Christmas Countdown - 2018

[Meceka]

Merry Tuesday!

Still a cold one out there.

When I fed the birds, I noticed a mouse was amongst them, eating the seed. Sometimes chipmunks and the birds will eat together. The cold has a way of bringing the animals together.

Taking care of some paperwork for the store and resting up another day. I'm planning what I want to put out/hunt up for the rest of the year.

Be safe, warm, and merry!

 

[Martine]

Good Tuesday late morning! I'm working the afternoon/evening shift and will leave shortly. It's still so cold outside but apparently temperatures will be on the rise. It can't be soon enough, I am really tired of this brutal cold and Loki can't walk for long and I feel bad for him cause he sure enjoys his walks. Hope everyone will enjoy a wonderful day!

 

[Iteachpercussion]

Just a observation here with a experiment I tried last year.
I had taken a 300 GE mini light set and a 300 strand of WalMart brand and left them both plugged in since last Jan 2nd. I had them both so they didnt twinkle, both plugged into the same outlet in the spare bedroom. Today my alarm goes off on my calendar to say its time to check em....
1. GE light set...5 bulbs not working
2. WalMart light set...105 bulbs blown
Difference in price..7.00 more for GE
Cost to replace mini bulbs if you dont buy in 500 ct boxes, $31.00 if you buy the 4 pack of bulbs. Or 12.97 to just buy another box of Wally World lights.
To be fair to the WalMart lights..they started to blow around 1 1/2 months of being on full time.

That is interesting. Good information to have right there.

A few years ago I transitioned to mostly LEDs outside. However, the first couple of years I used the giant strands that come on a roll. BAD IDEA! At that time the bulbs were hard to replace and huge sections of lights would go out. I still use LEDs but buy individual strands. More expensive short term, but much cheaper overall.

After Christmas we bought 15 boxes of C-6 LED warm white lights for the roof. My plan is to do stripes on one sections of the roof. Since LEDs are more expensive per strand I like to buy them on sale whenever possible. These were 50% off so it really was not too bad.

 

[Bradmac]

Just a observation here with a experiment I tried last year.
I had taken a 300 GE mini light set and a 300 strand of WalMart brand and left them both plugged in since last Jan 2nd. I had them both so they didnt twinkle, both plugged into the same outlet in the spare bedroom. Today my alarm goes off on my calendar to say its time to check em....
1. GE light set...5 bulbs not working
2. WalMart light set...105 bulbs blown
Difference in price..7.00 more for GE
Cost to replace mini bulbs if you dont buy in 500 ct boxes, $31.00 if you buy the 4 pack of bulbs. Or 12.97 to just buy another box of Wally World lights.
To be fair to the WalMart lights..they started to blow around 1 1/2 months of being on full time.

Wow, I appreciate the scientific approach to the question! The GEs cost a little more, but only lost less than 2% of the bulbs after a year, while the WM bulbs lost more than 33%.

With $12.97 needed to replace the WM lights every year vs. the additional $7.00 needed to purchase the longer-lasting GE, instead, it sounds like GE wins!

 

[Yuletide Junkie]

Greetings my merry friends

Well, I'm off to get my haircut and pick up a fancy donation basket/well (for the Serenity Hospice) that will be provided for any family and friends who join my family and I as we celebrate the life of my Christmas Spark.

My mom passed away last Wednesday at 3 p.m. with my father and I present.

I shared with you in the previous countdown thread that I had a strong feeling she was celebrating her last Christmas with us. And she did.

I've been experiencing a mixture of emotions since then, but managed to get through my New Year's Day chat with my dad without any choked up words; he accomplished the same.

My brothers return this Thursday so we can finish our preparations for her memorial gathering on Friday evening.

I am thankful that we shared one last Christmas together and face the New Year with a loss of life, yet a positive attitude and so glad I was there when she exited knowing she was loved and that she doesn't have to suffer anymore.

If it wasn't for her and my father instilling a love and merry fellowship in me as a child and young adult, I may never have become a Christmas Wacko.

I'm thankful for those memories because that trail of believing in celebrating the joys of Christmas year round brought me here to my merry haven.

Festive Regards,
Auntie M.

Blessings and healing for you and your family during this bittersweet patch.

