Holiday Season 2023 - 1 Days to Go: 4th Sunday of Advent & Christmas Eve Day

 Sunday, December 24, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 1 Day

A few more things to set out. 

Dale and I went to Lunds this morning to pick up some last minute stuff. It's eerily warm outside. No snow at all but we're supposed to be getting some rain soon. 

Dale and I took Mom to Jax for their Sunday buffet brunch. 

We nabbed a parking spot in Lobster Lane. I think that's the closet we've ever parked. 

The buffet was delicious. I think Mom really liked it. 

Santa was out on the patio so I snapped a photo. 

 

I started to set up the manger scene. 

Holiday Season 2023 - 2 Days to Go

 Saturday, December 23, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 2 Days

Dale started the preparations for the beef bourguignon and I helped.

Sylvester was banished from the kitchen as he kept jumping up on the counter trying to get into stuff.

While I was out with Noel, Dale let it bake and eventually added the mushrooms. Next it'll go into the fridge for a couple days where it'll marinate in its own juices until Christmas.

Tonight we watched Shop Around the Corner on TCM. So charming and romantic.

Holiday Season 2023 - 3 Days to Go

 Friday, December 22, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 3 Days

Decorated my Swedish themed tree with straw ornaments I picked up yesterday at ASI.

Gloomy day but mild enough temperatures to make taking a walk quite pleasant. 

Afternoon cigar. 

Sylvester checks out the tree. 

Late afternoon walk. Lots of pretty lights. 

Dale and I watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas tonight. It's been a few years since we've seen it. Always fun and it brings me back to being a kid. 

Found this chart on Facebook recently. Dale and I are bracing for a brown (and rainy) Christmas. It's predicted to be 51 degrees on Christmas Eve. I'd be willing to bet that the snowless Christmases noted above were not that warm. 

Holiday Season 2023 - 5 Days to Go

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 5 Days

Listened to Perry Como and finished getting decorations on the tree. 

More walking in sunshine.

Cigar time.

ANOTHER relaxing day. I'm loving this.

Holiday Season 2023 - Article: Forget Halloween, Bring Ghost Stories Back to Christmas

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Universal History Archive/Getty Images

Click on the link below for a New York Times article about ghost stories at Christmas. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/20/world/europe/christmas-ghost-stories.html?smtyp=cur&smid=fb-nytimes&fbclid=IwAR3y6ohzU9w563TQqs9mAAThAW012z4CZoPlnovw-Qn7sdeJNhiYDYDHhvw

Holiday Season 2023 - 6 Days to Go

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 6 Days

Listened to Patti LaBelle while I got some more lights and ornaments on the tree.

Started from the bottom and am working my way up. Still more to do. 

Took some nice walks today. Still decompressing and walking always helps. 

The sun was out before noon. A bit gloomier this afternoon. Dale got in a nice bike ride. 

Holiday Season 2023 - 7 Days to Go

Monday, December 18, 2023

Countdown to Christmas - 7 Days

I love waking up on Monday mornings during break and being fully aware that I don't have to go to work. 

Dale and I lounged about for quite a while this morning. I had the cat on my lap a good chunk of the time. 

I found the Cozy Christmas Coffee Cafe on YouTube and it played some Christmas piano jazz. Very relaxing.

Got the rest of the Belsnickles set up.

AND I got the lights on the tree. The LED lights give off a much cooler light than the old fashioned white lights I just got rid off. I'd still be using those if they hadn't conked out. These'll have to do. 

After getting a little lunch we went to Southdale, which, by the way, is a shadow of its former self. 

I picked up a turtleneck which looks fabulous. It should. It was very expensive. 

Dinner at Warren's tonight. We made Old Fashionds to sip on before dinner. Warren made a delicious pot pie and we brought a red velvet roulade from Lunds Byerly's for dessert.