Monday, January 3, 2022
Mom texted me this picture of her manger scene under her tree. She just bought a shepherd recently to add to it.
Monday, May 18, 2026
Christmastide 2021/2022 - 6th Day of Christmas: Nesting Santas
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Don't think I've displayed my nesting Santas for a couple of years and it's been even longer since I've opened them up.
This one I have a hard time recalling where I got it although I think it may have been at the old Bibelot Shop.
The nesting dolls upon which these are based are Russian in origin and are called Matryoshka. The following is from Wikipedia: "A set of matryoshkas consists of a wooden figure, which separates at the middle, top from bottom, to reveal a smaller figure of the same sort inside, which has, in turn, another figure inside of it, and so on."
Also from Wikipedia: "The first Russian nested doll set was made in 1890 by wood turning craftsman and wood carver Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo. Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan, a long and shapeless traditional Russian peasant jumper dress. The figures inside may be of any gender; the smallest, innermost doll is typically a baby turned from a single piece of wood. Much of the artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be very elaborate. The dolls often follow a theme; the themes may vary, from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders. In the west, matryoshka dolls are often referred to as babushka dolls, babushka meaning "grandmother" or "old woman"." [Note: The above two photos are from Wikipedia.]
Recently I heard that the Unicode Consortium approved a Russian doll emoji in 2020. I typed in "nesting doll" in a text message to Dale and what you see in the above screenshot is what I got.
Type in Matryoshka and you'll get the same thing.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - 5th Day of Christmas: Finishing Up the Tree
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
Today I finally got the star on the tree.
Also got the skirt under the tree and drank a little egg nog.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - 4th Day of Christmas
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
I put some finishing touches on the tree. Now I just need the star and to figure out where I stored the tree skirt last year. Maybe I'll have it all ready by New Year's Eve.
Also got the angel display set up. According to something I found in House Beautiful magazine it's common to find an abundance of angels in German homes at Christmas. Sometimes they're on the tree but they're also displayed on sideboards. When I started this collection a number of years ago I didn't even know I was giving a nod to my German heritage.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - 2nd Day of Christmas: Books of the Day
Sunday, December 26, 2021
Pulled a couple of old favorites off the shelf today. One was 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore which I've heard just about every year since I was born. The poem is also known as "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and "The Night Before Christmas." It was originally published anonymously as "Account of A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1823. Clement C. Moore is said to have claimed authorship in 1837. The poem is often credited as responsible for the modern conception of Santa Claus in the United States and much of the world. The edition I read today is a reproduction of the version with illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith which appeared in 1912. I obtained my copy of this rendition at the gift shop from the Alexander Ramsey House in St. Paul. Noel and I took a tour of the house of the former Minnesota politician two or three years ago.
The second book I revisited is Santa Mouse by Michael Brown with illustrations by Elfrieda de Witt. This story didn't appear until a 146 years after 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I had this book as a little boy and reading it now brings back early Christmas memories of me in my room at the house on Stevens at Christmas time. It's about a lonely little mouse who befriends Santa Claus after selflessly giving a gift to the jolly old elf. My original copy of the book is long gone but about 20 years ago I spotted a copy at Barnes & Noble and snapped it up for the sake of nostalgia. One of my favorites.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - 2nd Day of Christmas: A Quiet Walk to See Dad
Sunday, December 26, 2021
I took a walk to St. Mary's to see Dad early this afternoon.
It was rather glum out. Despite this there was a beautiful peacefulness and calm which hung over the cemetery. The quiet was quite comforting.
Wishing and hoping that Dad is somehow feeling that same peacefulness and calm.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - 2nd Day of Christmas: Quiet Morning
Sunday, December 26, 2021
I've really enjoyed the quiet mornings I've experienced this Christmas break. Today was no exception.
Along with my morning coffee I had some of the chocolate chip cookies Mom brought over last night and some krumkake I got at Kowalski's.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - 1st Day of Christmas: Dinner with Mom & A Visit with Sam and Fam
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Mom came over just before the 2 pm Google Meet I'd set up with Sam. We had a nice conversation with Sam, Becky, and the boys. At one point the boys told us about the presents they got this year. Sam mentioned that Cairic got a helmet because he had been hitting his head a lot recently. Cairic looked quite excited and jumped up to fetch said helmet. We were a little concerned and Mom asked why he was hitting his head lately. Before anyone could answer Cairic came back with a medieval type helmet that looked something like a knight might wear. We were relieved Sam had been joking about Cairic hitting his head and had a good laugh about how funny it looked as he tried it on.
The meet lasted just about an hour. By the time it ended it was 10 pm in Sam's part of the world.
We had beef stroganoff for dinner which Dale and I made together. It was quite delicious. Dale also made his famous Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple syrup. So yummy.
Shortly before Mom arrived I tried on my kilt for the first time since last year. On Christmas of 2020 I realized how much lockdown weight I had put on when I couldn't get the main snap of the garment any closer than about two inches apart. This year I was able to snap it. It was tight but I was able to snap it. I like to call it a Christmas miracle but much more sensible eating in 2021 than in 2020 was the actual reason.
