CHAPTER 3 ~ CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS
Home for the holidays
 December 24
I scaled back my Christmas decorating this year, bringing out only a few treasured items.


These are the patchwork Christmas stockings I made many years ago.  We don't have a fireplace from which to hang them in our new house.  But I found a spot to put them.
I also saved and brought out these little fellows the girls made at Prairie School in Racine.  We used to have enough space to display them all year  Now we will bring them out only at Christmas.

I always thought the short one was wearing shades, but Jade recently informed me that they were coal chunk eyes. Too bad - he reminded me of a sercret service agent.

I love the long arms on Faye's snowman. I'm always afraid I will break off his carrot nose when I pack him.
Spam Display at Foodland, in Waimea
Spam Display at Foodland, in WaimeaSpam Display at Foodland, in WaimeaSpam Display at Foodland, in Waimea
Spam Display at Foodland, in Waimea
Spam Display at Foodland, in Waimea
Spam Display at Foodland, in WaimeaSpam Display at Foodland, in WaimeaSpam Display at Foodland, in Waimea
Spam Display at Foodland, in Waimea

Manifesting Paradise ~ Book Photos
Click here to go to Diane's 
Look at the spectacular Pointsettia bushes!  These are at Anna Ranch in Waimea, but I see them everywhere. Maybe I'll try to plant some in my yard.
Return to Chapter Index
Return to Chapter Index
Spam Shelf at KTA in Waimea
Spam Shelf at KTA in WaimeaSpam Shelf at KTA in WaimeaSpam Shelf at KTA in Waimea
Spam Shelf at KTA in Waimea
Water aerobics
Next Essay
So many of our Christmas gifts this year focused on keeping us warm in this lovely old home. I finally bought a rug for under the dining room table. We need some insulation between feet and bare floors. 

The girls gave me fuzzy socks. Sometimes I wear both pair at once, as they keep feet and ankles warmer that way. The cold from the tile in the kitchen and bathroom is especially penetrating.


But the season has brought us cold weather, at least in the morning. It's cold inside a house at 1000 feet with no heat.
Spam Shelf at KTA in Waimea
Spam Shelf at KTA in WaimeaSpam Shelf at KTA in WaimeaSpam Shelf at KTA in Waimea
Spam Shelf at KTA in Waimea
Spam Display at Foodland, in Waimea
Spam Display at Foodland, in WaimeaSpam Display at Foodland, in WaimeaSpam Display at Foodland, in Waimea
Spam Display at Foodland, in Waimea
Water aerobics
There's no heat up at the high school either. So Jade got mittens that will allow her fingertips out to use her calculator or phone.
One of our favorite holiday traditions is eating Jade's No Sugar Apple Pie. She's cut a cup of sugar out of the original recipe and added raisins. It's plenty sweet.

Jade's been baking this pie on her own for a good four or five years. The photo above was taken in 2007.