Tree trimming begins

 

First job is to fit the saucer onto the trunk. Then carry it inside. My son got those jobs. 

The "before photo."

Making sure it's standing securely, then cutting the webbing off.

And it begins to fluff back to it's original shape.

A broken branch will go home with grandmama'. I don't decorate.

Michelle begins to water the tree...it just soaked up the first 2 pitchers of water immediately!

Russ tests the lights, and rewires those that no longer work. Seriously, he's an expert electrician among his many talents. 

The second (shorter) ladder of hanging lights. I won't tell that the first string at the top had the wrong end of the string at the top, and then had to be re-looped around so it could attach to the next string! Nope, mothers don't tell! The ceramic angels in foreground were made by that same mother.

The "after photo" which is as much as I got to see before leaving Sunday morning. Two daughters were still home and probably helped put baubles on before they left. One daughter had to catch a plane around 6 am...and her parents took her to the airport early then came home for a nap before the rest of the family woke up.

New header photo (for those who look with phones):

Wishing all a happy holiday!

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Today's goddess:

Art by Arna Baartz

Tree buying fun

 My family is getting used to my being a recorder of events with photos and blogs. 

It was so cold everyone agreed on the second tree they considered. I didn't vote, and nobody asked my opinion!

Not their choice, but the multicolored lights reminded me of my childhood trees.

Sharing with Wordless Wednesday (almost!)

Yes, you read that right, reduced to $799.99! Photo is free!

That's 25% off, not 25 cents!

More on tree trimming later...

Friends and chats

 

The two following photos show Peri Social House at night with it's lights.

Peri Social house 

Many stores are decorated, but there was traffic in the way for us to get their photos.

The last of my holiday lights tours!

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Sharing with Sepia Saturday, where a couple posed for a photograph, which was colorized by the artist in the studio...but then photographer, artist, or maybe the couple as well - went for a cuppa and socialized just like myself and friends!

Today's quote:

Inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness. 

-Brenda Ueland, journalist, editor, and writer (1891-1985)

Today's art:

A teapot made by my late friend Teresa Arp for the 2016 Holy Joly art exhibit.

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Today's laugh:

Visiting and holiday lights

 

Judy's beautiful tree full of memories of her now adult children (who were here for Christmas with her.)

Cathy Babula made so many beautiful pieces of pottery. It's great to see a friend who uses them, as well as I do mine! (the large bowl has an intentional slant)

We had a slice of this beautiful pie, apple and pear. I've eaten a similar pie which was called a Scarlett pie at Whole Foods - they don't make them any more. Judy is a fabulous cook!

Judy's oldest cat, Max. We didn't meet the other two.

Vladimir Fedotko

Keptain, unknown location

Muffin, we had just moved to North Carolina

Sharing with Saturday's Critters

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More of the road trip of taking photos of Christmas Lights:

A snowman from Frozen the movie

This sadly tarped house is the former Christmas House on E. Cotton. It was damaged by a wind storm before the hurricane, then hadn't been repaired when more damage occurred. So it is a sad tribute to what has been lost this year.

A memory saved of the Christmas House in 2022

Driving up a road with condos which had a few choice decorations

Many shots didn't come out because of the bright glare the decorations formed that the camera just shrugged off.

Teresa and Chuck's house. The Santa didn't show near the door.

She may just have to get a closer photo to show the Santa!

One more post will be the last of our tour of Christmas lights.

But now many of the decorations have been removed. Nice memories.

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Today's quote:

Sylvia Plath wrote: "Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt."

Today's art:

Three Grazien by Gustav Klimt, but I think this is just painted in his style...as I haven't ever seen it. If you know it is his work, I'll remove my skepticism.