Friday, December 24, 2021

A Christmas decorating rerun

COVID-19 restrictions aren't the only things repeating themselves this holiday season.  I'm stuck in something of a rut when it comes to holiday decorations.  We decided to skip our holiday smorgasbord for friends and family for a second year in a row and, with no plans to host visitors, decorating was a perfunctory exercise.  But we're as ready as we're going to be for Christmas.

Here's the run-down.

Our ancient string of multi-colored outdoor lights gave out but our online order for a white string was quickly filled

The front entry is once again decorated with a small faux tree featuring bird-themed ornaments

Despite many new reports claiming a shortage of  Christmas trees, we had no problem getting hold of one (although it was more expensive this year!).  It's decorated with the eclectic ornaments I've collected over decades.

The ornament on the upper left was given to me last year by a friend.  I've situated it on the tree near the two red and silver ornaments made for us as part of a collection by my stepfather decades ago, most of which have slowly succumbed to age.  Despite their unfortunate similarity to the COVID-19 virus molecule, I still can't bring myself to throw them out.

A snapshot of other ornaments in my collection.  A few, like the glass penguin and the resin choir mouse, are part of smaller collections I cluster together on the tree.

I've been collecting snow globes for years too.  The one on the upper right, the only holiday decoration I added this year, isn't a true snow globe but it is made of glass.  It's lighted from within by a string of LED fairy lights.

Two of my Santa figures

Not of my doing, this is the view from our back garden of a house across the canyon that puts up a tree-shaped light display each year

I had a chance to have lunch (on the outside patio of a local restaurant) with a group of friends last week and saw another friend last weekend.  Gifts were shipped and e-cards were sent.  Despite my disappointments over suspended holiday gatherings, at least my biggest wish for the holidays has materialized.  It started raining in the wee hours of Thursday morning and it's kept coming, light but fairly steady.  We expect the rain to continue today, followed by spotty showers this weekend and then more rain next week.  Thus far, this stretch of rain can't be called a drought-buster, at least for Southern California, but every drop helps.  The snow accumulating in the Sierra Mountains is even more critical to the state's water supply and recent storms in the north have helped there, although I understand that premature melting of the snowpack due to warming temperatures can still present a problem.

Whatever you're wishing for this Christmas, I hope your dreams are realized!


All material © 2012-2021 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party

16 comments:

  1. There is always something warm and nostalgic about putting out all your Christmas decorations. As we lock down yet again for another outbreak Christmas spirit is suffering. Trees sold out very quickly here and I wasn't quick enough. However, a large E. tirucalli hung with mini lights, some colourful balls and small ornaments is serving very nicely as our tree this year. Actually like it better. Suits the mood for something different. Happy holidays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry the Christmas trees disappeared prematurely, Elaine, but I'm glad you were able to find a creative solution! Departing from common practice does seem entirely appropriate during our second COVID Christmas. Hopefully, we'll all have a broader range of options in 2022!

      Delete
  2. Merry Christmas, Kris. You did far better than I with your Christmas decorations. I actually donated my too large but beautiful tree in a very nice tree bag a week ago and it was taken 45 minutes after it made it into the building. I just don't have the space, or the energy, to put it up, decorate and then put it away any more. I did put up a lighted wreath over the fireplace but with the new kitten didn't dare put out my nativity set. Nothing else got done either, except for cards. Oh well, I'll spend tomorrow with my sister and we'll be having unseasonably warm weather so it will be nice to be outside for a walk. So glad you are getting some rain.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So good of you to make someone else's Christmas with the tree donation, Barbara! A new kitten will surely add to your Christmas spirit. Enjoy the day spent with your sister!

      Delete
  3. You made me laugh with your Covid molecule Christmas decorations. It does cheer the spirits to decorate for Christmas and play a little Christmas music even though many of us can't have the Christmas we planned. Have a lovely time Kris. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's too bad that Christmas ornament, a lovely gift with others designed to look like snowflakes from my stepfather, will forever more remind me of our Covid-19 years, Liz. Still, my husband and I count ourselves lucky to look forward to the prospect of the Covid-free years to come.

      Delete
  4. Even if there will be no visitors, it is good to decorate for our own satisfaction. I love your snowglobes and bird tree. Your stepfather was eerily prescient in depicting a C-19 molecule! Your decades of collecting ornaments mirrors my own eclectic mix. I love unwrapping each ornament when adding them to the tree, a pleasant journey down Memory Lane.
    Glad you've had rain, the perfect Christmas gift to an avid gardener. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do love my old ornaments, whether handmade or mass-produced, gifts or baubles I found in a store somewhere. I mourn all the fragile old ones I lose. My stepfather passed away 8 years before Covid-19 arrived and I doubt he ever envisioned a future like this one for us. I'm glad that neither he nor my mother had to navigate the currents of this pandemic. I hope that earth's current occupants learn more from this pandemic than previous generations did from those that preceded this one.

      Delete
  5. Warm waves of memories wash over us when we unpack collection of ancient ornaments and holiday decorations. Your new addition to the collection this year is beautiful: the muted colors and nature scene is heart warming. Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, so true. Merry Christmas and many thanks for your always thoughtful comments.

      Delete
  6. Every Christmas is Last Christmas
    Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not quite a haiku
      Your holiday wish to me
      My best back to you

      Delete
  7. Your Christmas decor is always lovely, especially the vintage ornaments that are so charming.

    We got a tree late late--Monday, but it is super fresh.

    That rain!!! The best present of all. Hope you got lots, and more to come.

    Maybe next Christmas will be the Christmas we hoped this Christmas was going to be. That Santa wearing a mask is going to bring a lot back a few years from now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The rain has literally been dribbling in here, HB, not that I'm complaining. There's more expected tonight. I hope it's coming your way too. Enjoy your day!

      Delete
  8. Deluverly rain! We got a millimetre today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's great, Diana. We received more rain - not a lot but at least measurable - on Monday, and it's supposed to rain again Wednesday through Thursday. Hooray!

      Delete

I enjoy receiving your comments and suggestions! Google has turned on reCAPTCHA affecting some commentator IDs so, if you wish to identify yourself, please add your name to your comment.