Un-decorating Christmas

Never seems as enjoyable as putting everything up had been — tree, lights, ornaments and decorations — all in anticipation of the merriest time of year. 

But, all good things eventually end which, for us, meant taking down Christmas paraphernalia last weekend. The original plan was to leave everything in place longer, but we're going on a short road trip to visit family in PA and NJ this weekend into next week. It was easier to handle this task beforehand. 

Many of our combined holiday ornaments and decorations hold special memories as many of yours do as well. Here's a look at some of ours, including details about many favorites.

All the ornaments are removed from the tree and placed on the sofa, then separated to be stored by type (wood, glass, penguins, bears, etc.). While we weren't in a hurry, it seemed to take a shorter time to pack everything away than to put it up. Before Christmas, we listened to holiday tunes and enjoyed egg nog and some home-baked treats — doesn't everyone?

There's a supply of clothespin Santas, snowmen and snowflakes. The snowmen ornaments at the bottom left were gifts from grandchildren and to ourselves.

The trio of hand-crafted gnomes were purchased on a cross-country road trip several years ago. Originally planned as gifts, they were misplaced, found after the holiday and have remained in NH. The shell wreath was a holiday gift from family. Bells because every time you hear a bell . . .

These two ornaments are among the most delicate in our collection. Both hand-painted on shells and purchased in VA. The penguin shell was purchased at a holiday craft fair on the VA eastern shore. The one on the right is the Hope and Glory Inn, Irvington, VA,  where we stayed on our honeymoon. It's one of the oldest in our collection.

The icicle ornaments are made of glass and came from VA and NH. The white ornaments (top right) are Lenox. The snowflakes were hand-crafted by a co-worker's mother many years ago and have been displayed on our NJ, VA and NH trees.

These wood-crackers made in Germany were bought years ago in NJ as holiday gifts for my late mother. After her passing, they were retrieved and are displayed in our home annually for the Christmas holiday. The angel was another holiday gift, the snowman a thrift store buy.

There's a number of Boyds bears ornaments on our tree, mostly bears and penguins, and oddly enough not a frog in this group. The fire engine bear is a reminder of Grenville's former profession as a NJ firefighter. 

These Boyds bears figurines which, of course, include a penguin and frog are displayed on  bookcases during the holidays. All were purchased years ago when we lived in NJ.

The figurines in the above photo hold special memories. The happy couple are vintage salt and pepper shakers that belonged to my mother. The bear sled is a music box that was gifted by Anne, a special NJ friend a few years before her passing. Displaying these at Christmas never fails to bring back memories of both.

Charlie Brown and friends were waiting to be put away until next Christmas (the tree had already been repacked). These were purchased at an after-Christmas sale in PA several years ago for the incredible price of $1 each. I haven’t seen any like these since then.

These bears and moose were ready for a long hibernation in the storage unit; however, a few others remain around the apartment year-round.

The un-decorated tree was taken apart and placed back into its box. Ironically, the year we had planned to purchase a live tree, management issued a notice that these were no longer permitted (fire and safety reasons). As we were out shopping that day, we bought this tree which alternates holiday seasons with the village display. After being un-decorated, Grenville disassembled it and with the packed totes all were ready for a return to the storage unit. Conveniently, storage units are located a short walk down the hallway as there's no basement or garage storage here.

There was a water shutdown at the mill apartments this week and since temps were frigid, we went to the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, NH, to walk around. We hadn't been there before the holidays and Santa had already left. Workers were removing his spot and all the holiday decorations. Very soon, the Easter Bunny will be taking up a seasonal residence, possibly on the same couch.

Do you take down decorations right after Christmas, New Year's Day or later ?

An addendum to this post to share that a fellow blogger, Jon, mentioned here before, has been going through tough times with various medical issues. Hospitalized on Christmas Eve, he's currently in a TN rehab facility. Jon has shared details openly on his blog Lone Wolf Concerto, and his most recent post (Cold Night's Journey) included a mailing address to which I'm sending a card. If you are so inclined, perhaps you would also send a note or card of encouragement for the New Year, just a suggestion.

