“A good many things go around in the dark besides Santa Claus.”
It has already been a long day. Alexa woke me up at seven. I asked her for another half hour, and she obliged. I got up after the 7:30 Alexa call, got dressed and hit the road. Gracie had her second acupuncture appointment. She was good and stood patiently until it was over. It took about an hour. When we got home, she ate and I had coffee and read the paper. The morning was normal. Then I took a nap. Yup, a morning nap, and I just woke up, got another cup of coffee and turned on the TV. I’m watching Krampus. Nothing is better than a movie about a horned-beast at Christmas who punishes naughty children. That sure beats coal in the stocking.
Today has a muted sun hiding behind the clouds. Every now and then it appears and brightens the day for a bit then the clouds take over again. At least it is warmish.
I did get a few things done yesterday, but I’m the only one who’d notice. The clean clothes piled on the rocking chair have disappeared. I carried them upstairs and put them away. The two bags of newspapers and the boxes which were by the front door are now in the trunk. I’ll bring them to the dump on Wednesday when it reopens. The kitchen floor and the hall are clean. I vacuumed. The pile of catalogues is greatly diminished. I went through most of them and ordered a few things on line. I’m sure, though, they’ll be plenty in today’s mail to take their places.
Last night was game night. This time I was a winner. At the last game night Tony and I won nothing. Clare won them all. Last night she won Phase 10, and I won two games of Sorry. Tony was stuck with the L on his forehead.
I’m going out later. Skip is coming tomorrow to do my outside lights so I need a few things: a spot light, a couple of wreaths and some lengths of pine garland for inside the house. Tomorrow, Skip and I will go and choose my tree so he can lug it inside and set it up for me. I’ll start decorating it and the house tomorrow.
I noticed last night that many houses have Christmas lights, more than usual this early. Some houses are decked in all white lights, some are LED colored sets and others are regular colored bulbs. Mine will be a combination. The driveway fence already has a trail of white lights leading to a huge star. That is always lit to keep the darkness at bay. The front fence will have colored bulbs as will the deck rail in the back. One tree on the side of the house will have huge ornaments lit by a spotlight. An old sled will stand by the front door with ice skates draped on it. They’ll have regular lights.
Krampus is just about over now. It isn’t Hallmark, but it sort of had a happy ending. It just depends on your definition of happy.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: acupuncture, Christmas lights, cloudy, coffee, game night, Krampus, morning nap, naughty children, newspapers, Phase 10, Sorry, The laundry, vacuum
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December 4, 2017 at 4:15 pm
My sister and I were talking about the decline of board games.
Way back when, in another time and another country, Christmas always meant a long flat box which when unwrapped would bring the delights of a new board game from the Waddington company. I remember very clearly wanting “Spy Ring” which was the big offering in 1965. Somehow Father Christmas knew this and an eleven year old was exceedingly happy.
My Grandma, who was gone way too early, would be the one to learn the game and play it with us. So it was, I don’t remember that Spy Ring was a great game but the box was cool and we played it
December 4, 2017 at 4:31 pm
My Dear Hedley,
We also knew they’d be a new game under the tree, and we were always delighted. I remember Clue and Go to the Head of the Class as frequently played games, but our favorite was Sorry. I introduced it to my friends who also love the game. It has a whole different level when played by adults.
My mother and I played Big Boggle, and sometimes we’d play ten or more games in one sitting. We are still a game family and that has been passed to the next generation.
December 4, 2017 at 6:05 pm
Hello world wide web, I’m back 🙂
We’ve survived about one week without phone and internet at home and just a bad mobile connection. I hope the next try to switch our connection in 2 weeks won’t fail again, otherwise the song “Silent Night” will get a new meaning at Christmas time.
I see I’ve missed the old German Carol Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (unfortunately the video is not available here, a Carter-Grammer version would be interesting) and soccer talk on KTCC. Still a lot of KTCC music to listen to and to get into Christmas mood.
First snow yesterday but it’s already gone and it’s raining again.
Today I quickly crossed our local Christmas market because I had to go downtown anyway. It’s as crowded and boring as each year.
December 4, 2017 at 6:56 pm
Birgit,
We missed you! I think I’d have severe withdrawal symptoms without my internet. I think I’d survive without my phone. I’d get no more of those annoying robocalls.
You notice I had nothing to say in regard to soccer. The US had a dismal showing, well the men did anyway. My sister’s family represents our soccer side, and they had much to say.
No snow here yet as it has been unseasonably warm. Even the ocean is too warm for this time of year. Wee have had a frost but that goes quickly.
Boston has something akin to a Christmas market at the city hall. They have put in an ice skating rink and some kiosks. It started last and is bigger this yea. Perhaps it will become a nice tradition.
