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.

Christmastide 2020: Christmas Day - The First Day of Christmas: Dinner with Mom

Friday, December 25, 2020

It's been ages since we've had Mom over for dinner. I think it's been since summer and we probably ate outside. 

We all chatted for a couple of hours, then ate dinner and chatted some more. 

We had planned on watching a movie but then Mom started getting tired. She had brought a gift over for us. 

It turned out to be a beautiful edition of the four Gospels of the Bible. Lots of beautiful artwork throughout. 

Dale made Julia Child's beef bourginoine for dinner. I was sous chef. 

Mom wasn't up for dessert. Dale and I indulged after she left. Pumpkin. Pie.

Christmas Day 2019 - Merry Kiltmas

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

It's that time of the year again. I wanted to be all fancified for my hosting duties so I went with a blue velvet blazer.

Christmas Day 2017 - Merry Kiltmas

Monday, December 25, 2017

I wore my kilt for Christmas Day dinner.

So nice to spend the day with Mom and Day.

Mom brought over chocolate covered cherries which were always Dad's favorites.

Christmas Day 2017 - Wake Up!!

Monday, December 25, 2017

Christmas Eve 2017

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Sent the above picture to Sam and Pete.

Sam texted back that they got a white Christmas. I texted back that that's pretty good for Kansas.

Pete texted back that they are doing cheese fondue at their house.

Christmas 2016 - Christmas Eve Service

Saturday, December 24, 2017

Lovely Christmas Eve service at Gethsemane. Dale sang in the choir and I was one of the three kings in the Christmas Pageant. Pictured with me is Mark, one of the other kings. I think we did a great job.  My first Christmas pageant EVER!

Christmas Eve 2016 - Mom

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Dressed up before heading over to dinner at Mom's place.

Bought this cute little guy about 16 years ago from the school secretary at the school I was working at at the time. Her name was Tammy and she and her mom made these and sold them. 

We had a wonderful time at Mom's. Her friend Lynn joined us and after appetizers we had cheese fondue and then filet mignon. She only made one batch of cheese fondue as last year Dale wrote her a post it note and put it on the cover of her cookbook to remind her. Lynn brought a mushroom mix to put on top of the steaks. She was horrified they shrunk as much as they did after putting them in the microwave for only a minute and a half. We all thought it was delicious none-the-less. She also brought a tiramisu cake for dessert which was very delicious, especially so because it was not overly sweet.  Lynn also brought over a DVD of a fire in a fire place. The audio was of the crackling sound of a fire and also a loon calling in the distance. Dale was particularly taken with the video.

Mom's tree looked beautiful as usual.

Christmas Eve 2015 - Mom

This year is my 50th Christmas and I've celebrated  all of them with this dear woman. Thanks Mom, for making them great. I love you.

Christmas Eve 2015 - To All a Good Night

Can't wait until tomorrow...

Christmas Season 2015 - Joe

With Santa Clause at the Holidazzle Marketplace (formerly the Minneapolis Holiday Market).

Holiday Season 2014 - Minneapolis Holiday Market

Last year was the last year of the Minneapolis Holidazzle Parade. This year in it's place there is something called the Holidazzle Christmas Market. 

The following is from Dale's blog:

"Joe is....a shopper which I most definitely am not. But I did go downtown with him today for the launch of the Minneapolis Marketplace, an outdoor, quasi-German themed Christmas market. It actually was pretty fun, and he could not get that silly grin off his face - he was so happy and in his element that I just had to capture it with a picture. For being so cold and having just finished snowing there were sure a lot of people there. The hot mulled wine was VERY popular. And seeing so many people we know and adore there made me happy and gave me a strong sense of connection to my community. And for all of this I am indeed thankful."

We had a blast walking around. We ran into Noel and her family. We also saw a few other old friends we hadn't seen in a while.

Christmas Day 2013 - Dale, Mom, and Joe

This turned out to be a lovely Christmas. The time with friends at church was marvelous and the time with Mom on Christmas Day was very meaningful. It's too bad we didn't get to do the traditional Christmas Eve fondue due to my singing in both the afternoon and late evening services at church. Mom sang at the late service at her church and also the 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day service. We decided in advance that it might be a little hairy trying to fit all the prep and dinner in in between services. Sometimes an occasional break with tradition helps one to appreciate that tradition even more. There's always next year...

Christmas Eve 2013 - Dale and Joe

Dale and I both sang with the traditional choir for the 10:00 pm Christmas Eve service.  Here we are after the service looking very angelic in our choir robes.

Christmas Eve 2013 - Gift

I sing with Gethsemane's contemporary music ensemble. Our director, Cindi, gave us this lovely gift as a thank you for our work this year. I'll drink it in good health.

Christmas Day 2012 - Joe, Dale, and Mom

Dale and I stopped by the house of our friend and neighbor Warren on Christmas morning.  He hosted a light breakfast and we were able to meet his delightful parents.  After that we enjoyed a very relaxing afternoon.  It was very cold outside but the sun was shining brightly and it was lovely having snow on Christmas.  Last year was a brown Christmas - the first in about six years.  In the evening Mom came to dinner.  We served beef stroganoff.  Pete and Stephanie texted us to wish us a Merry Christmas.  The above photo is what we texted back to them along with a Christmas greeting.  What a beautiful Christmas it turned out to be. 

Christmas Day 2012 - Joe, Athena, and Dale

Christmas Day 2012 - Mom and Joe

Christmas Eve 2012 - Setting Up the Tree

A special thank you to my photographer, Dale, for putting up with me while I hammed it up a bit.

Christmas Eve 1968 - The Minneapolis Tribune

I obtained a facsimile of the 1968 Christmas Eve edition of the old Minneapolis Tribune at an exhibit at the Minnesota History Center. The exhibit was 1968 and covered a lot of the events that happened during that turbulent year in American history. It was fun to see what the headlines were. Mom and Dad and I were living in Minneapolis near the old Fairview and St. Mary's hospitals.