It has been a low-key holiday here, as it seems to be for nearly everyone this year. Just the four of us – my guys, Poppy, and me; Rick's mother flew to Colorado to be with her daughter and extended family. I do hope she comes back COVID-free; I hope we are COVID-free. Brian complained of a severe headache last night; he has spent most of today in bed with that headache, a sore throat and sore lymph nodes. We thinking/hoping mono rather than COVID....
Yesterday dawned clear and cold, a heavy layer of frost on the ground and ice on the buckets. The valley was blanketed with fog that tried to envelope us as well, without complete success. On my way home I noticed that the fog had frozen to the roadside weeds, flocking them for Christmas; so pretty!
We all got home around the same time, and wanted to take advantage of the daylight. For the guys that meant some holiday explosions, target shooting and blasting clay pigeons out of the air. For me that meant working with Stella and exercising Lance, which didn't seem like an option in a 'war zone.' But I turned Stella out in the arena to run around, and after a few big spooks at the gunfire, she actually handled the rest better than I would have imagined. I was even able to work her a little bit, but ran out of daylight to ride Lance down the lane. It was Christmas Eve, and I wanted to make a festive supper for us to enjoy before opening presents – yes, on Christmas Eve. Rick hasn't always been willing to follow the tradition I grew up with (my mom's parents were both European immigrants), but this year he was amenable.
It was Poppy's first Christmas really, since her eyes may not have even been open yet for last year's. After we had opened our few gifts I picked up hers and called her over. She understood immediately that the package was for her, and could hardly wait for me to free it from the box. I should have taken a photo of the plush, holey log filled with five little squeaky squirrels before handing it over; she wasn't about to let me get close enough for a good snapshot of her treasure afterwards! At least until she started pulling out the squirrels:
She also got a new bed, since she's been slowly destroying her old one:
I'm watching that she only uses the new one for comfort.
I was wanting us to watch a very good presentation of the story of the Nativity that I had seen at our church's Women's Ministries Christmas party last Saturday night*, but Brian just wanted to go to bed. So instead Rick and I stayed up very late watching two Christmas movies; this morning we all slept in. When Poppy started stirring before we were ready to get up, I asked Rick if she could snuggle with us for a bit. This was her Christmas morning treat:
When we did get up, there wasn't much to see; it was a dreary, WET day. So I cooked, we talked to distant family on the phone, Rick turned on his lathe, Poppy played with her squirrels, we watched more TV. It would have been nice to have some family time to focus on 'the reason for the season' but as I said, Brian rarely came out of his room. Rick and I ate 'Christmas dinner for two'.... Like the rest of this singular year, it was a strange little Christmas. Still, our blessings are abundant and we try to focus on gratitude.
* The sole holiday 'party' on the schedule this year, our women's Christmas gathering was held in the Fellowship Hall where we could maintain plenty of distance from one another. We didn't have a gift exchange, choosing instead to support a charity that works to protect girls. There was also a Christmas ornament craft kit to make there or take home; here is what I created:
I've intended to post about so much more, but personal burdens have made creative thought difficult. I know all of you are carrying burdens of your own like never before, too. I pray that Christmas brought an interlude of peace and love to your heart, even if you couldn't have family in your home. I will try to get back here to show you some nifty things before the photos gather figurative dust, or the calendar turns another page . . . but don't hold your breath. 😉
That's it for now from . . .
10 comments:
Well, Michelle, your holiday was much busier than ours! I did get to go to the Christmas Eve service at 6:00. It was quite different from what we've usually had, but the man who is serving as our interim, does a lot of different things. My daughter, Marlys hasn't been able to attend, since the Christmas tree was put up. She had a violent asthma attack when she stepped in briefly the first time after the decorating was done. She was probably in there less than a minute. It's a long story... On Christmas Day we had two friends over for dinner. Marlys made a cheesecake from a recipe she made up as she went along. It's different, but good. We watched too much TV. There was a lot of talk about knitting, crocheting and other things yarnie!
I really enjoyed reading about your time. The pictures of the frosted weeds are lovely. Thanks for including them. It was such fun reading about and seeing Poppy's part. She is such a beauty! Rico's latest toy interest is a simple tennis ball. Don't know how long that will last. He'll pick it up and toss it, or let us give it a toss.
