MERRY CHRISTMAS

It's Raining again!

I can't get over this weather we're having! In the last 3 1/2 months, we've had LESS than 10 full sunny days! I KNOW!!! It is so drab and dreary and wet and misty and foggy and grey all the time! We're also having above seasonal temperatures, so the big snowfall we had a few weeks ago is down to slush. The grass is showing and the mud isn't frozen anymore! Poor Gracie, [our Lab] hasn't been for a decent walk in days. I know she wouldn't care if it's raining, but I hate walking the dog holding an umbrella. It's just not comfy.
I haven't had a chance to get out and take many photos lately either. I've been trying to capture some closeups of the birds at my feeder, but every time I bring the camera to the window, they take off!! The squirrels have been frolicking on the trees and fence, but they too seem to be camera shy.
Here's a few shots I managed to get the other day -- when the rain had stopped for a bit!

Christmas Inspiration

A Poem, by Deborah.....
[©1992 Deborah Pero]

Christmas Inspiration


What is it about this season
that gives me inspiration?
I love the invigoration
that comes with this festive occasion.
It's such an exciting contagion
to attack us with such jubilation!
Shopping can be quite an aberration
as I have seen in my observations.
It seems like the whole entire nation
is pacing the malls in an odd formation,
staring in fixation
at prices of inflation,
blocking the aisles in fraternization,
searching in desperation
for a gift for a relation.
Amidst the decorations
we all ask the same question,
will this gift be received
with thrilling elation
or tossed in a closet
with no hesitation?
Don't you sometimes wish for tranquilization
to put us in a state of anesthetization
just to get through the holiday aggravations?
Then in the New Year,
with renewed determination
we resolve to change things
in personal affirmation,
or to answer life's questions
in interpretations,
to find justification
in our idealization,
to bring warmth,
peace and love to creation.
We may ponder our past in
contemplation;
some with sadness or great damnation.
Others with glee and gratification.
But I have nothing but glad appreciation, and in my final closing summation,
I can say with acclamation
I hold dear in my heart such adulation
for all of my past Christmas vacations.
So now I look with clear admiration
at our elegant tree in illumination,
and give thanks for my love,
for fate's destination,
for my family,
my life,
my inspiration.

My Christmas Treasures

I decorated the trees last weekend. It's been a tradition in our family, for many, many years, to decorate the tree during the local Lion's Club Children's Telethon. It's usually broadcasted on TV the first Saturday of December. We watch the talent on the telethon, drink and eat munchies, while I decorate the tree. WE don't decorate.... I do!
Now, for those of you who know me, I don't usually let anyone help me decorate MY trees! I am SO particular about it being done just so!! When my girls were little, I would give them their own tree to decorate any way they wanted. That left Mommy to do her tree her way!! That started after I let them help me one year. The decorations they put on were all on the bottom branches and bunched together like cold people around a fireplace! It was actually adorable, but I couldn't leave it like that. After they went to bed, I moved everything around! That's when I decided to give them their own tree. Now that they're grown up, my girls just let me do it and they sit back with their Dad and enjoy the tradition!



Some of the ornaments on our trees date back to the early 1950's. My parent's had quite a selection of glass ornaments that I remember hanging very carefully. I also remember dropping a few. I have about a dozen of these old ornaments that I treasure and put on the trees each year.



The floral tin 'bulb protector' [right] was used on trees back in the day to prevent the bulb from burning the surrounding tree branches. I have about 10 of these left from my mom and dad's collection. The larger ornament in the picture is one of 6 we found in the attic of our first house. I'm not sure how old they are, but they were amongst newspapers, books and magazines we also found dating back to the 1940s and 1960s!