Merry Christmas Buds

[amid chaos]

I hope you each have many blessing this holiday season...and gets lots of gardening stuff!

 

[gina2000]

Merry Christmas, Vanessa!

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

 

[Snowwark]

Happy Day after Boxing Day!!

I actually feel like I can exhale now....whew!!

I'm sorry I missed this, Vanessa, Gina, and any other Buds who may be out there!

It was truly an all out dash to the finish line, and a virtual photo finish! Who won? Me or Christmas?

Everything (with the exception of DH's Christmas breakfast), was moved to our house this year, right down to the stockings! It felt weird not having anything under the tree at my parent's house, but it's just too much for my Mother now, bless her heart.

It was all rather frantic, and chaotic, but in the end, the kids were very pleased, the food was good, and with the exception of my brother in B.C., all my family was here, and that makes it all worthwhile. I love them so much....

I didn't recieve one gardening gift!!

The best gift of all was going to Mass with my Mom on Christmas eve. She always goes alone, and every year I tell myself I'm going with her, but some little last minute crisis inevitably gets in the way, and I end up not going. I always feel guilty afterwards, even though she nevers scolds or says a word about it.

This year I vowed I would go, but didn't tell her until we were ready to leave for church. I knew she would be so pleased, and she was, but really, being there with her, sharing that time and place that's so precious to her, was a gift to myself. The best gift!

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas, and I wish you all a wonderful, happy and healthy, New Year!!

Kim

 

[amid chaos]

kim, what a lovely recap of your holiday! thank you.

I was healthy, for a change! We had Christmas Eve at my house with my sister and her family, dave had to work, but popped in just in time to sit, eat and leave...LOL He didn't get home till after 11pm.

Christmas morning was quiet and very pleasant. We splurged on eggs benedict, one of our favorites. Later in the day, dave made steak and lobster.

Inlaws arrived yesterday, along with a foot of snow. Our white Christmas came a day late. It's beautiful out this morning but the roads are very dangerous. Dave has closed the restaurants but spent the day shoveling them out. Physical therapy is going to feel great this week!

I didn't get any gardening goodies either , but you can bet I will be at the garden center later this week for some deals.

 

[marydmjj]

Merry Christmas buds. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I like Christmas falling on Saturday. It felt like the celebration went on from Friday to Sunday.

I had a great Christmas with one exception. My aunt and uncle's house burned down Christmas night. No one was home at the time so that is a blessing but they lost everything. They came home from my other aunt and uncle's house around 9pm and saw the house burning. I feel so horrible for them. I can't imagine losing all pictures and keepsakes.

On a happier note, Christmas was wonderful and even restful! I came down with a cold and body aches Christmas Eve morning so I took a few naps Christmas Eve and a few more on Christmas day. I'm feeliing pretty good today. No more aches and just a stuffy nose.

We didn't get a white Christmas (which is what I wish for every year). Sounds like a lot of you did though. Hopefully we will get some snow this year...

 

[Snowwark]

Oh Mary!!! Your poor aunt and uncle! Thank goodness no one was home, but what a terrible shock for them!! Do they have any idea how the fire started?

Vanessa, I'm glad you were feeling better, and I hope that continues! It sounds lovely, down your way!

 

[marydmjj]

Kim ~ the only thing we have heard so far is they think it was electrical. That could mean a ton of different things though.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Mary, I'm sorry to hear of the house fire. Your aunt and uncle must be in shock, and grateful that they're alright.

We're in NJ, we just had to get out of Ohio and the snow and ice. We're going to see family and friends starting tomorrow, but for the past couple of days, it's been quiet for us, just resting and enjoying fresh seafood. Vanessa, I was so envious of you having lobster for Christmas dinner, but we've managed shrimp and scallops a few times already. For once, DH doesn't have a list of chores to do here at our shore house. We walked our dog on the beach and found out that they are doing a great job shoring up the sand at Cape May Point State Park.

My gardening Christmas present was that 3 of my amaryllises had flower buds peaking out when I went to look on Christmas day. So mom, sister and cousin will be getting one as an extra Christmas present.

That's what's happening in Cape May.

Have Happy New Years celebrations, you all!

Bobbi

 

[chessie]

Glad to hear about everyone's holiday!!!

My home was filled with family, friends food and laughter.

This was my weekend to work which meant I would have worked 12 on and 12 off Friday Saturday and Sunday. I requested Sunday off for my Christmas holiday. I just pretended that Christmas wasn't till Sunday. My zero hour was Thursday night. I can't believe how smooth everything went. I wasn't running around last minute trying to finish something. Everything was done when I went to bed Thursday night. Food was all made and in the freezer, tablesetwith plates turned upside down. All the presents were under the tree, complete with bows ribbons and tags. This is unusual for me. I am such a procrastinator. I seem to just slide in at the last minute. I got it into my head that I would be doing nothing but sleeping and working for 2 days before Christmas and somehow got myself organized.

Mary, I am glad to hear that your aunt and uncle were not harmed in the fire. I am sure it will take some time for them to get back to some sort of normalcy.

Kim, please explain boxing day. I know I know what it is but for the life of me I can't seem to recall it.

 

[Snowwark]

I hope your Aunt and Uncle are doing better, Mary.

Chessie, it sometimes seems almost a miracle how it all manages to come together in the end!

Congrats on your blooming amaryllis, Bobbi!

Chessie, here's a explanation on the origin of Boxing Day.

~By Davinia Yip

Nowadays when we think of “Boxing Day,” the word “sale” almost immediately follows. After all, December 26 is the day when stores dramatically reduce the prices of their year-end merchandise and thus attract throngs of eager shoppers who would storm the malls in a frenzied mission to snatch up bargains. As exciting as this may be, it is important that we remember the true spirit behind this special day and not neglect its rich history.

The Boxing Day tradition began in Britain possibly as early as in the Middle Ages; with regards to its origin, there are two main schools of thought. Some historians maintain that it began as a holiday tradition where house servants, who always had to work on Christmas days, were rewarded the day after. Their employers would put gifts such as food, clothing, or money in “Christmas boxes,” which the servants would then take with them as they departed for family visits. Others say that Boxing Day is so named because churches collected money for the poor in wooden boxes and usually opened them to hand out alms on the day after Christmas. Today, Boxing Day is celebrated in most of the other English-speaking countries that include Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the United States being a notable exception.

The spirit of generosity surrounding this day is best exemplified by the fact that December 26 is also St. Stephen’s Day. St. Stephen was one of the seven original deacons in the Christian Church. He was stoned to death by an angry mob for his devoted piety and faith in Christ. As he expired in a slow and painful death, St. Stephen uttered a powerful prayer in which he begged God to forgive his persecutors. Many consider him to be the first martyr.

Boxing Day is therefore much more than a fun day at the mall; it is meant to be a day of giving and sharing, and of charity and appreciation in an extension of seasonal joy. ~



To all the Buds , I wish for you a very happy, and healthy, New Year!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

It sounds like a lovely tradition. We've heard of Boxing Day but assumed it had to do with returning presents.

Thank you for the explanation.

And you know the way amaryllises grow, the stems practically grow before your eyes! They will be giants, I love giving them away, mostly my family gives them back to me, to hopefully get them again next year or the one after that.

Bobbi