Ramblin' Through Christmas in Florida

 

December snow 2016

In spite of the title on today's post, my first snapshot is from my last Christmas in Colorado. I had hung these balls on the Maple tree in our front yard knowing snow would adorn them before the season was over. 

At the time I did not know it would be my last Christmas in the Rocky Mountain West. Surprising decisions (all for the good) were made the following spring and by summer my snail mail address had changed to Florida!

On Christmas Day 2017 (in Florida), the weather was mild enough to wear shirt sleeves and to walk in sunshine with two Sand Hill cranes following me on the sidewalk!! 

Marcus Stanley, Facebook

Although I had been to Florida many times prior to that (and even lived in Orlando for a short time in the mid-90s), we had no intention to live in the heat and humidity of Florida's climate again. But as they say, "Never say never." 

Truly, the Lord has plans for our lives that we never imagine. If not immediately, then eventually, it all comes together for good. I am so thankful.

trimming a palm tree

While some of you have donned your coats and hats, revving up your snowblowers, we are busy in other ways, wearing our shorts and athletic shoes. My Gary would probably not say he "loves" yard work, yet he likes to get outside often to trim up the bushes, mow and edge the lawn, and this week, to trim the unsightly branches from our palm trees. 

broken down and ready for
yard waste pick-up

Yard work is not a favorite with me, but I enjoy being outside with my husband so I try to find ways to be helpful. These huge palm branches remind me of the Charleton Heston movie, The Ten Commandments, when the palace slaves would fan the pharaoh with similar leaves. 

You can see some of our outside Christmas decor in the photo above, so I'll ramble over to that topic.

Poinsettia from Lowe's

This pot rests beside the garage door and the side walk up to the front door. Near that are two of our yard birds wearing their seasonal finery. 

Just an FYI for your northerners, the inclusion of long-legged birds in Florida landscapes is a popular decorating style, along with turtles, and gators.

Larry the turtle

We've got a new tree in the garage window that faces out toward the street. It's not all that impressive in daylight hours, but at night.....

.....it completes our outdoor light display. At our age, climbing ladders to hang strings of lights is ill-advised.

The lights cycle from white to different arrangements of color. 

Heading up to the front door is the Dickens-style street lantern. It lights up at night (not real bright) but still gives a nostalgic, traditional look to the scene. I like it a lot. Here's what it looks like at night:

Hurricane season is over for 2025. How thankful we are that none of that touched Florida this year. 

just in case

But on the porch we are prepared for adverse weather with our sled..... 😆⛄️

from Bill and Ida

After the ghastly Halloween displays in October, it is so refreshing to see the decorations that remind us of the original reason for the celebration of Christmas. 

Do not be afraid, for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy

which shall be to all people.

For there is born to you this day

in the city of David, 

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

Until next time, grace and peace.

Signs of the Season

  

Thanksgiving was just a few days ago and blink! Just like that, we are into the Christmas season! 

This book (see above) by author and speaker, Susie Larson, is my morning quiet time devotional book starting December 1 - 24th. Ms. Larson is an excellent 'wordsmith' in that she phrases things so artfully, so appropriately, and concisely. She fascinates me. I'm inspired to improve my writing after reading her daily email devotions.

screen shot of a recent devotional 

If you are interested in subscribing to her daily devotions, click on this link for more information (it's free).

So, with that introduction, I am preparing my heart for this Christmas season and also unpacking our decorations for the house. Instead of my usual habit of devoting one blog post to a "house tour" with our decorations, this year I think I'll just include snapshots as they happen, along with whatever else is worth writing about. I may be blogging more often but with shorter posts (or not!). 🤭

downtown Ocala, Florida

This is from "Light Up Ocala," when my town lit up the downtown square. This is an annual event, which we did not attend since we prefer to be safely tucked into our house with the shades drawn after sunset. This photo was taken by one of the Orlando TV stations. 

The white Christmas tree that we have been positioning in a garage window that faces our street has yellowed a lot. Last year Gary thought about replacing it, but I talked him out of it. This year it was more evident to me that the tree had seen better days. (note the bottom branches) I spent much of the morning removing all of the ornaments (red balls, white balls, and plastic crystal icicles).

A pair of those icicles have been multi-purposed into winter earrings for me! (just kidding -- they are too long!) The balls have been used in other decor.

my Christmas wardrobe

While I'm on the topic of decorating myself for the holidays, my seasonal shirts and tops have been unpacked. Some of these were bought in Colorado, which means they are 10-15 years old! But when they are worn only one month of the year (and here in Florida, worn only if the temperature is cold enough!), clothes can last a long time!

Excuse the glare on my son's photo;
I couldn't get it to erase without giving him a black eye! LOL!

Speaking of clothes, my readers may remember last Christmas when the miniature Santa hat found Michelangelo (or did we decide this is the Old Testament David??). 

our living room Christmas tree

Returning to the topic of Christmas trees. I put some of the white balls from the discarded white tree onto the green tree. I bought this tree in 2021, after I had decided I was done with a 6-foot tree. I love being able to store this tree with a large trash bag placed over it, ornaments still on the branches. But the white balls made it "pop!" and I like the look. 

