Christmas Tree Hunting

Season\'s Greeting Jigsaw Puzzle

One more sacred Christmas mission accomplished today: hunting, bagging, and bringing home the Christmas tree! hmmmm . . . I wonder when it will finally be installed in its hallowed spot in front of the window?







It's Sooooo cool to live in the land of Christmas Tree farms!

Jangled, Jingle Bells

I now have a new definition of terror: Sight-reading somebody else's part on Greensleeves in a concert with NO rehearsal!!

Tonight's puzzle picture was taken by either Andrey or Jengyang last night at the Festival of Lights. I was the designated driver.

I have just one little Festival of Lights story to share:
Years ago, I took my friend, Becky, and her 3 (then) small children down to see the lights in one of our more risky automobiles. This one required regular feedings of oil. As we were leaving the park, the oil light came on, so I dutifully stopped, popped open the hood and a can of oil, and started pouring it into the engine. Unbeknownst to me, behind the raised hood, one of the little boys climbed out of his car seat into the driver's seat and laid on the horn, which of course, made me about jump out of my skin, and consequently; douse the engine compartment with oil. We had only driven a few minutes when great clouds of black smoke began billowing out of the engine compartment. I quickly brought the car to halt, jumped out, and opened the hood to see flames erupt!!! I suppose I should have been in "rescue and run mode," but instead, I was in McPherson "invincible mode," so I grabbed a coat or baby blanket (the exact snuffing implement escapes my dim memory now) and beat the flames out. Mission accomplished, we drove back home without any further complications other than the stench.

Traditions of Christmas

Tonight was a great evening spent introducing Andrey and Jenyang to some of our family's Christmas traditions. We went to see the Festival of Lights at Tanglewood Park, then we attended the REAL Nutcracker in Winston-Salem, and topped the evening off with a visit to Krispie Kreme. Did you know that Winston-Salem is the location of the very first Krispie Kreme store? Of course, they LOVED the HOT NOW KK's! Andrey was hoping that there was a store like that in Galax.

Down Christmas Lane

the Bell Ringer's Lament

Two concerts down; two to go. Ahhh . . . more opportunities for improvement and/or to redeem myself. Well, tonight was better than Sunday, but honestly, where does that music go that I have so faithfully saved to the hard drive in my head?!?!?

Headlong into the Holidays

Here is a glimpse into what my life is like right now (and why I have been too tired or distracted to blog!) The following is lifted from a letter sent to my daughter in Germany:

All 3 of my handbell groups played this past Sunday morning magnificently. The group at Hillsville has 3 rank beginners in it; one of them is just learning to read music as we go, so I am certainly proud of them. My beginner bells played "Away in a Manger." Two 6 year olds from my baby bell group joined them for the first time in a performance and did really well. And the JoyBell Ringers just astounded everybody with their ripping rendition of "Sing We Now of Christmas." They have been playing that for a year, and really "own" the piece now.

It was a busy weekend for me. I had rehearsal Saturday morning with the Hillsville folks, then Daddy and I went up to Floyd to meet Ken and Kay at a craft festival, then we had to be back in Hillsville by 4 to see Agape walk in the Christmas parade with her Special Olympics team. Then there was a reception at church that evening to meet the "Intentional Interim" pastor. After that, I came home and prepared beef stew, salad, and homemade bread for Rejoice to have at our marathon rehearsal and performance last night. I had to be in Hillsville by 7:45am Sunday morning for the groups to play there at 8:30 (both FUMC and the Joybells), then quickly pack up, move everything to FBC, and be ready to play for the 11:00 service there. A quick birthday party for one of my ringers, then on to Winston. I wish that I could say that I (and Rejoice) played as well as my groups, but that was not the case. Oh well, there are 3 more opportunities this week to redeem ourselves.

Thursday night will be the annual pilgrimage to "The Nutcracker." Andrey and JengYung (the Jordan's exchange student") are going with us. So that will be 5 trips to Winston in one week; 6 if we decide to go to the Rice's Christmas party on Sat. Night. Now if I could just kick myself into gear and decorate, and Christmas shop, and write a Christmas letter. Tomorrow is the toffee-making day.

Now, let me see what I can find for a puzzle tonight . . .
Ahhh . . .Bells!! (since that is what my life is about this week.)

Riding the Rails

Agape is the "Queen of Public Transportation." So, any trip to Washington DC mandates a ride on the Metro.