Goodness. A perfect Christmas. As Don said late in the day, ‘on our terms’ – which is to say we did it with some modifications that seemed right to us this year for any number of reasons. And it felt relaxed and easy and peaceful and…right.
We started with some quiet time. Then Christmas Coffee Cake (and coffee, of course.) Oh heavens, it was yummy. And lucky for us, there’s some left over for today and tomorrow!
I mentioned before that we knew what we were giving each other. We purchased it about a week or so ago.
Back story: A long time ago, I had hundreds of vinyl records. I had a turntable and a receiver and great speakers. Then CDs came along and I went over to ‘the other side.’ Years of moves and not enough space for all the albums and storage in not very good conditions has resulted in warped and damaged records to my eternal regret. When we moved to the cottage, we gave away the turntable – which wasn’t working all that well – and the rest of the audio equipment.
What were we thinking?
There is a vinyl resurgence going on, which I find incredibly heartening. New vinyl records are being manufactured (though they’re pretty pricey) and vintage vinyl is very popular. We live near a college town that has two used record shops.
One day, when I was out and about, I saw a turntable and speakers for sale at a good price – at Barnes & Noble, in fact – and an idea came to me. I knew Don missed playing LPs as well, so when I suggested that might be our present to each other, he jumped on it.
The surprises were in the albums we chose for each other. The assignment was to find four albums that we thought our mate would love (I cheated and found five.)
The other speaker is on the piano. The speakers are wonderful – such great sound quality! We already had quite a bit of vintage vinyl around the house, but here is what we chose for each other:
For Don from me:
Willie Nelson’s Greatest Hits – vintage
The Eagles Greatest Hits – vintage
Gordon Lightfoot – new re-issue of Sundown
Warren Zevon Envoy – vintage
Neil Young Harvest – vintage
For me from Don:
Joni Mitchell Court and Spark – vintage
Frank Sinatra Swing Along with Me – vintage
Mel Tormé Live at the Crescendo – vintage
Van Morrison Common One – vintage
For both of us: Stravinsky The Rite of Spring – vintage
It’s such fun picking out records for Don! And might I add, Don’s choices for me were spot on.
We spent all afternoon listening to records. We have lots and lots of CDs but there is indeed a difference in the sound of an LP. LPs have a warmer, more intimate sound. I much prefer them. CDs, being digital, are almost perfect in their separation of sounds, but I don’t think that’s the way we actually hear sounds when we’re listening to live music. I found I was missing the warmth of a vinyl record. I even like hearing the occasional pop as the record spins away on the turntable. It’s comforting, reassuring. There’s also something about holding a record in your hand, looking at the cover art, reading the liner notes – all of which you can do with a CD, but on a much smaller scale. Holding an album is a whole other experience.
Fortunately for us, our favorite local record shop is run by a guy who listens to every album he sells and there are ratings as to the quality of the album. Everything we brought home was in great condition – even the Mel Tormé album recorded in 1954. It was as if he was in the room with us.
I see a couple of Scoutie hairs have already made their way to the new turntable.
Speaking of which:
Someone, who slept through the exchange of gifts but roused herself for record listening, got lots of soft treats from Santa and Mom and Dad. She was quite happy. (Pssst! She has a birthday coming up on January 4th. She is, at this moment: Sixteen Going on Seventeen. Another musical reference.)
Dinner was delicious. Don made the Stuffed Portobello mushrooms again, with some steamed broccoli. And I made Cloud Biscuits. Pumpkin Pie for dessert.
A lovely day, with a candle burning all day long in honor of my father.
If you celebrate Christmas, I hope your day was a happy one. In fact, whatever you celebrate or don’t celebrate, I hope your day was filled with peace and joy.
Happy Saturday.
First, let me say the coffeecake recipe was a huge hit in our home yesterday! Thanks again for sharing it.
It sounds as if you had a peaceful Christmas day. What a tremendous gift you found for each other. I wholeheartedly agree that there is nothing like vinyl when it comes to music. Heck, I still have 45’s from childhood (and grandchildren who cannot believe how we listened to music back then). Love you music choices and the fact that Scout has already left a bit of herself on your mutual gift.
Have a wonderful, perhaps music filled day.
