Well! We’ve had our Christmas dinner and another meal of leftovers. Delicious. Christmas day was lovely and very low key. We have decided that we miss opening a present on Christmas! We’ll do it differently next year. I made french toast for breakfast and we took a lovely walk in the afternoon – during one of the few periods where the sun was shining. Yesterday was gray and dismal. Today is gray and it’s raining. And no snow in sight.
This was the scene under the Christmas tree:
And there they stayed for most of the day. Big congratulations to Chloe for managing to sit securely on that stool all day long, even with both of us treading on the floorboards throughout the day.
I hope all of you enjoyed the holiday, if you celebrate. I hope that you felt some level of peace, if only for one day. We did and I’m very grateful.
As it happens, we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve, “Meet John Doe” on Tuesday night, and “It Happened One Night” last night. A Frank Capra triple feature. It wasn’t planned, but I can’t imagine a better way to spend an evening. I think I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. Frank Capra is my favorite film director. He’s Don’s, as well.
I’m reading the newest Michael Connelly. After two months of waiting in the queue, it arrived just before Christmas. I’m also working on another puzzle – The World of Hercule Poirot.
And, that my friends, is all I have to share. We’re fairly low key this week, as are, I suspect, many of you.
I just read that the date on NYE will be 12-31-23 or 123123. Pretty neat!
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
Well, no. In (most of) the rest of the world that date will read 31-12-23 — not nearly as neat!
Best wishes for 2024, anyway…
Petra.
Is it really most of the world? Surely, Europe, of course. But you’re right! I guess it’s more fitting for North America.
Stay safe, Petra.
glad you and don had a nice Christmas with each other, the meals, movies, reading, a walk and seeing those lovely presents all day under your beautiful tree!
i hope everyone else had a beautiful day and spent it exactly as you each wanted.
low-key here, too, just as i prefer everything to be. lots of food, watched “it’s a wonderful life” and (online) church, grateful to spend time with family, missing those loved ones who are elsewhere. opened presents (among other kindnesses, i received jimmy’s new cd). had mist-y rain falling all day, then snow flurries yesterday, enough to affect visibility so we shortened our drive, but saw some pretty light displays. fed/watched earl and the birds (earl is occasionally joined by burl and merle or maybe pearl and sometimes there are three dozen or more birds on the deck at one time … doves, blue jays, cardinals, wrens and woodpeckers, among others … beautiful and fun to see). also, broke a little toe (walked into a chair with wooden legs to turn off Christmas tree lights in an otherwise dark room), but am getting along … and it means i will get a little more knitting done (wool-blend hats in various mixes of colors).
happy, safe wednesday to everyone.
kathy
I’m so sorry about your toe! Darn it. And with a toe injury all you can do is rest and elevate.
Feel better, Kathy.
Stay SAFE.
Our Christmas was busier than yours but also very pleasant, altho, I never mind when it is done! I love the Shiny bright ornaments on your tree. I display my Shiny brights in my curio cabinet as I have grandchildren that might break one and so I keep them safe. They still look so pretty tho!
Enjoy your week!
Thanks so much, Ellen.
Stay safe.
I love those weird date layouts! I’m delighted you had a lovely Christmas. We did too, and it was so very nice. (Not without a few mishaps, but nothing critical!). We watched The Christmas Story with the kids and the six-year-old made it through and was interested; the five year old — maybe next year! A lovely holiday, all around.
Wishing you a lovely remainder of the holiday season. Merry In-Between Days!
And I adore Frank Capra, too. Was lucky enough to hear him speak decades ago — a fascinating man!
A hero of mine!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
I’m so happy you had the Christmas you and Don wanted and needed. Ours was lovely, filled with our family, good food, and lots of laughter. Just what we needed.
I never tire of watching It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. We preceded it this year by watching Miracle on 34th Street…1947 version. A double header that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Enjoy your day! ;)
I knew I was forgetting one – Don doesn’t necessarily watch it, but I do. I’ll have to remember that for next year. 1947 version is the only version as far as I’m concerned.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Sounds like a perfect holiday respite. Ours was quietly family centric with the boys home for 5 days! The most they’ve spent with us since their college days. Now sons and their pets are gone and the house is so quiet.
