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Monday, November 29, 2021

And So It Begins

Non-turkey dinner
Now, that Thanksgiving is a memory, the countdown and rush to Christmas Day has begun. It arrives in less than 30 days. We hope that everyone who celebrated the turkey holiday had good times spent with family and friends and delicious food as well.

Our holiday was spent with family. Our holiday meal was a non-traditional one without turkey or fixings. Instead, we enjoyed chicken and ribs, rice, salad. Dessert was also non-traditional featuring grandpa's apple pie and brownies baked by granddaughter.

The holiday was also an early birthday celebration for grandson who be 15 years old this weekend. Since, we won't see his family again until before Christmas, we brought his gifts on this trip.

It was the day after Thanksgiving 2006, when we headed to the airport to fly to the West coast for his arrival. We were there through the holiday season. 
Grandson will be 15 years old this weekend
Here in NH, Thanksgiving eve was movie night as watching the Grinch films is one of Grenville's long-standing traditions. (Did you know that there are three movies based on the 1957 book by Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr Seuss) How the Grinch Stole Christmas! ). We watched the two shown below, both in our collection.
Two of Grenville's favorite holiday viewings
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!  is a 1966 American animated television special, directed and co-produced by Chuck Jones based on the 1957 children's book of the same name. It tells the story of the Grinch, who tries to ruin Christmas for the folks in Whoville below his mountain retreat on Mount Crumpet. Originally telecast in the U.S. in December 1966, it has become a perennial holiday special featuring the voice of the late Boris Karloff as the Grinch and narrator.

The 2000 film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a Christmas comedy-drama co-produced and directed by Ron Howard and released in November 2000. It was the first Dr. Seuss book made into a full-length feature film. The film is narrated by Anthony Hopkins and stars Jim Carrey as the Grinch. Critics mentioned its dark theme and scary scenes, but the film was #1 in the U.S. for four weeks and was the sixth-highest grossing film of 2000. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup. 

Over the holiday weekend, we watched our two favorite modern Christmas themed romantic comedy films, Love Actually and The Holiday. Both are in our holiday DVD collection.
We enjoy these two romantic-comedies every holiday season
Love Actually was released in the U.S. in November 2003, a week ahead of its UK release. Directed by Richard Curtis, it features an ensemble cast of British actors with most of the film done in London locations. It explores various aspects of love as shown through 10 separate stories involving diverse characters, many are shown to be connected as the tales progress. The story begins five weeks before Christmas and plays out weekly until the holiday. A month-later epilogue takes place in a busy airport, just as in the film's start. Love Actually received mixed reviews, but was a box-office success. Usually played during Christmas, the film proved more popular with audiences than critics, and is now a modern holiday staple.

The Holiday (2006) was written, produced and directed by Nancy Meyers and filmed in California and England. It stars Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz as Iris and Amanda, two lovelorn women from opposite sides of the Atlantic, who exchange homes to escape heartbreak during the holidays. The film's leading men were played by Jude Law (Graham) and Jack Black (Miles). The film also stars the late Eli Wallach. The Holiday premiered in NYC in November 2006, before being theatrically released in the UK and the U.S. in December 2006. Despite mixed reviews, the film became the 12th highest-grossing film of the 2000s to be produced by a female director. Ironically, we saw this film in a CA theater when we were there for grandson Bobby's birth and it's become a seasonal favorite ever since.
Our first time meet-up with fellow blogger Linda and Bob
Over the weekend, we had a first-time meet-up with fellow blogger Linda and her husband, Bob. They live in PA and were in NH visiting family for the holiday and staying in Nashua. We met at a local restaurant and had a great time. This is the second time in as many months that we have met a fellow blogger. In September, we met fellow blogger Kathy and her husband, Joe when we all in PA for different events. We neglected to take photos of that meet-up; hopefully, next time.
This weekend it was also time to take down the fall decorations from our apt entry. We were planning to start with the interior as well. However, a scheduled rug cleaning appointment put it on hold until this coming weekend.
The exterior of our apartment is holiday ready
Cards shown on the apartment door and wall are card fronts saved from ones received in 2020. It's my custom to recycle them as decorations the following year. Some of these even date back a couple of years earlier as I liked the design, sentiment or both.
Holiday decorations in downtown Nashua on Main St
A couple of downtown Nashua holiday storefronts 
Meanwhile, the city of Nashua and some storefronts are also displaying holiday decorations. The top three images in this collage are of banners along downtown Main St. The holiday wreath is one of several on a side street. The nutcrackers and trees are from store displays.

Today is Cyber Monday first coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation to encourage online shopping. It's considered to be the online shopping equivalent of Black Friday, which dates back to about the 1950s and historically has been one of the busiest yearly shopping days. The only shopping we did on Black Friday was for groceries; today is laundry day.

How about you — did you shop on Friday and/or will you today?

In answer to comments on the Friday Funnies about replacement washers/dryers. Those shown were only a few of all the replaced units. The mill building has 5 floors, each has a laundry room with a min. of 3 washers/3 dryers (a couple have more). The machines are well used with over 900 residents. There were replaced due to frequent breakdowns.

24 comments:

Marcia said...

Nice to hear you made it to RI for Thanksgiving. Do you have any snow in Nashua? We had a bit more overnight added to what must have fallen while we were away.
No Friday shopping for us. We did shop after church yesterday - my birthday/Christmas gift: snow shoes from Omer and Bob's in Lebanon. Shopping locally is good!

Barbara Rogers said...

What fun, a birthday celebration as well as meeting another blogger! Loved your collage.

Bijoux said...

Sounds like a great weekend, and yes, 2006 doesn’t seem that long ago. My son’s birthday was Saturday, so I’m thankful I’ve almost always been able to spend his birthday with him, as it usually falls on Thanksgiving weekend. He turned 27.

I haven’t done any Black Friday shopping since the 90’s. I have done CyberMonday lately, though not sure I have anything left to buy today.

My name is Erika. said...

What a great festive post Dorothy. It looks like you had a lovely Thanksgiving. And you are ready for xmas too. I haven't watched any holiday films yet, but probably will this weekend when my daughter comes home for a couple of days. and I am working on decorating. The tree is up however. I hope you enjoy some more films and festivities. Have a wonderful new week. Hugs-Erika

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a lovely Thanksgiving holiday time with family. The best way to celebrate the season. No Christmas shopping here, just quiet times as the holiday season unfolds.

gigi-hawaii said...

Your grandson is so much older now. I remember when he was just a small tyke. Cute kid! Love your Christmas decorations. Such a cool idea to recycle cards. And how nice to see fellow bloggers in person.

MadSnapper said...

your door NOOK looks beatuiful, and I have a new tree for my nook but will be a few days to decorate it. i like the blogger buddies photo. and happy birthday to your grandson, he looks happy and handsome.. I never shop black fridy but the big TV died when we turned it off TG night the next moring at 5 am NO TV and the dallas game was trapped on the DVR so Walmart Black fridy it was

Jeanie said...

I LOVE what you do to your apartment entry way! It's so cheerful and fun (and I love the blue door.) Your Thanksgiving looks terrific -- nothing better than being with family. And you watched some of my favorite movies. I'd take Love, Actually to a desert island. I have it on DVD and it is an annual event! I love The Holiday, too, and watched it on netflix as I don't own that one. It ends tomorrow and i might have to watch my favorite parts over again!

mimmylynn said...

My shopping is done and in the mail. How on earth can that young man be the same little boy you used to write about? Boy am I old.

