Since we are coming to a close in 2021, I thought it would be fun to capture some of the past Views of the Neighborhood by giving a sample of some of the best subject views. We don’t have a catered event, but I’m sure you can remember some of the best menus. We won’t need to get on the bus since we have already gone there. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.
The most Holiday laughs
Cutest Holiday topper.
Best Axis Deer shot.
Funniest Turkey
Best Halloween
Best waterfall.
Best trash.
Best art show
Best bluebonnets
Best Twiggy and Lucy photo (at least the happiest)
Best non-holiday mailbox topper
Best tree planting.
Best spring flowers.
Best Fawn.
Best treasure hunt.
Best Snow (January 2021)
I hope you enjoyed the tour, and I wish you a great week.
This post ran on December 29th, 2015. I think there is still some relevant advice. I hope you enjoy it even though it ran one day early.
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Since this is Monday, you should expect a Top Ten list. This week will be the same as the others for the last year. So YES, here is the Ten Things Not to Do list (although a little late today). This week’s list was inspired by a New Year’s Eve party I attended (or maybe many). I’m not saying if I was a perpetrator of any of these things, but I hope you enjoy them.
Top Ten Things Not to Do on New Year’s Eve.
10 On New Year’s Eve, do not try to set a personal record for alcohol consumption. If you do, at best, your evening will close early. At worst, New Year’s Day will represent your personal purgatory, just begging for relief. (Getting off your knees might be the first step to redemption)
9 On New Year’s Eve, do not set resolutions that you think would be great to accomplish if you were a superhero. If you do, at best, you will not last a week on your new plan. At worst, you will consider your failure at resolutions to be among one of the many failures for the year. (Now you need to be talked down off the ledge)
8 On New Year’s Eve, do not think your goodwill to humankind feeling leftover from the holidays should be demonstrated by public displays of affection for everyone you meet. If you do, at best, most will try to dodge your advances. At worst, there will be one person who will think you are the new lost love that they have been searching for their whole life. (Now you have someone stalking you for months despite the restraining order)
7 On New Year’s Eve, do not think your stomach deserves to be challenged with copious amounts of strange food. If you do, at best, your later hours will be spent in a degree of discomfort. At worst, your stomach will get even when you least expect it. (Yes, it is two in the morning, and that’s you calling trains into the ceramic microphone)
6 On New Year’s Eve, do not think your off-key singing throughout the year will suddenly get better with the addition of Champaign. If you do, at best, you will still draw the same looks you got for the rest of the year. At worst, you will begin to gather stray cats and dogs who think you are calling them for dinner while singing Auld Lang Sine. (Better find some kibble fast)
5 On New Year’s Eve, do not think your famous green monster punch will be enjoyed by everyone. If you insist everyone try it, at best, your party may end early. At worst, you may be responsible for sending some guests over the edge due to a strong allergy to Everclear and, if not an allergy, certainly a diminished capability for strong drink. (hint green carpet spots never come up)
4 On New Year’s Eve, do not try to surprise your significant other with a mystery destination that you promise will make the best New Year’s Eve ever. If you do, at best, you may have selected a place that has some negative memories. At worst, you may spend the entire evening lost in a strange neighborhood which will not be the best destination. (It might be the most memorable as the prime reason your significant other is no longer significant and not your other)
3 On New Year’s Eve, do not get all romantic if all year you act as if romance was as welcome as the measles. If you do, at best, you will look ridiculous. At worst, you could cause a significant upset to the person you are ordinarily ambivalent about. (How was that first dose of pepper spray?)
2 On New Year’s Eve, do not think it a good idea to put that lampshade on your head. If you do, at best, some will laugh not with you but at you. At worst, the shade is an antique given to the host by a grandmother just before her demise, and now it is on the floor under your fanny after you slipped on a bottle and fell to the floor. (Oh, though you would like to know, the video on U Tube has gone viral)
1 On New Year’s Eve, do not think you have to stay up past a reasonable hour to see in the New Year. If you do, at best, the next day’s activities will be a challenge. At worst, you will throw off your sleep cycle, not to mention nodding off at your mother-in-law’s New Year’s Day family gathering. (The pool of drool on the damask fabric of the antique couch will be your mark forever)
Two widowed penguins seemingly comfort one another as they gaze upon Melbourne’s lights. St Kilda, Australia. Tobias Baumgaertner, Finalist Community Choice Award
An excerpt of a story by By Margherita Cole on December 29, 2020, in My Modern Met. For the whole story, click on Margherita’s name.
