A Tropical Christmas Hodgepodge

Last night I returned from sunny Florida where I'd gone with my daughter.  I'll be writing a post about it if I get around to it, but here's a sneak peek.

Keep in mind,  I took this selfie on November 30th in St. Petersburg, at high noon. I can assure you I have never been wearing short sleeves, sunglasses, and flip-flops in Maryland on November 30th. Nothing felt better than 81 blazing degrees.

1. Did you watch The Charlie Brown Christmas special Monday night? Who's your favorite Peanuts character and why?

I did not. I was a house guest in a home where TV is not watched. It was quite pleasant being "unplugged" from it, I'll say. But I do love me some Charlie Brown Christmas . My favorite is Linus. His voice gets me every time . His simple message of "what Christmas is all about" sticks with me. Christ the Savior is born.

"Most psychiatrists agree that sitting in a pumpkin patch is excellent therapy for a troubled mind."~Linus  

Would you agree? 

No, not a pumpkin patch. I would get itchy and freaked out by bugs and squashed squash. But, if we can stretch the metaphor to include a different spot in nature of some sort, then yes. I  wholeheartedly agree. I'm all about sitting near water, basking in the sunshine, watching seabirds catch fish. 

                                                                    I had no trouble enjoying this view. 

                              

2. Describe a sound from your childhood. What does this sound bring to mind? 

The ringing of a bicycle bell. I had one on my 3-speed  in third grade and rang it like I was auditioning for a Salvation Army job. I'm sure all the neighbors around town knew who was riding by every time they heard that incessant ring-ring, ring-ring, ring-ring. 

3. You've won a trip to a winter wonderland...would that excite you? Which one of the following would you most want to experience (or which one would you dislike the least)-see the Aurora Borealis in Norway, stay in Sweden's Ice Hotel, go dogsledding in Lapland Finland, take a winter wildlife safari in Yellowstone or celebrate Winter Carnival in Quebec? 

Um, excite me? I can't say that much excites me in the winter except Christmas and then an anniversary getaway with my man of almost 29 years. And the first snowfall. And a blizzard that makes us hunker down together as a family for board games and hot chocolate.  

Of the choices listed, I think I could maybe put on my big-girl thermal panties for a dog sledding adventure. I love dogs and admire the strength and perseverence of huskies, and their pure joy at doing a job they were born to do. And I think I could enjoy a trip for two (accompanied by a third wheel, so to speak, who actually knows what he is doing) in Finland on a dog sled. 

4. Who or what keeps you humble? 

Back pain. Oh, my. When it takes an adult child to help you stand up from your beach blanket, that's humbling. 

5. What part of preparing for Christmas do you like the most? Explain. 

Finding a gift for someone that is so "them" --a surprise, not something they've asked for, and anticipating their delight when they open it. 

6. Gingerbread-yay or nay? Is making a gingerbread house part of your family holiday tradition?

Yay for gingerbread, but nay to the tradition of making houses. Graham cracker housemaking is fun for me to watch, and I can foresee helping future grandchildren with that activity while their parents get stuff done. But it was a big mess that I didn't enjoy making with my own children. Spectating while other adults supervised them was fine, though. I hate, hate, hate having sticky fingers. 

7. What's one thing you want to start, do, or complete before the calendar rolls into a new year? 

Sounds morbid, but write our will. This is the year it must be done.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 

To tickle your funny bone, let me share the lyrics of a certain four-year-old earlier this week.  

Silent night, a hole in the night, ....