Take Time to Notice {December 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21}

December 17...Ornaments that mark the passage of time. 1999...Last Christmas of the Century, and 2000...First Christmas of the Millennium.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

December 18...Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown! Macy's Herald Square windows in NYC celebrate the 50th anniversary of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 19...The Christmas at One World Trade Center. It's a simple but elegant tree, but if you stop and think, this tree points to the top of this building, 1776 feet high. Merry Christmas and God Bless the USA.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 20...This tree stands outside of St. Paul's Chapel in New York City, just blocks away from Ground Zero. St. Paul's was built in 1764 and is the oldest surviving church in Manhattan. After the Towers fell, this tiny church became a relief center for emergency personnel. In the shadow of One World Trade Center, this tree sends the Christmas message of hope and peace.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 21...With today being the shortest day of the year, here's a photo to bring you lots of light and sparkle! May your days be merry and bright ~ 

Take Time to Notice {December 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16}

Well, am I ever running behind...time to catch up before 2015 ends!

December 12...All is calm, all is bright as we stroll around UD's campus on this 61 degree night!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 13...Christmas take on the personalities of their locations. Makes perfect sense for Warped Wing Brewery to use their beer cans to decorate their tree...Flying Rye, Ermal, and Self Starter are delightful ornaments!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 14...Time for the Christmas Card marathon! 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 15...Every year my friend Denise, a few of her sisters, and her daughter bake dozens and dozens and dozens of cookies. They package them up and deliver them to their friends. I've lost count of the number of years we've been fortunate enough to receive this beautiful gift. The cookies are great but the friendship is priceless! Merry Christmas!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 16...Christmas cards! My usual routine is to walk out to the mailbox, sort through it as I walk to the garage, and then toss it all into the recycling bin. Not this time of year! And to receive an original work of art is extra special. I look forward to the cards from my college friend Patricia Saxton with her message of peace. Her artistic handwriting even makes the envelope a work of art! Merry Christmas and PEACE to all ~ 

Take Time to Notice {December 9, 10, and 11}

December 9...These lovely photos come to you courtesy of my New York City girl! Sara called me on on her way home from work as she was walking through Washington Square Park. The tree had just been lit. Christmas lights are always beautiful regardless of where you live.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 10...It was a beautiful night to walk around Lincoln Park, enjoy the Christmas music that was playing, and look at the light display that sparkles from one end of the Commons to the other. (PS...15 days until Christmas!)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 11...Took a drive down to the Oregon District to admire this marvelous painting created by my friend, very talented artist, and owner of Gallery 510, Loretta Puncer. Compared to many cities, the Dayton skyline isn't very big, but it sure is pretty...a real gem!

Take Time to Notice {December 7 and 8}

December 7...I can hear snickers from some of you when you notice that I still have a landline phone! The reason we have a landline is that our cell phone service is spotty in the neighborhood. Anyway, it's always a treat when the phone rings around 8:15 a.m. and it's my sister who lives in Philly calling as she's walking to work. The calls are a joy, lasting anywhere from 15-30 minutes. These morning chats make life a little more bearable...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 8...This evening's light show is brought to you by colorful Christmas lights and a magnificent sunset!

Take Time to Notice {December 6}

December 6...This is one of my Christmas treasures. Just a few years ago (I'm not going to tell you what a few is!), my dad was in the Army and stationed in Germany. I was born in Germany. My parents bought this hand carved creche for 39.50 Deutsche marks. I was curious how much this would cost in today's US dollars and the conversion came to slightly under $22.00 I can only imagine what it cost those "few" years ago...It is priceless to me.

Take Time to Notice {December 4 and 5}

December 4...Lincoln Park Commons now sparkles with Kettering's Christmas lights!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 5...Ice cream cone ornaments from the kids' preschool days. I can't believe they haven't disintegrated after all these years!

Take Time to Notice {December 3}

December 3...These guys are part of my Santa Claus collection. There are 6 in total...one for each member of my family. A couple years ago, the Santas were on a shelf, eye level with a little puppy named Bernie. Of course Santa looked like a toy and Bernie snagged him off the shelf to play with him, hence the teeth marks in the middle one! At first I was upset with the teeth marks in Santa, but now it's a sweet memory ~

Take Time to Notice {December 1 and 2}

A lot of my Facebook friends posted daily gratitudes during the month of November, with Thanksgiving as their focus for being grateful. 

Now that Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season is in full swing, it is easy to get overwhelmed with what needs to be done, where we need to go, shopping, baking, parties, Christmas cards, getting the house ready for guests, and so on, and so on...

I am making it a point to notice things each day during December that bring a smile to my face and let me catch my breath during this magical but exhausting season. And I want to write again...

December 1…My Christmas tree is a collection of memories: ornaments the kids made when they were little, ornaments hubs and I bought when we were first married, ornaments handed down form parents, and some new sparkly ornaments that celebrate the present. The tree topper is a mitten that my dad wore as a little boy during the brutal Chicago winters. And hanging from the thumb is a Cincinnati Bengals helmet. Dad was a Bengals fan and I’m sure he is smiling at the successful season they’re having. The Cleveland Browns are also represented for my loyal Browns fans, and maybe someday that Christmas miracle (or any miracle) will happen and they will have a decent team! Here’s to a month of twinkling lights and happy memories ~

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

December 2...This, my friends, is how Dayton, Ohio does Christmas! Last night was the inaugural lighting of this 200 foot tree made up of 20,000 lights. It is the largest tree of lights in Ohio! While it was breathtaking to be up close at Carillon Park, it was also fun to drive around town view the tree from different vantage points. Merry Christmas!