Sylvester did great with Mom. He was outgoing and very comfortable being next to her on the couch.
After we all had some pumpkin pie Mom decided to call it a night at about 7 pm as she was starting to wilt a bit. Overall she did really well considering she sang at the 9 pm Christmas Eve mass at her church last night. So good to spend Christmas with her. She's the only one on the planet I've celebrated every Christmas with in one way or another. As I look back I can only come up with two or three times I haven't been with her on the actual day. Each of those times we made up for it by celebrating on one of the other 12 days of Christmas. Merry Christmas, Mom!
Christmastide 2021/2022 - 1st Day of Christmas: Adorable
Friday, December 25, 2021
What a cutie. The cat's not bad either.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - Loving Pets
Friday, December 24, 2021
Athena has been on my mind a lot the past few days. I'm missing her presence especially so due to the holiday. Alongside the sadness of missing Athena I'm feeling so much joy at the presence of Sylvester. This little one has really worked his way into my heart since he's been with us. Glad you're here, Sylvester.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Christmastide 2021/2022 - The Curious Christmas Cat on Christmas Eve Day
Friday, December 4, 2021
Okay fine. Just don't knock anything over.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - Kalle Anke
Friday, December 24, 2021
The service we attended this afternoon was quiet short. It only lasted about 50 minutes and we were home not too long after 5:00. It was still somewhat light when we pulled into our driveway. Time for Kalle Anke! This year we watched Mickey's Christmas Carol.
Christmastide 2021/2022 - Christmas Eve Service
Friday, December 24, 2021
Can't believe it was two years ago we went to a Christmas Eve service. Covid got in the way. It's the first time I've been to any church service since then.
We went to the 4 pm service at St. Luke's and St. James over on Colfax Avenue. Dale said this particular church has only been back in-person since this past October.
It was a sweet service with a Christmas pageant which made me remember all the Christmas Eve pageants at Gethsemane. I really miss the place. Dale and I both mentioned afterward that it was nice to be back in church.
Holiday Season 2021 - Winter Solstice
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Got the tree up and the lights on just in time for the solstice.
Sylvester seems quite curious about it. Although he recently turned two years old this is actually Sylvester's 3rd Christmas. According to Dale, John didn't have a tree last year. John got Sylvester from a shelter in September of 2020 so who knows what his 1st Christmas was like. It's possible this is the first Christmas tree Sylvester has encountered. We'll just have to see how this plays out.
Holiday Season 2021 - St. Lucia's Day
Monday, December 13, 2021
The following is from a post from the Minnesota Historical Society which appeared on my Facebook feed and is also found on their mnopedia.org site:
"Happy St. Lucia’s Day! In Swedish and Swedish American culture, St. Lucia’s Day traditionally marks the beginning of the Christmas season. According to a Swedish legend, during a great famine, a woman "clothed in white and crowned with light" arrived on a mysterious ship on the coast of Värmland, Sweden. The woman distributed food and clothing to the needy, and was identified as St. Lucia, a 3rd-century Christian martyr."
"The main celebrations of the day occur at home, with the eldest daughter donning a white dress, red sash, and a crown of candles, serving a breakfast of coffee and saffron buns known as Lussekatter (“Lucia Buns”)."
"St. Lucia’s Day traditions were brought to Minnesota by many of the 300,000 Swedes who moved to Minnesota between 1845 and 1930. "
I'm including this information here because of our family's Swedish heritage.
Holiday Season 2021 - Sylvester Explores His New Environment
Monday, December 13, 2021
This morning I checked between the wall and the armoire for Sylvester but he wasn’t there. When I got home from work he was no where to be found. I was starting to worry I wouldn’t see him today. Dale found him in the basement after dinner and brought him upstairs. He was very outgoing tonight and seems to be getting comfortable. What a sweet guy.
Holiday Season 2021 - Welcome Sylvester
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Sylvester is a two year old cat we are adopting from John C. who is no longer able to care for him. This photo shows him crated just before the car ride to our house. He is a gentle and sweet cat and is adjusting well to his new surroundings (that is, if hiding between the wall and an armoire is considered adjusting well). According to Dale it can take about a week for a cat to get used to new surroundings.
I consider him an early Christmas present.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Holiday Season 2021 - Mom's Tree
Saturday, December 11, 2021
We've been storing Mom's Christmas tree at our place since last Christmas since she downsized to a smaller apartment. We brought it over today only to find we were missing a part of it. Without the top it looked more like a Christmas shrub than a tree. She was a little distraught since I wasn't sure where the other part might be since it wasn't anywhere near the other parts being stored in our basement. On top of that there's a shortage of other artificial trees this years so getting a replacement might turn out to be a tall order.
Anyway, upon returning home and doing a deeper search I ended up finding it. We zipped it over to her and she was quite excited.
Holiday Season 2021 - Snowmen Update
Saturday, December 12, 2021
About a week ago I set out the snowmen.
Today I moved them out to the porch to make room for MORE Christmas stuff in the dining room. Haven't decided quite yet what I'll put in their place.
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