Tag Archives: Christmas

Christmas Past Post

Posted on December 25, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

As the Grinch famously said, “Tomorrow is Christmas. It’s practically here!”

“Looking for me?”

Since it is also Thursday, I chime in with a Throwback Thursday picture. This jolly old elf made his first appearance on our mantle in 2016. We acquired him from the Herkimer County Historical Society. It is, in fact, only half a Santa. He had blown into their yard during a windstorm. They posted him on Facebook, but nobody claimed him. I am certain I have told this story before, but as I often say, reduce, reuse, recycle.

There’s a happy girl!

This picture is from December 2017, a close-up of a busier area of decoration. I have mentioned that we were more elaborate in previous years. Perhaps we will be more so in the future. I started to put “No doubt,” but in fact I have my doubts. However, my purpose now is not to dwell on doubt but to enjoy Christmas Eve with a Throwback Thursday Post.

Here’s a fun bunch!

I skip ahead to December 2019. I think all of these decorations were acquired prior to that year. A few of them are still out. It is my way of making Christmas last all year. Oh, don’t start on how making Christmas last all year is about giving and goodwill etc (you know who you are). I KNOW THAT!!! I hate those holier than thou sorts.

Look at the size of that list!

I close with another shot from 2018. This Santa is in front of our fireplace this year. He is a Throwback piece himself; my mother found him for us in an antique shop in Pennsylvania while she was visiting my sister.

I hope everyone is having a delightful Christmas Eve and will have a Merry Christmas. Or, if you do not celebrate, a delightful Thursday and merry Friday. I personally plan on having a Lame Post Friday. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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I Need a Little Christmas

Posted on December 22, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Christmas is just days away. I wore Christmas socks and a Christmas vest today. I listened to Christmas music as I drove to and from work. And yet the Christmas spirit eludes me. Perhaps I can chase it down with a few Christmas pictures.

I draw your attention to the little Christmas trees.

My sister Diane sent me a picture of her mantle via instant messenger. I was delighted, because she used the garland of crocheted Christmas trees I made for her some years ago. I invented the crocheted Christmas tree back in the mid 1980’s. I was pretty pleased with myself.

It is not as elaborate as when Steve does it.

I naturally sent her a picture of my own mantle. Full disclosure: we did not make a concerted effort with this. We just put stuff up as we found or acquired it.

Pardon the mess.

And this is our fireplace. Yes, that is fake poop on top of a pile of scripts on an old television. I just now noticed it. When I took the picture, I was more annoyed with myself about the bottles and jars I left sitting n the stool with the wine light. Not annoyed enough to clean it up and re-take the picture, I’m afraid.

Now I am laughing at myself. Here is my messy house, with Christmas decorations and fake poo. It’s not quite the Christmas Spirit, but it’ll do.

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Thank You, Elks and Others

Posted on December 21, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

People have been helping people a lot this year, and I have had my share. Today I got a free turkey from the Elks Club, an offer they made to everyone who was laid off from my previous place of employment.  They sent a letter with a form to fill out saying you wanted a turkey and how many in the household.  Then they sent a voucher with instructions for pick up.

This morning, I went to Mary Street, where Herkimer Elks Lodge is located, and there were not many cars in front of me.  I had my mask on, as did the volunteers, and I did not have to leave the car. 

The view from the driver’s seat.

Two volunteers met me at the end of the street and looked at my voucher.  As I drove past, I thought to grab my phone and take a couple of pics for a blog post.

I stuck my phone out the window to try for a better shot.

Santa Claus handed me two candy canes.  I said I had to get a picture of him for my blog.  The other volunteers told me I could take him with me if I wanted.

“Hop in!” I said, but he did not avail himself of the invitation.

It was quite a fine Santa suit.

In addition to the turkey, they gave us potatoes and a box of stuffing mix.  The food was in a nice reusable bag.  What a generous gift!  A paper in the bag told me it was from the Doug Christman Project.

Several organizations involved!

Now that I am gainfully employed again, I must find ways to pay this forward.  In the meantime, the turkey is in the freezer, and we may use some of the potatoes tomorrow in a Shepherd’s Pie.

 

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Christmas Memories on Slacker Saturday

Posted on December 20, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today is a Slacker Saturday and I can only be grateful I am not making it tomorrow morning. The question is: do I have anything to say?

That voice!

I just shared this picture the other day, but earlier today we watched our DVD of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I have said it before and I will say it again: Boris Karloff is the only Grinch for me.

