Doesn't need to be a holiday

A milkman delivering his bottles in London 1962.

Cherry County Nebraska, 1880-81 winter

Norman Rockwell "Dead Man's Hill"

And for all my pagan friends, and others who just like to know the phases of the moon, when to plant root crops or above ground...etc.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sharing with Sepia Saturday.  Sorry, I needed to organize my post before I knew what this meme was...and missed the target of music. Looking forward to Mike's contribution however!

Today's quote:

The only way we can make the most of our lives is to make the most of our moments.

CLEO WADE

What we did for Christmas Eve

 

Each dawn reminds me of this:

Pretty sure this came from the WeMoon Calendar.

But I did go with my family to visit others, and Christmas Eve was a party held by my ex-daughter-in-law...who happens to be a good friend too!

My little pottery vase to Cinnamon, my daughter-in-law-no-longer-now-friend!

Wesley (boyfriend of Cinn), Cinnamon, and Marty (her ex, my son!)

One of those mother daughter moments...while Cayenne holds a white fluffy dog named Ammi or something...barked at me all the time.

The savory part of the spread...

And my own desert plate, showing Michael's (grandson) white chocolate moose, and the spice cake made by William and Cayenne, my other grandkids. All delicious, though Michael's moose didn't firm up, so it was soupy sweet.

So I asked Michael and girlfriend Amanda if I could take their photo, and this is what they did!

But then they wanted a serious one too, so...

Part of my fun of the evening was catching up with Cinnamon's mom, Linda. I hadn't seen her in years, though we are FB friends...but we don't share much personal stuff on FB!

Bill (Cinnamon's dad) was also there, and had an empty plate (but not for long.

Cayenne has a neat tat, as well as a bun over closely shorn locks. She spent a lot of time cuddling with Perseveres...the older dog. Her work means she lives in St. Augustine, so was just home for the holidays.

We did have requests for songs, and I mentioned how FB friend Maureen wanted people to send her hippopotamuses...so this one was only briefly considered by the majority of the party people.

This is perhaps my favorite photo of the evening. In the background is an ongoing conversation (most of the night) between my son and his ex-wife's boyfriend, Wes. Then we see Cinnamon, mother and hostess, talking with Cayenne. And Cayenne is absentmindedly petting Perseveres...who is looking longingly for more more more!!

Then I gifted my grands their pottery treats.

A tiny three colored jar...as well as...

Not quite an heirloom necklace, enamel on copper/brass. It's at least 40 years old.

William got the green dragon jar...sharing it with his longtime friend Lester.

I had gifts for Michael, Marty, and Amanda which we shared on Christmas morning...and I didn't take a single photo! Just enjoyed the moment.

Sharing with Thankful Thursday! I am so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life!

Before they're all gone

 Here are some more of the lights of the season...this time from Brandon FL, where my son and grandson live.

Little lanterns on the wall at the entrance to my son's home.

His outside decoration consisted of blue lights.

Blow-up decorations are all the thing these days. Next door had a santa hula-hooping, as well as a little plane with a propeller than went spinning around. Santa looks a bit drunk on that evening, but was back spinning his hoop the next night. And yes, there's Micki and Minnie Mouse.

We looked up to see the full moon, and Jupiter is to it's lower right, but the blue ball further down is a camera gift.

A tipsy looking lightpost perhaps?

This is the kind of snowmen that will appear in FL. And some deer too!

Some reindeer and santa in his sleigh. And looking closer at the figures under the tree...

We saw the Christmas Llama. Not sure what the green thing is, but it looks tipped over.

Lots of yard Christmas Art here.

Getting closer it was bright and cheerful, but I'm not sure what much of it was.

This is what my son's little lanterns look like in the daytime.

I'm home dealing with outside temperatures that didn't get out of the 30s yesterday, and in the 20s at night. Sigh. Those warm (jacket perferred) nights strolling to see lights in Brandon are now just a memory. But I do still have the rest of the places we went, to share with you! I also need to get to the laundry...since I've been home a week and then some. But I did spend a few days recuperating from the stress of driving. I guess I'm over it because I was able to stand up in church on Sunday and give people instructions on which hymns to sing next, and even dance the 123-123 waltz with Byron Ballard, our guest speaker.

Today I went to the lunch program at the Senior Center at Lake Tomahawk, and took my own silverware, napkin and cup, so didn't use any of the single-use plastic and paper products. Told the folks why too. One guy mentioned that as a Catholic he'd eaten fish every Friday growing up, (as we were eating fish today), but it wasn't required any more. So I said some people who want to limit climate changes are doing "meatless Monday." That way less beef is producing methane, which is the main source of methane in the world today. See why I have a vegan friend?

Today's quote:

To be alive in this beautiful, self-organizing universe — to participate in the dance of life with senses to perceive it, lungs that breathe it, organs that draw nourishment from it — is a wonder beyond words.

JOANNA MACY

The Baker's home

 

One of the Kachina dolls gracing their home

Yet another kind of lavender, which I'd never met before.

The Baker's home...where they say pumpkins will be given to critters in nearby woods.

The other Kachina doll guarding the home.

Don't you love the new style fireplace? Gets hundreds of channels!

My son and his wife unwrapping their Christmas presents from me...pottery set of pitcher, bowl and matching plate.

About to eat my first Moonlit Macaron, made by daughter-in-law!

Bev, sister of my daughter-in-law is a retired teacher and loves to garden!

*(photo removed to honor her wishes before I post this on Facebook)

My present from D I L a chakra balancing bracelet!

I haven't decided if I feel any different when wearing it yet!

Traveling west through Tampa to St. Petersburg, FL

Today's quote:

While we can’t control what’s happening around us, we can cultivate the capacity to be with what is, with more ease, joy, and freedom.

SEBENE SELASSIE

Happy New Year

  Hope you had a good time last night, ringing in the new year while I cozily snuggled asleep.

Wherever adventures take you this year, I wish you well with abundant health, love, wealth, wisdom and joy!

Clouds by Rankin

Illustration in the Snow Queen by Edmund Dulac

A house right in the center of Black Mountain. Nobody notices it!


Today's quote:

Once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive…But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.

HARUKI MURAKAMI