HAPPY NEW YEAR

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne."
May you and your loved ones have a healthy and happy
NEW YEAR
2012

CREDIT WAS TAKEN

Our Christmas was more than a little interesting, here.  Apparently someone, with nothing better to do, had some fun at our expense. They hacked our credit/debit card information and used it to buy plane tickets, for almost a THOUSAND dollars on Christmas Eve, somewhere in Georgia. That is far away from where we live and play. The security at the bank called to tell us about the suspicious activity. They wanted to know if we authorized the transaction. We said, "NOPE." Now our card and online banking information is blocked, so they can’t use it again. In the meantime neither can we. Because of the holiday falling on Sunday, the bank will be closed on Monday. So we can't access our account information until Tuesday. The bank is going to issue us a new card after then. It should be here within the next week. The headaches this causes are enormous. We have zillions of accounts that get paid with that card. All of them must be switched over to the new card number when it arrives. Plus any Christmas presents that need to go back will be in limbo if purchased on the hacked card before it happened. One BIG mess. UNBELIEVABLE. Oh well. Que Sera Sera.  My husband is unemployed. He needs a pacemaker. I need two new knees.  We didn't need someone stealing our money, at Christmas. It put a real damper on the festivities. I hope they catch the bad guys who did this.

CHRISTMAS AT A DIFFERENT TIME, NEW YEARS TOO

 

Let's take a trip back in time... 



A Victorian Couple is about to entertain a few friends



During the Christmas season.

 Invitations have been sent



A pretty Punch Bowl is out on the table

The Piano is waiting for friends to gather round
to sing carols

The Dining Room Table is set

A family member sits by the staircase to catch a glimpse
of company when it arrives...

The first guests admire one of the Christmas Trees

An anxious suitor waits 

More friends gather

Everybody is happy to see each other

One of the relatives shows off his Trophy Room

A good time is had by all

Now we head back further in time...

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

MARY did you KNOW

that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT
Shepherds QUAKE at the sight

COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
O Come let us ADORE him

WAKE UP PEOPLE
It's time to
FLASHBACK to the FUTURE...

MARCH of the TOY SOLDIER

The MRS. spreading HOLIDAY cheer

REINDEER giving FREE RIDES before they
 leave the North Pole

You BETTER watch OUT...
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

 NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHTS TO GREET HIM

Showcasing
ALL the COLORS of the SEASON.

Just LOVE a man in a RED velvet suit,
with WHITE trim...
don't you?

See you back here on January 2nd or sooner. From our home to yours...

MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR

...HAPPY CHANUKAH...
to ALL my Jewish FRIENDS and LOVED ones, too.

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll take a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne."

2012





PLYWOOD FIGURES LIGHT UP THE NIGHT

My husband and I had a bit of Cabin Fever. So we got in the van and headed down the road,  far away from here. It was an all day event. We did some Christmas Shopping. And  splurged, a little, by eating out.  Ate lunch at a GREEK restaurant and later had dinner at Denny's using our senior discounts. It was getting late, but we didn't want the day to end. So before going back home, we took a detour. There is a little town, off the beaten path, in Northwest Ohio called Bluffton. Every year for Christmas, they do up the town for the holidays with pretty lights,  and painted plywood cutouts. The Town Square, by the church is the focal point of this celebration. Most people along the route, in and out, of town... adorn their yards with these distinctive wooden figures creating interesting vignettes. We own some of them ourselves because we fell in love with these kinds of displays the first time we came to Bluffton over 20 years ago. Of course, we did not know we'd be stopping there on this particular night. So we had no camera. Just our cellphones. The pictures aren't the greatest, but you can get an idea of how extensive this event is.  Here is an example of what we saw along the way. ENJOY! Tis the Season to rejoice in all things. 

CHILDREN BUILDING A SNOWMAN



AMERICAN SANTA HOLDING FLAG



TURTLE, PENGUIN, DUCK & BEAR LOOKING AT CHRISTMAS TREE



GREAT GRANDMA READING TO CHILDREN



A GIRL SCOUT CHOIR



BOY SCOUTS AND FRIENDS SINGING CAROLS



ICE SKATERS



PREACHER



A GENTLEMAN OUT AND ABOUT



A MAN DELIVERING PACKAGES



A BOY WITH HIS RED SLED

REINDEER PLAYING

A HORSE AND SLEIGH

SANTA FEEDING RACOONS

PEOPLE GATHERING

MUSIC PLAYING

MAILING A LETTER TO THE NORTH POLE

A SHEPARD TENDING SHEEP

A SHEPARD BOY

MARY AND JOSEPH

MAKING THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM

 

THE NATIVITY

And  look who followed us home.
A REINDEER

WHAT SHOULD WE NAME HIM?