Christmas Eve 2024

 

 

Well we have reached another Christmas Eve and are looking forward to the new day tomorrow.. Every year seems a bit new and a bit old at the same time.We see the coming and going of traditions. We wait in anticipation for the serenity that will be this evening.

We struggled this year with a huge live cut Christmas tree. This, it was decided, would be our last Christmas with a live  tree.  However, I remember we had said that before. So we will have to wait until next year to see what transpires. (We purchased a large boxed tree already.) Seems the cards may be stacked.

It took us nearly a week to decorate it and thanks to our neighbor for the use of his tall step ladder we managed to get it done. Looks fine I think and sitting at night with the fireplace and music it becomes mystical.

We did eventually get it decked out in our many favorite memories of  Christmas past. Here is a shot of it in it's bedazzled glory.

The tree measured 10.5 feet this year.

We always put up a smaller hall tree also. We decorate this with special ornaments that we have acquired over the years. One set of old antique glass ornaments from my grandmother and great aunt. Bells that jingle. My other grand mother gave us a box of glass bubbles on our first Christmas together. There ornaments from friends and family that have been given to us over the years. The grands came and added the icicles to finish if off. St. Nick and his elves  reside at the base with the lovely tree skirt made by youngest sister. It's one of the two we have used for many years. It also contains many of Coca-Cola collectible elves and Santa Claus' gathered over the years.

There is.a pickle on the tree. the first to spot gets the prize!

 Another of the many Santa's in my collection is perched high above watching out for Naughty and nice. I have more Santa's than space mow so Every year I change them out a bit differently.

This Father Christmas Santa was another gift from y little sister.

I always like to decorate a table or two and this year I did a new arrangement of Santa with his timber wolf Fridolf and comic elves amongst a collection of gifts. The little blue book at Santa's feet is the book where the Elves recorded the good and bad deeds of our children when they were younger.

Santa Announces Christmas with sound of his trumpet and Fridolf – peaceful wolf howls.

The mantle is also lit with candles, lights and small surprises throughout. Santa and his elfin helpers drift by the window of our back garden woods.

 

 

 

I thank you for allowing me to share this Holiday Season from our hime to yours. May you have happiness, joy and Peace now amd into the New Year. 

                        May father Christmas and Mother Earth bless you and keep you safe.

Until next time....................

Card is printed and will be sent soon

 Well. I have gotten the card from the printer and we are busy sending our holiday wishes  to all on our list.

This year's card captures our wildlife. We spend many of our hours when we can just observing our woodland friends. It is always a pleasant day when some unexpected critter arrives and entertains us.

The elves of course represent our grand children, now all young adults. I started the elves when there was only Isadore and have added the others as they arrived. Amelia, Owen, Eleanore, Ruby and Yasmin all creating the incredible fantastic six. The Santa appeared as a gift from my children and soon became the model for all the Santa's in each card.

I remember the first holiday card was a block print of our home at  Basler Farm in black and white. Then I discovered the ability to use color ditto masters and created the card of Santa holding a tray of dirt with a can of peas. The message was Peas on Earth. Than with introduction of photocopiers I began to draw 8.5 by 11 inch drawings in black line ink. Copying them in black and white and then hand coloring them. This was often a family activity. The themes changed with the events of our family during the year of their creation. Welcoming an exchange student, packing to move, and decorating the new home are just a few of past themes.

Then, as I do now, I switched to doing drawings 18 x 24 inchdrawings in pen and ink with colored pencil painting. Once they were completed a photo is shot and passed to the printer for the publication process. Now i try to create story themes, Baking, sending packages, making candy are some of those story drawings.

This year's card was extremely difficult to create. The life altering direction of country created some anxiety in my psyche.  There is a political reference if you can find it. Devastated by the grim outcome and distasteful election of of a lying bully crook I added my thoughts of staying positive and vocal as we move forward. Never give up the fight for the rights of all!

So whatever your race, creed, gender, or religion look forward to a brighter future through your own perseverance in speech and actions.

Happy Holiday for 2024

Missed Krampus and St. Nicklas Day

 I meant to add post for December 5th and 6th. I didn't time just passed me by. However, I did get the lights t and the topper found. Getting them on the tree is my goal for today or tomorrow. 

Did accomplish the baking of cakes for the big birthday bash on Sunday. It's a new recipe for an amaretto cake. Anxious to see how it turns out.

Still waiting for the card to come bake from the printer. Hopefully next week!

Here is the card in gray tones to check the overall value distribution

From Wikipedia = please donate to wikipedia when you can.

