A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/ebb-and-flow/

Welcome to Day 24 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/): Christmas Eve tradition

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/): Share your memories of Christmas Eves gone by.

We have reached the end of my Christmas Advent Blog Adventure for this year.   Thanks again to The View from the Porch and to Geneabloggers for these great prompts!  I haven’t always been the best at answering the prompts, which is not surprising perhaps to those who know me from Daily Post Writing Prompts land.

And this is great – both themes align!  Our Christmas Eve traditions have changed over the years.  Mom liked going to church, so we would often do that (I can’t remember if dad went or not, recovering Catholic that he is) both at home and in wherever locations we landed for the holidays.  I am ok with the church thing at Christmas.  They always sing a lot and the candles at the end of the services were always nice.  Then, when I met Kevin, we did Christmas Eve with his family (dinner, gifts, plus church (mom came along with us)).   Those are my memories.  Now, I just look forward to a nice quiet Christmas Eve with Kevin and the kitties.

And now, some visions of Christmas present!

Just to note, the ornament below (made by Zombie Flamingo creator, Judy) is the cold and flu germs.  It’s a long story…

This is Carbon – also made by Judy, and also a long story!

And of course, Bacon!

And, Scrooge with Alistair Sim (the colourized version unfortunately, and not really true to the original story, but still the best version out there!)

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/exhale/

Welcome to Day 23 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/):  Christmas company

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  Tell us about Christmas homecomings and your memories of Christmases past.

First, let me note that I got the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories prompts mixed up and did Day 23 yesterday.  So, now I am doing day 22.  Just saying…

We love having Christmas company.  The more the merrier for Christmas dinner, I think.  This year it will be mom and dad, and my friend Darca who is here going to Law School.  Post-Christmas we often have some small dinner gatherings with friends as well, and this year is no exception.  Looking forward to the next few days of feasting and relaxing!!

As for Homecomings, we used to go back to Regina for Christmas, but haven’t been back since mom and dad moved out here.  Once my brother and sister-in-law move to Ottawa at the end of the month, we really have no family left in Regina, so I don’t think there will be any more Christmas homecomings for us.  Plus, it’s cold there…

And now, for the photo portion of this post – more Christmas decorations!

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/fandom/

Welcome to Day 22 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/):  White Christmas or green Christmas?

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  What does Christmas represent to you and is it different than when you grew up or from the meaning it had for your ancestors?

White (but only Christmas.  The rest of the winter can be wonderfully green!)

I don’t know what Christmas represents to me any more.  I guess having some time off (I work in Education) to get together with friends and family.   That’s about all these days.

And now, pictures!

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/safety-first/

Welcome to Day 21 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/):  Children’s rules for Christmas morning

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  Tell us about your own Christmas wishes and your memories of Christmases past.

Children’s rules for Christmas morning?  No going into the living room until all the adults have and at least 2 cups of coffee.  As a now adult (generally speaking), I can definitely get behind that rule!!

As for my Christmas wishes, I think these days it would be that everyone who has all those special “peace on earth” “be nice to people” etc. wishes at Christmas would just follow through with those wishes all year round.

And now, some “it’s really getting close to Christmas we better get these packages shipped – ack!” photos from yesterday. as well as some baking from our neighbour, and a few more ornaments.

Happy Solstice everyone!

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/take-care/

Welcome to Day 20 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/):  Colored lights or white lights?

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  Tell us about your best Christmas parties and your memories of Christmases past.

Coloured lights or white lights?  Did you see the pictures of our Christmas Trees through the years yesterday?

Christmas parties?  My favourite “parties” are the gatherings we have with friends during the days after Christmas.  We are (well, I am at least – Kevin does like more crowded events than I do) all about the quiet dinners with family and friends.  We have a few planned this year, just as we have in years past.  My parents and a friend on Christmas Day, and dinners over the following week with various close friends.  My favourite times of the season!

And now, here are some of the ornaments hanging on our current tree.