It’s the scariest!

I was so into Boris Karloff, I almost went on to a horror movie with him, but we both wanted Christmas.  I thought of the animated Christmas Carol produced by Chuck Jones.  When I was a kid, I thought it was so scary!  Then they stopped showing it on television.  Many years later, Steven found it on video.  Yay!

Rankin Bass, a cherished childhood memory.

We are now watching Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.  These Rankin/Bass specials were so important when we were kids!  It was so exciting when our favorites were coming on.  How terrible if it was a Sunday when Dad had a football game to watch!  Sometimes he would graciously agree to change the channel if it went into overtime.  It was years before I appreciated what a sacrifice that was!  However, it was usually a moot point, because my show would be on the same channel.

But enough of my silly reminiscences.  For one reason, I am over 200 words.  Score!  I’ve made my blog post!  Which Christmas video should I watch next?

 

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Short Walk, a Few Pictures

Posted on December 8, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl
I thought I would go for a little walk with my camera instead of my usual Monstrous Monday Post.  It was just starting to get dark, so I could admire neighbors’ Christmas lights.  I probably would not take many pictures, because neighbors are not usually out for me to ask permission.  However, I did not despair of getting a few shots.

Can you read it?

The first thing that caught my eye had nothing to do with Christmas. It was in the parking lot of the apartment building at the end of our street.  I think they could use a new sign, but since nobody was, in fact, parked there, perhaps that one is OK.  Continuing through the parking lot, I saw something I could definitely take a picture of.

Baby Jesus isn’t there yet!

This is at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Next I remembered a wreath on a hitching post nearby.  That should be OK to photograph. 

I have long been fascinated by a hitching post in this day and age.

As I continued to walk, I saw a tree in a yard I liked, but it was still too light out to get a decent shot.  Then I saw a jolly snowman and friends that I could not resist.

I thought it would be OK, since you can’t really see the house.

Soon I was heading toward my own house, which I graciously gave myself permission to photograph.

I took it at an angle, so Frankentree would not block the lights.

My Santa Claus will not light.  I tried changing the bulb, but no luck.  I can’t think of anything else to try.

It was a pleasant little walk.  I must walk or run in the evening more often, so I can enjoy the decorations.  If I see any neighbors, I will ask permission to take pictures. 

 

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Let There Be Lame!

Posted on June 20, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know I said yesterday was my Friday, but yet I am having Lame Post Friday today.  For one reason, I thought of that title, which fits in with a picture I just took.

Ducky likes wine!

We’ve seen the duck before, but the light was a Christmas present from my husband Steven.  He just finally got it placed in front of our fireplace,  replacing the Santa that previously resided there (who, us be late in taking down all our Christmas decorations?  SAY IT AIN’T SO! ).

I hope you are not uncomfortable seeing Christmas decorations in June.

Here is a view showing Santa, as well as some other seasonal decore.  We did get most of this taken down before 2020 was too far progressed.

Regular readers may remember the duck from other pictures, including one of my favorites.

Bonita is better dressed these days.

The picture was originally taken to highlight Bonita, our skellington (I was calling skeletons skellingtons LONG before Jack Skellington was a thing).  But I love that you see the duck grinning out of the box and Santa peeking around the corner.  That Santa stays there most of the year.  We usually put him out on the porch in December.

So this is my post of skellingtons, ducks, Santa and a light.  Sufficiently lame, I hope.  I also hope to see you all on Saturday, whatever sort of post it turns put to be.

 

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Still Christmas? Time to Move On?

Posted on January 6, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Not bad feet if I do say so.

Here is my view for the evening.  Astute viewers will see that my leggings are Christmasy while my slippers are neutral yet fun.  That is symbolic of my mood right now: reluctant to give up Christmas yet cognizant of the necessity to do so, and ready to have fun.

Right now I am sitting on my couch having a wonderful time with my husband Steven and our friend Kim. I must — or at least I very much want to — make a blog post, but it is difficult to do so while also participating in the conversation.

I guess that could make this a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I am having a nice time but may be unable to make a blog post. What to do, what to do?

I guess it need not escalate to swooning proportions.

Here are the jingle bells.

I thought I would include for comparisons sake my view on New Year’s Eve.  Same leggings, different slippers.  I was wearing the jingle pair last night and part of today.  Steven is having a hard time letting go of Christmas and I guess so am I.

