I don't want to be a party pooper, but I'm out of ideas for a daily blog.  I have loved writing them every day, but the garden is about done, and I'm running out of interesting stuff to write about.  Although...I had planned this blog for December first, and keep finding something to say.  

 

When I run across something interesting, I will share; but maybe I'll just take a little break.  See you next year. 

 

LOVE YOU.  Gerry

 

This is one thing I like to do on wintery days, when we can't go outside.  This should be enough to hold me for the entire winter, maybe into 2025.

 

Of course, there is also cooking, quilting projects, paper crafting, folk art projects, blogs to write, books to read, our 2021 garden to plan, yoga, and walking the loop.  Never a dull moment around here.  But some days I like to just sit and work puzzles.  I can fill an entire morning with coffee and puzzling.

 

We count it as exercise.  Brain exercise.  Hey, it CAN'T hurt, right?

 

HAPPY DAYS!!!

 

 

 

Why do we decorate evergreen trees at Christmas?  Why do we give presents?  And how old are some of these traditions?  The Farmers Almanac offers some interesting answers to these questions.  

 

I have it bookmarked, and visit the site often, but I thought you might like to cruise on over to The Farmers Almanac and check out some interesting Winter Solstice Folklore.  There is a Christmas Quiz (that I failed,) stories about the birds of the 12 Days of Christmas, recipes, and legends and traditions associated with the Winter Solstice.  

 

Go to:  https://www.farmersalmanac.com/  No sense my retelling the stories that they tell so well.  I hope you find this interesting.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

 

Now that the leaves are off the maple trees, it's easy to spot Mistletoe growing on the branches.  You can see it all around the neighborhood.  This tree is in Lee's yard, but there's also lots in one of the trees in the meadow, across from the haybale snowman.  Look up, and if you see clumps of green in an otherwise bare tree, it's probably Mistletoe. 

 

I remember hearing stories about Nanny shooting Mistletoe out of the trees using a .22 rifle.  It could be a family legend, but I love that story.  

 

My favorite horticultural story is that the berries are sticky, and when birds eat the berries they have to clean their beaks of the sticky residue.  They scrape off the sticky mess on the branches of the trees, thus REPLANTING the seeds!  The ultimate gardeners!!

 

If you decide to bring Mistletoe into the house, be sure to remove the berries, as they are toxic to children and pets.  We love to hang a sprig in the doorway, to sneak a kiss whenever we walk under it.  Like we need an excuse.....

 

Remember to look up when you're out.  I hope you see some Mistletoe.  Think of it as a kiss from me.

 

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's my friend Patty and her joyful sign post decoration.  She is the mastermind behind these decorations, and I am the Partner in FUN.  There are 4 more signs:  HOHOHO, HOPE, LOVE, and BELIEVE.  Look for them around the neighborhood.  For those of you who are too far away to cruise around the neighborhood:  here are the other signs.  HOHOHO is already mounted at Solitude.

 

 

We even started thinking about next year's decorations.  Can't wait to create more folk art with my friend.  We do have fun together.

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

 

 

This makes me feel warmer already.  This is a picture of the beach at Nags Head on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  It was mighty hot that day if I remember correctly.  We walked on the beach barefoot, and waded into the ocean a lot.  

 

There was even a venue set up for a wedding on the beach, looking out at the ocean.

 

 

That was fun.  Thanks for going with me on our virtual trip to the beach.  Now, back to winter in the mountains.

 

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

 

Oh look!!!  Our favorite Santa.  Wonder what HE is doing!!????

 

"Making a list and checking it twice.  Gonna find out who's naughty and nice.  Santa Claus is coming to town."

 

I hope YOU made it to the nice list.  I know WE did!!!!

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

 

 

Today is Momma's birthday.  It's a special day in our family.  It's the day we officially put up Christmas.

 

Here are our decorations:  the mantel, with Father Christmas, evergreens and silk poinsettias.  There are a few other areas with evergreens and silk poinsettias, and of course the wreath full of, you guessed it:  evergreens and silk poinsettias.

 

We have a playful new cat, so NO Christmas tree this year.  Ranger wasn't impressed with having a real Christmas tree inside.  But Gizmo is much younger, and my guess is that the tree would be horizontal before Christmas ever arrives.  I love him, but he is quite rambunctious.  

 

So we will just skip the tree this year.  Maybe we'll make cheese biscuits instead.  That was Momma's other fun thing to do on her birthday.  The recipe is under cheese in the recipe section of Neighbors sharing.  You can even see a picture of Momma making cheese biscuits at Betsy's house.  

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Hanukkah starts tonight at sundown.  I was not raised in a Jewish home, but we celebrate Hanukkah every year, in our own way.  Actually Hanukkah is a celebration of historical events that occurred from the years 167 BC - 164 BC.  The story is very complex, highly political, and tragic.

 

But Hanukkah often coincides with Christmas, and is also called The Festival of Lights.  It tells the story of the miracle of the one-day supply of oil miraculously lasting eight days.  That part may be legend, but it's the idea and ritual we choose to celebrate. 

 

This is our menorah.  It holds 9 candles:  one candle for each night of Hanukkah and the shamash.  The shamash candle is used to light all the other candles.  We light one candle on the first night, two candles on the second night, and so on until the eighth night, when all the candles are lit.  My picture shows the first night of Hanukkah last year.  You can see the shamash candle stands apart, and the first night candle is lit on the right.  

 

The picture also shows a couple other things.  You can see that it is sunset, and you can see reflections of our Christmas lights.  My favorite part is this story behind the menorah:  The menorah is placed near a window or door, to remind us that when we go out into the world we should let our own inner light shine.  

 

So that is my Hanukkah story from my Christian perspective.  Let's celebrate the lights in the world.

 

 

HAPPY HANUKKAH!!!

 

 

 

 

 

We took Gizmo to see Dr Hester, DVM at Alpine Animal Hospital in Murphy.  His left eye is red and weepy, and Dr Hester said it's an eye infection.  Both the vet and his assistant commented on how well-behaved he was.  He sat there on the table without complaint, and let them put the meds in his eyes.  So now we get to administer 3 different meds into his eyes, 3 times a day!!!!  AAK!!!  

 

He also told us that Gizmo has gained 2.6 lbs since we adopted him three weeks ago.  Wow.  I guess he's making up for lost time.  He's been eating like there's no tomorrow.  Since Thanksgiving he has eaten a ton of turkey, and every day he gets half and half.  And he sleeps in the big green chair with Jon.  Does that sound like the perfect life?  Or what?

 

Lisa said she wonders if Gizmo knows he hit the kitty cat jackpot of homes.  He probably does by now:  weighing in at 8.8 lbs.

 

HAPPY KITTY!!!