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Good morning Auntie. Sorry to hear about your Mother's passing and glad she was able to spend a final Christmas with you. When my Dad passed many years ago, he was told that an operation was needed, but that due to his age they could only give him a 50/50 chance of survival. That was on December 5th. He was a huge fan of Christmas (which he passed on to us kids) and said with that news, he would hold off until after Christmas or the surgery. He told me over the phone that it was his time, he wanted to have one more Christmas. His operation was in January of the following year and as he suspected, he did not survive it. I miss him and remember his love for that day every year. My prayers go out to you and your family.
I'm certain your future Christmas celebrations will be just a joyful with what she and your Father have given you.
Enjoy 2018...
View attachment 41915

Thank you very much for sharing your story. My husband continues to share the loss of his mother and father with me at least once a month and they passed before we ever met so I know how much strong relationships hang on and the memories carry and that's how we continue the joy of living.

Thanks to everyone for your caring thoughts and comments.

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Merry Tuesday!

Still a cold one out there.

When I fed the birds, I noticed a mouse was amongst them, eating the seed. Sometimes chipmunks and the birds will eat together. The cold has a way of bringing the animals together.

Taking care of some paperwork for the store and resting up another day. I'm planning what I want to put out/hunt up for the rest of the year.

Be safe, warm, and merry!

It's been too cold here for the birds to visit our feeder so I picked up the kind of bird treat I used to hang in my cage for my budgie and hung it in the branches of the cedar bush where I believe more than one family of chickadees are dwelling.
I swear I heard them chirping just for me when I was dusting off the car this morning. Today, is a bit warmer and this week will seem some milder temps during the day and cold again at night. That's the way of life in the North.
Dusted my husband's car off (used to be mine) and my key wouldn't work to start it up. I'm guessing the car didn't remember me. (HaHa; I'm not crazy, but I have crazy thoughts sometimes - Christine the movie comes to mind.) His keys work fine so it's not a frozen battery, thank goodness.
This is the first time he's been out since Christmas Day that's how cold it's been.

 

[sugarmuffin25]

Greetings my merry friends

Well, I'm off to get my haircut and pick up a fancy donation basket/well (for the Serenity Hospice) that will be provided for any family and friends who join my family and I as we celebrate the life of my Christmas Spark.

My mom passed away last Wednesday at 3 p.m. with my father and I present.

I shared with you in the previous countdown thread that I had a strong feeling she was celebrating her last Christmas with us. And she did.

I've been experiencing a mixture of emotions since then, but managed to get through my New Year's Day chat with my dad without any choked up words; he accomplished the same.

My brothers return this Thursday so we can finish our preparations for her memorial gathering on Friday evening.

I am thankful that we shared one last Christmas together and face the New Year with a loss of life, yet a positive attitude and so glad I was there when she exited knowing she was loved and that she doesn't have to suffer anymore.

If it wasn't for her and my father instilling a love and merry fellowship in me as a child and young adult, I may never have become a Christmas Wacko.

I'm thankful for those memories because that trail of believing in celebrating the joys of Christmas year round brought me here to my merry haven.

Festive Regards,
Auntie M.

I am so sorry to hear that. Prayers to you and your family.

 

[sugarmuffin25]

Hello everyone! I haven't had a chance to pop in and wish everyone a Happy New Year! My husband and I spent new years eve with my parents. There is no place I would have rather been! We have done that the past three years or so. We order good food and sit at the table and play cards. This year was very special because my father is very ill so I wanted to make sure we were there. He wasn't able to make it out of bed to play cards, but he knew we were there and when the clock struck midnight we went into his room and celebrated with him. I'm very nervous about what this year will bring with him so I am so grateful we made it to see them. I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2018! It is about 5 degrees here and just absolutely painful to be outside. Hope everyone stays warm!!

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

When my husband and I were dating and celebrating our first anniversary of togetherness (years before marriage), I gave him a lovely silver watch with an inscription on the back that said, "Making TIME for friendship". Those are words I live by so I don't forget to spend time with the special people in my life.
Stay in touch with friends and family and be thankful you stumbled across this merry wonderland of Christmas fanatics because together we welcome Christmas in our minds constantly when others stop talking about it.
Stay jolly in your core; don't let the Scrooges get you down!

 

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

Hello everyone! I haven't had a chance to pop in and wish everyone a Happy New Year! My husband and I spent new years eve with my parents. There is no place I would have rather been! We have done that the past three years or so. We order good food and sit at the table and play cards. This year was very special because my father is very ill so I wanted to make sure we were there. He wasn't able to make it out of bed to play cards, but he knew we were there and when the clock struck midnight we went into his room and celebrated with him. I'm very nervous about what this year will bring with him so I am so grateful we made it to see them. I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2018! It is about 5 degrees here and just absolutely painful to be outside. Hope everyone stays warm!!

I'm glad that you were able to spend New Year's with them and hope you will get time to create more memories with your dad.

