When You Give the Kids Your Camera: Biscuit

Meet Biscuit, the stuffed toy puppy I gifted to

one of my grandnephews, Lennex, on Christmas.

The pictures were taken by my grandniece, 

Kinley, who had asked to use my camera 

on Thanksgiving, then again on

Christmas Eve. 

I somehow think I am the one

who has received the best gifts:

the little boy quickly adopted the toy

into his heart, and the little girl has found

a new outlet for her interest

in art and drawing 

(The Making of ) the Annual Holiday Photo

After setting up the camera, Dad (my nephew Joseph)

runs to take his place in the crowd shot.

This year, it numbered about twenty-eight people

who had gathered for a Thanksgiving meal

at a sister-in-law's barn.

This began as a casual idea by my

sis-in-law Fran for a photo Christmas card, 

so long ago I don't remember the first one. 

Everyone, from adults, to children, 

to various fur persons,

puts on a silly Christmas hat, chosen 

from a large collection of chapeaus 

and headbands. The picture above shows

some of my grandnieces

(Audrey, Maggie, and Savannah) choosing

their headgear while, below,

the wife of another nephew washes frosting

and crumbs from her daughter's face.

Another grandniece, Tallulah, at age four

shows a creative fashion sense, selecting two

pieces of headgear for her photo,

a Santa hat topped by glittery garland

pom-poms. It made her resemble

a sort of Yuletide version of a Skye Terrier,

one of which recently won Best-In-Show

at the National Dog Show.

Merry Christmas (and Whatever Else Is Celebrated)

On my way to Christmas Eve swim practice, 

I stopped to take a few early morning pictures 

outside the Indiana State House. 

Here, the statue of Governor Morton, 

flanked by two Union soldiers, looks east towards 

the lighted Monument Circle.

Dots and Glitter

I am just in from spending Christmas day with my family.

There were about twenty of us, with eight of the contingent

made up of children age six years and younger.

And one large, happy dog name of Jackson, who followed

the children around during their processions and chase scenes,

or who appeared, sitting politely in front of the adult humans,

when he thought he might like a bit of summer sausage

or turkey to find its way to his mouth.

After a year of watching what I put in my mouth, 

I feel as though I ate more today than I've eaten since Christmas;

I am uncomfortable, bloated and not at all satisfied.

Never again.

Decorating the Tree

Waiting between buses to go swimming, I found the volunteers from 

the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 

had begun their annual task of hanging the long, heavy strands

of lights that make up the World's Tallest Christmas Tree.

Since 1962, the Circle has been decorated  for the Circle of Lights, 

with the Monument lighted in a ceremony that 

takes place the day after Thanksgiving. Up to a quarter million 

people come downtown to attend the event,

which is also televised to an even larger audience.

There are a total of fifty-two strands, using 4,784 LED lights. 

While all the bulbs are checked before being brought to the Circle, 

they are re-checked just before a pulley tows each strand 

up to a permanent attaching point over 200 feet above.

Above is a picture from last year,

just after the Monument's lights were turned on.

Would somebody please nestle the children?

Two five-year-old relatives, Audrey (T) and Savannah (B) nestled 

in front of the TV to watch an animated movie, "Brave." 

And watch it, they did, lying quietly throughout, dressed in 

the appropriate princess gowns.

Christmas day, my brother, sister-in-law, and I gathered at

their nephew's home to celebrate the day. In all, there were three

sets of parents, eight children five and under, and one big,

friendly dog named Jackson, with two cats

trotting in and out as they dared.

My nephew Joseph's triplets are pretty much non-verbal

as of yet, though they do communicate some 

with sign language. Their mom lined up their chairs

for meal time, where they were joined by their

11-month-old cousin Maggie, whose little

head can be seen lower right.

After the movie was done, all the mayhem associated with unbridled

avarice broke out as presents were distributed. A sea of little 

people milled about, eventually evolving into a procession with toy

cars and push carts trotting through the house in a big circle,

a never-ending race fueled by excitement, sugar, and followed

by one large dog, lap after lap after lap. 

Happy Christmas Everyone!

The snowstorm that inundated states farther west 

did not reach us. Instead we got a steady rainfall

that ended a couple days ago.

Christmas Eve the day was bright, clear and sunny.

It is expected to continue for Christmas Day.

Stay warm, everybody. 

I hope your day with family and friends is as bright

as the sunny day we've been given.