My main focus right now is to make my blog post today.  I have had far too many days of making a post in the early hours of the next day, and even a couple of shamefully missed posts. It is a new year. A new chance for me to make 266 consecutive posts (leap year, you know).  I love a new year and a new start.

OK, it is five days into the year (my  WordPress timestamp may say six, but I daresay that is not important). More didactic sorts (you know who you are) may say that renders my new start late and therefore ineffective.

I cannot deal with this sort of naysayers.  All I can say is Happy Sunday, and I hope to see you all on Monstrous Monday.

 

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Will My Post-Christmas Letdown Cause Me to Snap?

Posted on December 30, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

I continue to work through my post-Christmas letdown with a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.  I so much prefer the Christmas weeks I have more time off work, but as I often observe, you can’t have everything.

My favorite!

We have been looking at Snapped for most of the day.  It is a great relief to me to get back into murder and mayhem after all those uplifting Christmas movies Steven has been watching.  Oh, OK, I like Christmas movies and specials, too.  Of course my favorite is How the Grinch Stole Christmas,  narrated by Boris Karloff.  That neatly straddles my love of Christmas and my love of classic horror.

One of my all time favorite pictures.

Perhaps we will watch this one again later this evening.  In the meantime,  I feel I must bring this post to at least 200 words.  Perhaps another illustration would help.

A handsome picture, to be sure.

Here is another mash-up of my two favorite holidays.  I hope to make both last all year.

Bonita will help me in my ambition.

One more picture illustrating my obsessions.  You see my skeleton with Christmas gear in the foreground.   In the background is a Santa Claus who is actually only half there!  Do you find that creepy?  If so, you’re welcome.  Happy Post-Christmas Letdown,  and how many days till Halloween?

 

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Merry Day After Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Ho ho ho!

I thought I would share a few images of Christmas, to help those of us who are working through post-Christmas letdowns.  Some prefer to go cold turkey (or just eat cold turkey leftover from Christmas dinner) (sorry, couldn’t resist).  I’m going with slow withdrawal this year.

The Santa pictured above has been in my parents’ house since before I was born.  My husband, Steven, has threatened to steal it for as long as he’s been seeing me.  No luck so far, but we have amassed our own collection of old fashioned Santa’s.

Mrs. Santa seems to be a woman after my own heart.

Here are our guys.  This photo is from December 2016, so I guess this is a Throwback Thursday post now.

Pretty!

Here is my parents’ Christmas tree all lit up on Christmas Eve.  I love looking at their tree and seeing the ornaments through the years: the old glass ones we’ve always had, ones that we made in school (Oh, Mom, you didn’t keep THAT one!), ones we’ve given them…

The ingenious decorator!

Mom made this arrangement of garland, balls and wreath, and did not think too much about it till my sister Cheryl said, “Oh, you just had to sign your work!”  After that, it did seem pretty obvious that it spells “MOM.”  Mom would have changed the window, but we insisted she keep it that way.  Why shouldn’t she take credit for a house well decorated?

We don’t take our decorations down till at least New Year’s.  I suppose the cold turkey contingent mentioned earlier has theirs down already.  Oh well, to each his own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow!

 

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Not Too Adventuresome, But Fun

Posted on December 22, 2019 by mohawkvalleygirl

Look at me, making my Scattered Saturday post before I get too tired and blow it off.  It has not been a particularly noteworthy Saturday, but you’ll have that.  I plan to give a quick overview of my activities thus far, then continue with my enjoyable day.

I went for a short run in 10 degree weather this morning (according to the sign in front of Trinity Lutheran Church).  It was up to 11 when I did my cool-down walk.  The irony was not lost on me.

Once Steven and I had our acts together (relatively speaking; I am not at any time known for being completely together), we ran a few errands.  We made a quick stop at the post office to mail my post cards, then went on to the drug store and super market. No, we are not ready for Christmas; did you think we would be?

At 1:30 I went to the Hot Spot Salon and Spa, where I had an appointment to get a haircut.  Danielle did a wonderful job.  She was a new stylist for me, but I have never had a bad cut there.

After leaving the salon, I picked up Steven, and we went to Valley Wine and Liquor to taste some French wines.  We bought some Beaujolais as well as a couple other bottles.  We are headed to see our friends, Phyllis and Jim tonight. I said we’d bring the wine.  Our friend Kim joined us at Valley and will join us again tonight.  I love getting together with friends!

So not a particularly adventuresome Saturday, but I am liking it.  I hope your Saturday is as fun.

 

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