OT: The Holiday Thread

[Mione134]

Real tree or artificial?

When does yours go up?

We have artificial. Usually goes up Thanksgiving weekend.

View attachment 607731

Artificial. My older sister has bad asthma along with myself and my mom so I always grew up without a real tree. Years ago, my dad went to home depot and got me a small Christmas tree to decorate outside. Funny enough, I found our I'm allergic to real trees too. But it was fun to take care of a real tree for the first time in my life it somehow managed to stay alive until June. I think it was just special that way.


I was going to help my mom put up Thanksgiving stuff, but we decided to skip that and go straight into Christmas. With my dad still recovering from full knee replacement surgery, I haven't had time to put away the Halloween decorations outside just yet. But we'll get there. Christmas is my favorite time of year. Last year I was extremely depressed and sad. This year, I am so greatful. So I will be cherishing EVERYTHING and everyone.

 

[RoccoF14]

Looking forward to getting back to traditional Christmas Eve in Virginia this year, which we haven’t done since Covid. Last year we gathered a week earlier for my niece’s wedding, so we were home alone for Christmas.

Christmas Eve is at my sister’s in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. Southern traditions include country ham & biscuits, cheese grits, shrimp, bourbon, fireball shots and a gambling/ shooting game.

Participants make their Mark (X) plus initials on a large piece of cardboard. $1 per X goes in the pot. When all Xs are placed, they take the cardboard out back and some older child under supervision (!) fires a shotgun in the general direction of the cardboard.

The X that’s shot through closest to center wins the pot. The eldest gentleman in attendance is final arbiter. (Now my dad.)

There are 2 rounds.
Below is the backyard, so shooting no big deal. Although it’s more likely to be 60degrees than snow covered.

This is one year I won. (Very rare. I think I’ve won twice in 38 years.)View attachment 607562
View attachment 607560View attachment 607558

If you don't mind me asking......where in the Blue Ridge was that picture taken? I spent a good part of my adult life in the Old Dominion and consider it my home. Did a lot of real estate work in the western part of the state and logged a lot of miles up and down I-81 from Winchester to Bristol.

My guess is that photo was taken somewhere near Blacksburg?

 

[GlenFeatherstone]

Every year I treat my wife and her mom to tickets to see A Christmas Carol at the North Shore music theater in Beverly. My wife went every year as a little girl with her mom and grandmother. When her grandmother passed they kind of fell out of it but we picked the tradition up when we met. I love it. David Coffee, the actor who plays Scrooge is amazing. This will be his 28th year playing Scrooge.

 

[sooshii]

If you don't mind me asking......where in the Blue Ridge was that picture taken? I spent a good part of my adult life in the Old Dominion and consider it my home. Did a lot of real estate work in the western part of the state and logged a lot of miles up and down I-81 from Winchester to Bristol.

My guess is that photo was taken somewhere near Blacksburg?

It’s in Ivy, VA, between Crozet & Charlottesville. It’s a beautiful state.

 

[BMC]

A Christmas poem....sorta

Does anyone else hate the song Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer?
'Cause I sure do. lol

Grandma's Revenge

Most of you remember
How Grandma met her fate
That night in late December
Just outside her garden gate

The big boy in the red suit
Was flying kinda low
He didn't see my grandma
She got laid out in the snow

You think he would have stuck around
But that's not what he did
He hauled his fat butt outta town
And at the North Pole hid

You see he has this problem
And it's time for you to know
What's making him so jolly
And what makes his red cheeks glow

He tries to keep it hidden
But all the reindeer know
When Nicky staggers to the sled
This trip is gonna blow

That night he drank some eggnog
And thought it tasted fine
So he broke into her cabinet
And got into the wine

He guzzled down the bourbon
Til he was full of mirth
We found the empty bottle
Smashed beside the fireplace hearth

Now we're gonna show Old Tubby
How to take it like a man
We're gonna send a message...
You don't mess with Granny's clan

He'll never see it comin'
And all we really need
Is to hire an elf with pointy ears
To do the inside deed

A misfortune in the workshop
Or maybe late at night
We know accidents can happen
When you test a Christmas light

So say goodbye to Santa
Give the fat elf one last wave
It's sweet revenge for Grandma
She'll be smilin' from her grave

Me

This is hilarious well done!!!

 

[RoccoF14]

It’s in Ivy, VA, between Crozet & Charlottesville. It’s a beautiful state.

Perfect place to live. I'm jealous. Did a lot of work in Charlottesville-Waynesboro-Staunton back in the day. I could easily retire there...

 

[Glove Malfunction]

I love eggnog. My favorite is made by Barber's dairy which is sadly not available in Tennessee. It's super thick and delicious.

