Bye Bye, 2018

There's a pretty nice bottle of Mumm's in the fridge, but I seem to be in a beer mood. So Sam Adams Winter lager it is! I'll save the bubbly for tomorrow to go with the quiche I will prepare for brunch. Maybe start off slow with a mimosa. Until then it's Netflix and food and settling in for a cozy New Year's Eve at home. Outside it's snowing with a temp in the 'teens, a good night to stay in. Happy birthday to my mom, Edna, who would have been 87 today. She did enjoy how everyone in the world celebrated her birthday. Let's all have a good night and a good year.  

I Love Sandra Boynton

Just. Do. It.

Spooky Times Two

 Oooh! Oooh! Not only is there one Lego witch, there are two of them! Maybe more! And the second one comes with a black kitty cat! I am so delighted I don't know what to say! I haven't been this excited since I acquired three Barbie witches years ago at Target. Not just witches, mind you, but witches dressed in pink and black outfits. I'm all verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves.

And Now I Have Two!

Lego sets, that is. Years ago I snapped up this limited edition Lego Santa with his sleigh. So long ago, in fact, that I found him in a catalog. And ordered him via snail-mail and paid with a personal check. Yes, I was also ordering Lego toys for my boys, but this was one thing no one would have thought of giving me. Sometimes you have to play Santa for yourself.

Just yesterday this fun little set arrived in the mail. I assembled it last night! I do enjoy the Halloween theme all mashed up with the Christmas background. And I adore the tiny cauldron. A couple of things are missing, though. There really needs to be a Lego witch figure. If there isn't one, I will petition all the way to the top management of the Lego corporation demanding that they create one! And I may have to swipe the Lego black kitty from the younger son's pirate-themed set. Then this spooky Halloween cottage will be complete. Nothing more to see here. Move along and play with your new toys. Or the boxes they came in. Whatever makes you happy.

All Dressed Up

Remember this?

Behold! Miss Tallulah in her most festive Mrs. Santa Claus outfit. I must admit it is a bit startling to walk into the living room and see her standing there. Even more startling is pulling up in the driveway in the dark and seeing her through the window. And all of us are wondering why she is sniffing her armpit. She just won't say. 

Arrrrgggg!

Movies have always been a part of the holidays for us. Back when the boys were, well, boys, the first present they got to open on Christmas eve was a movie. And they got to watch it right away! Cleverly giving mom and dad an hour to two hour break for a glass of wine and relaxation in the midst of all the festivities. Years later, we would often engage in a movie marathon, choosing a theme or watching the various installments of a movie franchise. Notable were the Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, and The Mummy trilogies, and more than once the original three Star Wars films. This year Reid suggested a pirate theme since he thought it fit right in with our shrimp and salmon feast that has become traditional on Christmas eve. First we took in Pirates of the Caribbean, Curse of the Black Pearl. It's always fun to see Johnny Depp play the washed-up pirate captain with the aplomb of a faded rock star. Never disappoints. The second movie was one I had never heard of, The Pirates! Band of Misfits. It was originally released with the title The Pirates! In an Adventure With Scientists, but it seems the producers didn't think that was a cool enough title for American audiences. I contend that the original title was, indeed, way cool, and I expect that the name change was the likely reason it flopped at the American box office. All I have to say is, I adore this movie. It was produced using stop-action animation and the sets are so detailed and fun! Plus it rocks the voices that are a who's who of comic British actors, led by Hugh Grant as the Pirate Captain who longs to win first place in the Pirate of the Year competition. We bought the dvd, and the bonus features are very much worth keeping a copy around. So. Watch this movie! With or without kids! Make viewing it a holiday tradition! Pardon me while I catch up on Pirates of the Caribbean, adventures #3 and #4 are streaming on Netflix.

What a jolly band of misfits they are!

Can't Buy Me Hygge, Wait, Maybe You Can!

When I think of what would make Americans happier in general, it would be the idea that you don't have to stress about the costs of health care and education. and that you would regularly have the time to relax and appreciate the things that make life worthwhile. Family, friends, pets to cuddle, a walk in the woods, reading a book in a comfy fireside chair under a cozy blanket. Thanks to my Darling DiLly Liz, I now know how we can achieve hygge, not the mere trappings of it right here in the USA. I'm half Norwegian, so the concept is in my DNA. For those of you who are interested, whether you have Scandinavian heritage or not, read this article. It could plant the seed of social democracy in your brain. If you ask me, it's a very hyggelig thing to do.

Not a Creature Was Stirring

My years-old hot pink Microsoft wireless mouse had finally annoyed me to the point of getting a new one. The scrolling wheel has been functional but in a ditzy sort of way for some time. It was time to venture out for a post-Christmas retail experience. The son was in need of new headphones so we decided to go to Best Buy.

