Holiday | The Beauty Around Us

Posts tagged ‘Holiday’

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Bob and I spent the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day in Erie, PA. The main event of the weekend was Erie’s 36th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

At approximately 1:00 pm, in preparation for the parade, State Street at W 10th Street was barricaded to prevent the flow of traffic.

The parade commenced at 2:00 pm. All photographs in the slideshow that follows were taken from the comfort of our hotel room at the Avalon Hotel. Our fifth floor room offered a good view of the State Street / W 10th Street intersection.

Bob and I enjoyed the parade very much. It was the first time that either Bob or I had watched a St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Christmas Day

We celebrated Christmas with our daughter, Stacey, her husband Mike and our two granddaughters, Harper and June, this afternoon. Christmas dinner included baked ham, scalloped potatoes, tossed salad, dinner rolls, and green beans. For dessert we had coconut cream pie. After dinner we exchanged Christmas presents, and I took a few pictures in front of the Christmas tree.

Later we sat around the kitchen table, while Bob played a couple tunes on the mandolin. Harper and June listened and watched intently.

Several weeks ago I borrowed an old L.L. Bean sled from a friend. We finally had snow that stayed on the ground long enough for me to get a photograph of Harper and June riding a sled for the first time.

It was a very short ride. The girls were tired. In fact, doesn’t it look like June could fall asleep right there on the sled?

I hope that your Christmas was as enjoyable as was ours!

Our Christmas Tree

I took this photograph of our Christmas tree a short time ago, this evening. The only lighting is that which shines from the bulbs on the Christmas tree.

Our Christmas Tree

Earlier this month I took a photograph of Bob, our cat Patches, and me for this year’s Christmas card. I designed the card myself, with the help of a Photobacks holiday template.

This Year’s Christmas Card

The day after taking the photograph of Bob, Patches and me, Stacey stopped by the house. She was enjoying a few hours personal time and looked so relaxed and pretty. I couldn’t resist taking a couple photographs of Stacey and our Christmas tree.

Stacey and our Christmas Tree

Stacey is such a lovely young woman, inside and outside. I am so blessed that she and her father came into my life 14 1/2 years ago.

We will be celebrating Christmas with Stacey, Mike and our granddaughters on Christmas Day. I will return to blogging after Christmas. Merry Christmas to family and friends near and far!

Hallelujah

This is one of my all time favorite Christmas-time Flash Mobs! Would you like to see a Flash Mob performance in person? I sure would, only if not expecting one though!

Children Go Where I Send Thee

A friend emailed this video to me 3 years ago. I still enjoy watching and listening to this video. It brings a smile to my face whenever I watch it. I hope it does the same for you.

Company Christmas Party

Bob and I attended his company Christmas party last evening. The company Christmas party is a function that I look forward to. The companionship of friends, the Christmas decorations, a festive atmosphere and entertainment go a long way toward getting me into the holiday spirit.

As we entered the company’s recreation center, we dropped off a bag of non-perishable food items in one of the collection boxes located inside the building. Bob’s company is having a food drive to help those less fortunate. The food collected will be given to the Salvation Army for distribution locally in time for Christmas.

We enjoyed the company of many friends, especially those who sat at our table. There were eight seated at our table — Linda and Garry, Beth and Brian, Karen and Jesse and Bob and I. We enjoyed a variety of conversation with those seated at our table. We socialized with friends at other tables as well.

Jesse and Karen

Brian and Beth
I focused on the candy canes, making Beth and Brian out of focus.

As neither Beth nor Brian like having their pictures taken, I am sure they won’t mind that all I share is the candy cane heart between them.

Garry and Linda

Karen took a photograph of Bob and me. The photograph looked good on the small camera screen; however, it was quite blurry when seen on the computer monitor.

Our dinner was prepared by Wells Hog Wild BBQ. Appetizers were served at 6:00 PM and included veggie trays, smoked sausage and cheese platters and meatballs in BBQ sauce. Shortly before dinner was served, the huge Christmas tree (you will see pictures of the tree later in this blog) was lit and a word of prayer was said. Dinner was was served shortly after 6:30 PM. The banquet table was filled with delicious entrees of beef, chicken and pork as well as side dishes of mixed green salad & dressing, baked beans, cooked vegetable medley and parsley red potatoes. Dessert included a selection of pies and cheesecake. This was the first year the Christmas party was catered by Wells Hog Wild BBQ. We were not disappointed in the food selections. Dinner was delicious!

In years past, a group sing was held after dinner. We would sing songs such as “Jingle Bells”, “Oh Holy Night”, and “Silent Night” This year, Christmas carols were provided by the Warren Area High School Madrigal Choir under the direction of Rob Pearce.

The Madrigal Choir performed a variety of holiday songs and sounded wonderful.

After the Madrigal Choir’s performance, we were entertained by Comedian/Ventriloquist Mark Wade. There was much laughter throughout the ventriloquist show.

Mark’s first act involved audience participation.
The man on the left made sounds like a baby, when under Mark’s direction.

The remainder of Mark’s acts involved these two puppets.

Mark Wade’s ventriloquist show was followed by the music of DJ John Grill’s eXtreme Audio & Karaoke. We left the party soon after the music started. Neither Bob nor I dance. We find it difficult to talk over the music, so we always leave the party soon after the music starts.