Christmas Wrap

I felt like sharing a little peek at our Christmas this year. With only 2 days of 2015 left to go, I’m feeling reflective as many of us are at this time of year.

After a breakfast of cinnamon rolls, bacon, and fruit, we did what we’ve done every Christmas morning for 20 years and sat by the tree and opened gifts. The girls are no longer up super early, eager to find out what Santa has left, but there were still some gifts to be excited about.

Sarah’s “big” gift was tickets to see the band Imagine Dragons.

She and I will be headed down to Foxwoods tomorrow. A great gift for both of us – precious time together and a fun way to celebrate New Year’s Eve. I enjoy the music of Imagine Dragons as well so it should be a good time.

We did not surprise Meghan with her “big” gift this year. As I’ve mentioned before, Meghan is a member of Clark University’s ballroom team, assistant captain in fact, and it is a huge joy for her. This is her third year competing, and for the first time, she will have a custom-made-for-her ballroom gown to wear. We are awaiting its arrival. This was something she needed to choose and many measurements had to be taken to place the order. Just to be silly, I took a picture of the dress from the website we ordered from and pasted her head on it. This is what it will look like but in emerald green:

I can’t wait to see her in the real thing.

Other fun things received – Sarah got a Chewbacca bathrobe and this cap relating to a character from the “Homestuck” web comic that my daughters read.

I got a new Kindle, as my old one has been acting rather wonky as of late.

My girls got together and gave me some grown-up coloring books and nice colored pencils. Have you noticed this seemingly growing trend of coloring books for adults? They have intricate designs that take some time and patience to color. My daughters had a couple of their own, and I’d remarked how I’ve always loved coloring and that I’d probably enjoy them too. Here’s my first picture I’m working on:

Interestingly enough, my sister had a similar idea, and also gave me one of those books. She put together a well-appreciated “zen” themed gift that also included yoga clothes and a gift certificate for the yoga studio I attend.

My sister and the rest of my family Christmas guests arrived in the early afternoon. We had a delicious feast – wish I remembered to take a few pictures of all the wonderful food!

Uncle “Sonny”

Jim (my stepfather) and Sonny

Joan (my mother-in-law), Mom, Jennifer (my sister) and Larry (her husband) Craig managed to avoid being within view of my camera’s lens!

Christmas celebrations continued and will still continue this week. We had a Christmas dinner with my father the day after Christmas at my sister’s house. She made a delicious white wine coq-au-vin. And this Friday, New Year’s Day, will be the famous annual Pig Out!

I hope the holidays are treating you well. If I don’t get my 2015 wrap up post done before midnight tomorrow (and I imagine I won’t since I’ll be seeing Imagine Dragons as we ring in the new year) a very happy new year to you all!

Keeping my blog tradition alive

It is Christmas Eve morning
And I’ve so much to do
But instead of getting started
I’ve chosen to write my blog post for you

A little tradition I began
2011 was the year
Though my blog habits are waning
I thought if I skipped, there could be a tear

I scratched out my thoughts
On paper at first
Hoping as I wrote
Inspiration would burst

This Christmas will be strange one
It’s green and it’s wet
Forecast today for 70 degrees
A new record we’ll set

Our first in ten years
Without Daphne near by
I’m missing her sweetness
Please Facebook, with memories, don’t make me cry

Two legal adult daughters for the first time this year
No longer children but they still bring me glee
I love having them home
It’s best part of Christmas for me

Life brings us changes
On that we can depend
This poem is turning reflective
Perhaps I should end…

With a wish for you all
That I hope won’t seem trite
Have a wonderful Christmas
And to all a good night!

A Little Nostalgia

As my mother was getting ready to leave my house Christmas night, we noticed one more gift still wrapped under my tree. Oh yeah, we remembered, my sister had dropped off a Christmas gift for my mother from her sister, my aunt Janet. The wrapping paper ripped a little as my mother went to pick it up, and she decided to open it then. Inside the large box were 5 smaller boxes and a note from my aunt. It read something like, “This isn’t really a gift, it is more a trip down nostalgia lane.” The 5 smaller boxes inside were addressed one each to my mother, my sister (who had unfortunately already left for the evening), myself and my two daughters. Inside each box, there was a pretty pink sack like this,

a copy of this photo of my grandmother

(my mother estimates this photo to be from possibly the late 1930’s or early 1940’s when her mother was around 30; my mom had not yet been born when it was taken)

and a handwritten note of explanation from my aunt.

My grandmother, Grace Marie, passed away in 2006 at the age of 98. She was a young girl when the Red Sox won the World Series in 1918 and was pleased as punch when they broke that 86 year drought and won it again in 2004. They won it again what would have been the day after her 100th birthday in 2007. But I digress.

Of a very different generation than the one that currently finds it acceptable to go out in one’s pajama pants, my grandmother always dressed up whenever she left the house whether it was to run errands or visit family. She loved costume jewelry and to match it with whatever she was wearing.
She left behind a rather sizeable collection of it when she died. My aunt decided that a nice way for her mother to be remembered would be to pass along some of the pieces to female members of the family. She sorted through and chose pieces for us, often picking ones that resembled our birthstones.