“I posted this image of these two Fairy penguins a little more than half a year ago, and since then it has circled the globe, it has been seen by millions, and I have received thousands of messages and comments of how these two little guys have touched and mended broken hearts, brought joy, hope, and love into your lives,” Baumgaertner said on his Instagram. “It has become a symbol of togetherness and love. Times are still not easy for many of us, [so] I repeat what I wrote back then. During times like this, the truly lucky ones are those that can be with the person/people they love most.”
The German wildlife photographer spent three nights with the Fairy penguin colony in St. Kilda in hopes of attaining the perfect picture. Although the conditions were difficult, and he wasn’t able to use any lights, his patience finally paid off when he captured two penguins comforting each other in front of the pier. “A volunteer approached me and told me that the white one was an elderly lady who had lost her partner and apparently so did the younger male to the left,” Baumgaertner wrote. “Since then, they meet regularly, comforting each other and standing together for hours watching the dancing lights of the nearby city.”
Today’s JohnKu talks about Christmas Eve. A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.
In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.combefore 6pm on Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next time.”
This post originally ran on December 22, 2014. I think it still might give you a smile today.
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This list is inspired by the holiday season and is a result of watching the behavior of folks as we get nearer to the final day. As with all my lists, there is not much redeeming value here but are designed to (maybe) get a smile. Also, some of these items may seem contrary to the spirit of the season, but I can assure you they are.
Top Ten Things Not to do During the Holiday Season.
10 During the holidays, do not invite strangers to your home even if the spirit moves you. If you do, at best, you may have an awkward moment or two. At worst, you might just wonder what happened to the house full of furniture which was there when you went off to church. (You wanted to redecorate anyway, right?)
9 During the holidays, do not accidentally drop more money than you intended into the Salvation Army kettle. If you do, at best, you will have given to a worthy cause. At worst, you will have to explain to the family about the lack of presents due to your generosity somewhere else. (Yeah, they will understand.)
8 During the holidays, do not think you have to buy everyone you know a gift. If you do, at best, you will undoubtedly earn the cheerful giver award. At worst, you may create an identity crisis with those who did not buy a gift for you, causing them to rush out and get you something, or even worse, re-gift the gift you gave them last year. (You thought that tie looked familiar)
7 During the holidays, always remind yourself that self-medication is not a wise thing during times of stress. If you don’t, at best, you will get off easy with a nip of egg nog. At worst, you will find yourself saying some of the dumbest things to those you barely know and what you think are the most brilliant things to those who no longer call you friends. ( You learned to never mention hair color under any circumstances)
6 During the holidays, do not put off your shopping to ‘get into the season.” If you do, At best, you may have to pay more for items that are in short supply. At worst, all the gifts you were going to buy are no longer in stock, so you will have to make last-minute substitutions that will be second-rate and not at all what anyone can remotely appreciate. (Gas station beef jerky, for example)
5 During the holidays, do not touch anything outside your home. If you do, at best, you will come down with a cold from a germ left on that innocent door handle. At worst, you will be quarantined by the CDC because whatever you picked up is not currently identified and is assumed to result from a terrorist attack. The upside here is the CDC has a lovely assortment of Christmas carol CDs that they are happy to play repeatedly. (Never knew Santa Claus is Coming to Town was recorded by 250 artists, did you?)
4 During the holidays, do not think you can pick up that holiday turkey on your way home on Christmas eve. If you do, at best only the twenty-five pounders will be available. At worst, the only thing left in the meat department is a package of Hog Maw leftover either from Thanksgiving or the butcher’s hunting trip. (You’ll never convince the family that hog maw and beans tastes like turkey.)
3 During the holidays, do not think you need to have an old-fashioned Christmas by subjecting your neighbors to your family’s off-key carols. If you do, at best, you will get polite smiles and some hot chocolate. At worst, you and the family will need to run for your lives as the neighbor yells, “Don’t worry. Bruno already ate.” (Man, that dog is big.)
2 During the holidays, do not try to attend every event. If you do, at best, you will be sleep-deprived and will have lost the spirit of the season. At worst, you will need to consume copious amounts of caffeine, which will lead to an unnerving appearance that might cause holiday revelers to actually believe the story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” (Or even worse, think the Christmas tale of the Zombie is real.)
1 During the holidays, do not despair over small things that you forgot. If you do, at best, things will seem worse as a result. At worst, your family will undoubtedly be forced to look forward to the coming of spring when the state promises to review your case again. (A gas station hold-up is never the answer.)
Since this is the last Sunday before Christmas, I thought it would be fun to cruise the neighborhood and take in some decorations. Also, since we are going out at night, I thought it would be good to have desserts. We are being catered by Spot in New York City. Our entertainment is Bruce Springsteen.
