The countdown has begun. I spent this entire weekend working outside putting up lights and Christmas decorations. Saturday was a little on the cool side and quite windy but I managed to get some of it done but today was sunny, warm and windy.
I told my daughter I thought Kansas had moved to Oklahoma the way the wind was blowing and I wish it would go home. I literally had to stake and tie all my decorations out in the yard to keep them from blowing over or away.
But the wreaths have been hung on the gates, the lights are all along the fence, took 12 strings of 100 lights each but it almost covers the entire length. The lighted garland is draped around the screened in porch with its big gaily red bows.
The Nativity set is up flanked by the Peace On Earth Angels in the north yard, while the south yard displays a winter wonderland with the 7 ft. tall spiral trees, two reindeer, a snowman and a grouping of three small white trees, all with white lights.
The candy cane lights are along side the patio and extension area on the north side of the porch and are off set by the snowmen lights that daughter put in front of her trailer on the south side of the porch.
The pot on the shepherd's hook has red poinsettias with green holly and a holly vine twines up and around the top with two red bows at the feet of the roosters which are attached to the top heart shape.
The cords have been laid and only have to attach the automatic timers so on Thursday night when darkness arrives, the magic begins for a four hour show.
Of course, this doesn't mean that I'm done. I still have the snowflake lights, the small train and Santa's sled to put up and light up as well.
On Wednesday night, the fun begins inside as the tree goes up and will be decorated so again on Thursday night the lights will shine and it can be seen from its place in front of the window. The house will begin to take on the look of the Christmas holiday as the Santa collection comes out, the Nutcracker collection will be displayed, the pots with poinsettia's scattered about, green garlands decorating the stairway bannister and every room in the house will have some decoration denoting the season.
The library table will be covered with the lacy scarf that has the Nativity story and on top will be displayed the antique Nativity that belonged to my grandparents, the first one that my husband and I bought along with a couple of others we've bought throughout the years and the Bible will be open to the story of the birth of Jesus. It is almost a ritual as the table is set up with the Nativities and the story is read and made available to all who wish to read it again and again.
The packages will start piling up under the tree with the anticipation setting in as to what their contents might be and the guessing game starts.
It is an exciting time of the year with so much to see and hear and feel. The excitement of driving around to see the lights and displays, shopping for that perfect gift, the smell of freshly baked cookies and pies, the sounds of Christmas songs and carols being played and a general feeling of love and contentment.
Although I have no little ones to go see Santa, I still enjoy watching the little ones as their eyes light up and the smiles on their faces when they see a Santa in the store or in a parade. And even at my age, I still believe. Santa is the fun part of Christmas just as Jesus is the reason we celebrate his birthday and we rejoice in hearing the story of his birth.
It is a glorious time of the year, even more exciting and filled with anticipation than Easter or the Fourth of July.
I wish I could keep Christmas year round with all the bright sparkling lights and decorations. The colors of red and green are an inspiration for me and the houses look so pretty all decked out in their holiday finery. It is that time of year when we gather with family or friends for parties or dinners and the sound of laughter makes the merriment of the season even more so.
So the countdown has begun and will go for me until after the New Year arrives. I try not to think about the day that the lights go dark and will be gathered and put away until next year. I'm just going to enjoy every minute of every day and take in all the sights, sounds, smells and the joy of the season.
This will be my first Christmas without my husband but I know he is with me in spirit and he will be in my thoughts as I look around and see the favorite things we both enjoyed through the years as well as his favorite things. He enjoyed the season as much as I do and always let me decorate to my heart's content and I'm not going to change a thing this year. I know he would want it that way too.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Time
I can't believe how fast the time is going. I meant to post something on the 11th and time has got away from me.
November 11, is a special day as it is not only Veteran's day, it would have been our 49th wedding anniversary. Melanie took off work early so that we could go to the cemetery and I could be with him for a few moments. Then she decided she was going to make it a special day for me.
We had to stop by the bookstore to pick up some books I had on consignment and then went out to eat. We had a nice meal and good conversation. In fact, we talked all the way back home as well.
We had to make a stop at Walmart to pickup just a few things. Yeah! A few things always grows into several but we had fun while we shopped. We got what we stopped for but then had to look at the Christmas decorations and went down the clearance aisle. I spotted a game that looked like fun so we got it and after she picked up a few stocking stuffers, we decided we'd better get out of there before we went into the hole.
We came home and put our stuff away and then I went out to her trailer. We decided to try out the new game which is called Last Word and it was so much fun that we actually played two games. She had bought Zach's Wii so we had to give it a try as well. We tried out the bowling and it was the first time I've ever used a Wii but I beat her. Then we had to try baseball and sure enough I hit a home run. This is fun!
