Post Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Back to the Grind

Monday, January 8, 2018

All good things must come to an end. Back to work.

Post Christmas Season 2017/2018 - The Party's Over

Sunday, January 7, 2018

School starts up tomorrow. 

A couple of these this morning helped. Maggie and Cindi joined us at the Normandy Kitchen for breakfast after church. It was a nice distraction from getting lost in my own head over the transition back to ordinary life tomorrow. It's like jumping in a swimming pool. The anticipation and the first moments after the jump are the worst. It doesn't really take that long to adjust to the change in temperature and then it's not so bad. 

Post Christmas Season 2017/2018 - More Decorating

Some of the following was set out on the 10th day of Christmas or after. Most of it has already been put away. I did a much better job of displaying my plates this year as I finally picked up some decent plate stands.  I could only find the smaller dala horses this year and not the two bigger ones. If it's getting to the point where I've got so much stuff that I can't find all of it then I think I may have a problem. Haha.

Post Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Taking Down the Tree

Sunday, January 7, 2018

The ornaments came down yesterday.

The lights and the tree came down today.

Christmastide 2017/2018 - Summary

Friday, January 5, 2018

What a year. I know of so many folks who are so looking forward to letting this year go.  Politically it's been a very unpleasant roller coast ride for me. But when I look at it from the standpoint of my personal life though, it's quite a different story. 

A year ago I was so depressed by what was going on at a national level that I resolved to take care of myself, get active, and focus on family and friendships. I did and overall I'm gonna claim success. I feel my friendships with my handful of close friends have grown deeper and more intimate. I've gotten more politically active through my labor union which has diminished my feelings of powerlessness and elevated my mood.  This past Christmas season has afforded me some time to think about all of this and appreciate where I'm at. For that I'm grateful. Despite all the ugliness in the news Christmas still comes around just the same.  It's hard to put it all away.

I read a book this year titled Old Fashioned Christmas by Ellen Stimson. I've always had a hard time saying goodbye to Christmas when it's all over and Ms. Stimson is one of the few authors of a Christmas themed book that's done a good job of describing what I often go through. She says, "And I really do not like putting away Christmas. I don't want it to end." Of course she goes into much more detail and provides the context of her own experience. For me it's hard to part with it all because it provides a beacon of light and hope during dark December. It's hard to say goodbye to the warm sentiment, time away from work, time with family and friends and time for quiet reflection, the color, spectacle, hope and anticipation, the memories of the past it stirs and helps to keep alive. Ms. Stimson also says, "...part of the secret of keeping Christmas is that Christmas has a time table." And, "Christmas only comes once a year. We all get our measure of Christmas. I have probably already had more Christmases in my past than I will get in the future. Unless I live to be 105, which doesn't seem exactly likely. But that rarity is what makes Christmas special. We have to put it away to keep it." True dat. 

Here's to many more...

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - 12th Night

Friday, January 5, 2018

Twelfth Night.

Lit a fire in the "fireplace." Dale and I both found it very relaxing.

Athena seemed to like it too.

We sang some Christmas songs with the t.v.

Made cocktails and had a simple dinner of frozen pizza.

And watched Elf.  Will Ferrell is awesome in the lead. I get a kick out of it when Buddy answers the phone and says, "Buddy the Elf. What's your favorite color?"

I didn't realize until this most recent viewing that Peter Billingsley from A Christmas Story plays the head elf at Santa's workshop. Clever casting.

The first time I saw the movie (only a few years ago) I didn't realize it was Zooey Deschanel playing the apple of Buddy's eye. The blonde hair threw me off. It wasn't until she sang Baby It's Cold Outside with her unmistakeable voice that I realized it was her. 

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - 12th Day of Christmas

Friday, January 5, 2018

Last weekday of Christmas vacation. Low key morning. Got an adjustment from Dr. Bob and then went to the gym with Dale. Still very cold but the sun was brilliant. Athena doesn't last long in sub-zero weather but she's getting a little more acclimated than she was when this deep freeze set in two weeks ago.

