Christmas in the Dining Room

Not So Merry....

These are photos of my dining room this Christmas. 

I was very excited about decorating it this year.

What you don't see in these photos are the empty storage boxes I photographed around.

I can't show a long view because there is stuff strewn all about.

Sometimes in spite all your best efforts and plans....you have no control over how things go.

I only finished my decorating Saturday night...Sunday morning I was up and getting ready

to move all boxes to storage when I got the call that my friend Shannon

was at the hospital.

A call a few minutes later told me she was gone.

GONE

She died at home shortly after waking this morning.

Just suddenly gone. 

I was dazed....stunned.

I'd spoken to her several times the day before.

I'd spoken to her the night before.

We were to plan our Christmas Eve meal.

It was to include lobster bisque.

That was the only thing we knew for sure.

I was going to shop for it today.

Instead I was at her home with her husband and friends mourning our loss.

Before I went to her home...to sit with her husband...

I took photos of my Christmas mess.

Which truly is what it is now.

A big mess. Life is a big mess.

I should not have even bothered this year.

Now I have it all to put away on top of everything else going on and 

my Mom's fastly approaching surgery.

But...I thought I might as well show what I've done...or it will all be to waste.

But...I think I'll just say I give up.

For now...I just give up.

I'm not going to try any more.

I plan and work and try and hope and wish...

and 

it does no good.

I may not post for awhile.

I hope you all have a nice Christmas...for me

it has turned out just something to get through again

in spite of my best efforts to make it merry.

My friend Shannon was the sweetest, kindest most thoughtful person ever.

She was always trying to figure out what she could do for others to make their lives better.

The last few months we talked a lot about how good things would be

when she was better.

How good next Christmas would be and that we'd make the most of this one.

I was going to make it good - no matter what.

She and her husband surprised me with a new tv last year for Christmas when I was so down

from losing my best friend, Shelly and Newman, also.

It's a good thing we cannot know our future for if we'd known then how 

she'd be gone this Christmas...it would be impossible to go on.

Her husband was everything to her and she everything to him. 

He will need everyone's prayers to keep him going.

He has lived for her for so long.

She has always been his first priority.

There must be something better after this life...she so deserves it.

If anyone ever deserved heaven...it is her.

I'll check in and let you know how my Mom is...but I may not 

do any serious posting for quite awhile...not till my Mom is better.

I just feel like not trying any more.

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Aluminum Christmas Trees

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How do you feel about aluminum Christmas trees?

I hated them when I was a kid.

I was totally influenced by Charlie Brown and Linus going shopping amidst the purple and pink aluminum trees 

and coming home with a small shriveled real tree.

A tree that with a little love became THE perfect tree.

I wanted nothing to do with any color of tree but green when I was a child.

But now...I really enjoy seeing many variations of the old aluminum tree.

I remember our neighbors to the south of us had a silver aluminum tree with 

the color wheel and I just thought it was terrible shining in their window.

But...now I think all of these are pretty fantastic.

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This one seems to make Santa happy.

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Yes, to this pink one in a white vase.

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Love those red deer with this tree.

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A lovely aqua number.

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Another pretty turquoise one.

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Modern versions of aluminum trees have come a long way.

Do you like aluminum or tinsel trees as good as green ones?

I think they both say Christmas to me.

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