Take care,
Kay
Glad you got some nice time with the boys!
Stay safe, Kay.
Your Christmas sounds wonderful. I hosted Christmas Eve as usual and it was lots of fun. I went overboard too as usual and I am on day two of recuperating. Bill said “you are not doing one more thing until you have
rested!” So that is what I am doing. We watched the usual Christmas movies, but one of our favorites is one people rarely know about. It is called “Funny Farm” with Chevy Chase. Very funny. My daughter turns 40 tomorrow….what!! It is not possible that we have a child that old! I am still trying to wrap my head around it. She gave herself a present, a trip to Nashville with her best friend, stayed at the Omni and saw the band Old Dominion. They are really good. Now we have to do something with the family to celebrate. Hope everyone had a merry Christmas. Our world is definitely in need of some peace! Take care!
Happy Birthday to your daughter, Deb.
Stay safe.
Sounds like a lovely Christmas. Mine was wonderful. I spent the night Christmas Eve at Sara’s and was up bright and early to watch Tiger and Scout open gifts. Their excitement and joy was contagious. We had a lovely family meal and relaxed amid the chaos. We spoke of Mom , remembering that last year her last Christmas was fun and how much she enjoyed it. Good memories. I feel a healing peace coming to my heart. I know I have many more rough days ahead but the good one’s are also coming and that is good. My daughter Ashleigh is here this week from Canada so more joyful family days. After the new year I get busy simplifying my life. Big Hugs and thank you for your friendship Claudia. It has meant so much to me over the years and I continue to look forward to your blog posts for many years to come!!
Both daughters for the holidays. Wonderful!
So happy to hear you had a blessed Christmas, Linda.
Stay safe.
Beautiful Christmas tree photos! Sounds like you had a very nice, peaceful Christmas! Yes, presents do add a nice touch to the day. We had hot cocoa while my nephew read Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus…a new Christmas tradition. That evening we watched Miracle on 34th Street, newer version…and then watched Meet John Doe…and of course, there was a lot of eating throughout the day.
Sounds lovely, Barrie.
Stay safe.
I love how we all celebrate Christmas in our own special way. Chloe looks cute as a button sitting patiently on her stool under the Christmas tree. No snow here either. Rainy and cold yesterday, today and probably again tomorrow. Wouldn’t mind seeing a few snow flakes. Hugs, Elaine
I’d love something other than gray skies!
Stay safe, Elaine.
Your tree is lovely. It sounds like you had a beautiful and peaceful Christmas.
I finished “Tom Lake” this afternoon. It was a good read and it will stay with me for a long time. It is one of my favorites for this year. I have been lucky this year and have read a lot of books I have really liked.
Take Care,
Kaye
I’m so glad you enjoyed Tom Lake. I still think about it!
Stay safe, Kaye.
Glad you two also had a lovely Christmas. I did too and I agree with you; my guy and I both said the same thing; we miss opening little gifts to each other on the ‘day’. Gonna start keeping at least one thing back for each other next year too. I know…we get to a point where we just get things as needed thru the year (which alot of us do after a certain age) rather than for those ‘special days’ exactly. And I missed opening on actual Christmas day this year. So at least one gift for each of us next year! I was on vacation thru the holiday and didn’t even look at social media, etc very much – I just enjoyed the time at home, visits with friends / family -met my sister & BIL in Americus, GA Friday 12/29/2023 with my son and we met for dinner and a little visit – its about an hour drive north from my area – they were going to Andersonville National Cemetery on Saturday to visit my parents’ graves. I had gone up 12/23 with my son as I thought they weren’t going to be able to come down from Tenn. this year – every body up there kept passing RSV around and around. Anyways, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Sounds like a lovely holiday, Dawn!
Here’s to little gifts under the tree next Christmas.
Stay safe.