I finally put up the Christmas Tree. I always wait until after my son Robert's Birthday. He was born on Friday Dec 13th 1974, Happy 33rd Birthday Robert. And I also made some fudge while I put up the tree.

















Putting up the tree is bittersweet for me. So many of the old ornaments hold memories. This one of the Lighthouse on Block Island RI, is especially hard for me. I bought this with my late daughter in law, Tanya, who went there with us on one of her last trips before she died of cancer at 23 years old. We miss you Tanya, Merry Christmas










And here is our Sparky's ornament. He left us last summer at the age of 14. He had a good dog life and we miss him too.



I saved Katie's pacifier. Katie is grown up now and in college. I miss that fat little screamer too! But she will be here next week and I won't miss her anymore at least for a month.










This one makes me laugh. I got this a few years ago from my neighbor, Deirdre, she called me one day and said you have to come over here and see this hideous thing someone gave me. She was so offended by this macaroni ornament and thought it was the ugliest thing she ever saw, so she gave it to me. She was a strange old bohemian woman, very artsy and wrote children's books. Merry Christmas Deirdre wherever you are.

Here is an old paper house that I got from my mother. She was throwing out some old ornaments and I rescued a few of these. I remember these from my childhood and they are kind of special to me.

This Russian Icon ornament is my favorite, I put it on the very top of the tree. It is tiny, only about 1" high,

Aren't these the coolest things? My friend Terri gave them to me last night. It is my newest favorite Christmas decoration!















They are glass blocks, she drilled a hole in them, put a 50 light strand in them ,and a wired ribbon bow. Awesome! Now to think about decorating outside. I remember when I waited too long , it would be so cold and sometimes the bushes had so much snow and ice on them, there was no way to get the lights on them. I guess here in Florida, I can't use that excuse! Those poor northerners are having a really bad snow/ice storm today. It was about 83 here today and sunny. (Don't tell them, they will swear at me) Hey, who says Christmas has to be cold and snowy, Jesus was born amongst palm trees and sand, not in the Swiss Alps! Even Saint Nicholas lived over there somewhere too! So, if you want a real authentic Christmas, come to Florida! HoHo Merry!!!!