This sounds totally gross, but mix it with Sprite. It's amazing.

If you say so, LaVerne!

 

[Glove Malfunction]

Have you seen that artificial tree that is super easy to store? It rotates upside down and the branches flip in tight against the trunk.

Until a few years ago we had on that each row of branches was individual pieces....starting with 12 at the bottom, to 6 at the top. I would start at the bottom, put lights on.....next row , more lights....took a full day to put that baby together as each branch had to be fluffed....

We had that kind growing up. The different levels had different colors on the base, and at the end, they had faded or worn off, so it because quite the guessing game.

Nowadays, we LOVE decorating for Christmas. We do lights out front, though this year, we are totally redoing the front landscape, starting some time this month, so who knows how that will turn out. For trees, we have a big one both upstairs and down, a medium sized one on front step, a small frosted one under the pergola out back, and a small one that's sometimes in the bedroom and sometimes in the loft. Needless to say, we have ornaments out the wazoo. We also were given a six foot traditional Santa our first Christmas here, that we put in the front hall, though Kovi would like to put him out front this year.

Eggnog - YES, with or without whiskey or Capt. Morgan

Traditions - since being back in AZ, we spend Christmas Eve at my mom's. She loves having us together there. She buys way too much, still says "it's not much this year". I hadn't spent a Christmas with my brother in twenty years before moving, so getting to spend it with them is great.

 

[McGarnagle]

I'd like to get a (fake) tree to put up but the dog is a hyper little monster, likes to jump and pull on things, so I'm not sure it's safe or feasible. Maybe a small one for the table or countertop instead.

 

[BMC]

I'd like to get a (fake) tree to put up but the dog is a hyper little monster, likes to jump and pull on things, so I'm not sure it's safe or feasible. Maybe a small one for the table or countertop instead.

I went to a small ceramic tree after the cats repeatedly climbed up & pulled down the artificial tree I had.

 

[RoccoF14]

I'd like to get a (fake) tree to put up but the dog is a hyper little monster, likes to jump and pull on things, so I'm not sure it's safe or feasible. Maybe a small one for the table or countertop instead.

I used to have a cat that liked to play around with the ornaments and climb up the middle of it. A couple of sessions with a squirt bottle filled with water cleared that right up.........

 

[shelbysdad]

Any unusual/fun traditions?

Every Christmas Eve we set up the CD player...first one up (daylight is the rule) runs to the cd player (usually me or my daughter who is now 25), and cranks it way up to wake up everyone....the song.....Welcome Christmas from the Grinch....

We have done this right from the time they were born.

Another one...my mother in law and I were never especially close....leading up to Christmas, she would have her catalogs with dog eared pages if there was something she wanted to order on that page....when we were there I would go thought the catalogs and randomly dog ear pages just to drive her nuts....I don't think she ever figured out who did it but probably had an idea......

 

[shelbysdad]

Almost forgot another tradition which is more important this year. Back when I was 5 (1968 !) my Mom got me a Christmas book called Santa Mouse. For those who don't know, Santa Mouse travels with Santa, and brings a small present wrapped with yellow (always) ribbon. He hides it in the tree and you have to search to find it.

For some reason she continued this for years, and I started it with my wife and kids. The kids look forward every year to trying to find their gift as sometimes it's really hidden. This is my first Christmas without her and I'm sure the memories will come flooding back Christmas morning.

One year Santa Mouse brought me a fishing lure which was open and hung on tree to resemble an ornament. My daughter helped him that year and thought she was being real tricky.

 

[Alicat]

Ceramic

View attachment 607921

My mom has one that she made in ceramics class

 

[quietbruinfan]

Almost forgot another tradition which is more important this year. Back when I was 5 (1968 !) my Mom got me a Christmas book called Santa Mouse. For those who don't know, Santa Mouse travels with Santa, and brings a small present wrapped with yellow (always) ribbon. He hides it in the tree and you have to search to find it.

For some reason she continued this for years, and I started it with my wife and kids. The kids look forward every year to trying to find their gift as sometimes it's really hidden. This is my first Christmas without her and I'm sure the memories will come flooding back Christmas morning.

One year Santa Mouse brought me a fishing lure which was open and hung on tree to resemble an ornament. My daughter helped him that year and thought she was being real tricky.

My father liked to switch boxes among his gifts and keep you guessing. I just heard an ad for the Hess Truck on Felger and Mazz. That was my favorite gift from my father-in a different box. Brings back memories. ...

