Christmas Countdown - 2019

[MerryCarey]

Hello everyone, I have participated this "season" more than any other since Christmas Talk. Still not as much as I wanted but I lot more.

I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed all of your posts. I really want to quote them all but not sure how to not re-post too much! But it has been a wonderful read for the mornings I have been able to. I just love reading what you guys have done, have left to do, how you're spending your evenings leading up to Christmas. None of my friends or family love Christmas as much as I do so it has really meant a lot. They have been nostalgic, whimsical and bring lovely thoughts of Christmas past and present.

THANK YOU!!!

And thank you for joining in!

 

[made582]

Ballcoach! That would have made a great Special Post!

I vote for adding it to the Special Posts archive. Because regardless of when it was posted, it IS a Special Post.

I second what Merry said.

And I THIRD what Merry said!

Having heard no objections, the ayes have it and the motion has passed.

 

[made582]

The grocery shopping is done and I can now enjoy the rest of the season.

We will probably do Christmas with my nieces tomorrow and then Mom’s birthday is Sunday. I might do some baking this weekend too.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

 

[Classic Christmas]

Last day of work until Jan 2!

A small tradition among four teachers ten years ago that featured a few summer sausages and some cheese and crackers has turned into a full-blown staff buffet at the high school I teach at. We have a science room full of food!

We now hold it in honor of a former teacher who passed away six years ago. He was a veteran teacher who always took the younger staff under his wing, and reminded us to slow down, enjoy the season and enjoy family. His saying was "pace yourself".

He left us way too soon. His memory is what has made today what it is at our school. A wonderfully-happy and festive mood permeates the building.

It's almost here, the greatest holiday of them all ...have a great weekend, everybody.

 

[MerryCarey]

No more work until after New Year's ... puttering around making cookies in a leisurely manner ... Christmas music as a constant soundtrack ... Christmas is coming, and it feels good!

 

[made582]

Darlene!!!!!

 

[made582]

Christmas!! The snow’s coming down

 

[made582]

Baby please come home

 

[made582]

They’re singing deck the halls

 

[made582]

Aww, that sweet saxophone

 

[made582]

Why can’t they just let her sing it, we don’t need it to be a duet!!

 

[made582]

Well it was a good performance until Jason Derulo came out.

 

[Bradmac]

No more work until after New Year's ... puttering around making cookies in a leisurely manner ... Christmas music as a constant soundtrack ... Christmas is coming, and it feels good!

Enjoy your time away from work, Merry!

 

[Rich]

Good afternoon MMCer's!!!
The Christmas lights are on.
The fireplace is burning.
College football is on TV.
I must be in heaven!!!

Have a wonderful and blessed day.

 

[MerryCarey]

Enjoy your time away from work, Merry!

Thank you, I am!
I made 5 dozen chocolate chip cookies and am about to sit down with a cup of tea and watch "Miracle on 34th Street" (the original). So good!

 

[Crown 84]

Having heard no objections, the ayes have it and the motion has passed.

Thanks, Made!

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Well, here we are...

We are close to the precipice of our favorite holiday...probably one of my last quiet moments before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Finally, everything is bought. The kids and the wife are in bed. The TV is on a Christmas movie, but the volume is turned down. The lights are off, but the Christmas tree is on.

The focus is off of the hustle and its is now on family, cooking, and Christmas. This is where Christmas comes alive. We are going to start smoking some meat tomorrow night, play some games, and watch movies. We will likely do that the next four days. No more rush, no more shopping...just living and breathing Christmas.

I kinda lost that this season. I got too busy thinking about making Christmas happen, rather than letting Christmas happen. I wanted to make it perfect, instead of letting it be perfect. I got caught up in going and doing things, rather than just being present in the moment...the ones like this...

Sitting in the dark, looking at the lights, thanking God for all I have been given.

Friends, I don't know how much I will be here over the next few days. However, I hope you know how much I enjoyed our year and the build-up. I'm sure I will be back, but I wanted to stop and tell each of you Merry Christmas.

May your heart be Merry...

Beautiful; I too have been doing the doing and not really being in the moment until I handed out several gifts to surprised recipients; mostly work chums, but for their children not for them.

This morning, before work, I headed to the hospital to catch them at their shift change. I had boxes of goodies for ER, Security & Gate Monitors, and the 3-C Nursing team who cared compassionately for my husband in his last ten days of life.

I dropped off a snowman planter to a local business, more goodies to the rental company I deal with for work, the OPP and my friend who works at The Sub Place with a special mixed munchy treat for him and a box of chocolates for the rest of the gang.

I dropped white almond candy cane bark off at the Beer Store (you read that right).

Tomorrow; I hit the two fire stations, the paramedics, my hairdresser, O'Malley's groomer and I already dropped off to my mechanic and his crew.

I always find myself focus driven and I realize after reading your post that I have been running on merry energizer batteries without giving myself time to dive into my own enjoyment for the season.

My chance will come when my brother gets to town on the 22nd and again when I assist my dad with the gathering on Christmas Eve and when I make time to track Santa on Christmas Eve.

Truly, it gets me most when I find even ten minutes to sit around the tree, admire the lights, listen to music at a lower than usual volume and CHILL.

I will be visiting the boys and grands over the following weekend and then have another week to unwind before returning to work.

I remember one year when I was admiring the tree, there was a moment when the blend of lights and garland created an Angel Hair effect on the tree and I was so happy that I gave myself time to sit and be with the lights. I would have missed that vision if I just kept going on battery mode.

It's great to see everyone pop in during the most wonderful time of the year, but for those who can't make it because they're giving themselves time with family; that's beautiful.

Merry Christmas to you!

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Good Morning, my Friends.

Truly drawing near to our ultimate goal, now.
So close you can almost touch it with a long candy cane.

Let's check the chart:
Days to Christmas Day: 5
Wow.
Three-hundred and sixty-five down to FIVE.
Wow, indeed!

Quite chilly here all day yesterday and I never saw the temps out of the 40's.
At least it was dry and not windy.
Today will see the beginning of a gradual warming trend which will last through Christmas day, when we should surpass the 60 degree mark.
We again start off cold here this AM in central NC, with a temperature reading of 27 degrees.

Have a Fabulous Friday, Folks.
And a Lovely Last Weekend Eve before Christmas!

I have a few last hold outs at work who keep getting spooked by my reminders on Face Book and in person. They are in a panic to get it going and I only have 1 gift left to pick up. I even have the youngest granddaughters gifts wrapped and I'm not seeing them until the 27th.

5 Days - it will be here in the blink of a merry eye or two or five.

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Hello everyone, I have participated this "season" more than any other since Christmas Talk. Still not as much as I wanted but I lot more.

I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed all of your posts. I really want to quote them all but not sure how to not re-post too much! But it has been a wonderful read for the mornings I have been able to. I just love reading what you guys have done, have left to do, how you're spending your evenings leading up to Christmas. None of my friends or family love Christmas as much as I do so it has really meant a lot. They have been nostalgic, whimsical and bring lovely thoughts of Christmas past and present.

THANK YOU!!!

That's the kind of merry magic that keeps us jolly. I spent more time on here this year than I did in previous years and it's the merry camaraderie that keeps my jolly juices flowing.

Pop in whenever you can, we get you and your love for Christmas.

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Having heard no objections, the ayes have it and the motion has passed.

Thanks Made; it's right where it belongs so we don't lose merry sight of it.