I believe it will be music-filled, Sue! I’m so happy you liked the coffee cake and that is was a big hit! Hurrah!
Sounds like a perfect day Claudia! Love your vinyl!! It was so warm that we all (us, our son, his girlfriend, her parents and sister) took a walk along the Wisahickon between brunch and dinner. There were so many people out and about in shorts…walking, hiking. A lovely day. Tell Don, please, that I made the stuffed portobello mushrooms the other week – DELICIOUS. That will become a standard for us. Now I need to try your cloud biscuits. Still cloudy and damp, but am hoping to get out for some more walks this weekend.
It was really warm, wasn’t it, Vera? Goodness – such strange weather! So happy you liked the Portobello mushroom recipe – I just read your comment to Don – and hope you like the Cloud Biscuits as well.
Glad to hear Claudia that you, Don and Scout had a wonderful Christmas. That is what it is all about, being with the ones you love. Just nice and simple sometimes works the best. I wish I still had my albums. I miss having them and a turntable. Yes albums have gotten expensive now that they are coming back. If I just had known back then what I know now!! Have a wonderful day
hugs
Exactly! I had so many albums that I know I will never find anywhere, try as I might! Darn it!
Have a great day, Nancy!
sounds like you all had a wonderful Christmas together and for that i am glad. may you have many, many more just the same.
and a happy, healthy new year to all.
kathy in iowa
Kathy, your treats have been making Scout, Don and me very happy! Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day.
Happy to hear you had a relaxing, peaceful and yummy day! I have all of my old vinyls, from my Beatle albums, Eagles and I’m sure there is a Gordon Lightfoot in there somewhere. I have not played them in over 20 yrs because our speakers are HUGE and we just did not have room for them in this current house. I really do miss the sound of them, though. With smaller systems now, it may be possible to unearth them. It was the perfect gift for you both. Happy listening!
The smaller systems are really handy space-wise, Kathy. We didn’t have room for all of our old components, either.
Your Christmas sounds so lovely, Claudia! We had the family over Christmas Eve afternoon, and then had a quiet evening and a quiet Christmas day until my husband had to go to work that evening. We bought a turntable last Christmas as a gift to ourselves…it’s fun to hunt for albums! Lovely photos…oh, that Scout!
It’s such great fun to hunt for albums! I want to buy more!
I’ve heard people say the same thing about vinyl records – that the sound is just “warmer” somehow. So glad you both had a nice quiet not-too-sad Christmas too. Personally for me, the best Christmases are the quiet ones. And at least in my view, no snow? No problem. LOL. Have a nice quiet weekend too! ?
No snow is great! Have a lovely weekend, Janet!
It sounds perfect!
Love,
Mere
Hope the evening went well, Mer! I was thinking about you!
So happy you had a wonderful Christmas…we did too! Guess we are liking this low-key approach…no stress! #2 son, is a huge vinyl collector…he wants to go through our collection…see if he can add to his. ( Not sure I’m ready to let go just yet!) Our turntable is from the 70’s, and finally gave up the ghost this past year. Not sure if we will fix it, or replace it. You are right, there is nothing like vinyl! Hope you enjoy your day…filled with music, I’ll bet! ;)
Vinyl is the best! #2 son just might have to wait for anything from your collection!
Oh, Claudia – your Christmas sounds lovely!
This is so funny to me, because a new turntable is precisely what I have been wanting – and needing!
I cannot resist buying fabulous record albums at thrift shops, and I have so many now, and do not have a good quality player for them. Would it be at all possible to get details on what brand and model you purchased? It looks pretty darned great to me. Perhaps I should have asked Santa for one, but I think I’m on my own on this one….
We got it at Barnes and Noble, HeidiAnn.They see it in the record/CD/DVD dept. It’s by AudioTechnica. You can buy one that comes with small speakers in the box or you can buy the turntable separately and better quality speakers (they also carry the speakers) which is what we did.
Oh – and I forgot to say: I would have loved to sit and listen along with you to every single one of those albums you gave to each other!
It seems we have VERY similar tastes in music!
Great minds….
Thank you so much, Claudia!
You’re welcome!
Our granddaughter is really enjoying her record player too. My husband got her some vintage records too. Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Janis Joplin and Woodstock. He has a huge collection as well. We’re fortunate to have two used record shops in our town too. It’s really fun to introduce our 16 year old granddaughter to our music. But boy, some of those records are very pricey.
