Christmas past

Some scenes from Christmas as we file the year into history.

Aki places her jello salad onto a silver platter for her annual Christmas brunch with her friends.

A refreshing salad.

A business card holder with Larsen's likeness is a thoughtful gift from a colleague.

Some R&R during the Christmas season.

Christmas lights

Viewing the light displays at the Sandcastle on Kiawah Island at Christmastime.

Christmastime is here

Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone, who knows what Christmas is all about?!

Linus: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights please?

And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Last minute shopping

Wild colors at the sporting goods store herald cruise season for people who cruise to emerald isles, which probably exclude those with silly spaniels.

  Larsen mugs for the camera below the purple and blue golf shirts.  

Christmas is over

The 12th day, Epiphany, is January 6, 2013, but for the most part, Christmastime is over.  The tree is down and the needles are swept, except for a few that we will find some time in July.  We will also then find a wayward angel or St. Nick in the corner of a bookshelf that didn't find its way onto the shelves in the basement, where the creche, tree ornaments, nutcrackers, stockings, church-mice, placemats, and cups & saucers are now.

  

Oh Christmas tree

Our tree stands dark in our house.  This beautiful wreath, a gift from mom and dad, is our Christmas tree here, on vacation, at the beach.

Merry Christmas from Kiawah Island

Christmas on Kiawah Island

The Sanctuary Inn on Kiawah Island is a relatively new hotel that is done in the grand southern tradition. At Christmastime, in the main hall, the Inn puts a gingerbread house as its centerpiece. This Christmas, a harried Santa Claus comes upon a kitchen scene that has him wondering how he ever will deliver on time those sugarplums to the world's children.

Santa comes upon kitchen chaos.

"We've got it under control, Santa!"

Santa's helper sure is busy.

The gingerbread men are imps in the kitchen.

Here's a fresh one.

This elf measures out the spices.

Avast matey! Swab up that chocolate!

A Felix Christmas

Felix wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.

London Trading Company

The LTC sells clothes and gear to the horsey set in Atlanta. The store is redolent of leather and waxed cotton.

We stopped by to look at field boots. They certainly had some fine boots to choose from, as well as beautiful country clothes. Christmas is coming, so now's the time to think about your lists.

The LTC is at 30 East Andrews Street in Atlanta.

Buckhead casual.

These are boots for the field?

A chukar in a game bag.

Some sort of wild cat lunges at a pheasant.

Christmas cards

Is it too late to mention this?

I have a stack of Christmas cards in front of me.  We'd collected them from the mantel a while ago, and it's time to toss them.  I thought I'd grab a glass of vino and flip through the cards once more to make sure I hadn't missed any before I threw them away.  The letters and photo-cards, cards fancy and plain: all are beautiful remembrances of the Christmas Season, and we thank you.      

Duck

Larsen licks his lips in anticipation of the duck cooked up for Christmas dinner.

Happily, the duck made its way to the dinner table.

The sun is shining, the grass is green

The sun is shining, the grass is green,
The orange and palm trees sway.

There's never been such a day
in Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the twenty-fourth,—
And I am longing to be up North—

Christmas giving

Aki stuffs this Christmas basket with all sorts of goodies.

A Starbucks card.  Someone will like that.

A ribbon adds the  finishing touch to this little gift.

I wonder who will get this treasure trove?