The four of us marvelled at the amazing thought behind this gift of nostalgia. There was much “ooh-ing” and “ah-ing” as pieces were tried on and questions asked by my daughters who do not remember her well, due to their young age at the time of her death.

I received these, since April’s birthstone is diamond:

Meghan’s birthstone is an amethyst. There are some purple drop earrings here in the jewelry received by her.

Even Sarah, my tomboyish daughter, enjoyed receiving the glittery gift which included the green necklace close to August’s peridot. She thinks maybe she will be able to wear some of the treasures she received when she goes to the prom next June.

Thank you, Auntie Janet, for your thoughtfulness and this beautiful gift to the women of our family.

Twas the blog post before Christmas

Time for my annual traditional blog post, with apologies to C. Clement Moore! (You can see the last three years’ Christmas poems here, here and here.)

Twas the day before Christmas
and there is plenty to do.
But my first thought this morning?
Write a blog post for you!

My day will entail
cooking and cleaning – no trip to the mall!
I’ve a long day ahead
but feel rather calm ’bout it all.

My yard has been cleaned
of all the debris.
I paid a guy
to do this for me!

I’m out of school for 12 days
on this holiday break.
A well deserved rest
students and staff we will take

There’s no snow on the ground.
This Christmas will be green.
But there are other
fun sights to be seen.

When my gift wrapping began,
it was a bit of a fright,

but I worked my way through
by the end of last night.

So now I face Christmas Eve morning
with a list long as my sleeve,
and a hope this bad poetry
won’t cause you to leave

before I’ve had the chance
with all of my might,
to wish you all Merry Christmas
and to all a good night!

Two Hour Delay

I had absolutely no idea this morning there was any weather in the works that could call for a two hour delay to the start of school. I got in the shower at 5:30 am like I always do, and apparently shortly after that, the phone calls came in: one for the district I work in and one for the district I live in – 2 hour delay for icy roads due to some freezing rain in the wee hours.

Too wide awake to go back to bed at this point, plus I was already showered (wet hair), dressed and had put make up on by the time I discovered the calls on my cell phone. What to do? Make a cup of coffee (darn it no half n half or almond milk in the house, have to go with regular milk) and sit down to write a blog post.

That crazy-busy time of year is in full swing. Did LOTS of shopping this past weekend plus Amazon will be making regular deliveries to this house over the next few days. The tree is up.

I missed having Meghan around so much last year when we did the tree that this year I used “FaceTime” on our iPhones so we could have a video call while we decorated. Sarah and I picked out some ornaments for Meghan to “hang”. Here’s a couple of them:

Snowman on the left has her name on it and the one on the right is in her birthstone color. There were various others that were considered “her” ornanments and we showed them to her one by one on the phone and then pointed the phone at the tree so she could choose where to put them. It wasn’t the same as having her here of course, but it was nicer than last year when I was really feeling her absence.

Christmas time also includes regular embarrassment of my dogs:

Daphne was a good sport about it long enough for me to get a photo. Teddy was less cooperative. He had the hat off before I could focus the camera.

Remember my post where I talked about changing traditions? Two of my Christmas traditions seem to be going by the wayside this year. I don’t know if they are permanent changes or just temporary. I don’t think I will be sending Christmas cards or putting up my Christmas Village this year. I usually make photo cards with cute pictures of my daughters and dogs on them in November. Time has gotten away from me. I know it isn’t too late to make them, address them and send them out before Christmas, but I feel like it is one added “pressure” to my time these days at this point. So to any family or friends who may be reading this who normally gets a card from me, don’t feel I’ve dropped you from the list! I feel the same way about the Christmas village. It is a huge labor to set up and to take down. Perhaps I will find some space here and there around the house to display a few favorite pieces.

How is your December going so far? Holiday hustle and bustle for you?

What has become a Christmas Tradition…

Twas two days before Christmas
And my house is a mess.
How will it ever be ready
for dinner and guests?

I’ve not begun baking
nor cleaning just yet
but soon as I’m done blogging,
to the kitchen I’ll get.

The gifts have been wrapped
on that step I’m ahead
but there’s still plenty to do
before this body hits bed.

But poor Michaela had asked,
“What about snow?
Surely you can show me
some pictures ‘fore you go!”

Especially for you,
I tromped out into the white!
A true New Englander,
It gives me no fright!

I wish you no worries
from this silly blog of mine.
I wish you Merry Christmas
and a peaceful holiday time!

ETA: I may have unintentionally given the impression, I’ve realized after reading some comments, that it is still snowy here. This past weekend brought temperatures near 60 degrees F – all snow is completely gone! It is green and muddy and mushy here now.

Dogs, a little snow and a Fire!

