Christmastide - Epiphany 2026

 Tuesday, January 6, 2026

This goofball attacked the nice pile of socks I was assembling while folding clothes.

Mom was supposed to be transferred to the TCU yesterday but there was some snafu and it had to wait until today. I think it was a little hard for her. She really liked her doctor along with a couple of nurses at the hospital. 

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. 

Pre-Christmas Shopping

Monday, November 24, 2025 

Mom wanted a new Christmas tree so we went shopping recently. Home Depot didn't have a very good selection of trees in the store although they had tons of them online. We decided to try Menard's instead and they had a few good options which met her criteria. She went with the one pictured above. It's narrow so it fits in her smaller space well. It's also pre-lit which I didn't think she wanted. This one has nine different light setting options. 

She sent me the above picture this morning. She's starting to put on the birds she displays during Advent. She'll decorate it for Christmas on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. 

While at Menard's I picked up this wreath for me and Dale. It's not currently on the door. I just put it there to photograph it. I'll put it back up the Friday after Thanksgiving. 

Noel and I stopped by Gypsy Moon this past weekend. Marcia had these snowmen so I snapped them up along with this mercury glass tree. These are the only winter-themed items I've set out thus far. Thanksgiving is coming up so I'll put the rest of the snowmen out the Friday after. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 12th Day of Christmas: Twelfth Night

Wednesday, December 5, 2021

Took the decorations off the tree. Will take the tree down tomorrow. 

Asked Mom to send me a picture of her tree since I haven't seen it yet. 

She also sent me a picture of a cat ornament she made. She says she likes that one the best. 

Mom has placed a St. Nicolas figure outside the door of her apartment. 

Simple dinner of left-over tater tot hot dish. 

Holiday Season 2021 - Mom's Tree

Saturday, December 11, 2021

We've been storing Mom's Christmas tree at our place since last Christmas since she downsized to a smaller  apartment. We brought it over today only to find we were missing a part of it. Without the top it looked more like a Christmas shrub than a tree.  She was a little distraught since I wasn't sure where the other part might be since it wasn't anywhere near the other parts being stored in our basement. On top of that there's a shortage of other artificial trees this years so getting a replacement might turn out to be a tall order. 

Anyway, upon returning home and doing a deeper search I ended up finding it. We zipped it over to her and she was quite excited. 

Holiday Season 2020 - Mom's Tree

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Mom moved to senior living over a year ago. Her new place is smaller than her former one and storage options are more limited. We’ve been storing things for her including her Christmas tree which she didn’t put up last year. I loaned her one of my mini trees which she used instead. This year she wanted to put up the big one so we hauled it over to her today. She’s only doing the lights for now and will add the decorations closer to Christmastime. 

The Fourth Day of Christmas - Mom's Tree

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Mom texted me a picture of the tree I brought over to her place on Christmas Eve. 

I think it looks great.

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Fondue with Mom

Monday, January 1, 2018

We weren't able to do fondue with Mom on Christmas Eve this year so we instead did it today after seeing The Last Jedi at the Southdale theater. It was divine. I stirred the cheese while she looked on and added the Kirche while referring to the book she's used for years for the recipe. The page is splattered with cheese and oil and who knows what other remnants of food.  I checked to copyright date of the cook book and it dates to 1969.  We usually have steak after the cheese fondue but today we had salmon prepared by Dale. It too was divine. 

Christmas Eve 2016 - Mom's Tree

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Looked beautiful as usual.

Christmas Eve 2015 - Mom's Tree

We got to Mom's around noon. Her friend Lynn was there to join us for lunch. We started with an appetizer of brie and apple slices on crackers.

Christmas Season 2013/2014 - Mom's Tree

Mom texted me a picture of her tree as we didn't make it over for Christmas Eve dinner like we usually do. She said she'd keep it up a little longer this year as she was away in Leavenworth visiting Sam and his family between Christmas and New Year's.

Christmas Eve 2012 - Mom's Christmas Tree

After dinner Dale and I went to Gethsemane for the late Christmas Eve service at which we both sang in the choir.  Before we left Mom's I snapped this picture of her with her tree.  She decorated it this year with many of the cross-stitch hearts she likes to make.

Christmas Eve 2011 - Dinner at Mom's

After the Christmas Eve service, Dale and I went   to Mom's for dinner. We started with some lovely hor d'ourves of brie cheese and jelly on crackers. For dinner we had cheese fondue and steak. Brownies  for dessert.