker spaniel, and a poodle. I guess I never paid close enough attention. Now YOU know too. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 5th Day of Christmas Part 3: Noel's Annual Chrissy the Christmas Mouse Party

Friday, December 29, 2023

The Fifth Day of Christmas 

Noel had her annual Christmas gathering last night. Dale and I along with Caroline and Stephen were in attendance. 

Noel's cat Ella has been under the weather lately. Noel was quite worried as Ella is 17 years old. It turns out she had a kidney stone and she's doing much better now.

It was good to see everyone and the food was great (Noel has Kowalski's cater it).

     

I think it meant a lot to Noel that we were all there. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 5th Day of Christmas Part 2: A Room In a Rectory

 Friday, December 29, 2023

The 5th Day of Christmas

Finished reading A Room In a Rectory which is part of Seth's Ghost Stories for Christmas series. 

             

The teaser on the back of the book summarizes the story as follows: "Reverend Nigel arrives at Tilchhington rectory expecting a comfortable living in the beautiful countryside."

"But when he stubbornly opens a locked chamber, it isn't long before he's plagued with disturbingly devilish visions."

Thing don't go well from there. All I'll add is that the young  reverend should have listened to the housekeeper who had been living in the rectory for years. However, if he had there really wouldn't have been much of a story, so there's that. 

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 5th Day of Christmas Part 1: Frosty the Snowman

 Friday, December 29, 2023

The 5th Day of Christmas

I picked this copy of Frosty the Snowman at A Rare Bird Antiques a few weeks ago and read it today. 

                

I had this book as a kid so it was fun to revisit it. 

I enjoyed the 1950s era illustrations then and I enjoy them now!

Christmas Season 2023/2024 - 4th Day of Christmas: Cold, Cookies, and Cigars

Thursday, December 28, 2023

The Fourth Day of Christmas

Not too much colder than yesterday but it felt a bit more raw. 

The weather didn't keep me from stepping outside for a cigar. 

Still no snow on the ground. 

I've slowly been working away at the box of krumkake we've had around since Christmas. These were from Lunds and were as good as Mom's which is really saying something.