It was a very quiet day for me, also. It seems that that has become the norm. Second Christmas in a row for me to be 'chore boy'... SIL and daughter went to his parents/family out of state so someone had to stay to take care of the 4 leggeds... I had several drinkers that were frozen so that took some time to get liquid water to everyone. Windy blustery day that calmed down toward evening and we even got some sunshine.
Christmas eve candlelight services put on by church members (pastor is being difficult it seems) was attended by me and my mother. My dad can't get in or out of the church without excessive effort - so he stayed home. My other two kiddos stayed home as we have a get together planned New Years instead.
I spent just a little time in the loom room, went and helped the parents get on a family Zoom meeting, and came home to relax. Keeping the wood stove fueled also takes some time and effort. The kids will be home later today, so I will at least have someone to talk to --- goal for today is to do the dishes, the sink is full :)
It hardly feels like anything other than a normal day.
Your photos again, never disappoint! Poppey is completely precious! Her little eyes just melt the viewer ! She would be completely rotten if I spent any time with her... lol . We had our first white Christmas here on the ridge! It was and is absolutely perfect! Having retired here after 35 years in Florida, we are so very blessed! Hope your New Year is festive!
A very different Christmas for us as well. I will be blogging about it soon. Hope you and your family continue to remain healthy through the end of this Pandemic.
I have gotten into the habit of ending all conversations with folks I causally interact with (strangers like delivery folks, grocery checkers, etc.) with "Stay well." People usually have a quick moment of pause (like they don't hear that often) and return the same to me. It sort of is a way and recognizing we are all in this together ... really! A link between humans ....
Stay well, Michelle.
I'm sorry to hear that Brian is ailing. I sure hope its not covid and that he recuperates quickly. This year has been different and difficult all the way around. Let's hope and pray that 2021 will be joyful. Happy New Year
Enjoyed reading your update and, especially, the pictures you always include to make things so interesting. Brian's aliments may just be a "normal" letdown of being home after his first semester away at school. Being in a known, safe environment with mom to take care of you, often leads to the body saying, "Okay, now I can take the time to collapse and rebuild."
Jeanne, our Christmas service was today for church. It's usually the Sabbath before Christmas, but the powers that be decided to have it the day after this year. Beautiful music, and lots of donations on the Giving Tree.
re'New, we are blessed with far less harsh weather here; frozen-up things sure make for extra work! Rick has been doing Brian's stall cleaning the last couple of days. I think he's taking advantage of being sick, because he got up and took a walk while we were at church today so he COULD have done his own chores....
How special, wyomingheart; a WHITE Christmas!
I will look forward to reading about YOUR Christmas, Elaine – and everything else you post! Stay well, too, friend.
Sue, we are definitely hoping it's not COVID; some of the symptoms fit both it and mono. He certainly doesn't need to start out winter quarter sick after a fairly disastrous fall quarter!
Mama Pea, he has admitted that he was sharing drinks' (I hope that just means soft drinks) with friends the week of Thanksgiving, which fits the incubation period for mono. And I admit to not doing much "taking care of;" he's not interested in eating and didn't have a temperature last we checked, so we are just letting him 'sleep' (not even sure how much of THAT he's doing with all the electronic devices he has in his room).
I hope Brian doesn't have COVID . . .
I'm glad you had a nice Christmas, and Poppy is so cute with her new squirrel log toy!
Me, too, A. I am going to call around tomorrow about having him tested, since COVID mimics so many things.
Quiet Christmas celebrations seem to be the norm this year. So many things seem to be the norm that shouldn't be....shouldn't be needed. Glad you're doing well, I sure hope Brian just has a little bug rather than anything bad.
Poppy seems to enjoy spreading out like a much bigger dog, and certainly seems to love those squirrels!
Isn't the frost on the weeds lovely? I am always surprised at the beauty of simple things. We too had flocked roadsides and leaves. After our snow on the 18th, things were sooooo frosty, but then along came 30 hours of steady rain, and the snow is gone, though not the ice.
A happy Christmas and New Year to you and yours, let us know how Brian does (and the rest of you!)
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