She had bought a dance program for it so naturally we had to check that out as well. I will say that it does give you a work out and I am supposed to exercise but for now I'll stay with the slower and shorter versions so I don't run out of breath so easily.
But here it is over halfway through the month of November and just about time for Thanksgiving. I'll be getting out the Christmas decorations and this weekend will be putting up the outside lights and decorations and will set up the tree the night before Thanksgiving.
I love Christmas and can hardly wait for it to come but I don't want to wish time to go this fast. My husband always said I was like a kid when this time of year came around and I just couldn't get enough of it. He was right and I almost got it all out last week but then I decided I would wait. I know he would want me too and besides it makes it more fun to see the lights come on Thanksgiving night in preparation for the next holiday.
Usually I put up all the lights by myself but last year he got out to help me. He even suggested we add more and helped as we strung lights all along the fence out front. I only did part of it. But he wanted more and so we did it. I look back now and think it was such a fun time with us working together and having him help me and I do so wish he could be here with us this year but I'm sure he is watching over us.
I want to keep some of the traditions that we started and it will make me feel he is a part of our celebration. I'll be displaying his collection of Nut Crackers and have bought three new ones to add to it. I'll also put out his favorite train that gives a message as it travels back and forth. That was something he saw and bought and every year we had it out and he was forever turning it on and showing it to everyone who came or maybe just to sit and watch it by himself. It will be in a place of honor this year where we all can see it and yes, it will be run, as I will sit and watch it from his favorite chair.
I only hope as the season progresses, Time will slow down so we can savor every day and every minute and enjoy the lights and colors and smells that come with the holiday. But more important, I hope we have the time to really appreciate the reason for this holiday. The old Nativity that belonged to my grandparents will be on display along with the other sets I've bought through the years and the Bible will be open to the story of the birth of Jesus.
And we will make new memories this Christmas to blend with the past memories.
November 11, is a special day as it is not only Veteran's day, it would have been our 49th wedding anniversary. Melanie took off work early so that we could go to the cemetery and I could be with him for a few moments. Then she decided she was going to make it a special day for me.
We had to stop by the bookstore to pick up some books I had on consignment and then went out to eat. We had a nice meal and good conversation. In fact, we talked all the way back home as well.
We had to make a stop at Walmart to pickup just a few things. Yeah! A few things always grows into several but we had fun while we shopped. We got what we stopped for but then had to look at the Christmas decorations and went down the clearance aisle. I spotted a game that looked like fun so we got it and after she picked up a few stocking stuffers, we decided we'd better get out of there before we went into the hole.
We came home and put our stuff away and then I went out to her trailer. We decided to try out the new game which is called Last Word and it was so much fun that we actually played two games. She had bought Zach's Wii so we had to give it a try as well. We tried out the bowling and it was the first time I've ever used a Wii but I beat her. Then we had to try baseball and sure enough I hit a home run. This is fun!
She had bought a dance program for it so naturally we had to check that out as well. I will say that it does give you a work out and I am supposed to exercise but for now I'll stay with the slower and shorter versions so I don't run out of breath so easily.
But here it is over halfway through the month of November and just about time for Thanksgiving. I'll be getting out the Christmas decorations and this weekend will be putting up the outside lights and decorations and will set up the tree the night before Thanksgiving.
I love Christmas and can hardly wait for it to come but I don't want to wish time to go this fast. My husband always said I was like a kid when this time of year came around and I just couldn't get enough of it. He was right and I almost got it all out last week but then I decided I would wait. I know he would want me too and besides it makes it more fun to see the lights come on Thanksgiving night in preparation for the next holiday.
Usually I put up all the lights by myself but last year he got out to help me. He even suggested we add more and helped as we strung lights all along the fence out front. I only did part of it. But he wanted more and so we did it. I look back now and think it was such a fun time with us working together and having him help me and I do so wish he could be here with us this year but I'm sure he is watching over us.
I want to keep some of the traditions that we started and it will make me feel he is a part of our celebration. I'll be displaying his collection of Nut Crackers and have bought three new ones to add to it. I'll also put out his favorite train that gives a message as it travels back and forth. That was something he saw and bought and every year we had it out and he was forever turning it on and showing it to everyone who came or maybe just to sit and watch it by himself. It will be in a place of honor this year where we all can see it and yes, it will be run, as I will sit and watch it from his favorite chair.
I only hope as the season progresses, Time will slow down so we can savor every day and every minute and enjoy the lights and colors and smells that come with the holiday. But more important, I hope we have the time to really appreciate the reason for this holiday. The old Nativity that belonged to my grandparents will be on display along with the other sets I've bought through the years and the Bible will be open to the story of the birth of Jesus.
And we will make new memories this Christmas to blend with the past memories.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
November
November. I like the sound of that month. I don't know why but it has a pleasant sound. Maybe because there is so much associated with it that it makes a person feel happy.
