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.

Mom brought us a funny gnome as a Christmas present. I love it!

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 - The Curious Christmas Cat on Christmas Eve Day

Friday, December 4, 2021

No

No!

NO!

Okay fine. Just don't knock anything over.

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 - 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

Welcome Sylvester! 

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.