You’re not kidding – the new ones, I guess because there are fewer facilities actually making the records, which ups the cost.
Sounds like such a lovely day your family had Claudia. Our 23 year old neighbor Barbara has developed a love for vinyl too. She recently found a portable record player at Target & Is finding many records she loves at thrift stores. Guess it’s true that some things are worth holding on to.
Yes, indeed!
Sounds like a wonderful day. I’m glad you found peace in your heart. And, good choices, both of you. I think that is a wonderful way to gift each other.
It was the perfect way to give each other gifts and we were very happy with the day.
We inherited the stero cabinet from my MIL home it still plays, though the turn table needs a needle and new mat on the table itself. I’d love to listen to some of the albums we have— if they’re any good at all. I’ve read about the resurgence in vinyl. Your gift to one another sounds marvelous… The candle to honor your dad and your meal and time with Scout sounds wonderful.
We had a nice quiet day.
A movie with our youngest son and his new wife . They went on to her grandmas … and then for us Chinese food. ( because they’re always open… I think they take New Year’s Day off)
I love Chinese food, Pat!
Claudia, Your gift to each other with love..How wonderful. Something you both enjoy. I like your music too. Wishing you many days of beautiful listening. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
Thank you Susie. I hope you had a good Christmas!
Sounds like a peaceful Christmas. Mine was bedlam with three grands under six. lol Give Scout a hug for me. Such a grand girl. Hugs, Deb
I will, Deb! I bet you had fun with the grands!
What a wonderful gift…I wish I could have been listening in on all the old music..but then the music we love never grows old to us does it…What..no Beatles on Don’s list??..lol..
We already have them on vinyl!
How awesome…I got rid of mine years ago and wish I could now kick myself for it…lol..
If we only thought ahead…I had the original 45 of I Want To Hold Your Hand…did I hang on to it? NO. I could myself, too!
We still have some of our vinyl records but nothing to play them on. Our daughters have bought turntables and are begging for the records. We played them when they were young. Of course, their kids have never heard of such. Sometimes the old things are truly the best. I am glad vinyl records are gaining in popularity. Sounds like you had a great Christmas. We did,too, but not as quiet with grandkids running about.
Not as quiet, but I bet it was fun!
Our days were lovely and quiet, too. The kids were home on Christmas Eve and after church we did some fun finger foods and opened gifts. Too many, I think.
Last year the kids gave my husband a turntable. It was fun to listen to some of our old records. Both of our kids say when they hear songs from the 60’s and 70’s (which they, too, grew up listening to), they are always surprised when the “skips” we have in our albums don’t actually happen in the songs.
Yesterday was quiet, too, w/ hubs sister coming out for the aft. Quiet and comfortable is my most favorite way to celebrate! Today I feel like I hit a wall, and keep dozing off as I read. Guess it is all over for another year. Now the dreaded packing up looms ahead….but not for a week or two. Certainly not before Jan. 6.
OH!! And we just received an email from the local news saying Winter Storm Watch for Monday…. which happens to be my BD. I think we have had snow and or ice nearly every Dec. 28 for the past 66 years!! 3-6 inches. ugh…blergh….and all other nasty thoughts I can come up with. Guess we knew it was bound to happen. ?
I think we have snow in the forecast, at least we did a few days ago. I’ll have to check again. I hope not!
Happy Birthday on Monday, Chris!
What a wonderful gift you gave to each other. Our musical tastes are very similar. I have a story. A few years back while Dennis was out of the country on business, I had a yard sale. Our turntable had died a few years back and no one was repairing them that I could find. Short story…I sold all of our vinyl records. Dennis had Every. Single. Album that Elvis recorded. He loved Elvis. I sold the entire lot for five dollars!! It’s a testament to his love for me that we aren’t divorced because of that. I also sold the Eagles, Carpenters, Gordon Lightfoot and on and on. About 200 albums in all for a total of twenty-five dollars. All in fantastic condition. My only defense was that I thought we would never be able to play them again. I felt awful when I realized how upset he was. But he never yelled at me or anything like that. I could just tell.
Anyway I am so happy that you will get to experience the music that we love as it was originally recorded. Glad you had a great day yesterday.
