Merry Christmas

We are having a quiet Christmas – guests and travel happening later this week. I bought some flowers for the table…and to photograph. It was a good project for the cold days leading up to the holiday.

We’ll have our big meal at lunch time. The brisket was started in the crockpot last night so will be very tender by then

Since the weather cooperated this morning (sunny) – we are going up to see the Bald Eagles at Conowingo Dam– bundled up in our winter gear and hoping to get some good pictures. I’ll take a Thermos of hot Plantation Mint Tea to help me warm up from the inside. It’s the first time we’ve done anything like this on Christmas morning.

Rawlings Conservatory – Part III

The poinsettias are the seasonal show at the Rawlings Conservatory this time of year….and they can be purchased too! They fill every nook and cranny of space in the entrance and the first room past….lining the permanent beds

And, this year, filling and surrounding a donkey cart.

There are pinks and reds and white and white/red combinations.

The one that looked most different to me this year was an off-white variety that has smaller flowers but lots of curly petals that almost covered the center.

I also looked for the green veined white leaves or petals – not sure which one they were.

I saved this ‘part’ to post about until last….since it was the most Christmasy….we’re getting closer every day.

Previous posts about the Rawlings Conservatory: Cactus Room, Tropical Room.

Decorating for Christmas 2016

We decorated less than usual this Christmas since it will just be my husband and I for the holiday – before we have a flurry of activity with my daughter and son-in-law at the beginning of the year (him moving to Pittsburgh to start his post doc at University of Pittsburgh, both going off to conferences, and then coming back). Then my daughter will be traveling to give a talk at Penn State in February. Christmas will be low-key in comparison to what is planned for early 2017. We did put up the tree. I like the glow it has in the early morning when I come downstairs for breakfast.

The ornaments reflect a lot of our history – from the oldest ones (about 50 years)

To the newest (1-year-old – purchased at last year’s Natural Holiday Sale). I play a game with myself to notice different ornaments every morning.

I put up Christmas cards from years past on giant scrunchies that fit perfectly over doors (of the coat closet and the pantry)

And under a clear plastic table cloth on our table. We enjoy the variety of the images while we eat.

And that’s it for the decorations this year.