Happy Holidays!

 

I'm sure this holiday season, just like the rest of the year, has been challenging for everyone. Personally, it's been a bummer not to be with family and friends but thankfully there's FaceTime and online shopping to keep things festive. Like that weird, brown bow on the wreath, this Christmas wasn't what I was hoping it would be but it came close enough. Now that the vaccines are available and with a new administration in charge, maybe better times are just months away.

Adding to the challenges of this covid Christmas, we had no snow! Not that I actually mind, there have been PLENTY of white Christmas's over the years and I'm always grateful when there isn't a blizzard on Halloween. Still, everything looks much better with a fresh covering of the white stuff. On the bright (orange) side, it's been so warm HM and I have been able to enjoy some spectacular sunsets from our patio, while sipping cocktails. Maybe that will become a new holiday tradition?

There were a couple of weeks where everything came to a stand still however. The artificial Christmas tree we had in our sunroom needed to be replaced so when the new one arrived in late November we set it up and got it decorated. About the same time, news started to trickle in about a number of our extended family members who had tested positive for the virus or had been exposed. It seemed like Covid was everywhere, my uncle was in the hospital and our next-door neighbor had been very ill for over a month. I started to think that maybe we should try to keep it simple this year and stick with one tree. Then my son Andy and his wife, Kristin sent these pretty flowers for my birthday and they reminded me that life is short and we need to enjoy it while we can!

So we put on our masks and went out to pick up our usual Frasier Fir at the Walgreens parking lot.

Then like magic, everything went back to normal Christmas chaos. The tree went up, the stocking were hung, the decorations came out and the Amazon/UPS Santas delivered almost all of the gifts on time. Most importantly, everyone we were worried sick about is okay or getting better and my uncle was allowed to leave the hospital before Christmas.

We are lucky to have our furry friends to keep us company during these times.

They even look forward to opening presents . . . but only after sleeping in on Christmas morning.

To be honest, all they really care about is playing in the wrapping paper!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays!