Christmas Eve

We went to the Methodist Christmas Eve service. The handbell choir played all four of our songs for this season. You'll eventually see the other two, but not tonight.

As you can see, we are all set for tomorrow. Josh is coming over. We have a few presents and then we have a ham and sweet potatoes. Very simple. Perfect.

There were two large nativity sets on display at the church.

We have a small white one that is similar. But someone made the modern stable to go with this large set.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas Eve services is singing Silent Night by candlelight.

I worked hard today to finish one editing project I had. I am all set to take a couple of days "off." Merry Christmas!

See Christmas Arrives

It's Starting Way Early Here

 
It's pretty strange to be getting ready for Christmas, but if this is the time of year Steve can come home, and he's willing to do so, we'll do holiday!

Last year, the traditional creche did not get set up. That's because of my silly rule that it has to be different every time. Since I made that rule up when I was a child, you'd think I could break it, right? Nope. Has to be different. Sometimes it's natural-looking, sometimes it's modern. I got an idea...



For potentially new readers, these pieces came from my mother's childhood. This view backs out to show the whole set.


For some other displays with these pieces follow the link at the bottom.

This also happened. Stay tuned.



Please note that at least the center of the room is clean, and most of the rest is at least covered up!

In other news: I worked on North Country Quest in the morning, and on formatting both books in the afternoon. Tomorrow I have a vendor show, so probably nothing else will get done.

See Family Creche

Christmas Day 2018

 
It was calm and pleasant here.


The antique creche never got set up, but Omer found two others we had been given as gifts that we hadn't used in years, and I enjoyed seeing these. The simplicity of the white ones is appealing.



And this one is a puzzle- all the figures fit into the stable frame for storage.



I got nice gifts: art supplies and small funnels I asked for, new dishcloths (much needed), the camper ornament and towel from Loretta, and Steve sent the square camper pot for me to try. It's interesting. I might have to blog about it separately. Steve also paid for the vinyl for my trailer floor (when I get back to working on it this spring). Josh brought us a fruit basket and trail mix.


We had a yummy meal with no fuss at all- serve yourself from the kitchen- and we are JUST FINE with that. Lots of leftovers for the coming days.



I've been reading a book and working sporadically on formatting the print copy of DMS Mistletoe.

Following so many friends on Facebook and seeing that you have had a wonderful day as well. Merry Christmas!

	See Christmas Day 2018
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

Handbells and Friends

 
I went to the Manistee United Methodist Church this morning to hear the Handbell Choir that Dave and Loren are in. They only did one number (Carol of the Bells), but it was good. I'm glad I went. I saw another friend I hadn't seen for quite a while too.


This handbell choir is rather small, but my I like to hear them because of my hiking friends. They are on the right end, front and back rows in the second picture.





I think I'd like to do that. But that would be another meeting/practice to go to... hmmm.

The church is beautiful. I showed you their abstract stained glass window when I went for the handbell concert in 2012, but in this picture the church is light, which makes it look quite different.


The vertical sweep was enhanced by this beautiful, tall tree, covered in symbolic ornaments.


And I wanted to add this large nativity set, since I showed you the one at the Lutheran Church.



Other than that I got sucked into a game that is tons of fun, but I sure "wasted" the day. On the other hand you could say I gave myself a day of rest.

	See Miscellany
if you like this blog, click the +1   or

West Shore Concert Choir

 
One of my Christmas goals this year is to take in as much live music as I can. The annual concert by the West Shore Choir is always held at several different venues, but I manage to miss the one close to me. Not this year! I just had to walk next door.



The concerts are always a mix of familiar and unfamiliar traditional music. This year "Ding, Dong, Merrily on High" had a live brass quartet performing with the choir. That was nifty. I got this picture free of people's heads because I was early enough to catch them doing a warm-up before the seats filled.

I know quite a few of the people who sing, and it's nice to see them for a few minutes too.

Here's the nativity scene that was displayed at the church.

	See West Shore Choir at St. Joseph's
if you like this blog, click the +1   or