 

[Alicat]

My father liked to switch boxes among his gifts and keep you guessing. I just heard an ad for the Hess Truck on Felger and Mazz. My favorite gift from my father-in a different box. Brings back memories. ...

My mom will do that or she'll put that it is from the dog.

I actually got a christmas present Monday night. She bought me a new tv for my room here. I was using a very old 19" one over the summer and this one is 32" but is a smart tv. It is awesome plus I can use it as a monitor if I want.

I'm truly spoiled. Hoping my bonus is decent so I can buy a few nice gifts for everyone to go along with the paintings that I did.

 

[Gee Wally]

Ceramic

View attachment 607921

my mom made one just like that in the early 70s.
When she passed in 2020 I met with my sisters to go through the ordeal of does anyone want anything?
I had no need of any of my parents stuff. I did however ask if they came across the ceramic tree it would be all I want. We searched high and low and never found it. Maybe she had broke it or given it away?
The Bride said well lets just buy one. But I’m not interested. It was only because my mom had made it with her own hands.

 

[Bruinaura]

my mom made one just like that in the early 70s.
When she passed in 2020 I met with my sisters to go through the ordeal of does anyone want anything?
I had no need of any of my parents stuff. I did however ask if they came across the ceramic tree it would be all I want. We searched high and low and never found it. Maybe she had broke it or given it away?
The Bride said well lets just buy one. But I’m not interested. It was only because my mom had made it with her own hands.

Yes, the pic I posted is not of my tree although it looks similar. Mine belonged to my grandmother. The blue star broke off the top but if you didn't know it was supposed to be there you wouldn't notice anything wrong.

I have several ceramic pieces made by my mom or other relatives over the years. In fact I recently inherited two rooster lamps my mom had made for my late aunt. I didn't really have a choice, just kind of ended up with them. Fred and Herman are currently sitting on the floor in my bedroom awaiting their final fate lol.

 

[caz16]

This will be the first Christmas without my Mom so it will be hard but I do love Christmas. We are a small family, getting smaller. Hubby's family is in England and we came from England, so no extended family around. My youngest just turned 30, so she is the baby...lol

My Christmas drink is OJ and Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum - we call it a "sprodge" - I only have it at Christmas so it is special. I don't mind Egg Nog but it is pretty heavy unless it is really spiked well with rum.

Of course, there is my Bruins tree.

I bake dozens of cookies and goodies to share with lots of people - here is a sampling.

 

[shelbysdad]

my mom made one just like that in the early 70s.
When she passed in 2020 I met with my sisters to go through the ordeal of does anyone want anything?
I had no need of any of my parents stuff. I did however ask if they came across the ceramic tree it would be all I want. We searched high and low and never found it. Maybe she had broke it or given it away?
The Bride said well lets just buy one. But I’m not interested. It was only because my mom had made it with her own hands.

When my Dad passed, I went and grabbed one thing....a drop light....countess times while working in his garage it was my job to hold the light. I knew I finally got good at it when I could get through without hearing " DON"T SHINE IT IN MY EYES" and the other one, "SHINE IT WHERE I CAN SEE NOT WHERE YOU CAN SEE"

 

[Fenway]

Nova Scotia's Tree For Boston is on its way

 

[Alicat]

Nova Scotia's Tree For Boston is on its way

View attachment 608921

I love the McQuaid jersey.

 

[shelbysdad]

OK....just some small things mostly....and decided on a yeti water bottle and a carrying strap....

my son is determined we all chip in for a very expensive purse she loves ....will be a combination birthday/christmas present

 

[Gee Wally]

OK....just some small things mostly....and decided on a yeti water bottle and a carrying strap....

my son is determined we all chip in for a very expensive purse she loves ....will be a combination birthday/christmas present

do it Brian. Just do it.

The Bride has always wanted a black leather Coach bag. I told her just get one. No, no, way to expensive I dont need one.

I bought her one for our anniversary. She yelled at me.
But she loves it and doesnt leave the house without it.

So for Christmas I have stashed here a matching wallet and iphone case.
She can yell all she wants. Lifes too short.

 

[shelbysdad]

do it Brian. Just do it.

The Bride has always wanted a black leather Coach bag. I told her just get one. No, no, way to expensive I dont need one.

I bought her one for our anniversary. She yelled at me.
But she loves it and doesnt leave the house without it.

So for Christmas I have stashed here a matching wallet and iphone case.
She can yell all she wants. Lifes too short.

Sounds good...thanks...my son says she always notices it every time they see it and says she loves it

There is a Kenny Chesney song called "A Lot of things Different" where his wife always wanted a certain dress...and he didn't buy....Says should have bought it ....but I didn't.....good advice....thanks!