The majority of the red satin-thread balls from the white tree are now in a pail beside the front door. 

from Hobby Lobby

When I shopped at Hobby Lobby recently, I found this treasure which became an impulse buy. It's Gary and me! When I got home and showed him my purchases, one of the first things he said was this was surely "blog fodder." Of course! The red-and-white striped rug they (we) are dancing on is a woven placemat. I bought just the one because it looked like a rug but it's too busy of a design for our dinner plates.

Since I've waltzed us into the subject of romance, here is our mistletoe that we hung from the ceiling fan in the living room. ❤️❤️

My nativity scene is on the coffee table this year. The wise men are coming in from Daytona Beach the East, with their camels resting nearby. A shepherd with his sheep, goat, and (an oversized) chicken are on the other side, having walking over from the Gulf the West.

Joseph's donkey is out of sight in this snapshot but hovers near Mary, Joseph, and an angel who are all watching the baby Jesus. Itty bitty battery-powered lights are intertwined throughout, giving the scene a mystical look. I am thinking a couple of miniature palm trees might be a nice addition or a very small artificial succulent in a small pot.

With the 5-year anniversary of Tom's entrance into Heaven having come and gone, I am feeling a sense of release from sorrow. Oh, to be sure, I will always miss him and be so very grateful for the influences he had on my life for over 50 years, but reaching this 5-year anniversary is a milestone. 

photo edited for privacy reasons

This Christmas season is more joyful for me. Shedding the 'sackcloth', so to speak, is freeing. Letting go of negatives that have hounded me and giving myself permission to embrace the true significance of Jesus' as my Savior and Redeemer -- all of that is wonderful.

To You, O LORD, I called;

to the LORD I cried for mercy...

You turned my wailing into dancing; 

You removed my sackcloth and

clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing to You

and not be silent.

O LORD my God,

I will give You thanks forever.

Psalm 30:8 and 11-12

Until next time, grace and peace.

P.S. I'm trying out a new font, something more casual. It's called "Architects Daughter."

New Orleans Photo Album, Volume Two

the 'hop on, hop off' tour bus

As is obvious (I hope), today's post is the sequel to my previous post (New Orleans Photo Album, Volume One). We had only two objectives with this trip: (1) tour the National WWII Museum, and (2) get an idea of the layout of New Orleans. I took nearly 100 snapshots between the time we left home and got back, of which I am sharing most but not all. 

 

waiting for the bus

One of my least-favorite activities with regard to travel is packing. My reasons for saying that is one cannot predict with absolute accuracy what the weather will be at the destination(s). Also, due to my age, my husband's age, and the gradual decrepitancy (I made up that word) of our bodies, I try very hard to pack as lightly and efficiently as possible. Wheels on our luggage are an obvious necessity but they do little good when the bag(s) have to be lifted into and out of the car. 

Nearly ten years ago I lifted my bag when I should not have and as a result spent two days on the road with a dislocated rib at the base of my neck. I didn't know that was even possible, but that was the diagnosis by my chiropractor after we got home. It hurt like the dickens -- so bad that I could not stand long enough to brush my teeth! Have you ever tried to use an electric toothbrush while laying flat on the bed?!!!

Anyway, the weather in NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) was good but it was humid, sticky hands humid. The daytime temp was in the low 80s, which met with our satisfaction. 

As we toured the city, I tried to dress wisely and that worked out pretty well. My navy sweatshirt hoodie stayed at the hotel while I opted to wear a light-weight flannel shirt over a T-shirt. The thought was to have arm covering in air conditioning that in the outdoor heat I could fold over and tie around my waist. Athletic shoes with socks was a smart choice, too, although I much prefer the look of sandals with my pink pedicure. All of my clothing choices had to coordinate well with blue denim, which helped to make packing the suitcase a little less heavy.

All of that was probably more than you really needed to know. Let's get onto the tour bus.

riding on top

The hop on, hop off tour bus was supposed to come by every 25 minutes or so. In our case, it was "or so" because we waited well over an hour to get on. Hmmm. Anyway, things ran more smoothly after that.

me with Handsome

We chose to ride on the top, which still had a canvas cover for shade (thank you!!). With the humid breeze hitting my hair, the above selfie does me no favors but at my age I more often than not may as well "keep it real" (as Linda C. likes to say). Gary, on the other hand, was born with perfect hair, has a devil-may-care smile, and looks like a movie star with those aviator-style sun glasses. He always looks so calm and collected.

Behind us you can see the tour guide with her microphone, pointing out areas of interest as we moved through town.

Caesars Superdome on the right

These pictures won't be posted in the order in which they were taken nor according to any other specific plan because the photographer (me) was torn between enjoying the tour with my eyes or through the camera lens while hoping to remember at least part of what we were seeing. 

the Superdome

Home of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. 

another view of the Superdome

metal scrollwork

The architecture probably interested me the most and it did not disappoint, fitting in with what little pre-conceived ideas I was expecting for New Orleans.

carriages

The next few pictures are a tribute to The Lil' Red-Haired Girl (that's my pet name for one of my daughters-in-law) who owns a mule and lives out west on a mini-ranch.