Blessings,
Betsy
Oh boy. It is a wonder that your husband stayed so cool about the whole thing, but it sounds like he understood your reasoning! He sounds like a great guy, Betsy!
Sounds like a perfect day! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
The same to you, Lisa!
Happy Boxing Day, Claudia. What perfect gifts for the two of you! Scout appreciates the treats and extra attention, I bet. I just returned home from spending time with my parents. My daughter and brother cooked Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners and the entire family brought the food to the assisted living facility to share both evenings with my Dad. My daughters and I haven’t even exchanged presents yet. We will tonight after dinner.
Sounds like you had a lovely Christmas with your family, Wendy!
John and I got to where we did the same thing – picked out a Christmas gift together. John was a big LP fan – I have literally hundreds of vinyl albums, Several years ago, I got him a record player that looks like an old time radio but plays LPs and/or CDs. He loved to have a fire in the fireplace and that thing cranked up. LOL
Glad you had a good day – Bella and I did too. Nice and quiet.
Love,
Judy
We have one of those old time radio record players too. We might donate it now that we have the turntable…we’ll see. So glad you and Bella had a good day on Christmas, my friend!
I’m so glad you had a good Christmas Day, Claudia! We had to totally modify ours because hubby’s tummy was messed up (I think he had ‘way too much office-partying going on in the days before holiday break…and we’re older now; he can’t tie ’em on like he did when he was 20!) but he’s better today (he swears he merely got a ‘bug’…yeah, right [!!]…)and, in fact, we went to the beach and it was awesome. The sky and water were all shades of teal to pale blue-gray, lots of sailboats were out because we are VERY windy this Christmas, the sun was sparkling gorgeously on the sea about 3pm, we were probably in the 50s-temps but people were still out playing on the sand with kites and kids (just bundled up more…layers and jackets). Gulls were swirling in big groups and a vigorous ocean was splashing with a lot of drama against the jetty. The clean air did me a world of good…I am a born & bred seacoast girl and can never be away from the ocean for too long…and it was actually a terrific gift, better than anything tied with a bow. A perfect afternoon; a spontaneous let’s-get-in-the-car-and-just-GO …so, we did!
I sort of love this week after Christmas when life seems to get tidied up…reflecting on the past year, glad to see some of it gone, get out the new calendars, do a little bit of planning and dreaming. I’ve decided to draw on my Social Security this year, thanks to discussions here on your blog (informative!). And I guess I’m going to have to get a different car. THAT is something I’d rather not be doing. But my old jalopy turned age 19 last week and it didn’t pass its smog test which is mandatory for registration renewal…do we sink $700 in repairs to it (some kind of valve issue; what EVER!) and limp it along for another year? It’s what I’d prefer, but my husband is nixing that…so, I don’t want a different car! I like my old car! What to do. A car is never on my agenda and I drive them til they drop. I think a car is a horrible investment so I told my husband I want the most plain, regular, dull car on the planet…and it can be a used car; it HAS to be a used car; who in the heck can afford a NEW car?!!. The (pleasantly-plump) lady hasn’t yet sung; I’m sure Husband and I will be in continuing ‘discussions’ all day tomorrow…but he says at inching-toward-300,000-miles on the odometer, the car has provided its lifetime service, we need to be environmentally-conscientious with emissions, etc., etc. Sigh. It’s still a hit to the pocketbook, any way you shake it. But this is also just everyday life; my neighbor had a plumber out yesterday and that’s surely not a small-ticket expense…on a holiday? Ouch!!
Sounds like a lovely day, Vicki!
Our CR-V has close to 200,000 miles on it and we’ll keep driving it until we can’t. The expense of a new or used car is something we don’t want at the moment, so I understand!
Merry Christmas! I am at the airport catching up on blogs. So happy you had a great day. I love records. My son in law plays them all the time. I was able to see family in Houston and now I am ready to go home. I will have a little Christmas later this week with family. Hugs, Linda
So glad you’re on your way home, Linda!
It all looks so happy and pleasing! Great photo of Scout, too! I love the idea of the turntable, it hooked up to a stereo system? Love your LP choices, too.
With the new speaker systems, the turntable can hook right up to the speakers – no receiver necessary!