Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Peace on Earth

and

Lots of Love from Us

Inger, Samson and Faith

Christmas This Year

Last year was the first year I had this fake little tree. Errol and I always had real trees, we both loved it. But life goes on and one can't quite cope with all that any more. So this year, I took out the little tree from K-mart and decorated it with a few of my remaining ornaments. Only Swedish ones, everything else went to the Hospital Guild thrift store. 

Instead of displaying Christmas cards everywhere, I put them in my bowl. 

I really should have removed my dirty copper pots. Or not posted this at all, but I so love that Faith photo bombed the picture that I just had to post it. I wonder what she's looking at here. The copper pots belonged to my grandmother, who actually cooked with them. When she was old, and her life was modern and easier, one entire wall in her large kitchen was taken up by all her copper pots, pans, and baking dishes. Always freshly polished and shiny. They will get done before Christmas, grandma, I promise. 

Christmas began last Friday, when I went with some friends to hear the Tehachapi Symphony Chorus perform three selections from Bach's Christmas Oratorio and then, after the intermission, a glorious rendition of Handel's Messiah. 

My Swedish goat. In our home, we had one just like it under the tree. In Sweden, home of many reindeer, Santa leaves them alone and travels with goats or one goat maybe, not sure.

Tomorrow, Mary is hosting a luncheon for the ladies in the crochet group. I'm looking forward to that. Then I will see relatives and friends on the weekend. 

Some small Swedish goblins or tomtar, as they are called there. The Santa my grandfather made well over 100 years ago. My mom and dad celebrating what may well have been their first Christmas together. A small plate, a gift from my cousin Anders. 

In Sweden, Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve and Rachael has spent many Christmas Eves first with both Errol and I and later with me. But not this year, so I have a strong feeling that I want to be alone, just to think about things. As you get older, time moves at an explosive speed. Even when you live in a desert mountain canyon with nothing much to do ~~ not true, always much to do here. So taking time out for reflection, I believe is a very good thing.

Gifts from my friends Bill and Judy, from many Christmases ago when we all worked at UCLA and Bill was the best boss ever and Judy such a good friend. They still are friends of course, and I hope to see them in the spring. It's a shame the ornament is not clear, it's just gorgeous. 

Then I will, weather permitting, spend Christmas Day with my niece Monique, her husband Kenny, and their two daughters Jasmine and Jacqueline. They live in Lancaster, which is about 45 miles through the high desert from here.  Many storms are coming in from the Pacific and if it snows, I will stay home. Hope it won't because, after all, Christmas is for kids and I would so love to spend some fun and loving time with them. 

PEACE ON EARTH

With Love from the Canyon

Inger

Samson & Faith

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Happy Holidays to One and to All

My grandfather made this Santa more than 100 years ago.

My grandmother made this table runner, a friend gave me the pewter candle holders, and my dad won the vase, playing bridge.

This is the time of year to look back and remember those who have played a part in our lives, for me: My family and friends in Sweden, my friends and family here in the 

U. S., and those who have passed on. 

This year, my beloved Angel died in May. The one dog who loved me above all. And mommy will always love you too.

Also in May, our sweet Pippi Birdie died. You cheered us all up with your constant twitter and song and we miss you so very much.

But life goes on and yesterday, as I went to town to do some Christmas shopping, the gumbo pots came out, my New Orleans born husband sharpened his knives and the chopping began. He was still at it into the evening hours. Two large pots of gumbo now rest in the refrigerator, some of it will be given away and some of it we will eat for Christmas. But wait, there's also a duck sitting in the freezer. Oh well, I guess if you're from New Orleans, the pleasure of eating and cooking knows no bounds.

With a fire in the fireplace (10 F here right now) and carols with Nat King Cole, Martina McBride, and others on the stereo, the Christmas spirit is slowly coming forward. 

All of the above would go in my tree, were I to have a tree. In  the Sweden of my childhood, the tree went up the day before Christmas Eve, so I still have some time to decide.

My straw goat, representing the goats that traveled with Santa (Jultomten) would stand underneath the tree. With Samson around, he probably will stand somewhere high up instead. Interestingly, in the land of the reindeer, Santa travels with goats. 

 

A cheerful Santa, a gift from a friend of my mom's.

In another day or so, my table will look like this again.

My parents wrapping presents, circa 1939.

Rachael and I celebrating Christmas here last year.

I bought Soldier a bed yesterday. He has rejected beds in the past and sleeps on a carpet remnant with his blankie, but he's getting so old now and I thought I would try one last time with a real soft bed. And, success! He slept on it last night and it must have felt good for his aching hips and back.

Recently, Gracie posted about all her toys and Samson has complained ever since. So I looked for some new toys for him, but didn't find any. I know I have a few more my friend Carol gave the dogs packed away, so I'll give him those. Rachael gave him tennis balls and Judy sent him and Soldier some very huge bones. So he better stop complaining, but with Samson you never know.

I end this with the little Tomte that protects our home here in the canyon. In olden days in Sweden, people believed that a small tomte lived in the barn, or somewhere close by, and kept watch over the farm. I love that thought and since I happen to have the likeness of one, he stays out year-round to keep an eye on things around here.

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I will take a bloggy vacation over the holidays and come back with a new computer and, hopefully, all my new stuff figured out, after New Year's.

I completely forgot to post part 2 or my Wyoming Cowboy Adventures, so I'll post the whole story next year. And I'll continue with the California Missions then as well. 

Again, I want to wish all of you the best for this Holiday Season and for the New Year. I appreciate your friendship and that you come around to visit my blog. Samson says he does too and just wait, he will have lots more to say come next year. He's still feeling good without the medicine.