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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Funny how much I still miss all the family traditions around Christmas time with my family in Germany. Even though this will be my 23rd Canadian Christmas, Christmas hasn't been the same since back in 1987. I just can't get used to having Christmas morning, or not having a somewhat festive Christmas Eve. I know a lot of it has to do with the family itself,  and taking on their traditions and making new ones. I guess old habits die hard. For me the best time of Christmas always has been the the four weeks before and of course then Christmas Eve. I just love the mood and the peace and beauty of the colours, the sounds of the music and the spirit of giving and all the things that aren't part of what a lot of people make Christmas out to be. I hate the crowds in the mall, I hate the crazy driving to rush from store to store to get what you need, given I will be there on the 24th to do last minute grocery shopping, but I am planning on having this done early, just because I want to enjoy that day as much as possible. Christmas Day as a housewife is pretty much a slaving day in the kitchen and making sure your guest and family have a great time, nobody really cares how you feel that day. Besides my German traditions I miss my family around this time of the year, the ones that are still there and the ones that have already gone home. The one person I miss the most around Christmas is my Opa. I had the best Opa in the world, and I loved him so much. No matter what his age was he was such a kid at heart and he made Christmas time so very special for us kids, there was always laughter and jokes and just a feeling of love. I wish I had our family pictures from Christmases gone by here in Canada, to look at and share. One particular picture is stuck in my mind and just the thought of it makes me smile, it's of my Opa trying on my grandmother's shower cap and he has the biggest laugh going. As I remember we did too.
Well despite having to put on the Christmas dinner for the family plus more for the last several years, I try to make my Christmas in my heart special...of course buying myself presents always helps too.....so here is my version of having myself a merry little Christmas. lol
Hat, Scarf and mittens from the DSC. ( came in red, navy, black or brown).
The hat already has taken on the right scent, the scent of donkeys and barn, the scarf, I totally love and have worn it every single day since I got it.
And I totally feel in love with this bracelet, even though I am not a bracelet person, but it's my favourite colour and my favourite animal...what could be more perfect?

Merry Christmas to me!

6 comments:

Joan said...

I feel homesick for you.. for the memories and for the traditions and of course for the loved ones.

Love the gifts you've given yourself!

Louise said...

Merry Christmas to you, and the Happiest of New Years. Your memories are wonderful and from your description, I know that you can see them in your mind's eye just as clearly as if things were just happening.

I bought myself Christmas presents, too, lol. New L. L. Bean boots and a set of trekking poles.

Tina said...

Joan- me too,I just love the bracelet. Ruth again did an amazing job stocking the boutique with new things.
Louise- Merry Christmas to you too.Awesome gifts you got urself. Those trekking sticks are great, will be great for all ur nice hiking adventureS.

Sharon said...

You are so right about Christmas being hard on the housewife, so much work and the worse thing is - it was expected! Maybe that's why I just can't and don't want to celebrate anymore. (I mean, "Oh, yippee, I get to cook and clean for 30 people and then clean again after they leave, oh Goody! I can hardly wait!!!) The last 20 yrs or so, I liked Christmas Eve, really late, with some candles lit and noshing on candy and junk food - after coming home from dinner & a movie. Just our little family of 3. With the first batch, It was go to one set of parents on Christmas Eve and the other set on Christmas Day. Bah, humbug!

I like your gifts you got yourself, who more deserves them but you? I think they are cute!

Pumpkin said...

Christmas doesn't seem to be like it used to. I'm not sure if it's because we don't have children but there always seems to be something missing. Maybe it is all those memories from when we were kids.

Good for you! Glad to see you bought something you liked and it's so you ;o)

Btw, I received something VERY special from you and I've posted it on my Blog :o) Thank you SO much Tina!

DebH said...

Merry Christmas Tina! Just talking about your Ompa reminded me of my favorite Grandpa and Grandma too! I would of loved my own grown children to of known the. Just thinking about how they always smiled at me...ALWAYS, is my best memory! Thanks for the reminder!