Ready and already I'm behind!

Quote of the Day:  O, Christmas Tree, O, Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches. a favorite holiday song

How's that for a winter wonderland!

I'm already three days behind in the Advent Photo A Day Project. Uff-da! I'll catch up a bit here today.

Dec. 7th's word was Ready. We were busy getting ready for Zach's Birthday (the 7th) and Christmas this weekend. Our tradition has been to celebrate Zach's birthday, then put up the Christmas tree. I had an old plastic tree that lit up only halfway, which was a disappointment to the Biker Chef, so he said, "Let's go to a tree farm and cut our own tree." Well, Saturday's temps were well below zero with horrible wind. We got Zach a birthday present, went grocery shopping and stayed in. On Sunday, however, the temps creeped to just above zero, so we popped in the Nat King Cole cassette tape (Biker Chef still has his mom's!), and headed to Hebron Gardens Tree Farm.

Hey, kids, this is a cassette tape. It plays music.

The snow is not a photo prop. We've had plenty here in Minnesota!

Sizing up the tree and whacking off the snow.

Loading it up in the truck.

Then, the scenic drive home.

The joys and aggravations of putting up a real tree give us fond Christmas memories. After cutting the stem a couple times, repositioning it, and tightening the screws on the tree stand, it seems to be standing fairly straight in its new home in my living room. So far, our cat Leo hasn't tried to climb up and knock it over. It's only a matter of time, I'm sure.

The Advent word for Sunday was Wisdom. On our way to the tree farm, I lifted up the camera to take a shot and discovered that the battery was completely dead. In a moment of wisdom last Friday, I put the spare battery in my purse. (Patting myself on the back.) I'll have more on Wisdom in a future post. It has to do with our trip to St. Paul on our way to the Wizard of Oz.  Here's a sneak peak.

Can anyone guess where I am?

O, Christmas tree, O, Christmas Tree, your branches are indeed lovely, although a bit pokey. When it touches my skin, big welts break out on my hands and arms. Yikes! I'll be watering the tree with rubber gloves on and the boys will do all the decorating. Oh, the pricks and prickles of the holidays as the blend in with the joys and traditions. Here's to making new traditions and lasting memories! Cheers!

Happy 16th Birthday, Zach!

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Do you put up a tree at Christmas? What winter holiday traditions do you have?

Minnesota Renaissance Festival, 2013

Quote of the Day:  Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself - and especially to feel. Or, not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is.  Jim Morrison

Oktoberfest was the theme at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, so we went because sometimes, you just need to get away, spend time together in a relaxed, unscheduled way, and enjoy. I spent a considerable amount of time this morning looking for a quote on getting away, attending festivals, getting dressed up and going out, but found nothing that fit. The above quote has little to do with any of that. It's just a good quote. In other words, be yourself, and hang out with people who embrace who you are. In some ways, that's what the Renfest encourages. You see all kinds of folks there, dressed up like fairies, pirates, knights, wenches, dragon-slayers, whatever is their fancy. I saw Moms & Dads and the kids all dressed up and having a good time. Couples of every kind were spending time together, buying cool stuff, and eating giant turkey legs. (That was the biggest food line!)

We tried on vests, then had to have'em!

Thanks for the birthday present!

The Chef, sportin' the colors!

Intense on the "Puke and Snot" show. 

They've been performing here every summer since 1974.

I got fun festival hair again!

I wish it would last longer!

When I took it out on Monday night, my hair puffed out like Hermione's in the potions class scene in the Harry Potter movie!

I think these two were headed to the Fairy Wing Forest!

We picked another large crowd day!

Great weather, fun theme, and much to see and do!

This performer has a trained raven. If you held out a coin, he'd pluck it out of your fingers with his beak.

A cask-totin' turtle.

I hope you have a chance to get out to a festival or fair, or some other social gathering. It's a hoot to watch the performers and the people. There are definitely some characters out there!

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Do you dress up for festivals? What would you wear if you dared? Where do you get ideas for characters?