No partridge but other birds, Merry Christmas from Dixie

Annual posting of Christmas tidings and best to all....for those who do not celebrate Christmas, season's best as well....

This year we tried to do something different, be on the road south before Christmas heading for the sunnier south; we  barely did so.  I was too busy with too many activities yet again including a hair appointment December 16th which I could not miss.  Well, so then we could leave the 17th?  Nope, again, I was too hectic.  I thought not decorating  our home  as we would not be there would add all sorts of time, but not so.  I tried to set up small decor to travel along, such as our small tinsel tree, but left hose behind in my skeltered readying. I did miss getting out some decor that I only see once a year, a and although I do far less than the displays I used to put out in the past. If the  2nd market ever returns I have a massive collection of exquisite and pricey decor to sell, but for now  they reside in the closet until this time of year.  I found that the limited shopping I do, gift wrapping, mailing with all those 80 some Christmas cards we send consumes lots of time and continuing my physical activities all morning at the Y consumes hours in  my day. 

Cardinal in a pear tree this morning  a red
splash on  my walk  toward the beach.  

   Nevertheless we got on the road on December 20 and send this from  Bay St Louis, where we will stay until January 2 then proceed on to Florida. We'd have liked to stay 3 weeks, but in the holiday tradition there is no room at Bay Hideaway,  this RV inn.  Fortunately I am neither pregnant nor riding on a donkey and so we will go to Pensacola where we will spend a week  before moving on to Tallahassee, then to Tampa for the Fleetwood RV Rally.  At least we have a home over holidays.  We arrived here on Monday, December 22 ahead of the torrential rains that swept across the Gulf. There was another tornado near Hattiesburg devastating the holiday for  many. 

This holiday on the road enhances my independent perspective, and gratitude for what we do have, health and comfort to travel and reason to do so--curiosity. So far, we have driven 1209 miles in 19 hours and 45 minutes driving time, spent $627.26 for diesel fuel.  

The local Christmas stork at the conservancy marsh

Our  coach tree and reindeer
Thanks to good friend Carlie
I left the tinsel tree and intended
decorations at home.  Proves good friends
come through and sense what's
needed, they care and are aware. 

Sepia Christmas week 208 Dec 21--27, 2013

A very Merry Christmas and  Happy blessed New Year to all Sepian colleagues wherever you are in the world this season..finally a prompt that I just could not allow to go unanswered....

Every year with the postage increases, now at 46 cents, I consider "this year fewer Christmas cards to send out."  All the old folks who most enjoyed them are all gone now and today the people who keep in contact with us do so by text, email, Facebook or by cell phone. Sure the total number is down, yet annually, there are some with whom I  am compelled to exchange cards and this year a total 59 recipients indicates the number is growing again adding folks we meet on our travels and well, we live across the country from our many friends who have also moved around.  We are mobile in retirement. 

I have fully realized this year that our treasured friends are really our family.  This year we had a photo card pulled together to commemorate our Alaska adventure and our 46th year of marriage; really could not have done it without the expertise and software of a local friend, Ann who was able to crop out, edit and fix our photos to display just the two of us.  In every photo we took in Alaska, no matter how hard we tried to avoid it,  someone would be there, I suppose that happens on tours.  Fortunately, Ann has professional skills and software so she performed magic making our 2013 card just the two of us.  Because we only bought 40 of these at 90 cents each, some received another annual greeting card.  But here, Sepians is our 2013 greeting, which I share with you.   

Left to right starting on top, first  Jerry next to an Alaskan moose carved and assembled from trees, the two of us at the sign entering Alaska after a trip deep into the Yukon (Ann cropped 30+ others out of this), bottom it was raining in Anchorage when we arrived, middle is somewhere near Fairbanks (again Ann deleted all the extra people) and last is in Syracuse New York in May at the Good Sam Rally on our way to the rehitching ceremony where despite the thousands of couples renewing vows in a mass ceremony, we did not beat the Guinness records...ah well, this was 46 years for us and time to renew vows.  Here's my little secret, at our 1967 ceremony I was so fraught that I never said "I do"  and here in May, a potty call which was far from the seating was uppermost in my mind, so I did not say "I do" again..Jerry laughs and reminds me that the third time is the charm..

