Yes, the colossus of the holiday season, Christmas Day, is just around the corner. My packages are wrapped, the batteries have been freshened for all of my indoor and outdoor lights (I’m up to 96 “AA” ones and 24 “AAA” – maybe going the battery route wasn’t the wisest of moves after all), and I’m ready for all of the merriment that the next few weeks will bring. Until this past Tuesday, when after avoiding it for the last three…
Nothing makes me feel more like a little kid again than seeing all of the lights and decorations that light up the homes and businesses during the holiday season. Admit it, there are some places you’ll purposely drive past beginning in December just to see their annual display of festive décor. No doubt your family has their own annual favorites. For instance, in my family, everyone wants to go past the “electrician’s house” on St. Paul Road, drive through Byron…
I know I’ve ranted on this topic before, but every year, I shake my head at the annual pilgrimage of consumerism that is affectionately known as “Black Friday”. I just don’t get it. The Thanksgiving weekend is supposed to be about getting together with friends and family to celebrate, acknowledge, and appreciate all that has happened over the past year. The afternoon following that expansive feast should be spent playing cards, conversing and laughing over another glass of wine, watching…
The holiday season brings many, many traditions that are observed by family and friends. Some of these have been passed down from generation to generation, some are created from the blending of families through marriage or commitment, and some are newly created on the spot in a single year that turn into an annual occurrence. When I was growing up, the big night for our family was Christmas Eve. Following an evening church service (where my brother and I were…
All of this holiday shopping has folks flustered and flummoxed trying to find that perfect gift, but buying that perfect present is only part of the story. There’s still one thing left to do before it can be enjoyed (or hated) on Christmas morning. It still has to be wrapped. There are many schools of thought on this. There are those who work hard to “theme” their wrapping paper, making sure it either all matches or follows some coordinated color…
Thanksgiving has come and gone, so now – yes – you’re allowed to go “whole hog” on your Christmas holiday celebrations. Listen to the 24 x 7 Christmas songs on the radio, get your fill of schlocky movies on “The Hallmark Channel”, and decorate your home (inside and out) to your heart’s content. This brings up the age-old question on timing. When, exactly, is one supposed to decorate for the holidays? Just like people, there are a lot of answers…
Ahhhh, fall. Being out and about, I love the sights and sounds of autumn. The crunching leaves, the smell of cinnamon and nutmeg, a hearty casserole, the Christmas shopping. Wait – what? The Christmas shopping? No doubt you’ve already seen some Christmas displays up at your local box stores or favorite department stores. Every year, retailers just can’t seem to get this stuff out fast enough. They’ve got Halloween decorations out in July, Thanksgiving never gets any love whatsoever, and…
I absolutely love this festive time of the year. The decorations, the wrapping paper, the music, the lights – and the gloriously decorated Christmas trees. If you want to experience a family-friendly way to see all of this and more, then you still have time to go and see the Celebration of Trees, being held at the historic Springfield Barn in Williamsport, MD. The event was started back in 2009, when organizers got the bright idea to try and recycle…
Ahhhh, December. The merriment and joy of the holiday season is all around us – and after a full day of lugging down box after box of Christmas decorations from my attic, my house is finally adorned in its annual holiday splendor. There’s nothing better than sitting in my living room in the evenings, the room aglow with just the lights of the tree (and elsewhere in the room) providing all of the illumination. It’s cold outside, my fireplace is…
As I sit here all snug and cozy in my living room, a landscape of white outside from the recent snow – the Christmas lights illuminating the room while Bing Crosby croons in the background, I am overwhelmed with the festivity of the season. My youngest and her friends are baking cookies and laughing in the kitchen, I am sipping a warm, mulled wine with my wife, and my 20-year old cat (bless her soul) is actually curled up next…