Fall is Here at Home

It's Fall —at our home, at least as the weather here in Nashua, NH, finally is starting to feel and look more autumnal. By the way, that word (autumnal) was in a recent issue of Yankee Magazine, about fall in New England. So, a perfect choice to use here.

Fall decos🎃🌻 went up outside our apt a couple weeks ago before the recent Labor Day weekend, traditionally considered the end of summer. Summer temps were unusually high for New England this year, so thinking cooler was definitely on my mind. Here's the 10-day forecast for Nashua, NH. Maybe wishful thinking helped just a little ?

Temps were still in the high 80s and near 90 when theses all came out of hibernation from a tub in the storage unit, after all, isn't that where seasonal decos go? At least that's where happens here. Thankfully, the storage unit is on the same floor as our apt, just a walk down the hallway. There's no garage storage in the underground parking area.

Of course, regular readers of this blog may already have seen most of these decos in autumn posts for several years. There have been some slight yearly variations, but not many.

My decorating plan was to replace most of these with new decos from the local Dollar Tree, where nearly all were purchased over the years. When, I found out that the taller scarecrows were still being sold, only now cost $1.25 each, the old ones would do just fine, once again. Some of the smaller scarecrows were not even available this year.

So, the old saying, If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It worked for my decorating plans, once again.

Curious about the origin of that ↑ phrase, I did some online sleuthing and found out this idiom has only been documented since 1977, although many believe that it's much older than that.

Pres. Carter & Bert Lance

It's said to have originated in the USA in the 20th century attributed to Thomas Bertram Lance, known as Bert Lance, a close adviser to President Jimmy Carter during his 1976 campaign. Lance was director of the Office of Management and the Budget in Carter's cabinet. In May 1977, he was quoted using the phrase in the newsletter of the US Chamber of Commerce.

While Lance certainly popularized the phrase, it's believed to have originated as a colloquial phrase in southern states years before his celebrated use. However, it began, within a few short years, if it ain't broke, don't fix it became so established as a part of the language that it's become a cliché.

So now you and I, once again know, the rest of the story; you're welcome too.

Your turn—ready for cooler weather in your area?

(If you live in CA and nearby states, hopefully the dual issues of extreme heat and rolling blackouts will be improving soon.)

It's Come Undone

The 2021 Christmas 🎄holiday season is officially over—for Grenville & Beatrice as of this past weekend. 

Of course, we're a bit late as retailers, family and friends have finished with holiday decorations long before, some even before the start of this New Year. As we were away for 10 days before Christmas visiting out-of-state family and friends, we wanted to enjoy tree lights and decorations a bit longer. The Nativity would remain in place until Jan. 6 to celebrate the Epiphany (Feast of the Three Kings).

But, sooner or later, all good things come to an end, and so it was that our decorations were taken off the tree, containers came out of storage. We packed and stored everything. 

Our plan to reduce the ornaments count resulted in several being marked for donations. Then, we added a couple more (top ones below) as grands Bobby and Ellie annually provide new ones for our collection.

A friend kindly suggested there was no need to keep all, and, in time, some may go, but not quite yet. For the foreseeable future, we'll store and re-display these (and others). While the monetary value is negligible, their value in memories is priceless. 

There are also these personal ornaments that always will remain to recall our special memories and simply because we like them.

Our ornaments horde includes various Santas and snow folks, a few shown above. The fireman bear is a reminder of Grenville's former profession. Our firemen ornaments was once quite numerous, but is now down to a couple; this one remains a favorite.

These small wooden ornaments were displayed on the windowsill rather than on the tree. Most likely they will have a different location in the 2022 holiday season (no hints now).

The wagon packed with various moose toys sat under the tree as in previous years. Now, all have joined the bear couple for a long nap in the storage unit.