Some of you may remember that I am not a huge fan of winter, but that even I was wishing for a touch of snow to make things look pretty outside.  The winter storm that just finished piling on the mid-west and made its way here to the northeast last night dropped a few inches here.  Then it rained heavily this morning and washed a lot of it away and left piles of slush.  I’m looking out the window right now at what appears to be what the weatherfolk refer to as a “wintery mix”.  Just messy, not pretty unfortunately.

Christmas morning also brought a touch of the white.  It wasn’t enough to cover the lawn, but the dogs enjoyed it.

We had a peaceful Christmas morning.

Oh, and you must be wondering about that fire in the title! No, it wasn’t that kind of fire, it was this kind:

Dear hubby surprised me with a Kindle Fire for Christmas. We had decided we were buying them for the girls for Christmas – imagine my surprise with being presented with one myself!

Later in the day we welcomed family for dinner, gift-giving

and desserts galore.

The new dishwasher hummed quietly throughout the day!  Tell me about your day in the comments if you like!

‘Twas the Weekend Before Christmas

‘Twas the weekend before Christmas, and all through the house,

All I could hear was the grumbling of my spouse.

The dishes were piled all over the sink

Glasses and plates and utensils did clink.

Our dishwasher, you see, had sprung a great leak

To replace it before Christmas my husband did seek.

In the dining room I settled, all ready to wrap

with Christmas music playing, my toes they did tap.

When HORRIBLE sounds arose from the kitchen,

my husband was swearing and yelling and bitchin’!

The NEW dishwasher, apparently, was  broke.

“I can’t believe this!” hubby bellowed, from his ears there was smoke!

Pack it all up and return to the store,

my husband, he flew, away with a roar.

With a second dishwasher now needing install,

poor hubby was tired and frustrated with it all.

The words that he used I’ll dare not repeat,

you can guess for yourself it wasn’t lamb’s bleat.

Today as I sit here, writing these words,

my quiet new dishwasher can barely be heard.

As Santa readies his sleigh to fly through the air,

I’m quite sure that my husband has a little less hair!

Let it snow??

My family and anyone else who knows me will be wondering about now just who hijacked Karen’s blog.  “Let it snow?” they would be wondering.  Karen doesn’t wish for snow!  Just what is going on here?

I will assure you, readers, friends, family, that it is indeed me, Karen, doing the writing here and not Mr. Cold Miser.  I did just, however, pick up these adorable snowman ornaments.  They are glass and sparkly and have opal-ly, snow-like sequins inside them.

But I did recently tell both Robin and Kathy that I honestly wouldn’t mind just a bit of snow.  WHAT?!?  Yup, it’s true.  We have rain predicted here for at least the next 24 hours.  It’s been looking kind of ugly outside – dead plants, leafless trees, gray skies.  Just a touch of snow might just pretty things up a bit.  Nothing overboard now Mama Nature!  Enough to cover the lawn and the dead leaves would do nicely, thank you.

I’ve got my tree up

and a good amount of Christmas shopping done, so go ahead, let it snow – just a little bit!

Bits and Pieces

Hi there bloggers, readers, friends.  I’ve been a slackerly blogger once again.  But I have been thinking of you!  It is busy time of year for many of us, but I do hope to post from time to time this month.

I haven’t been inspired for a photo hunt this month, but I did have a group-blog idea pop into my head.  Some of you may remember this post that I did two years ago looking for dinner ideas.  There were many wonderful suggestions.  I never did put that binder of favorite recipes together like I promised myself that I would!  Anyway, the idea that I had was to ask all of you (myself included) to take pictures of what you are having for dinner for a week.  It wouldn’t matter if it was homemade or take-out, carnivorous or vegetarian – I’d still like to see it.
I even started to do it myself:

then kind of forgot about it.  So let me throw the question out to you:  Would you have any interest in photographing your dinner for a week and then doing a post afterward showing what you ate?  I thought it might be a fun way for us all to maybe get some different dinner ideas.  I’m not looking for fancy food here – unless you want to go that way.  I think it’d be great to see everyday kind of dinners.  Let me know what you think in the comments and maybe we can get a group blog-along project going, and pick a date to do it.

In other news, I have a picture of my girls to show you.

The semi-formal dance was at their high school last weekend.  It seemed like a good excuse to show you their smiling faces.

This made me smile  just the other morning.  A fiery sunrise was getting started as I was on my way out the door to work, so I grabbed a quick shot before I went out the door.

Sorry for the blur.  I was taken in by the gorgeous color and didn’t really take the time to stabilize myself before running out to the car.

It is a rainy Saturday morning as I sit here at my keyboard typing to you out there in the blogosphere.  We’re planning to brave the icky weather today to get our Christmas tree and get some more shopping done.  I’m getting there, not too much more to do.  That makes me happy since I host Christmas dinner for my family.  Once my gift shopping is done, I can focus on cleaning the house and planning for the big day.

I hope to be back at the blog later this weekend, maybe with pictures of the tree all decorated.  I plan to spend some time catching up with all of you too.  Please let me know what you think of the blog-along idea!