Holiday Season 2025: A Charlie Brown Christmas - 60th Anniversary

 Tuesday, December 9, 2025 

It was 60 years ago today that A Charlie Brown Christmas premiered. It's been a part of Christmas for me for my entire life and I have such fond memories of watching it as a kid. I realize how old I sound now when I speak to people younger than myself and tell them there were only three television networks and no home video or streaming technology at the time so control over what you could watch was extremely limited. This show appeared once a year and if you missed it you missed it!

According to schultmuseum@instagram: "Today marks 60 years since 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' first aired on December 9, 1965. The 25-minute holiday classic was an immediate hit and has since become embedded in pop culture and holiday traditions around the world.

The program went on to win an Emmy and a Peabody Award, with the latter noting:"Gentleness is a quality that is seldom understood by television writers and directors. A notable exception was a little gem of a show that faithfully and sensitively introduced to television the Peanuts collection of newsprint characters created by Charles

Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Second Sunday of Advent.

Brunch at Northbound after church at Grace. 

Saint Nicholas Day

 Saturday, December 6, 2025

It's St. Nicholas Day today. Although I didn't get an ornament in my shoe I have more than made up for it by purchasing some ornaments today which I'll report on later in the post. 

Lunch at W.A. Frost's with Noel.

I had a pumpkin waffle and it was delicious. 

After lunch we headed to Anthony Scornavacco (the former Nakashian O'Neil) to check out what they had to offer. We tried a couple weeks ago but there was a line down the block and we weren't in the mood for that and decided to give it a couple more weeks. Funny cuz we weren't remembering there being any lines last year on our two visits. Anyway, we got there today and there was a line down the block again. We decided to give it a go anyway. We found a meter nearby and jumped in the line. It turned out the people in front of us and behind us had never been in the store and really had no idea what to expect only that there is something about Christmas ornaments and antiques. Noel and I figured the store must have done some promotional stuff this year. They were only letting in as many people who were coming out of the store at any given time. The doorkeeper mentioned that this was the first year they've ever seen lines. I have to wonder if influences are promoting it. If seen lots of postings on instagram for thing like 'the top five christmas markets in the Twin Cities' type of stuff. 

When we got in we found the place looking festive and fantastic as it always does. Noel found a couple of the Czech bejeweled Christmas trees she loves so much. They were selling them for half as much as what they were going for online so she bought a couple. 

I found another of the Schaller Family for Christopher Radko pieces done back in the 1990s. 

When I was settling up Mr. Scornavacco said that they probably wouldn't be seeing any more of them for a while. I'm assuming it's because of the tariffs. 

Noel told me she had talked to him while she was checking out and he told her they

got their inventory in before the tariffs hit which is why they weren't as expensive as they could've been. 

The store looked great. It's always such a charming experience being in there especially during the holidays. 

We also stopped by Gypsy Moon where a picked up a bunch of ornaments and a couple of old manger scene angel figures for St. Nicholas Day. I laid them all out as I showed Dale what I purchased. 

Noel gave me a bunch of her duplicate Kunstlerschutz animals. She's been collecting them for a number of years now. It was very kind of her. Sylvester knocked the animals over when he jumped up on the table. Curious cat. He's too cute to get mad at. 

Holiday Season 2025 - Holiday Music with Cigars & Cocktails

Friday, December 5, 2025

Smoking cigars (outside)...

...and having cocktails (inside)...

...goes well with holiday music. 

Holiday Season 2025 - Cocktail Hour

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Had an Old Fashioned tonight for cocktail hour while Dale had some wine. 

Listened to Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails Volume 1. That's always a milestone in the early part of the holiday season. 

Holiday Season 2025 - Snowmen

 Thursday, December 4, 2025

Unpacked the snowmen today and started to get them set up. 

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Holiday Season 2025 - Mom's Tree

 Thursday, November 4, 2025

                     

Was over at Mom's yesterday and she's getting the birds on her new Christmas tree. 

First Sunday in Advent

 Sunday, November 30, 2025

Advent wreath at Grace. 

Advent

Earth grown old, yet still so green,

  Deep beneath her crust of cold

Nurses fire unfelt, unseen:

  Earth grown old.

  We who live are quickly told: 

Millions more lie hid between

  Inner swathings of her fold. 

When will fire break up her screen?

  When will life burst thro' her mould?

Earth, earth, earth, thy cold is keen,

  Earth grown old. 

                                 -Christina Rossetti

Holiday Season 2025 - Shopping and A Tree

 Saturday, November 29, 2025

Shopping with Noel at the antique shop this afternoon.

We cut it short due to snowy weather conditions. 

Put a tree up in my room. 

Holiday Season 2028 - Christmas Wreath

Friday, November 28, 2025

Got the new Christmas wreath up today. 

Holiday Season 2025 - New Tree Decorated

 Friday, November 28, 2025

Finished decorating the new Christmas tree today. 

Thanksgiving 2025 - Oh, You Turkey Coloring Contest

 Thursday, November 27, 2025

During our breaks in between cooking and cleaning up the house to get ready for Mom's visit Dale and I relaxed while watching the parade. I worked on coloring my turkey for the Strib's coloring contest - not that I'll submit it. I've been coloring this most years since I was a kid. 

Turned out alright. 

I think it's fridge worthy. 

Thanksgiving 2025 - Dinner

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Got the table set for the big meal. 

Pulled out the Fall Fiestaware colors. 

The preparation was overall seamless and stress free. Dinner was fantastic. When I drove Mom home she told me what a wonderful time she had. 

Thanksgiving 2025 - Good Morning!

Thursday, November 27, 2025 

Thanksgiving is here and were getting a little sun to go with it. Snowed yesterday overnight. The above picture is the view from our front stoop.

This is the view from the back stoop. 

Tuned in to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at 8:30 am. Some highlights:

Cynthia Erivo opened the parade.

Debbie Gibson sang my favorite Debbie Gibson song, Only In My Dreams. 

Darlene Love sang Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). 

The Rockettes performed. 

And, as always, Santa showed up at the end. 

We got the turkey in at noon. 

The dog show came on after the parade....

Which was my cue to play Puppies Are Forever by Sia. This song drives Dale nuts but I usually play it for him to help ring in the holiday music season with the promise I won't play it again until next year. 

Also got started on the Stribs turkey coloring contest.