This year, I promised myself I would get a head start getting everything ready for Christmas. Just before December arrived, I got out the boxes of decorations and opened the first one. Ugh! Mouse droppings, shredded paper cum nesting material, and eaten-away fabric and ribbon. I cleaned up what could be sterilized, tossed what couldn't, and was totally unmotivated to open any more boxes. Christmas preparations were put on hold until I recovered.
In the meantime, the busy Conchords performance season arrived. Our shows were fairly compressed this year, and we found ourselves singing 2-3 times per week. It looked like finding a time to schedule a trip to the Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree was next to impossible, so Larry, Sarah, and Emily went without me - and found a beauty. School, work, and performance schedules continued to play havoc with preparations, so the tree sat in a bucket of water in front of the house awaiting decoration.
I was lucky enough to be working a lot, but eventually managed to get over my rodent aversion and snagged a couple of days here and there to decorate. Luckily, no more vermin evidence was found, and I managed to get the living room mantle decorated with its collection of nutcrackers and snowmen. Greenery from the backyard and berries from a neighbor's front yard completed the look.
Santas stood proudly on the family room mantle.
Swags of greenery finished the look on the front of the house and the stairway. Xeda had to check out the newly festooned banister, and expressed her approval.
A few other areas received a festive touch, as well.
Finally, two weeks after it was cut, we finally got the tree into the house and, with carols playing and a fire blazing, hung ornaments with great care. It was a lovely way to spend time with my family on my birthday.
In the meantime, the busy Conchords performance season arrived. Our shows were fairly compressed this year, and we found ourselves singing 2-3 times per week. It looked like finding a time to schedule a trip to the Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree was next to impossible, so Larry, Sarah, and Emily went without me - and found a beauty. School, work, and performance schedules continued to play havoc with preparations, so the tree sat in a bucket of water in front of the house awaiting decoration.
I was lucky enough to be working a lot, but eventually managed to get over my rodent aversion and snagged a couple of days here and there to decorate. Luckily, no more vermin evidence was found, and I managed to get the living room mantle decorated with its collection of nutcrackers and snowmen. Greenery from the backyard and berries from a neighbor's front yard completed the look.
Santas stood proudly on the family room mantle.
Swags of greenery finished the look on the front of the house and the stairway. Xeda had to check out the newly festooned banister, and expressed her approval.
A few other areas received a festive touch, as well.
Finally, two weeks after it was cut, we finally got the tree into the house and, with carols playing and a fire blazing, hung ornaments with great care. It was a lovely way to spend time with my family on my birthday.
A week later, Christmas day arrived with gifts aplenty.
Clothes seemed to have been on everyone's list.
Emily's big gift was an iPod.
Larry received an oft-mentioned movie.
Doctor Who gifts were a hit.
A storage bin doubled as a good hiding place - but is sure to be filled up soon.
There were gifts in Xeda's stocking, but in true kitty fashion, she liked the empty boxes best!
Exhausted from our gift exchange, we laid low most of the afternoon and watched Christmas movies. Later that night, Joan, Liza, and Annie Overholser joined us for Christmas dinner. It was great to have them here and to be able to return the hospitality they show us every Thanksgiving. Emily set a beautiful table, complete with napkins "folded" to look like candles.
Appetizers were Sweety Peps (little marinated sweet peppers stuffed with goat cheese), and crackers and cream cheese with cherry balsamic sauce.
Dinner was pork roast with cranberry-ginger glaze, wild rice with caramelized onions and cranberries, wrapped green beans, corn casserole, salad and rolls. Pretty yummy!
Dessert was red velvet cake (left over from my birthday), and an assortment of Christmas cookies and chocolates, followed by a rousing game of Passadoodle, eliciting many belly laughs.
A lovely day replete with family, friends, food, and fond memories in the making.