December 4, 2017 at 6:43 pm
I assume the acupuncture treatment is working for Gracie. I think you should ask the vet for the name of a good human acupuncturist. I doubt your family physician would know one.
I’m not much of a board game player but as a kid I enjoyed all the kid games such as Monopoly. We never had the patience to complete the game but I loved playing with the metal race car.
Today we hit 84 degrees under sunny skies. However, the cold front is coming and the forecast for tomorrow morning is 39 degrees and the high in the high fifties.
December 4, 2017 at 7:09 pm
Bob,
I actually know an acupuncturist. I am hesitant only because of the money already wasted on my back. The first
My family loved board games, including my parents. We always played games even as adults. My friends too are game players. Playing them is still fun.
Wow, you are actually going to have a cold front. I thought you’d write something like 60˚. Your 39˚ threw me.
December 4, 2017 at 8:42 pm
This is an artic cold front. We used to call them an Alberta Clipper. This November has been the warmest on record and last year our last freeze was on January 6th. We had a lot of 80 degree days in January and February. Who is dumb enough to think global warming is a hoax? Oh, it’s 45. 🙁
December 4, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Bob,
I haven’t heard the term Alberta Clipper in a while. Today I was at the clinic to have blood drawn and a guy and I discussed the weather and he mentioned it, and here you are also mentioning it.
We had 45˚ today which is too warm for December, and it will be even warmer for the next 2 days.
President’s don’t lie!
December 4, 2017 at 7:45 pm
Hi Kat,
Your header quote was quite appropriate for me tonight. The dogs and I were outside about half an hour or so ago. Suddenly Rocky went crazy. I turned to see what was upsetting him and there stood a big coyote. Watching us. Standing between us and the house. After a few minutes of watching and pacing a bit, it ran up the dirt road. So the dogs and I started toward the house. Rocky was howling and whining and barking and I was watching the dirt road. Sure enough, the coyote ran out of the road, crossed in front of us and went into my side yard where it stood watching us. I made big animal noises while hustling crazy Rocky and confused Piki Dog back home.
I love Krampus. Not the movie but the idea of Saint Nicholas’ evil companion. I should knit a Krampus Stocking to hang up.
Piki Dog is improved though he still has the wobbles. His blood tests came back normal so no kidney or liver damage. His improvement began after he decided he would eat cold roast pork loin. Then he decided that grocery store rotisserie chicken would also be acceptable as would random popcorn he found on the ground.Today he even ran to the door to bark at the mail carrier and the paper woman.
Enjoy the evening.
December 4, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Caryn,
I doubt in Gracie’s heyday I’d have been able to keep her from going after that coyote. She was so strong. I totally understand why Rocky would go crazy and then howl to let you know the coyote was still around. That watching part is the scariest. They are big animals and its being between you and the house sounds so predatory.
The movie was better than I thought it would be and it wasn’t all that bloody. If I were a kid, I’d celebrate Christmas every minute to keep Krampus at bay. He or It was definitely scary.
I’m glad Piki Dog is getting better. He is one smart dog who might have learned to wobble so the pork and the chicken will continue.
Good to know he is keeping you safe from the mail crier and the paper woman.
Enjoy the rest of the evening!
December 5, 2017 at 1:09 pm
Back to warmer weather again here and a storm will pass slightly north to us on Friday but we’ll feel strong winds here too.
I have been wondering about light chains and is there any powered with solar cells? Most of us are sleeping most of the night anyway so a chain really doesn’t need to shine all night. I think I’ll have to look that up.
Have a great day!
Christer.
December 5, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Christer,
We will start a warm spell tomorrow, in the mid 50’s for the next few days. It will rain quite heavily tonight into the morning.
I was willing to bet that there are strands that are solar powered so I went hunting. Amazing the seller of everything has many choices:
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=solar+powered+light+strands&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=190526625322&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5677515230476797012&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002130&hvtargid=kwd-299159403817&ref=pd_sl_8k83i9tnck_e
Maybe you can think about it for next door. My lights are plugged into four different outside outlets.
Have a great evening!!
December 6, 2017 at 12:22 pm
I found some here too 🙂 They say they’ll ship any order within two days so I might order some!
December 6, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Christer,
Soon you’ll be lighting up that dark night!! You’ll love having the lights!
December 6, 2017 at 5:36 pm
I feel like last year at this time everyone was just dazed with the November events that decorations were a bit sparser than usual. And now this year everyone is so despairing that it’s only been a year and the apocalypse is upon us that they’ve said, we might, at least, have lights. An Auntie Mame-type mentality perhaps.
December 6, 2017 at 5:55 pm
sprite,
I hurried to get mine up on Monday which is still early December so I’m thinking your theory is right on.