But there you have it a Very happy holiday season however  and whatever you do or don't celebrate, warm wishes....until 2014 Sepians.  The following is the link to our community of Sepians....warmest wishes, bloggers all.  http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2013/12/sepia-saturday-208-christmas-new-year.html

Merry Christmas in Blogland 2012

1950 sign by Uncle Carl

Merry Christmas to all my blogland friends, followers and passers by.  Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging as it has here.  Despite my vows to keep things easy, and doing less this year, there is much that took up time which has rolled oh so merrily along.  I have had to be off blog, postponing  Sepia posts until later.  

The Noel sign is another done by my late Uncle Carl Konesky.  This year, as a present to ourselves coinciding with the Michael's framing sale we have framed several of his sketches from the late 1940's while he was attending art school.  (See my previous Sepia  post  this blog  on November 3,     http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6733427454505364336#editor/target=post;postID=1589432087801379346  This Christmas sign is the smaller version of a larger one he did for a local merchant, his mock up and I share with you for the sentiment of the season.  As soon as the last are framed, Carl will have his own gallery wall in the bedroom entry. 

The  funniest card we have received this year came from Chris, grandson of another late uncle John Irwin and because we both got such a laugh I scanned it so you can see it too.  This is the  kind of mindless activity that can happen if one does not pay attention and I know that all too well.  I don't think I will look at a hand dryer the same ever again and those who may find me chuckling  while air drying my hands at these will probably wonder what's with me. 

Laughter, memories and the many contacts from long time friends in the lives we lived long ago are the best of the season.  Hearing from longtime friends once a year makes the season bright.  Fondly exchanging gifts with friends afar and buying or making   something that we know will be  enjoyed brings holiday cheer.  It takes a little thought, a bit of perspective, recognition, recall, all those caring gestures that in the commercialism of the holiday seems to have ruined the effect for so many.  Nothing wrong with point and click ordering so long as there is thought put into it,not so, for "this."  

We chose to spend $$ generously on others who are appreciative.  I don't mean falling all over us but simple sincere prompt thank yous.  Besides the young hard working bar tender putting himself through the University by working and shoveling snow and mowing yards and not living at home but really out there on his own, the garbage collectors, the paper delivery people, the postal delivery woman, and a favorite waitress, we adopted  two veterans from our local Mosher Home and bought everything on their  wish lists, which were sparse and down to earth, Listerine, white socks and gift cards from Burger King.  

We were not  sure if we would be home or on the road over Christmas but here we are.  Likely for the best because the snow blew in sideways this week, coating all with that wintry white.  Had we been in Mobile, AL as thought we would have had a worse experience  as they had tornadoes.  All in good time, we will head south.  Texas is calling loudly. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and partridges in pear trees to fellow bloggers.  

Merry Christmas to All

Wow,  almost out of time to wish this to all my bloggy friends all over the world...
may you celebrate Christmas in the Spirit! 

Last night I awoke about 1:30AM and as I do on my nightly awakens, looked out my window.  There was the brightest star I have ever seen, I felt it was a shining of Christmas with glory and hope. I wish a bright star for all of you. 

An array of wishes gathered from friends far away
They make welcome wishes and brighten dreary days.  

At the bottom of the stairs on the way to the rec room
 we have a  dry sink, cabinet where I keep
this pitcher and bowl, from my grandparents. 

Last night we stopped to visit Jerry's cousin and
Kathleen, his companion.  She asked if we had received a gift from her
when I said no, she said she had ordered a centerpiece for us
from the local florist and  requested delivery on Wednesday. She paid cash and did
not have a receipt.  Hmm..now what.
So this morning she called them and learned they had delivered it to a wrong address. 
So they said.  I would think people who received it would call and question why
they received flowers from someone they did not know.  But it takes all kinds, so
who knows.  The florist promised to get something here  today and they did.
This is a beautiful fragrant  centerpiece which we will enjoy for several days, white
roses, mums, carnations, daisies and great silver touches.

While looking at past cards, found this one Uncle Carl sent us
in 1999 while we lived in CA.  He wrote how much he missed being out in the
woods where everything is so peaceful, but admitted that his
days of tracking, hunting and fishing were done.  His wife had died in 1997.
While he missed her he wrote more about how he missed his hunting and
fishing buddies and trips to Canada.  He had a bird feeder similar to this.



Two ceramic angels made by Aunt Marge, Uncle Carl's wife,
the 3rd is blue and not showing in this photo. 
They sing this year next to our Fontani musical  nativity, purchased in 1967,
the first Christmas we were married.  Wound it still plays, Silent Night.  Atop
the manger is a newer brass angel from France