Ta-da! I was disappointed that there was not a pink mouse in sight, so this had to do. Mine is actually more hot pink where the pictured one is more purple, but this was the only stock photo I could find with the same design. It is quite delightful to have a properly functioning scrolling wheel again! 

While searching the interwebs for a photo of my new mouse, I ran across this pink flamingo version and wondered if I had made too hasty a choice. This is what happens when you shop the brick-and-mortar way. Unaware of the vast choices that exist out there in the electronic marketplace, you sometimes make a purchase that is pretty okay, but not optimal. But I shall forever think of the pink flamingo model as the one that got away. 

It's All in the Name

Tiny Print

It has been called to my attention that the print was too small to easily read this poem. Even though the presentation of the framed poem was lovely. So, thank you, and here is the poem in a much more reader-friendly form.

A Winter Solstice Dream

In these darkest days of winter

The solstice eve draws near

We contemplate all that has come to pass

Anticipate the upcoming new year

Evergreen and holly we invite inside

With their color and fragrance decorate

Reminders that spring will come once more

The seasons’ cycle we celebrate

When sleep steals away your worries and cares

On this longest and starry night

I wish for you slumber, restful and deep

Filled with dreams of comfort and light

I wish for you the waking-world courage

To live those dreams, precious and bold

I wish for you the warmth and love that returns

When given freely and wholly, tenfold

It's a mystery to me as to why there is a break between the last two lines of the poem. It's also a mystery as to why it did not copy/paste in the much prettier font as in the framed poem as well as in the document file where it is stored. A little mystery is fun, right?

I Love Neil deGrasse Tyson

Decorations Around The House

Chubby cardinals in the dining room.

Christmas bears lined up on the stereo cabinet.

Three blue Santas in the corner of the living room.

A tiny scene atop the china cabinet.

On the dresser in my bedroom a miniature living room awaits the arrival of Santa Claus.

In the hallway.

My bathroom light fixture was just too plain.

Shoe Tree

Gathering Light, Just a Bit More Each Day

The table is set for the Solstice dinner!

A much more readable larger print version of the poem is here.

A framed copy of a poem I wrote a few years ago. I share it to describe the spiritual meaning of the Solstice to me.

Do Not Cross the Catbrane!

Newton admiringly approves of all the holiday decorations. With nary a thought in his fuzzy little head of climbing the tree or smacking around any of the ornaments. He might be considering chomping on the bow that is adorning the recently arrived gift from Michael to his brother, Reid. Who knows what goes on in the mind of a cat. 

The title of this post refers to this.

Do Attempt This at Home!

I don't know about you, but I find it annoying and difficult to decorate a holiday tree when the only practical location is in a corner of the room. My solution was to head for the lumberyard and purchase a round wood table top and a piece of hardware called a lazy susan.

Using whatever means that makes the most sense to you, center the lazy susan on the wood. Because if you don't center it properly, things will be wonky. Concentricity is essential.

Gather your tools! Drill some holes! Make sure the screws are the proper length so as to not emerge on the other side. 

The lazy susan is conveniently designed with access holes that line up with the holes to be used for attachment with screws.

And voila! I can now assemble my tree on the turntable! Making it easy to hang lights and ornaments on all sides!

bottom section...

middle section...

The top section is in place! Now to fluff out the branches and decorate!

The finished and very festive tree.

And a pretty skirt hides the clever turntable and stand. 

Merry Christmas

It's a brownish/green and sunny Christmas here on the Front Range. Two of the flamingos in the background have lost their Santa hats. It just might be a lovely evening for a glass of wine by the firepit.

A Northern Hemisphere Point of View

As Santa Approvingly Looks On

It was a mismatched dishes sort of morning.

My Stuff is Famous

While binge-watching Season 3 of Travelers, I took note of this lovely window in the farmhouse in the first episode. How did I not notice this in Season 2? 

I am a bit slow on the uptake at times.

But there it is. It does help me when things are obvious. Just add this incident to this one, and this one, where my stuff is featured on a tv show. All I want to know is, will there be a fourth season of Travelers? They kind of left us hanging.

Party Dress

Miss Tallulah's Solstice dress is ready! She also has hair, now, thanks to the 50% off post-Halloween clearance sale where I scored a bargain-priced wig. Also new boots. Though they aren't new, just my cast-off boots that weren't good enough to donate. Stay tuned for the full effect!

Freshman Class

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is heading to Washington next month representing New York's 14th Congressional District. All I have to say is, you go, girl! It's politicians like you who will transform this country into a better place for all of us. Thank you.

True Beauty

BunOlogy

No surprise here, I'm The Pagan. And The Mess when exiting the bathroom post-shower.

Newton the Christmas Kitty

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