Don We Now Our Gray Apparel
1. The Fog of Christmas
2. Two Redmans
3. The Presentation
4. Deck the Boughs – AKA Tree Branch Feng Shui
5. Santa Wears Red Sox
Post Notes: My Christmas memories involve snow and presents -- mostly the anticipation of presents. My strongest Christmas memory is standing at the top of the stairs with my eight siblings waiting for my dad to call us down for Christmas morning after he had gone ahead to plug in the tree lights and check to see if Santa had come. It was the pinnacle of anticipation and excitement. White Christmases were common where I grew up in Massachusetts. Although it was foggy here in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia yesterday when I snapped the above photo of my house, there was some snow on the ground. Today, because of the rain, it's looking like we'll be getting more of a white wash Christmas than a white one. As for photo #2, for those who don’t know, my last name is Redman. The Sunday Scribblings prompt for the weekend is holiday memories.
Comments
hey that kinda looks like the current state of georgia's weather...except we dont have any snow because it refuses to get below 50 here.
Posted by: Leigh in Atlanta | December 23, 2007 12:52 PM
Virginia doesn't know whether it's north or south, so mostly we get ice, which is cold rain that didn't quite make the snow cut.
Posted by: colleen | December 23, 2007 12:54 PM
it's pretty dreary here, too....weather wise that is, not spirit-wise. :)
i love your christmas feng-shui branch! classic!
merry christmas, dear collie!
Posted by: bluemountainmama | December 23, 2007 2:05 PM
Coll, You look so darn cute in that picture w/ Santa!! I actually saw it live today at Ma's house and said the same thing. What I remember most was waking all you guys up and then standing at the top of the stairs until Ma and Dad said we could come down. It's a tradition that I've passed on to Matty & Patrick. LU
Posted by: Trish | December 23, 2007 3:18 PM
I agree--you look very pretty in the picture with Santa!
I love the pun in your post title--very clever. It is gray, cold, and rainy here, too, but our woodstove and the cinnamon cookies in the oven keep our bodies warm and our Christmas spirit bright. Merry Christmas, Colleen!
Posted by: Beth | December 23, 2007 3:37 PM
I'm just about to start making cookies too. Joe and I had a wonderful Christmas date yesterday window shopping downtown and eating at the new restaurant, El Charro.
Trish, standing at the top of the stairs is my most powerful memory too. I remember writing about it in The Jim and Dan Stories. In many ways it was the pinnacle of expectation and excitement. This was my first year putting the presents out just after wrapping them and I don't like it. Even with the boys (now men) not here I prefer to wait until Christmas eve and put them out before going to bed as if I was still Santa Maria. I also had to make stacks of presents with their names on them. I bet you do that too, Trish.
I actually posted the photo of me and Santa before and told how I came to get a private sitting with him here http://www.looseleafnotes.com/notes/2007/12/dickens_would_be_proud.html
I love the photo too because it fufills some sort of childhood fantasy for me, to get THAT close to Santa. I was including the photo in a Christmas card to someone and found myself writing ont he back "Two Redman" and that's what started this post!
Thanks for all the Merry Christmas wishes! And to you all as well!
Posted by: colleen | December 23, 2007 4:02 PM
What do you have on? Your Davy Crocket hat??
Merry Christmas and thanks for the memories. xo
Posted by: Sherry | December 23, 2007 5:09 PM
It's a Santa hat that is maroon with a real coon tail from a road kill. A woman named Katy (forget her last name) from Floyd made it. I've had it for about 10 years and Christmas is the best time to wear it. xo
Posted by: colleen | December 23, 2007 5:36 PM
You two look so festive! Merry Christmas to the two Redman's!
Posted by: kenju | December 23, 2007 6:52 PM
great photos, hope you enjoy your white wash Christmas! hugs from Ny where there will be NO white anything.
Posted by: lucy | December 23, 2007 6:58 PM
Perfect, Colleen!
We had 2 1/2 ' of snow last Sun. and today it rained and we have flash freeze and wind warnings! Crazy weather here!
All the best wishes for merriment of the season, Colleen!
All will be great
In 2008!
Posted by: Ruth | December 23, 2007 7:10 PM
We wish you many more rich and blessed Christmas memories. God Bless. Merry Christmas--from the snow here, to the ice there.
Posted by: Paul Nichols | December 23, 2007 7:45 PM
Love your photos!
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: tongue in cheek | December 24, 2007 4:09 AM
Dear Colleen...A VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS...MAY THE DAY BE ABSOLUTELY SUBLIME, AND, MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | December 24, 2007 5:39 AM
Have a Merry, Merry Christmas! Love the photos.
Posted by: Nancy | December 24, 2007 9:14 AM
Merry Christmas!.... and you do look merry, Colleen. I hope to be around more in the coming year. I have missed visiting here regularly :-)
Susan
Posted by: Susan | December 24, 2007 10:55 AM
I don't like to look back when it comes to Christmas memories, because I tend to remember the good with the bad. I do think your house looks like the most cozy place for the holidays.
Posted by: Tabor | December 24, 2007 12:41 PM
Colleen, I just love that photo of your home in the fog! Great photos...
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Posted by: Sara | December 24, 2007 4:48 PM
Happy holidays to you and yours. May you all enjoy a safe, healthy, cheerful and love-filled new year!
Posted by: wearyhag | December 24, 2007 5:53 PM