"These are a few of my favorite things...

Of course top billing goes to my dog Miles! Doesn't he look positively thrilled!


This makes me happy. I think that reindeer are amazing creatures. I just read recently that they can travel over 200 miles in 24 hours without stopping for water or food. Feel free to take this reindeer quiz. I'm so fond of my reindeer that here is another picture of her. Someone just told me that female reindeer have antlers in the winter and male reindeer in the summer but I haven't had time to check and see if that's true.



Here is a photo of a few of the reindeer displayed in a yard in my neighborhood. I didn't take a picture of Santa in his sleigh because the reindeer are so cool that I hardly notice him.


Another aspect of Christmas that I really like are the lights. Granted some could adopt the "less is more" attitude, but in general they literally brighten up the long, dark nights. I particularly like blue lights.




Here's a question for the musically inclined. Do the blurry blue lights remind you of anything? If you're not sure click on the photo below to make it larger and I think that you will see what I see.


I even like lights when they are covered with snow.






Here are some of my favorite Christmas ornaments. I bought a number of these wooden angels during my first trip abroad back in 1980.






These two ornaments I bought on the NWPR musical Mozart tour a few years ago. The green glass ball is from Praque and the blue star was bought at the Kriskindlmarkt in Vienna right in front of City Hall.





This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas ornaments. I realize that it is just a cheap piece of plastic but as a child these were magical! I was fascinated by the bells, santas and snowmen "captured" inside the bright, glittering balls. The colors have faded over the years but the magic has not; hanging them on the tree is still a thrill for me.

















When I hear the word "crafts" I generally start to feel faint, nauseous and disoriented but I confess to making dough reindeer one year with my mom. I think that they are really cute!



Spritz cookies!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah!!!!!!! I love to look at them and I love to eat them....I just don't like making them. In fact, I have NEVER made a spritz cookie in my life in spite of the fact that they are delightfully delicious.



Something happened to our family Nativity scene and it had to be thrown away but I always thought that it was an especially nice one, primarily because the stable was made of real wood. One year my mom purchased this one for me. It's not quite as nice as our old one but I still enjoy taking it out and putting it up every year.



Check out this picture I hang on the wall behind my tree. I found an old card that I made for my parents, a note to Santa and a note from Santa and taped them to a board with some wrapping paper on it. Another attempt at crafting! Frankly, this deer picture was the highlight of my artistic career.



What are some of your favorite things about the holidays?

Who owns whom?

This Sunday in church Pastor Corey showed a video from an organization called Simple Living. Following the video we had a lively discussion about giving. Why do we give? How much do we give? In what ways do we give? On perusing the Simple Living site a question from one of the entries popped out at me. "Who owns whom?" This is an excellent question to ask ourselves, particularly at this time of year when we are impelled, encouraged, dare I say coerced into buying more stuff for people that they may or may not need or want. In addition, we get to add to our collection of stuff perhaps leading to a basement, attic or storage room that looks like the picture above.

"Who does own whom anyway? I confess that every year I fill up the back of my station wagon with things that I no longer need, want or use. Why then do I have to do this all over again the next year?

I like the idea of Voluntary Simplicity. In my own way, I've been working toward this for some time but I have a loooooong way to go.

A few weeks ago I happened to see a preview of an upcoming Oprah episode on "The Secret Lives of Hoarders." I have a very dear friend who feels overwhelmed by her possessions and I thought that I might gain new insight and understanding into her
struggles by watching this show.

The entire two part program was about this woman, Sharyn, whose 3,000 square foot house was full of 75 tons of garbage, and enough usable items to fill a 10,000 square foot warehouse!


Unquestionably there is more going on here than a yearly trip to the Goodwill. Still, it really made me think. For many reasons, this year in particular I have felt overwhelmed by the flood of consumerism that washes over us during this time of the year. We have so much and so many people have so little.



Truly, I'm not anti-gift giving. I enjoy both giving and receiving thoughtful and loving gifts. However, I find myself being more pleased with the simplicity of this....



....or the experience of this....


...than I am with this!


Have a blessed season and may you receive exactly what you need!

Merry Halloween!

Yesterday, OCTOBER 30TH, I was limping through the aisles of Rite Aid when what did my wandering ears happen to hear? Yes, you've guessed it, Christmas music!

Once the initial shock and dismay passed I thought to myself, "Why the surprise?" It makes perfect sense in a country where the all mighty dollar is more important than the Allmighty. Religious persuasion, or lack thereof, aside I do live in one of the cultures that represents two of the holiest days in the Christian calendar by a fat man in a red suit and a rabbit.
















Still, I can't help but reminisce about the "good 'ol days" when lights, decorations, carols and yes, commercials about Christmas didn't begin until after Thanksgiving. Remember Thanksgiving? That lovely day got lost somewhere in the over-the-top, overhyped, overextended holiday season that begins long before October 31st, and if we're not careful, will start right around July 5th. Can red, white and blue plastic pumpkins be far behind?

Did you catch this story on Halloween today on Marketplace?

My cheapest and best costume? At age six my mom put some old clothes on me, stuffed a big pillow in my stomach, smeared my face with Crisco and put coffee grounds on it, gave me a bubblegum cigar and sent me out as a hobo. Excellent costume and the cost? I'd say about $.15 for the bubblegum cigar!