Friday, December 18, 2015

Merry & Bright




Season's Greetings from the Freshtown bear.
Freshtown is our Catskills grocery store, 
and it is well populated with carved bears.


Every year I do less and less holiday decorating
and enjoy it more and more.
Just imagine a single wreath on this old barn.



Deer festivities,


mantlepiece whimsy,


and a tree. Greens scattered here and there.
Outside, a tree with colored lights.
Inside, the first time I've used white lights in many years.

We are doing our family Christmas with the boys this weekend.
Christmas Eve I will find a candlelight church service,
and on Christmas proper I will be at the cat shelter in the morning,
then a movie and Chinese food.

I am almost free of tradition, and it is liberating.


14 comments:

  1. Hello Jennifer, Any store with lots of carved bears is my type of grocery. I also love that old barn, and think it looks fine just the way it is. Sometimes holidays need to be intensely celebrated, and other times a lighter touch is called for. Both are good, but either way I wish you Happy Holidays.
    --Jim

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    1. Thank you so much, dear Jim. I love having flexibility, doing things differently every year. My best wishes to you for the holiday season and the new year.

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  2. If you are almost free of Christmas tradition now, what did you do before? Jay and I have reached the point of no gift-giving (we have everything we need)and no decorations. I'd only done it before because he's Jewish and enjoyed a Christmas tree so much in our early years of marriage. Son Donovan has been a grinch since college. I wish you and your family a lovely holiday, Jennifer.

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    1. Good point, Karen. It does look pretty traditional, doesn't it? Will have to think on what I meant, and get back to you...

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  3. We have many ways of celebration. Happy Christmas!

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  4. Dear Jen,
    Wishing you a peaceful happy christmas together with your family.
    I have so enjoyed visits to your Catskill home and surrounding.. village life at its best.
    I am going to the city. Will spend christmas with my 3 boys and all our extended family..
    As I grow older, i too find I have less christmas faff. It weighs one down. I stopped sending chistmass cards a long time ago.
    a quick e mail with friends, and we are in touch.
    Love the big bear.. wonder if there are real ones about.
    xxxxxx val

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Val. Enjoy your time with your family! (There are indeed black bears in the Catskills.)

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  5. Looks like a charming country store. I think people are getting tired of Christmas due to all the hype which starts at Halloween, it's mind numbing and takes away all the meaning which is sad. I do love my tree though which we just put up last week and Frank strings lights out around the porch. This year I did pulled out the collection of nutcrackers which hadn't seen the light of day in years, crowded them all on a table, they look kind of cute. We barely do gifts though, kids only and for us, a trip or something, we have plenty. Enjoy your early Christmas Eve with the family and your quiet kitty filled real one.

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    1. I love a tree too, could never do without one! A small one is fine, as long as it has lights!

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  6. Beautiful Christmas decorations !!
    Jen, I wish you a Merry Christmas !!

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    1. Thank you, dear Ela. Merry Christmas to you!

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  7. I know what you mean about it being liberating - my mantelpiece remained greenery-free because we got sick and couldn't make it to the woods to collect any, and I have really enjoyed its simplicity this year.

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  8. I'm sorry you were sick! It's interesting how a forced change can open new doors, good ones.

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