December Re-Cap

WOW.

We made it.

2020 has been A YEAR. Hasn't it?

[And I know 210 + dinners doesn't seem like a lot to many of you - but HEY - I've not cooked, COOKED in years because I've been on the road so much -

and that's not EVEN counting lunches and breakfasts... lol]

Here's a little re-cap of December...

We now have some vintage candles to set out by our Frosty!

I've been wanting to get out to the Beaver Dam Boardwalk for A WHILE now

[I actually wrote it on my calendar in FEBRUARY.]

So it was nice to have the time to take a walk through the swamp one Sunday afternoon.

And I found it kind of oddly beautiful...

I hope to go back and see how it changes throughout the year...

[I'm kind loving a new make-up app I've found for my phone too - HA -

I've RARELY worn make-up since March 13, 2020. Just sayin']

This Christmas was just different, right?

But still good...

Even a bit more different for me since I'm now retired and didn't have to plan things around a traveling work schedule... also having Matt home is WONDERFUL...

but there was none of that time-line to get things ready before he arrives... etc.

And of course, our gatherings were VERY different.

Still - we sought out [and planned] outdoorsy things to celebrate the season.

Loved that the church on the corner continued its outdoor nativity scene..

And that we could share the Christmas Star with the oldest and his telescope...

[ALL photos are with my cell phone...]

And it was wonderful to attend the outdoor Christmas Eve [eve] service with Monte Sano United Methodist Church.

We continue to practice social distancing...

And we braved a cold evening for possibly our last parking lot picnic of the year!

[These gatherings have helped us keep our sanity in 2020...]

I put up more trees than I have in a while

[and moved them around as needed outside too, lol...]

Here's the boys' tree up in the playroom... full of drums, soccer balls, and all things Auburn.

It's been YEARS since I've pulled it out of the attic - but I've sure enjoyed it while watching Hallmark movies when the rest of the house is working - lol...

This is our outside set-up for family Christmas this year. And it was all fine and good until the vintage chair I sat in completely folded in half

leaving me with a pretty substantial bruise on my noggin...

Our living room tree... and should I even admit that I decorated it twice?

HA. At first I thought I wanted all blue and white, but quickly switched out for red and white...lol

The tree between the boys' rooms has changed throughout the years..

This one is small and has battery operated lights that look like ornaments...

[It joined us at the parking lot picnic...]

Our kitchen tree -

This one started out with my little collection of shiny brights but was quickly re-placed with this bright PLASTIC garland... It was also a great tree for outside gatherings...

And this is an outside tree that we've had for years... I brightened it up with this poufy garland I bought a few years back for #LottieScotty and I love how it looks on the patio on the pink cart with the pink poinsettia and wicker swan [oh, and cute snowman from Target...]

We enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner with our own little bubble - chicken stuffed with brie and cranberries, roasted veggies, and home made lemon pie, thanks to Matt.

[And Sam's for the chicken - ha.] YUM.

We enjoyed being with Craig's mother throughout the month as we took her groceries, helped her get her tree upstairs... and enjoyed Christmas dinner with her... all socially distanced...

masks off only to eat and for this photo...

We also had a family gathering with her to exchange presents on a beautiful day outside...

While the weather has been GREAT this month -

I kinda loved this very foggy wintry morning a few weeks back...

I also completed some projects on my 'to-do' list this month...

I recovered an ottoman [with Craig's help] that I had picked up at a thrift store last year...

and I completed this collage wall at the top of the stairs...

And with Matt's help, I made cinnamon rolls and delivered them to friends...

and don't worry - I've already made plans to do MORE next year [I jokingly say I've turned into my mother now that I'm retired... she sure did enjoy giving goodies during Christmas...]

I've read 80 + books this year... not a 'normal' year, for sure...

And, as ALWAYS, we enjoyed being together as a family to share a meal and a few gifties. We had chili this year in an effort to keep us warm outside... But it was beautiful day to be outside until the sun went away... then it was COLD.

But it's December, right?

Many of you know that the biggest change for us this month has been the addition

of these 'house elves' as I call them...

[Craig's chipmunk eradicators...]

Dobby and Bernard have kept us entertained... that's for sure.

They were five months old when we got them and have already grown SO MUCH.

And they love being outside.. so we feel confident that they will be excellent working cats. [Some may not know that we've had repairs on a couple of different vehicles where tchipmunks / squirrels have eaten the wires... NOT GOOD - so Craig had declared war.]

But, as you can see... they kind of love being inside kitties too... lol...

So they're a lot of fun -

And, as always... we had our share of zoom gatherings.

[Sooooo --- SERIOUSLY --- thankful for technology!]

And, as promised... I am getting better with the screen shot photos...

There's not much better than a relaxing conversation with family and friends when we can also see each other's faces... this may be a habit I carry over into our post pandemic world...

Because - yes. I believe we will be past the pandemic soon...

But I think [hope!] we've all grown and changed a bit this year...