The Krampus (German: [ˈkʁampʊs]) is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; "Krampus Night"), immediately before the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December. In this tradition, Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with small gifts, while Krampus punishes badly behaved ones with birch rods.^[1][2]

Naughty children get punished.

The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated that it may have pre-Christian origins.^[3] In traditional parades and in such events as the Krampuslauf ("Krampus run"), young men dressed as Krampus attempt to scare the audience with their antics. Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten. 

     

 
St Nicholas Day December 6 again thank you Wikipedia and please donate to keep them alive!

Good children get gifts.

In Northern Germany, Sankt Nikolaus is usually celebrated on a small scale. Many children put a boot called Nikolaus-Stiefel (Nikolaus boot) outside the front door on the night of 5 December. St. Nicholas fills the boot with gifts and sweets overnight, and at the same time checks up on the children to see if they were good, polite and helpful the last year.^[35] If they were not, they will have a stick (eine Rute) in their boots instead. Nicholas is often portrayed in Northern German folklore as being accompanied by Knecht Ruprecht who inquires of the children if they have been saying their prayers, and if not, he shakes his bag of ashes at them, or beats them with a stick. Sometimes a Nikolaus impersonator also visits the children at school or in their homes and asks them if they have been good (sometimes ostensibly checking his golden book for their record), handing out presents on the basis of their behavior. This has become more lenient in recent decades, and this task is often taken over by the Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas). In more Catholic regions, St. Nikolaus is dressed very much like a bishop, rides on a horse, and is welcomed at public places by large crowds. He has a long beard, and loves children, except when they have been naughty. This tradition has been kept alive annually.

In Poland Mikołaj is often also accompanied by an angel (anděl / anjel / anioł / anhel) who acts as a counterweight to the ominous devil or Knecht Ruprecht (czart). Poland and in Slovakia children find the candy and small gifts under the pillow, in their shoes or behind the window the evening of 5 December or the morning of 6 December.

In Austria, Bavaria and South-Tyrol (Austro-Bavarian regions), St. Nicholas is accompanied by Krampus, represented as a beast-like creature, generally demonic in appearance. Krampus is thought to punish children during the Yule season who had misbehaved, and to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair. The tradition of Krampus was adapted by Czechs and Slovaks during the Austrian-Hungarian era. In addition, in Czechia and Slovakia St. Nicholas is accompanied by an angel. In Czechia and Slovakia children receive some candies for their good deeds from st. Nicholas (Mikuláš) and potatoes or coal from Chort (čert) for their sins. The creature has roots in Slavic folklore; however, its influence has spread far beyond German borders, in Austria, southern Bavaria, South Tyrol, northern Friuli, Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Croatia. 5 December is Krampus Night or Krampusnacht, in which the hairy devil appears on the streets. Traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus during the first week of December, particularly on the evening of 5 December (the eve of Saint Nicholas day on many church calendars), and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. Sometimes accompanying St. Nicholas and sometimes on his own, Krampus visits homes and businesses. The Saint usually appears in the Eastern Rite vestments of a bishop, and he carries a ceremonial staff. Nicholas dispenses gifts, while Krampus supplies coal and the ruten bundles.^[36] Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten. There are many names for Krampus, as well as many regional variations in portrayal and celebration. ^[37]

In Swiss folklore, St. Nicholas is known as Samichlaus (like Dutch Sinterklaas a corruption of the name of St. Nicholas). He is accompanied by the Schmutzli a frightening helper wearing a brown monk's habit. The Christmas gift-bringer is not Samichlaus, but the Christchindli.

Oh the Christmas Tree

 Well. the Christmas season has begun. Yesterday we took our drive to the Montague Tree Farm to get our living oom tree.

Now I want you to understand that we have two Balsam Hill trees, one just fore the living room and one for the entrance. However when we moved here one of granddaughters, who should remain nameless, said " Poppy you need a really big tree to fit the room!" So we purchased a real tall tree for our living room that Christnas and each following Christmas since. So now a big tree seems to be traditional. Thanks to ......... nameless?

It is now in the garage waiting to be moved inside. We are older now so rearranging furniture to make room for the tree takes us a bit of planning and time. Also, even though we have been married for over 55 years setting it up is still quite the chore, We seem to have different words and images for the same directions when given by one of us to the other. Not that we can't get things done , we do get them done, they just take a bit longer and sometimes there are stronger words than needed.

So I am adding a few selected comics involving trees. I hope you enjoy them and have a laugh or two!

But first ..  a little Christmas memory   from Nat King Cole

 

 

 

 

some trees have it all some just lose their needles

the star is traditional in many homes

 

watching holiday movies is fum for some

and then holidays tend to be overrated for others