Boxing Day!
Here's my annual picture of the frosty roofs in our complex--proof that while it doesn't snow, we can pretend. Been like this many mornings this December.
On the tree, a few ornaments betraying my fandoms...
The tree, in all its glory.
A lovely ornament I'd completely forgot I bought a few years ago.
The Christmas cactus that blooms beautifully every year despite almost complete neglect on my part.
Tegan enjoying a snooze amongst the tissue paper and my new purse.
Hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday, however you celebrate. We went to the Christmas eve service (started with carols at 10:30 and gets out at midnight). I so love singing Silent Night with the entire church, accompanied by the full organ--so beautiful, sometimes I cry.
In the morning, we opened some presents with my mother before another church service. We don't usually go to church twice in a row (we prefer the late service on Christmas) but Demelza and I were helping the priest at the altar, and since I'm the one who schedules the altar people, we'd better show up! There were so few people in church, at one point when Father Christopher and I were singing one of the songs as he's blessing the bread and wine, it sounded like we were singing "hosana in the highest--" as a duet. lol. We sounded very good together.
After church, a fun potluck with Christopher, his family and about twenty or so people from church. It was really nice (corn pudding, ham, pulled beef, green beans with proscuito, and five kinds of pie!) and lots of people to talk to. Naturally, his kids and Demelza (who all know one another) didn't even say hi. His boys had a friend with them so Demelza managed some small talk with people Grandmother's age before diving into a game on my phone.
We went to see the animated movie Sing! which was wonderful. Two thumbs up from me. A singing competition put on by an optimistic koala. The gorilla had a gorgeous singing voice, but I don't think I know the actor who played him at all. Reese Witherspoon's pig Rosita was so funny, resourceful and determined.
Home almost at the same time as my sister who'd worked at Safeway from 7am to 3pm. She'd had a hard day, but things lightened when she pulled out her gifts and we had more pressie opening! There'll be yet another round on Wednesday when her son the doctor finally gets a day off, and we'll have a feast.
Last but not least, I watched more TV last night than I have in months. First the 90 minute Call the Midwife Christmas special, which I really liked: the nuns, Patrick, Shelegh and two midwives went to help at a mission in South Africa. I was underwhelmed by the Doctor Who Christmas special. Didn't really care much about the superhero guy and his girlfriend, but The Doctor and Nardoo (sp?) were great.
Give love and you'll receive even more. Happiness to all!
On the tree, a few ornaments betraying my fandoms...
The tree, in all its glory.
A lovely ornament I'd completely forgot I bought a few years ago.
The Christmas cactus that blooms beautifully every year despite almost complete neglect on my part.
Tegan enjoying a snooze amongst the tissue paper and my new purse.
Hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday, however you celebrate. We went to the Christmas eve service (started with carols at 10:30 and gets out at midnight). I so love singing Silent Night with the entire church, accompanied by the full organ--so beautiful, sometimes I cry.
In the morning, we opened some presents with my mother before another church service. We don't usually go to church twice in a row (we prefer the late service on Christmas) but Demelza and I were helping the priest at the altar, and since I'm the one who schedules the altar people, we'd better show up! There were so few people in church, at one point when Father Christopher and I were singing one of the songs as he's blessing the bread and wine, it sounded like we were singing "hosana in the highest--" as a duet. lol. We sounded very good together.
After church, a fun potluck with Christopher, his family and about twenty or so people from church. It was really nice (corn pudding, ham, pulled beef, green beans with proscuito, and five kinds of pie!) and lots of people to talk to. Naturally, his kids and Demelza (who all know one another) didn't even say hi. His boys had a friend with them so Demelza managed some small talk with people Grandmother's age before diving into a game on my phone.
We went to see the animated movie Sing! which was wonderful. Two thumbs up from me. A singing competition put on by an optimistic koala. The gorilla had a gorgeous singing voice, but I don't think I know the actor who played him at all. Reese Witherspoon's pig Rosita was so funny, resourceful and determined.
Home almost at the same time as my sister who'd worked at Safeway from 7am to 3pm. She'd had a hard day, but things lightened when she pulled out her gifts and we had more pressie opening! There'll be yet another round on Wednesday when her son the doctor finally gets a day off, and we'll have a feast.
Last but not least, I watched more TV last night than I have in months. First the 90 minute Call the Midwife Christmas special, which I really liked: the nuns, Patrick, Shelegh and two midwives went to help at a mission in South Africa. I was underwhelmed by the Doctor Who Christmas special. Didn't really care much about the superhero guy and his girlfriend, but The Doctor and Nardoo (sp?) were great.
Give love and you'll receive even more. Happiness to all!