Choose from the menu
So hop on the bus and let’s go.
First, a stop at the Little Library, which is all decorated.
A giant figure in the front yard.
Probably CEO of the electric company.
A multicolored display.
A unicorn and color-coordinated lights.
Santa and elves. One in a helicopter.
I took this in the daytime. Pretty bland.
Look at it at night. A wowzaa.
Here is the purple house which you have seen many times decked out for the holiday.
A night view of the purple house.
Here is the gate decoration of a big ole single-family house.
A night view of the decoration. Notice the red nose on the longhorn.
That’s it for this year.
The Producer, Twiggy, Lucy, and I wish you a very Merry Christmas. Now relax, have some food and listen to Bruce sing Santa is Coming to Town.
Figuring it would be a good idea to get out of the chest, I found purchase on the sides and, with some effort, lifted myself out. It was a shortfall to the ground, and with some degree of grace, I landed softly on my face. Unhooking my feet from the rim of the chest, I made an effort to get up. Looking more like a crab than a human, I managed to finally stand.
As I approached the chest, the cover slammed shut, blocking any opportunity to see what was inside. Feeling grateful none of my fingers were on the edge when the lid fell, I tried the key in the lock once more.
This time it didn’t turn. Instead, there was a clicking sound like something electronic attempting to disengage the lock. I could almost imagine the same action as two magnets coming together exert their force field and as opposites repel, turn away from one another. Maybe that was what was happening inside the lock.
As I was standing there waiting for something to happen to the lock, I noticed what I thought was a butterfly overhead. On further observation, it turned out to be an envelope turning over and over as it drifted down toward my backyard. I reached up and snatched it from the air.
The lock clicked, and the chest popped open. I stood in wonder as a bright light hit me in the face, and confetti shot from the chest and rained down. A spring-loaded sign exploded up and away from the chest. It was still attached but waved back and forth like a figure just released from a jack in the box. The sign had a message that when the waving stopped, I could read.
Peace on Earth. Goodwill to Humankindis what it said. Music came from the chest, and after a few bars, I recognized the carol “Silent Night.”
I looked down at the envelope and tore it open. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “opposites.” Use the word “opposites” or write about things that are opposites. Have fun!
Here is a story from the Good News Network. Retired couple Avril Rowlands, 75, and her husband Christopher, 76, from Inkberrow, Worcestershire, have decorated their giant Christmas tree, which they planted as a sapling more than 40 years ago. This vast 60ft Christmas tree lights up an entire neighborhood over 40 years after being planted as a sapling. Avril Rowlands and her husband Christopher stuck the 6ft fir in their front garden after enjoying their first Christmas at their new home in 1978. The tree purchased for £6 from a local garden center now towers above their four-bedroom detached property, and the couple hired a cherry picker to decorate it with more than 1,000 lights.
Photo courtesy of SWNS
They planted the 6-foot tree in the front garden and took a photograph to commemorate the occasion.
The tree took root and thrived.
Today it towers, 43 years later, over the village of Inkberrow, Worcs.
With its 17th-century pub that inspired The Bull in Radio 4’s The Archers, the village is one of the darkest places in the UK as one of the only towns without any street lights.
The Little Tree That Could, 1979 – SWNS
But last week, its 2,000 residents turned out to see the switching-on ceremony, which lit up the giant tree that can be seen from miles around.
SWNS
“The switching on of the lights has become quite a village tradition,” said Avril. “A lot of people in the village say that it’s the start of their Christmas.”
This year was quite remarkable because last year, the Rowlands had to do the switch-on by themselves due to Covid restrictions.
“We had fireworks, too, this year, plus a friend who brought down a trailer that had Christmas music on.”
The tree has grown so big that a cherry picker is needed to help the couple decorate it with 3,000 lights ahead of the big unveiling.
“It’s been wonderful to see so many people enjoy the lights this year,” said the 75-year-old retired TV writer.
The Rolands – SWNS
And, since the tree is getting more and more attention, they decided to ask people to donate to a Cancer Research charity online in memory of a close friend who died this year.
The couple says they are still stunned by the size of the tree, which grows more than a foot each year: “We had no idea just how big it would grow. It’s absolutely huge now and towers over our house.”
Drone aerial view of the giant Christmas tree in 2019 –SWNS
Avril swooned, “We even get cards addressed to the tree, which is quite sweet.” Good news indeed
Today’s JohnKu talks about the holiday spirit. I hope you all have a terrific week.
Best non-holiday mailbox topper