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Ninth Day of Christmas

January 2, 2018

On the ninth Day of Christmas...

Mike and I got together at his place on the 9th Day of Christmas for cocktails and basement jazz. He informed me that he hadn't watched any Christmas movies this year. I was sure he had at least seen White Christmas, but no. Would have watched one with him except I wasn't able to stay to late. Fortunately I had enough time to listen to some music and share cocktails and conversation. He had recently spent the Christmas holiday in Arizona with Charisse, Shayla, and his in-laws. Jealous cuz here it was and still is...

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Christmas In Connecticut

Thursday, January 4, 2017

Recently found my lost stash of Xmas DVDs. The first one I picked to watch was Christmas In Connecticut. As always, it was hunky dunky. 

Finally hauled these out today. Meant to have them up on Christmas Day. Better late than never I guess.

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - New Year's Eve

Sunday, December 31, 2017

As I write this I'm sitting on my couch in my cozy living room with Dale sitting next to me reading the paper. Athena is lying peacefully across from me on her doggie bed beneath the television. It's bitterly cold outside. It was -15 degrees this morning and is currently -7 at 5p.m.

Cocktail hour is in full swing so my Beefeater martini is at my side and I'm listening to Ultra Lounge Christmas Cocktails Vol. 4 which  is a very worthy collection of xmas tunes. The red and white lights of the Christmas tree are casting a lovely warm glow over everything. There's no place I'd rather be right now than here. 

I made a chicken pot pie tonight for dinner. The gravy was made by Mrs. Kowalski which is sooo much better than the bottled stuff. 

My martini, sitting near me on our kitchen counter while I put the pot pie together, was accidentally knocked by Dale to the floor where it shattered into a million little pieces. Thank God I didn't have any drinking buddies in the glass. They would have been traumatized.

While Dale worked on stir frying the broccoli I made myself a new martini. We're listening to Abba: The Album which is so 1977.

During dinner we watched When Harry Met Sally which has a very significant New Year's Eve scene. Dale's never seen the movie, only certain parts. Although I've suggested watching it the past few new years, he's never had a real interest in seeing it. This year he agreed and admitted it was much better than he thought it would be.  I think it's a classic that really holds up. 

For dessert I had some of the left-over chocolate torte from Noel's gathering. Dale didn't partake. 

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Holiday Brunch

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Woke up to a very cold morning. 

Fortunately, the sunshine was brilliant and the wind was low.

Alyn invited us to her church to hear Ellis play the organ. He played Angels We Have Heard on High during the offertory and he did a great job. 

There was a carol sing prior to the service and one of the songs was In the Bleak Midwinter which is one of my favorites. 

I always enjoy visiting Alyn's church. The pastor's great and there are lots of friendly folks in the congregation.  The Christmas spirit was still very much evident.

After the service, Alyn and Ellis had us over to their house for a brunch of waffles, sausage, mini quiche, and fresh fruit. They gave us an oatmeal stout bar of soap fashioned with a hedgehog mold due to the name of our house being Hedgehog Hollow.

Christmas Season 2017/2018 - Noel's Annual Holiday Fete

Saturday, December 30, 2017

The tradition continues. We figured that we've been doing this get together since 1998. 

Rosie likes to model but cannot sit still long enough to look at the camera.

Noel had to hold her so I could get this shot. 

Ella Bella is becoming more and more outgoing. She let me snap this lovely photo of her.

Noel's tree looked awesome. The teal lights are especially stunning. 

The conversation was lively as always. 

The menu included chicken wings and dummies   meatballs, cheese and crackers, fruit, and salad.

For dessert there were chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered cherries, and  chocolate torte (with no need of reform as it was perfect). 

Joe read and enchanted everyone with a ghost story titled Christmas in the Blue Chamber by Jerome K. Jerome.

And we all know Stephen is a tree hugger.  Chrissy the Christmas mouse made a brief appearance. She seemed a little miffed most likely due to her being more and more excluded from the event in recent years.