Santa and his reindeer came to our abode last night to celebrate the beginning of the twelve days of Christmas. We managed to get a couple snapshots before they left to go back to the North Pole. Perchance we will be able to get a few more pictures before Christmas time is over ;) enjoy!
I can't tell you how many different Christmas Trees we have had over the years. Being on a tropical island poses the problem of finding just the right tree. I have had the traditional fur trees live and fake and they just cry out, "What am I doing here?" My personal favorite was a scrappy pine of 25 feet with the trunk some 9 feet before the branches extended for the ornaments. It didn't go over big with the family though. The other native small long needled one didn't either and was a bad choice because it was hard to hang ornaments on. The sap was evil also. The traditional trees that are trucked down the island chain are always expensive and usually dry out within a week no matter how much water you provide. I've lost a few "fake" ones with the lights prestrung on them to flood waters and they are in some land fill now in Honduras I'm pretty sure. This year I try again... I wanted an old German feather tree. Expensive is the word here. I didn't plan ahead or I'd have made one myself. Maybe next year. This $19.99 one from Walgreen collapses in an instant so set up is fantastic! It does need a couple friends (trees) so I can put all my ornaments up. I would love to have three, this one, a tall feather one, and a cute shorter one to cluster them like a magical forest in the house. Spread the village into townships below them.... All on different marble top round tables. I think the best part of the holiday is putting up the tree and pulling out the nutcrackers and garland, the ribbons and bows, the colored lights and the holiday dishes. I amuse myself each year with this because it's hard not to be with family up north with the traditional sweet smelling trees and snow that we all fantasize about down here in the south. Hearing "I'll be home for Christmas" puts pangs in our hearts not to be at the homestead. Key West at Christmas sometimes feels like the island of misfit toys but somehow our dreams put us close to the ones we love. The Krew wishes everyone much Holiday love and warm thoughts of all that makes you happy.
She's 17 already! It's hard to believe, the time has flown by so quickly. You turn your back for just a moment and the giggly little girl has become a composed young woman.
Queenee, PopPop and I went out to dinner at The Sun Tavern in Duxbury with Barbara, Mark and Rich. I had Beef Wellington, which was very good, and Queenee enjoyed her lamb. She wanted to order the duck, but was sure she would be disappointed, having been spoiled by Mr. Bill's most excellent duck. PopPop ordered Veal Oscar and thought it average at best, but he is rather picky about these things. 
After dinner, we went back to the house for some cards and to celebrate BluePhan's birthday. She opened her presents, then lost some money playing poker. I think Mark and Mom probably lost, the rest of us came out a bit ahead. I did really well for the first few hands, then cooled dramatically. Oh well.
DamCat had picked up an ice cream cake and we had that and sang a round of Happy Birthday. All in all, a fun evening.