We just had the mid term elections yesterday and I'm sure there are a few who will read this and not be happy, but for me, I am very pleased at the results. And even more so that I was a part of it right here in my state of Oklahoma where we made history yesterday in electing the first woman governor of our state. And I think we selected the right woman for the job. We had two women running but of the two, the conservative won and she will turn this state around and get us back on track and she won almost by a landslide.
We will be ending day light savings time next Sunday, November 7. Ordinarily it occurs in October but this year it was moved back. It is already hard to get used to the dusk settling in so early, so I imagine next week I really will be confused as it comes an hour earlier. I know it is kind of confusing but I just remember the saying, "Spring forward, Fall back," and then I get the right time. If I'm not sure, the clock on the TV programming guide or my computer will verify it for me.
We will celebrate an honored holiday on November 11th. Veteran's Day. To me, it is a very special day as it was the day that I married my husband, 49 years ago. We would have celebrated our 49th anniversary this year but I won't let it go by. I plan to go visit him.
But the big holiday will be Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving if I can have all my family together. Not only do we prepare a huge meal that leaves us feeling miserable and asking why we had to have the second helping, and then all the leftovers that we'll be feasting on for a couple of days, but just being together for talking and laughing, playing games and enjoying being together as a family. We are not a sports oriented family so there will be no fighting over the TV to watch a football game. No sirree! Not in this house. We will be playing card games or board games or word games with the grandkids and the adults too. We have as much fun as the kids do.
It is also the day that starts my favorite time of the year, Christmas. My tree will go up and if the grandkids are here, they will help with the decorations. I will have already put up the outside lights and decorations so when the sun goes down, the automatic timers will flip on the lights on Thanksgiving night to begin the Christmas celebration.
I used to get up early and hit the stores for the bargains on the Friday after, but not any more. Being on a limited budget I try to buy little things throughout the year and only buy last minute or if it is a big item, it will be the last on the list. I love the decorating inside as well as outside, so I'll be busy putting up decorations all around the house, just about in every room.
I have several collections, a Santa collection, my husband's Nutcracker collection, which I have added to this year, plus I have several Nativity scenes that I display along with an open Bible with the story of the glorious birth of our Lord for all to read.
So I guess when I say November, not only is it nice to say, it reminds me of all the delights that lie ahead of me this month and next month. But most of all it reminds me of all the things I am thankful for as well as my family, near and far.
We just had the mid term elections yesterday and I'm sure there are a few who will read this and not be happy, but for me, I am very pleased at the results. And even more so that I was a part of it right here in my state of Oklahoma where we made history yesterday in electing the first woman governor of our state. And I think we selected the right woman for the job. We had two women running but of the two, the conservative won and she will turn this state around and get us back on track and she won almost by a landslide.
We will be ending day light savings time next Sunday, November 7. Ordinarily it occurs in October but this year it was moved back. It is already hard to get used to the dusk settling in so early, so I imagine next week I really will be confused as it comes an hour earlier. I know it is kind of confusing but I just remember the saying, "Spring forward, Fall back," and then I get the right time. If I'm not sure, the clock on the TV programming guide or my computer will verify it for me.
We will celebrate an honored holiday on November 11th. Veteran's Day. To me, it is a very special day as it was the day that I married my husband, 49 years ago. We would have celebrated our 49th anniversary this year but I won't let it go by. I plan to go visit him.
But the big holiday will be Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving if I can have all my family together. Not only do we prepare a huge meal that leaves us feeling miserable and asking why we had to have the second helping, and then all the leftovers that we'll be feasting on for a couple of days, but just being together for talking and laughing, playing games and enjoying being together as a family. We are not a sports oriented family so there will be no fighting over the TV to watch a football game. No sirree! Not in this house. We will be playing card games or board games or word games with the grandkids and the adults too. We have as much fun as the kids do.
It is also the day that starts my favorite time of the year, Christmas. My tree will go up and if the grandkids are here, they will help with the decorations. I will have already put up the outside lights and decorations so when the sun goes down, the automatic timers will flip on the lights on Thanksgiving night to begin the Christmas celebration.
I used to get up early and hit the stores for the bargains on the Friday after, but not any more. Being on a limited budget I try to buy little things throughout the year and only buy last minute or if it is a big item, it will be the last on the list. I love the decorating inside as well as outside, so I'll be busy putting up decorations all around the house, just about in every room.
I have several collections, a Santa collection, my husband's Nutcracker collection, which I have added to this year, plus I have several Nativity scenes that I display along with an open Bible with the story of the glorious birth of our Lord for all to read.
So I guess when I say November, not only is it nice to say, it reminds me of all the delights that lie ahead of me this month and next month. But most of all it reminds me of all the things I am thankful for as well as my family, near and far.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)