Charlie Brown, Snoopy and friends sat with Big Bear for a year-end selfie before settling into their storage container as well.

After the interior holiday decorations were taken down and stored, it was time for winter decos to be placed outside the apt entry. Many of these are annual favorites.

Just in time for snowmen, winter ☃️ weather arrived on Friday. The season's first measurable snowfall in Nashua, NH, deposited 5 inches of snow from early a.m. hours to mid-day. 

Watching the snowfall from the comfort and warmth of our mill apt made it more enjoyable. We had no where to go and all day to not get there. The storm passed by noon and frigid temps forecast for early this week will keep it around for at least a few more days.

Your turn — a two-parter: Do you also have holiday favorites and/or do you remove decorations right after the holiday or wait awhile?

Christmas All Around

Holiday decorations abound both outside and inside our apartment. knowing that we would be out-of-state for pre-Christmas family visits to three states meant getting things done before we left, including this post.

These decorations are outside our apartment entry. Many remain the same from last year with a couple of extras added in. Cards on the door and wall are representative of those received last year, so they've been enjoyed for 2 years. Cards received this year will follow the same tradition.

Inside the apartment, the tree bought last year was set up. In 2020, we had planned for a fresh-cut pine tree, but that was the year management issued a permanent ban on such greenery (bah humbug). Luckily, we were out shopping and bought this pre-lit on sale for under $40. While on the slender side, it works well in a small space. Someday, we'll need to cut back our ornaments collection or not buy new ones, as we ran out of space to hang some.

A Nativity setup is always included in our holiday displays. This one is extra special as the figures are from my late mother's set; the manger is from a previous set of mine. Oddly, neither set had any of the sheep shown, all of these, an oxen and camel (behind the Three Wise Men) were purchased many years ago at a Hallmark store in NJ. In years since, I've never found similar pieces sold in stores. (Unlike the figures, these added animals are made of plastic, but treasured just the same.)

Our carefully hung stockings are not hung by the chimney with care, mainly because we don't have a fireplace here. Instead, these are hung on the media cabinet, but with care just the same. The designs had to include penguins, snowman and a moose, but there's no frog.

Snowmen always hang around the apartment and these top ones are on available door handles. Assorted Santas hang on walls, doors, and even a living room lamp pole.

This year, Charlie Brown and his friends have river view seating on the window sill. They've been joined by some snowmen, one entertains with a saxophone (when the switch is on).

Assorted wooden figures, include a marching soldier band led by Santa and wooden toys. These are are set a distance from the Grinch who's already purloined a Christmas tree while Max stands guard.

Last year, when there was a lot of inside time, I made the cork and pine cone trees shown above. Materials used were very inexpensive: corks donated by friends, harvested pine cones and Dollar Tree add-ons. Not only were these fun projects, but I learned how much fun one can have with a glue gun.

The penguin family in the lower left was purchased so many years ago that we can't recall where, but they've traveled from NJ and VA to NH. The bear sled is a music box, a treasured gift from Ann, a NJ friend, who passed away. It's wound and played every year in her memory.

Do you have a holiday favorite?  Mine is this gaily garbed bear given as a holiday gift by my brother years ago. It has sat in my car, on the couch and under the tree in every home I've/we've lived since then. We've named it Thistle Hair, the Christmas Bear (from the song by country group Alabama). Its value is minimal, but the memory it evokes each holiday season is priceless. 

These decorations reside on our neighbor's shelf with help from myself and Dollar Tree. The young neighbors who live in the apt didn't have any holiday decos up, so in the spirit of the season, these few items were added. It's amazingly simple (and inexpensive) to add some holiday decor. (The neighbors did not seem to object to the additions, which remained in place  when we left home.)

There are holiday wreaths and also decorated trees in both lobbies of the mill apartment buildings where we reside. Alas, those gaily wrapped packages cover empty boxes.

Like youngsters, we visited with Santa at the mill arts recent holiday get together. 

We wanted to make sure we were on the nice list year — not taking any chances.

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.