                         

Mules are used for the quaint carriage rides through NOLA because they are hearty and adapt well to the requirements of their job. 

They are treated quite well, not driven for too long each day and they get three months out of the year for vacation in a more restful environment. They do not work in the oppressive heat of summer.

Clearly, some are tasked with a heavier load than others, but they can handle it with ease. This is the street in front of Jackson Square with the St. Louis Cathedral in the background.

Okay, this is my last photo on the subject of mules. I would have liked to "hop off" our bus to go make friends with one of them, but resisted that urge. 

Beautiful landscaping in Jackson Square

Not to be outdone by all of the mules, a golden horse trotted by with Joan of Arc on his back.

cemetery

From this picture you may find it hard to believe that this is one of the more popular tourist stops in NOLA -- a cemetery. New Orleans is BELOW sea level, meaning the water table is very high, so burying caskets underground is out of the question. 

Behind this concrete/stone/brick wall are many crypts, all above ground and every one different from the others. It looks more like a small city behind those walls. 

Our tour guide on the bus told us people used to be allowed to walk freely inside those walls, but as human nature tends to do, vandalism became a problem. Now you can pay money for a ticket and a certified tour guide. We chose to not do that. As my usual readers know, Gary and I already spend more time than most (perhaps) visiting a cemetery in Florida, so we passed on this one. 

another view of the cemetery

Notable people are entombed in New Orleans, among them:

Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau

Musician Louis Armstrong

Civil rights figure Homer Plessy

Jazz trumpeter and band leader Al Hirt

Fats Domino 

and (eventually) the actor Nicolas Cage, who has already bought his pyramid-shaped crypt for when he meets his end.

 

There were a lot of charming balconies, presumably a feature of captivating (or very eclectic at least) apartments. I would have enjoyed touring through some of that.....

We are now in the French Quarter which is a blend of history and culture, and shopping, of course.

We are not big shoppers, as I've said many times before. With this open establishment, from our bus we could get a good idea of the available merch. Pretty much typical tourist items.

From our bus vantage point, the French Quarter appeared to be clean, artsy, classy, very attractive, and surely expensive. There are museums, tours and other attractions of interest that charge admission fees. We maintained our bus seats and just enjoyed the views.

the Ritz-Carlton decked out for Christmas

You can't make it out in this snapshot, but the gold letters to the left of NOBU says, "Emeril's Kitchen." (you know, the wonderful chef from Food Network) Now that would have been an interesting stop!

internet photo

I think this (below) is Bourbon Street. In this snapshot you need to look close or you'll miss it (as I did on our first of two tour bus rides). 

You see the pink metal scrollwork balcony? Just to the left of that, what looks more like an alley -- that's Bourbon Street. As our second (or was it our third?) tour guide said, "Bourbon Street -- it's not for everybody." 

The Internet describes it as "packed with bars, clubs, and strip clubs, creating a bustling party scene that is particularly lively at night showcasing local musicians. It has one of the oldest gay bars in America, is famous for its neon lights, crowded sidewalks, and the tradition of tossing beads from balconies. It is pedestrian-only access, car-free making it ideal for street performers and festival activities. It is generally considered an adult-only area, especially at night."

As best I could tell the street is truly more like a smothering alleyway that (I assume) has amusements two Baptist kids were raised to avoid. So, no, we did not hop off the bus to investigate it any more than that.  "Not for everybody," indeed. But there are other aspects of New Orleans to enjoy and we did.

Our bus turned around to make its way back in the opposite direction that took us past the National WWII Museum, which we greatly enjoyed earlier in our visit (see my previous post: New Orleans Photo Album Volume One).

On the other end of town is the Garden District which is also very interesting in an architectural sense, as well as absolutely charming. This old streetcar has been modernized but to the casual observer seems like the very original.

Completely charming old homes line the streets, albeit crammed up very close together -- keeping in mind New Orleans is built on re-claimed swamp land, below sea level.

We are told that famous actors live in the Garden District, such as Sandra Bullock and John Goodman. (other famous personalities either now have or used to own mansions in the French Quarter). Of course, if we rode past the home of anyone famous on our tour, that was not pointed out.

On our last day we made one last stop at Cochon Butcher, ordering take-out Key Lime Pie to take back to our hotel for our supper. 😋😋

They were so friendly there. One of the waitresses even stopped us on our last day to ask if we had been there earlier in the week, which we had. She remembered us!

We enjoyed our trip to New Orleans, we learned a lot about WWII and about this city. We are glad we went and we were glad to get back home where the mattress and pillows best enhance our rest and the suitcases are unpacked and stored away. 

Come with me by yourselves

to a quiet place

and get some rest.

Mark 6:31

Until next time, grace and peace. And Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. In my last post, my good friend Pam (of Closed Doors, Open Windows blog) wondered in her comments why the National WWII Museum is in New Orleans. The famous Higgins boat that played such a huge role in the invasion on D-Day is manufactured in New Orleans, so that had a lot to do with the decision to build the museum in that city.