 

[HomemakinGirl]

When my husband and I were dating and celebrating our first anniversary of togetherness (years before marriage), I gave him a lovely silver watch with an inscription on the back that said, "Making TIME for friendship". Those are words I live by so I don't forget to spend time with the special people in my life.
Stay in touch with friends and family and be thankful you stumbled across this merry wonderland of Christmas fanatics because together we welcome Christmas in our minds constantly when others stop talking about it.
Stay jolly in your core; don't let the Scrooges get you down!

Great advice Auntie ~
This is a very special place, I feel blessed to have found MMC.
Continued prayers for you and your family.
xx

 

[HomemakinGirl]

Good morning HMG. Praying your illness passes quickly and that taking the time to relax will help to start off your New Year on a positive note. Hang in there...
View attachment 41912

Hope you feel better, HMG!! Last night was the first night I did not have to take Nyquil. Have a good Tuesday!

Everyone is catching something these days. Hope you feel better soon HMG.

Praying you are back to 100% soon, HmG. Have a merry day! Sending hugs to you and the fur babies. {{{HUGS}}}

Thank you so much!
xx

 

[xmas365]

Good morning MMC ~
Happy Tuesday!
It’s going to be sunny with a high of 24, we’re currently at 14 degrees. Not too much going on here, my husband heads back to work today after being off for a week. I am still fighting this cold, hopefully I’ll find some time to relax now that we’re back to our regular routines.
I hope everyone is well and has a wonderful day!
xx

I hope your cold gets over soon.

 

[xmas365]

Greetings my merry friends

Well, I'm off to get my haircut and pick up a fancy donation basket/well (for the Serenity Hospice) that will be provided for any family and friends who join my family and I as we celebrate the life of my Christmas Spark.

My mom passed away last Wednesday at 3 p.m. with my father and I present.

I shared with you in the previous countdown thread that I had a strong feeling she was celebrating her last Christmas with us. And she did.

I've been experiencing a mixture of emotions since then, but managed to get through my New Year's Day chat with my dad without any choked up words; he accomplished the same.

My brothers return this Thursday so we can finish our preparations for her memorial gathering on Friday evening.

I am thankful that we shared one last Christmas together and face the New Year with a loss of life, yet a positive attitude and so glad I was there when she exited knowing she was loved and that she doesn't have to suffer anymore.

If it wasn't for her and my father instilling a love and merry fellowship in me as a child and young adult, I may never have become a Christmas Wacko.

I'm thankful for those memories because that trail of believing in celebrating the joys of Christmas year round brought me here to my merry haven.

Festive Regards,
Auntie M.

I am sorry for your loss

 

[xmas365]

Just a observation here with a experiment I tried last year.
I had taken a 300 GE mini light set and a 300 strand of WalMart brand and left them both plugged in since last Jan 2nd. I had them both so they didnt twinkle, both plugged into the same outlet in the spare bedroom. Today my alarm goes off on my calendar to say its time to check em....
1. GE light set...5 bulbs not working
2. WalMart light set...105 bulbs blown
Difference in price..7.00 more for GE
Cost to replace mini bulbs if you dont buy in 500 ct boxes, $31.00 if you buy the 4 pack of bulbs. Or 12.97 to just buy another box of Wally World lights.
To be fair to the WalMart lights..they started to blow around 1 1/2 months of being on full time.

That was a great experiment. I will have to try to find some on clearance.
We still have the mini light star on the top of our tree that we bought in 2001 at the late, great Ames. I have never replaced any bulbs, and they are all still lighting up, we have used it every year since then. (Knock on wood)

 

[xmas365]

Thank you all for the kind words, it feels good to be home.

 

[xmas365]

Good afternoon,

It is kind of funny that it is 19*f outside and it almost feels comfortable. It has been so cold for quite some time.
I have today and tomorrow left of my vacation, I am enjoying my tree and lights while watching Christmas Through The Decades: 1960's.
I hope you all are having a good day.

 

[NcGunny]

That was a great experiment. I will have to try to find some on clearance.
We still have the mini light star on the top of our tree that we bought in 2001 at the late, great Ames. I have never replaced any bulbs, and they are all still lighting up, we have used it every year since then. (Knock on wood)

Alot of store brand lights (used) to be filled with GE bulbs. It definately doesnt hold true today. Some of these off brands cant even use older mini bulbs.

 

[Bradmac]

Good afternoon,

It is kind of funny that it is 19*f outside and it almost feels comfortable. It has been so cold for quite some time.
I have today and tomorrow left of my vacation, I am enjoying my tree and lights while watching Christmas Through The Decades: 1960's.
I hope you all are having a good day.

I just got a winter storm warning through my weather app. It said to expect several inches of snow accumulation tomorrow!