Christmas Joy

 


The weekend began with our participation in a live nativity.


Church members portrayed the cast of characters. The Innkeeper delegated Mary and Joseph to the stable, represented by hay bales and a rough wooden manger, where a baby doll Jesus lay swaddled.



We dressed as two of the wise “men”, heavily bundled against the cold night beneath our regal costumes.


A local farm provided live animals: a curious llama, an unhappy sheep, …


…And a very pregnant miniature donkey (we thought there might be another baby born in the stables).


Family members joined their church celebration at an indoor nativity as shepherds.


Yesterday we enjoyed a secular tradition: photos with Santa at the local PetSmart store. Our Shih Tzu behaved appropriately.


However, our Aussie Shepherd/Heeler was not impressed with the Jolly Red-Suited man, even when plied with treats.


The neighbor’s doodles posed nicely.


Have you done any pre-Christmas activities? My writer’s group holiday party was cancelled due to inclement weather. I hope you can spend some time with neighbors, friends, and family.

You can follow the Author on her Website or X.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Convention Unrest

Image
  On the eve of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) proceedings, protestors marched in Chicago and crashed the DNC Welcome Party at the Navy Pier. The games have begun… The  2024 Republican National Convention  was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15 to the 18th. Donald Trump was confirmed as the Republican Presidential nominee, and JD Vance was named the Vice Presidential pick. Thousands of protestors marched nearby, but their actions were largely infrequent and peaceful, with minimal impact on the event. Today, the  2024 Democratic National Convention  (DNC) begins in Chicago, Illinois, and will run from August 19 to 22nd. The Democratic Presidential contender expected to be confirmed this week is Kamala Harris; her running mate-to-be Tim Walz. Unfortunately, the protestor element is much larger than the prior convention. The  Chicago Police Department  (CPD) predicts over 100,000 will take to the streets, dwarfing their resources. Over 5...
Read more

Blog: Monday Musings

Image
I began the weekly Monday Musing blog as an extension of my  Website  and outreach for my writing. The first blog was published over three years ago, on July 12, 2021. It has appeared continuously, except for a few timeouts for illness or family issues. Since then, I have expanded my blog to other sites, the first of which was Medium. The content now appears on social media:  X ,  LinkedIn ,  WordPress ,  Blogger ,  SubStack  and  Pinterest . It was on other minor sites for a brief period, but those have since been discontinued. The primary goal was to advertise my writing: poetry, fiction, and memoir, but I realized my audience would soon tire of promotions. I then revised my blog to contain various topics: gardening, travel, day/month events, miscellaneous items, and occasional writing updates. Long-time readers and new adherents, I would like your opinion on my blog content. Are you happy with the current themes, or would you prefer other ...
Read more

The Stink Bugs Are Back!

Image
In the mountain environment, stink bugs herald the onset of fall. Despite our best efforts, having our log home re-sealed and replacing screens, the little SOBs still find a way to intrude. Who are the  Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs  (BMSB)? They are immigrants from Asia, first noted in Allentown, PA, in 1998, with an initial appearance in North Carolina, in Forsyth County, in 2009. In the interim, the bugs have become invasive pests in the Piedmont and Mountain region. Currently, they reside in 80 of the 100 NC counties as well as in 47 US states. The native stink bugs have natural enemies that keep them in check; the BMSB have few, making them a destructive pest. Their early fall invasion is unpleasant to homeowners and can be devastating to vegetable crops. Pesticides have actually caused secondary pest outbreaks and a greater risk to non-targeted creatures. Scientists are continuing to work on the issue. There is currently hope that another insect, the Samurai Wasp  Tri...
Read more