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/the-artists-eye/

Welcome to Day 19 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/): The Christmas tree

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  Tell us about Christmas gifts and your memories of Christmases past.

Since I’ve already gone over my lack of Christmas gifts remembering, I will only talk of the Christmas tree for this post.  And when I say “talk” of it, I mean show you Christmas trees over the past few years.  Thanks to Kevin for digging up the old Princess Street tree pictures!!

And now some other nice things…

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/10000-spoons/

Welcome to Day 17 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/): Celebrating the holiday with your pets

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  Tell us about your special Christmas foods and your memories of Christmases past.

I’ve already talked a bit about Christmas foods.  I am a stuffing person (and by that I mean stuffing cooked inside the big bird) – I make a mean stuffing too!  But, this year, there will be no stuffing as we are not having turkey.  There will only be 5 for Christmas dinner, and one of them is a vegetarian.  So mom is bringing a roast, and we will have many many veggies on the table.  Maybe I’ll put together a stuffing in the stove?  Don’t know yet…

As for celebrating with pets…how could we not?

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/because-the-night/

Welcome to Day 17 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/): A special gift you have given or received.

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  Tell us about your favorite Christmas stories and your memories of Christmases past.

Another Christmas memory I have forgotten:  a special gift I gave or received.   I’d like to think I’ve given some memorable gifts over the years, but I honestly can’t remember if I made anyone cry (sounds like a good way to gauge the “specialness” of a gift…)  And I know I’ve received some pretty special gifts over the year.  The flowers Kevin wrapped (and almost killed) for our first Christmas, the marathon necklace from my uncle (not technically a Christmas gift), and Marvel the Mustang from mom and dad when I was young (I don’t know what ever happened to Marvel…).  All this thinking about gifts reminds me now of one of my favourite Christmas stories by O Henry which was all about giving up something to give to the one you love.  Sappy, I know, but memorable…

And now, some memorable kitty pictures!

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/third-rate-romance/

Welcome to Day 14 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/): The spirit of giving.

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  Tell us about your Christmas travel and your memories of Christmases past.

Well, I’ve already spoken to my memories of Christmas traveling.  As for the spirit of giving, that is what Christmas is (or should be) all about.  Enough said.

And now for yesterday.

Here is the tree now.  Not decorated yet, but all lit up with Kevin’s angel on the top.

We had lunch with my brother and sister-in-law at our favourite Japanese restaurant.  Oh, yum!!

And we’ll (well, I’ll) end with some kitties!

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”

A response in avoidance of the Daily Post’s Writing Prompt https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/unexpected-guests/

Welcome to Day 14 of the Great Advent Blog Adventure!  For today, the two topics I will explore are:

From the Christmas Postathon (https://4wallsnaroof.wordpress.com/2015/11/30/the-christmas-postathon/): Holiday cards

And from the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/):  Tell us about your Christmas decorations and your memories of Christmases past.

Holiday Cards.  Cutting back.  I used to send Christmas letters and tons of cards, but this year I decided to only send to family and a few close friends.   Times have changed.

As for our decorations, most of them are either from our family’s (heirlooms and the like) or gifts from family and friends.  I am resolved this year to take pictures of all of them and to post them (I have already posted a few).   Just because.

Now, my brother and his wife are in town for a couple of days from Regina (and soon to be living in Ottawa), and yesterday I (Kevin was working) had lunch with them and mom and dad at Aura (at the Inn at Laurel Point), so I thought I would post a few pictures of our outing.

Walking there (the restaurant is in our ‘hood), I decided to take some pictures of the big constructions site behind the Legislature.  I am planning on shooting this location for a monthly picture next year to have a record of how it evolves.

Then I got to the restaurant.  Lots of pretty decorations and a gingerbread house display (most of those pictures have been saved for another post…)

And some scenery

The menu

Appetizers

And the meal!

Then last night we got together (all of us this time) at mom and dad’s for pizza and vino!

In between meals I worked a bit and ran (a post for another time later today…)

“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”