In with the New

When I was growing up, we would open our presents on Christmas morning. When not in use or being played with, the opened presents would stay underneath the tree until it came down on New Year's Day. The husband didn't like this, so it never became a tradition in our family unit. The tree seems empty once there's nothing beneath it, and I often don't think about plugging in the lights. It is as if its purpose has been served and it is just, just there. It looks even emptier now that the ornaments, garlands, and lights have been removed.

The Dying of the Light

The Christmas lights look so naked in the daylight. They, along with the tree, stockings, and other seasonal paraphernalia, will come down on Sunday. A taking down of the old as we welcome the new, or something like that. I reflect too much or too deeply at times, but if you can't do that at the changing of the year I'm not sure when you can.

Additions to the Family (Tree)

The husband took younger son to his girlfriend's house today and returned with Christmas goodies including these three ornaments. I think they fit right into our assortment of oddities. Next year, though, I doubt they'll be hung together on the tree since there's never rhyme nor reason to what goes where ... with the exception of the Christmas Ape, that is.

Hmm?

Chinese food on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eves is another family tradition; this was my fortune from last night's dinner. Perhaps this is not the time to say that my Christmas presents included an unsuccessful attempt by the sons to purchase one of the guns sold after my dad's death. Let's just say that if I encounter the problem of having too much free time, I have several new books, fiction and crafty, and several new yarns with which to fill it. And a new gun, a near duplicate of the one that was Dad's favorite.

Berry Good Tidings

Two loaves of bread finished. One is half eaten, and one has been gifted. Three pounds of cranberries turned into sauce. Dough for two pie crusts awaiting rolling. After that, there's filling for two pumpkin pies to make as well as dough for tomorrow morning's cinnamon rolls. Merry Christmas Eve!

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

A friend gave me ninjabread men cookie cutters, and I thought how wonderful it would be to decorate little ninjas for my kendo and karate colleagues. Yeah right. I was so no good at frosting gis and belts onto the little suckers that I gave up, dumped lots of frosting on each one, and told the sons to have at them. Maybe next year.

The Stockings Were Hung ...

... not quite by the chimney with care but at least amidst all the Christmas cards we've received so far this year. I particularly like the ones from the Obamas and the Warners (Mark is one of our two Virginia senators).

Gruffles, Meet Biscuit

When I got Gruffles, one of the resident cats, Catbert, was convinced that it was a real dog. It will be interesting, then, to see what Catbert thinks of our guest for Christmas, a Jack Russell-beagle mix named Biscuit. The story is too long for a mini-blog; suffice to say Biscuit needs a safe house for the holidays, and we plan to provide it. Sort of like witness protection for dogs.

O, Christmas Ape

It wouldn't be Christmas without the Christmas ape atop the Christmas tree. What? You mean not everyone has a Christmas ape atop their tree? And this year, he's joined by the Rantosaurus, a so-far-undocumented Beanie Baby mutation.

Time for a Tree?

The present chair is filling up fast. I'm thinking it's time to get the Christmas tree.

Party Time!

It's time for the office Christmas party, and those are my legs looking out from beneath hosiery. I don't wear skirts often, but tonight seemed appropriate. I never wear shoes with anything remotely like a high heel. I can only dress up to an intermediate height.

Hostess With (or Without) the Mostest

The lighting on this poinsettia leaf could be better, but I'm in the home stretch to a dinner party and about to get to the do-a-bit-of-paid-work-I-can't-out-off-until-Monday point. Then it's coasting into hosting, though hopefully not downhill from here. Fried brain? Why, yes, I believe I do have one, thank you very much.

Ninjabread Men

I find gingerbread oddly addicting. If I eat one of these, I could easily eat them all. I wish these were destined for elsewhere; alas, these were the practice run for some batches I hope to make come Christmas-time.

Getting Carded II

Sometime over the long Thanksgiving weekend, I really should pick up the box of Christmas cards from the floor and start the addressing. "Should" may not equal "will," though. We shall see.