I have totally fallen out of the habit of writing every day (or even every few weeks). My last post was November 4, so at least I can say that I’ve posted every month, but just barely. What motivated me to start typing is a random “like” I got on my post from July 4th. I opened my post and read it, realizing that I would’ve forgotten many of these details had I not written about that day. So, I begin again with nothing profound.
So, I started writing about the challenges of and barriers to being with extended family over the next few months, and then I thought, “Good grief. Talk about beating a dead horse” (what an awful image). Instead, I thought I’d share some images of Christmastime at the Mann household this year:
-Christmas tree with breakable ornaments only at the top (curious kittens)
-bourbon balls and orange-rosemary butter cookies rapidly disappearing from the cookie container
-Edwin’s Christmas village spread across the credenza and buffet
-white lights hanging from the front porch eaves
-my next-door neighbor’s front yard “wonder walk” where delighted children weave through a passage of lights and get a candy cane at the end
-a wine bottle dressed up like a Rudolph
-stockings hanging from the bookshelves (I always wished I had a fireplace and mantle)
-a poinsettia on the foyer table
-the kids fighting over the scraggly Santa blanket from Grandma Ruby
-The Trapp Family Book of Christmas Songs on the piano (a family treasure I managed to end up with – I’ve been practicing nightly)
-Scandinavian Christmas chime (I had to look it up because I didn’t know what to call it
-presents and stocking stuffers hidden in various drawers and closets
Despite the craziness of this year, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here.
My Corner of the Village 