A Quiet Christmas Week Afternoon

 

Signs of Christmas are in full display at our house now, and in our neighborhood.

There are symbols of the season in nearly every room of our home.

Some are prompts regarding what this is really all about.....

... with treasured keepsakes from many years.

This Fostoria piece was a gift 55 years ago. When we disposed of the old white Christmas tree a few weeks ago, I kept the lights and then tucked them into this glass to brighten the kitchen counter that overlooks our living room. (I remove the lid to keep it from getting too hot in there.)

This afternoon I spent time in the kitchen making egg salad for tonight's supper. 

I brought my computer laptop to the kitchen table and set it to play "ambient Christmas music" on Youtube. 

This particular link had a most delightful scene, presumably a coffee shop, with snow falling, and even an occasional truck or car passed by on the street. Easy listening, quiet, relaxing. (just Google it to find a nice selection)

One of my several Christmas-themed aprons that I sewed years ago became the appropriate attire (I know how to make a mess, so this is essential for me).

I did not bake anything today, just cooked hard-boiled eggs and combined them with mayo, pickle relish, some mustard, a little artificial salt and Splenda. Being in the kitchen doing easy things during this season is relaxing.

Gary was within easy view, on the lanai, working one of his crossword puzzles. You see in the foreground our tribute to loved ones who are no longer with us in body but most assuredly in our thoughts. This was Gary's idea when we married. We keep them out like this all the time.

Dear ones who remain have sent cards, newsletters, emails, and Facebook greetings. It was Gary and Edith's habit to display the cards on the dining table in full view so we can easily enjoy them as we walk past. They tend to stand out very well, contrasted against the ecru-colored table cloth.

This table runner of red and white poinsettias is a new-found treasure from Hobby Lobby this year. It reminds me of my mother, who loved poinsettias; and I like them, too.

We have received a lot of foodie gifts this year, which is a practical (and delicious!!) idea for those of us who (relatively speaking) "have everything" and don't really need anything. Chocolates, nuts, fruit, fancy breads, jams -- in the past there have been sausages and cheese. As you can see in the above snapshot, the chocolates tend to disappear FAST.

One problem that's been resolved this year has been how to make something orange look Christmasy. My predecessor collected three really nice bowl-and-pitchers. One in white, one in blue, and one in this peachy orange. In my shopping I came across some glittery rusty orange Christmas balls, so those were combined with white, copper, and gold balls and tucked into fake evergreen branches. Voila! Problem solved!

As I said at the beginning in this post, symbols of the season are in nearly every room. Just in case SOMEONE is tempted to question the santa hats on the headboard .....

.... he gave in when this showed up on his bathroom counter! In his defense I'll tell you that he had two older brothers who messed with the belief in Santa early in his life. 

Me, on the other hand, my mother finally had to sit me down and explain "the facts" because she was afraid my classmates would tease me about my ardent belief in the jolly old man. I cried. I did! And then she had to follow that up with revelations about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. I cried about them, too.

Well, that was a long time ago and I have long since recovered from the shock. But I do believe in the birth of Jesus Christ, God's Son come to earth. Some may ask how can I believe Him when the fantasy stories are not real. I'm not sure I can really explain it. 

Maybe it's because I choose to believe. I also choose to believe the Bible is God speaking to mankind. He is real to me and He is real to all who choose to believe.

Without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to Him

must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

Until next time, have a wonderful Christmas, however that is defined for you.