Nativity Scene for Sale Unbundled

With Thanksgiving behind us, Christmas selling is kicking into high gear. As I headed to get a haircut, I noticed a manger scene on sale outside an antique store. The ensemble is priced at $295, but can be purchased piecemeal. A baby Jesus that lights up is a mere $40, the manger is extra.

Twelfth Night

Today’s Twelfth Night, so followed tradition and took down Christmas decorations.

Fruitcake

Enjoyed a slice of my mother-in-law’s excellent fruitcake. I grew up in the UK where most people seem to love fruitcake, not so much here in the USA. The BBC Website instructs cooks to feed the cake with alcohol every two weeks until Christmas. That might explain the difference.

Sated

We ate well, not too many leftovers. They’ll be making surprise appearances from the fridge and freezer over the next couple weeks.

Christmas Eve

Kicked off the festivities with lefse for lunch (a nod to Norway, Dwight’s distant heritage). Tonight: fish pie (a nod to the UK, my heritage). Christmas Day dinner will nod to North Africa (just because…).

Cycle Ride to Nowhere

Cycled to nowhere. Outside it’s colder than the inside of our freezer and a substantial snowstorm is coming in. A good day to stay inside and think about maybe decorating the tree.

School’s Out

School’s out for the Holidays! Walked home from my Friday gig past a melting snowman with a face mask.

El Mesias

Tonight at Orchestra Hall: A “bilingual Spanish-English cross-cultural combination” of Handel’s Messiah and Navidad Nuestra, a cantata by Argentinian composer Ariel Ramírez. We’re reminded the Holy Family were refugees. “Pretty child don’t cry my love / we will arrive at a better land.”

Sensory Treat

Mailed Christmas cards: a good reason to walk through the lovely Art Deco lobby of the downtown Post Office.