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Love the pictures of your visit with fellow blogger Linda and hubby. Maybe someday we will get to do the same thing! And I love your entry to your apartment. It is nice that you are able to decorate around your door like that. Very festive and creative! It's nice to recycle favorite cards as well! I save mine from year to year and I wonder why...I may have to get creative and do something! Love the downtown displays as well. So nice to see pretty storefronts and holiday street decorations. Glad you will be getting new washers and dryers in your building! Yes, I can imagine how inconvenient it could be to have breakdowns on laundry day. I know I wouldn't like that either! Looking forward to hearing from you again soon.

Anvilcloud said...

We shopped inadvertently. In other words, we would have ordered things today, regardless.

Doris said...

Sounds like a very nice Thanksgiving! Your grandson is so grown up!!
Yes, I did Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping....both days from the comfort of my recliner. No Store shopping for me! Maybe will a little later but not the mall. Heard that was busy all weekend which is good for the stores.
Wishing you a wonderful Monday evening!

William Kendall said...

I admit, I dread Christmas. I'm already in a Christmas depression that kicked off this year when I heard Santa Claus Is Coming To Town in a bank before the weekend.

Margaret D said...

Seems you had a wonderful time with family. Sure hope the young man has a lovely birthday.
Like your Christmas decorations, we don't do that because we won't be home for Christmas but if we were decorations would go up, just a Christmas tree I reckon.

Lois Evensen said...

Family events are so wonderful, aren't they! It's wonderful that we can all be together again. Thank you for sharing.

Edna B said...

I agree, our grandchildren grow up really fast. Your holiday decorations are beautiful. What a wonderful use for your cards. We'll be putting our tree up this week. That's about all the decorating we do. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

nick said...

I've only met one of my blogmates, the others have just come across my blog somehow. I'm unlikely to meet any of the others because they're mostly in far-flung corners of the States.

Our favourite Christmas films are Some Like It Hot and Casablanca. Very old now but still very entertaining.

I didn't buy anything on Black Friday. This constant pressure to buy, buy, buy really annoys me.

Linda G. said...

Your grandson is a handsome young man; happy birthday to him! The outside of your apartment looks so festive. I may start to decorate our house this coming weekend. When we attend our hometown’s Christmas Walk and parade, it usually jumpstarts my holiday spirit. We had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. It was so good to meet you and Patrick in person. I do hope that we have the opportunity to meet up again.

Rita said...

Always so nice to see family! And to meet blogger friends is a treat.
Looks like you are ready for Christmas. I watch It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story every year. Not a Black Friday fan and do any shopping online these days...but usually shop whenever. :)

jp@A Green Ridge said...

First of all, I cannot believe that Bobby is turning 15!! Secondly, what a handsome young man he is. Third, the food looks GREAT...yum brownies by Ellie!! Fourth, the original Grinch is MY FAVORITE MOVIE...YAY!!! Fifth, I use my Christmas cards to make Christmas name tags when there's no writing to affect the cutout, that is....jp

Rain said...

Hi Dorothy! ♥ I love that you met up with a fellow Blogger, that is so neat. The Christmas decorations! My heart is focused on winter and this holiday season now, we had snow today and it was so lovely!! ♥

Lowcarb team member said...

A lovely happy and festive post.
I did enjoy seeing all of your photographs.

Hasn't the year flown by ...
I have made a start on Christmas preparations and will be putting the decorations up on the 1st December.

Happy December Wishes.

All the best Jan

Veronica Lee said...

Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.

Your grandson is so handsome.

Love your Christmas decorations, Beatrice.

DeniseinVA said...

Looks like a wonderful Thanksgiving! A belated Happy Birthday to Bobby. I saw The Holiday but still need to see Love Actually. How wonderful you got to meet up with Linda and Bob. It’s fun meeting up with our blogging buddies, as we well know :) Your decorations are great. I am slowly getting things together here. Lovely to see the town so prettily decorated also. No, we didn’t go shopping on Black Friday. I have never been a big shopper. If I see something in the year that I think would be a nice gift, I will pick it up then. Still have some gifts to buy and will leave that nearer the 25th, just to get into the festivities of it all. Happy December to you both!