Christmas Queries

Egg nog or hot chocolate

I really don’t care for egg not, “loaded” or not. I much prefer hot chocolate. With whipped cream and NO marshmallow. A splash of Kahlua is nice too.

Colored lights or white lights on tree

Don’t care. But I do prefer the tiny lights as opposed to the old-fashioned big ones.

Do you hang mistletoe

I used to hang it in several doorways. Now I only do it over the area by the front door.

When do you put your decorations up

I always shoot for right after Thanksgiving, but don’t always make it. I used to do a lot of decorating, not just the tree, but over the years I just got plain tired. The Manger scene is always the first thing I set up. The tree comes whenever we get around to it. We leave it up until after Epiphany.

What tops your tree

Growing up, we had a blown-glass spire that always went on top of the tree. It’s extremely fragile now and the opening is too small for our artificial tree. So it’s usually an angel of some kind. I have some nice angels, one with candles that light. I have a beautiful lace angel that I got at a church sale. And of course, I have a cat angel.

Favorite holiday dish

Growing up, we always had turkey, same as with Thanksgiving. I do NOT do big turkey dinners anymore. No point. If the kids are here, I will do a roast or something. One year it was pizza. Eating isn’t the focal point of Christmas. Although, there will always be Christmas candy of some kind and cookies as well.

Favorite holiday tradition/ Open gifts on Christmas Eve or day

These two things go together. First and foremost, Christmas is ALWAYS about Jesus. There is ALWAYS church on Christmas Eve. We used to have services on Christmas Day as well, but that is no longer done. We would go to church Christmas Eve and come back home for snacks and fellowship with friends. Depending on how late it was, we might do presents that night. Otherwise it would be in the morning. Growing up, it was ALWAYS Christmas Day. Mom would have the coffee pot all ready to plug in. My brother and I would plug it in when we got up and as soon as the coffee was ready, we were allowed to wake our parents.

The Feast

Singular crumpets with raisins for tea

Lacy-clad strumpets to sit on your knee

Wine-swilling wastrels

and minstrels galore

Always returning for more

A great roasted boar is now

served with a flair

With flagons of ale to stave off despair

Impatiently waiting, the crowd bids the priest

give the blessing, and so start the Feast

Jugglers and Fools entertain for a price

Table scraps plenty for dogs, cats and mice

The revelry’s started, the Feast has begun

‘Twill last ‘til the rise of the sun

dljbinder ca. 2000

Terrific Tuesday

For the first time since my knee op, I drove the 40 minute trip to Chico for my pulmonologist appointment. I had done short trips in town but nothing that required me to sit in one position for any length of time. Going there was no problem, but coming home got a tad painful by the time I was on 149. But I did it and know it will only get better.

Rocking along with Robert Palmer helped, too. I was playing his ‘Addictions’ volume 1 CD. LOVED his music. He died way too early, only 54 in 2003. A great loss to music. He didn’t do drink or drugs but was a very heavy smoker.

Chico was lovely, as always, especially in Autumn. My favorite time of year. It just does not get any better. I really miss living there.

I did a breathing test at my appointment and the results were great. They were better than the last one in May, which was better than the one previous to that. Thank you Lord! The ILD is not progressing! I won’t have to go back to the Chico doctor for 6 months. Next month I will be going to the one at UC Davis to consult with him as well. It’s now been about a year and a half since I was diagnosed.

I had planned on going to Starbucks with Marv after my appointment since he works just across the street, but things got started late for my appointment and it was well after lunch time when I was done. So we went to Carl’s Jr. It’s always a treat when I’m in Chico to get to do this kind of thing with Marv.

After dinner that night was our Christ Care Bible study group. Our group has been going for many years and we are a very close, tight-knit group. Great fellowship of kindred hearts. And Jay always makes something yummy for snack. This time it was snickerdoodles. AWESOME!

All in all a great day. Again, thank you Lord!