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"Home again, home again, jiggidy jig . . ." I made it home late in order to take care of personal business--correspondence, finances, etc.--and to repack for another week away from home. I know what you're thinking, and, yes, my Christmas tree is still up. I haven't been home to take it down. If it's going to be up, then the lights are going to be on and I love it. But I'm hoping to have it down by February 1. If not, just stop by whenever you see the lights on and we'll have a cup of hot apple cider. Texture by Kim Klassen.
We got an early start on this blessed Christmas morn because we knew that the weather forecast showed severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. We spent the better part of the day with my dysfunctional family (but they're my family and I love them) chomping on seafood gumbo and fried oysters and then playing Dirty Santa. When the weather got bad, we stuffed ourselves into Mom's living room for a family picture. Merry Christmas! Texture by Kim Klassen Cafe
"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature--trees, flowers, grass--grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls." ~Mother Teresa Wishing that all the noise and restlessness of the season will be silenced so you and your loved ones can find the Christ child. Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
I played a bit with bokeh tonight, making a heart lens hood. Now is when I wish I had colored lights on my tree. Texture by Kim Klassen.
LTD_2012-12-16_0514
We spent a nice evening at our friends' home, dining on steak and salads--delicious. Her motive wasn't that she wanted to spend time with her friends, but that she needed help setting up her email on the new iPad she got for Christmas. (I know--she was supposed to wrap it up and keep it under the tree until the Big Day, but she's impatient.) I love her trio of whimsical trees and lighted gifts.
Do you have an advent calendar? This one was given to me by my friend well over 20 years ago. When Matt was in elementary school, it was a great aid in keeping up with the busy season and making sure Matt was kept busy too. I would create an activity for each day, write it down on a strip of paper, and stick it in the pockets. He always had something to look forward to. I found an old list from 1998. Here are some of our activities: Put up the nativity and read the Christmas Story Buy a new Christmas book Watch "The Muppet's Christmas Carol" Invite someone over for a snack after church Box up old toys for the Island of Misfit Toys Go look at the neighborhood Christmas lights Write a letter to Santa Claus Make gifts for teachers Make hot chocolate Have dinner by candlelight Collect and deliver food for the food pantry Make a birthday cake for Jesus Put food out for the deer and birds Play Santa Claus to someone Ring the church bell Matt recently told me that he expects the advent calendar to be filled with activities this year. I'm glad he has good memories of it. But it's kind of hard to come up with activities for a 22 year old. I guess we'll be watching a lot of Christmas movies and eating dinner by candlelight.
It rained throughout the day. We really needed it, but it was impossible to find anything outside worthy of photographing. That's why you'll have to endure looking at my Christmas tree. We have limited space, so it's thin and tall, but I pile on the ornaments. There's no such thing as too many ornaments, right? With the project complete, I can now sip my hot tea and stare at my beautiful tree.
After a wonderful worship service, we traveled to Baldwin County to celebrate Christmas with my family at my brother's house. We had a small group since Eric and Veronica were in Arizona, Matt in Huntsville, Melissa and her clan somewhere in Yankee land. We thought our menu would be small, but by the time everyone arrived, our bounty was overflowing and we all went home stuffed. I intended to make jambalaya, but with the small crowd settled on crawfish bisque and still had some left over. Crawfish Bisque 2 pkg crawfish tails 1 can cream style corn 1 can cream of potato soup 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 small can mushroom pieces 1 quart half and half 2 Tbsp Creole seasoning 1 onion chopped butter Saute onion in butter in a big pot. Slowly add the other ingredients together and heat thoroughly. Serve with hot bread. (Oh, the fog picture is what we saw around the new TK plant in Calvert on the way home. It's not very good since I didn't have my tripod, but I liked it.)
"Home again, home again, jiggidy jig . . ."

I made it home late in order to take care of personal business--correspondence, finances, etc.--and to repack for another week away from home. I know what you're thinking, and, yes, my Christmas tree is still up. I haven't been home to take it down. If it's going to be up, then the lights are going to be on and I love it. But I'm hoping to have it down by February 1. If not, just stop by whenever you see the lights on and we'll have a cup of hot apple cider.

Texture by Kim Klassen.
"Home again, home again, jiggidy jig . . ." I made it home late in order to take care of personal business--correspondence, finances, etc.--and to repack for another week away from home. I know what you're thinking, and, yes, my Christmas tree is still up. I haven't been home to take it down. If it's going to be up, then the lights are going to be on and I love it. But I'm hoping to have it down by February 1. If not, just stop by whenever you see the lights on and we'll have a cup of hot apple cider. Texture by Kim Klassen.
"Home again, home again, jiggidy jig . . ."

I made it home late in order to take care of personal business--correspondence, finances, etc.--and to repack for another week away from home. I know what you're thinking, and, yes, my Christmas tree is still up. I haven't been home to take it down. If it's going to be up, then the lights are going to be on and I love it. But I'm hoping to have it down by February 1. If not, just stop by whenever you see the lights on and we'll have a cup of hot apple cider.

Texture by Kim Klassen.
See photo in original gallery.
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