Christmastide - Trying to Keep the Christmas Spirit Alive

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Back at work this past week. I miss Christmas vacation but reality came calling and ended it all. It's still Christmastide so I'm trying to enjoy some elements of the Christmas and winter seasons. Informed Dale recently that we're observing Christmas until Candlemas this year. He didn't say anything cuz, well, what's he gonna do. 

Been listening to my expertly crafted playlists. 

Trying to get outside to appreciate winter. 

I've been trying to straighten up the yard. 

Here I am finally getting some of the lawn furniture in the garage. 

Here I am taking my morning coffee outside. 

Doing a little snow shoveling/sweeping. 

I've been breaking down an unusually large cardboard box out in the garage.

I actually have no recollection of what was in this thing but it's huge. 

Trying to do this slowly over time so it doesn't end up taking up all the room in our recycling receptical. 

Saturday shopping with Noel. 

Some of our favorite shops still have holiday merchandise out. 

Fun to look around but I need more Christmas stuff like I need a hole in the head. So, no, I didn't buy anything. 

I've indulged in cigars but I'm cutting back.

I've only had two so far this past week. Compare that to about 5 per week over break. 

Dale and I are doing a dry-ish January. We didn't start until the first Monday after Christmas break. 

Overall we're doing pretty well. I had a couple Old Fashioneds this past Thursday when we went out to dinner at The Howe.

We went out to brunch this morning at Northbound and I had one of their Old Fashioneds. Compare that to however many I had per week over break (it was more than 3). 

When I saw Mike on NYE he told me one of his goals for 2024 had been to read something like 40 books, which I found quite impressive. He made clear that not all the books were massive tomes and that some were shorter and/or easier reads. Right now I'm working on Cher's memoir which is quite fun. She's been around my whole life and I've followed her over all these years. Not sure I'll make it to 40 books in 2025 but I aim to put more of a focus on reading.

Speaking of shorter books I read this one today for old times sake. It dates from the mid-60s and is chuck full of the good-grief-ethos of that time period. 

Went shopping at Kowalski's for groceries today. Quiche for dinner and Oh-ho cake for dessert (speaking of old times sake). 

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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. 

Holiday Season 2021 - Christmas Eve Day

Friday, December 24, 2021

Dale and I ran to Kowalski's this morning to pick up a few last minute items, coffee in particular. We got word from one of the parents of the boy who tried to kill himself yesterday that his condition is stabilizing and improving so we're all cautiously optimistic. 

I got the beef stroganoff started although we're not going to have it until tomorrow when Mom comes over. 

Had some clam chowder I picked up at Kowalski's for lunch. Grandma Alice used to make it on Christmas Eve. I don't remember if I had any or not at her place all those years ago since we stopped traveling to her house for Christmas when I was about 6 years old. 

I remember making some on Christmas Eve in the early 2000s. Mom got sick that afternoon and called in tears that she wouldn't be about to do Christmas Eve. 

The stuff I had today came in a can. I added some half and half and it was really quite delicious. 

Holiday Season 2021 - Finishing Up the Grocery Shopping and Decorating the Tree

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Lazy morning followed by a trip to the gym and then the grocery store to finish up getting everything we need for now through Christmas. We're entertaining tonight and then have Mom coming over for Christmas on Saturday. Kowalski's was busy-ish but not inhumane. I'm guessing this afternoon through tomorrow will be pretty nutty. 

Upon returning home from the store I spent some time decorating the tree. I got the medium and large Christmas balls up but that's it so I only made it up about half way up from the bottom. Not worried about having it only partially decorated for company tonight. As I get older I'm growing tired of imposing deadlines on myself that are not for life or death situations like, say, decorating a Christmas tree. 

You have to look hard in this photo to see the top half is sans balls. 

Holiday Season 2020 - Heightened Expectations and Emotions

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Woke up this morning to find Dale quite anxious about getting to the grocery store early. The weather is supposed to start getting really bad around noon and the store is going to be busy anyway due to Christmas. After we finished breakfast he decided to take what he said would be a much shorter than usual morning walk so we could get to Kowalski's. I decided to take advantage of the time to get a list together and get my head on straight in anticipation of accompanying him through his shopping neurosis. I'd only gotten 4 items written on the list when he burst back inside saying we needed to go to the store ASAP. 

Was I annoyed? Yes. Not because I felt he was wrong about getting to the store early but because I was being denied a few minutes to prepare myself mentally for what I was anticipating to be a stressful shopping with him. I was also annoyed with myself for how much shorter my fuse keeps getting throughout this pandemic. Part of the holidays is navigating our heightened emotions and expectations along with everyone else's. I decided to just let this one go. 

The store was indeed busy but still manageable due to it being before 9:00 am. While we were trying to get in the check-out line Dale got annoyed with the woman ahead of us who wouldn't move up to the next open social distancing floor marker. Dale asked her if she was actually in line. She said she was but didn't want to block anyone who may want to get through. As she turned away Dale rolled his eyes. I reminded him of what I reminded myself of earlier. Part of the holidays is navigating our heightened emotions and expectations along with everyone else's. 

Christmas Eve 2019

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

It's been a rather quiet and low-key day so far. Dale went to the gym this morning while I stayed home and did a little more work decorating the tree. I also got some preliminary cleaning done as we're having, Mom, John, and Noel over tomorrow for Christmas Day dinner. 

Got Athena on a nice walk. She's sleeping like a baby now. The weather is unseasonably mild. We're at 38 degrees as I write this. 

Dale and I went grocery shopping at Kowalski's yesterday but went again this afternoon for some last minute items. I'm making a sweet potato casserole for tomorrow. Mom was a little disappointed to find out I'm using canned sweet potatoes but I convinced her to cut me a little slack as it'll be my first effort. 

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Bedroom Christmas Tree

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Last year I put up a bedroom Christmas tree for the first time in many, many years. With vacation not starting until the day before Christmas Eve, time was not on my side this year as far as having things decorated as extensively as I would've liked. Anyway, I found this one half price at Kowalski's tonight while Dale and I picked up ice cream and salad fixings to take to Warren's for a post-holiday gathering tonight. I put it on my bedside table.

Holiday Cookies 2014 - Christmas Spritz Cookies

Dale and I hosted coffee hour at church today. We brought some spritz cookies made by Mrs. Kowalski.

Thanksgiving 2013 - Dale

Dale hasn't been feeling well lately. He has shingles and it's not fun. This photo was taken the day before yesterday (which was the day before Thanksgiving) at Kowalski's grocery store as we attempted to stock up on everything that would be needed for our Thanksgiving feast. We succeeded. We didn't miss one single item!

Chocolate Santas

Dale and I picked up some dinner makings at Kowalski's for some entertaining we're doing tomorrow.  I thought these chocolate Santas might make for fun photos.