Blogmas Days 25-27

It’s a cold, snowy day so let’s make it a 2 blog posts kind of day! First, this is the general Blogmas catch-up post. Then, later I’ll do the actual Blogmas post for today.

First up in the catching up….

Blogmas Day 25: Last-Minute Gifts, Homemade or Store-bought

Well, I’m not one for making crafts that turn out in giftable form so usually I stick with store-bought. My go-to gifts, not necessarily always last-minute:

fuzzy socks and lotion

candles

Small flashlights (packaged with some candy)

For young children/teens: a card with a small amount of cash

And sometimes, just homemade cookies/fudge in a gift bag

Day 26: Weather? Lights? Parades?

Well, today’s weather is more in keeping with a white Christmas but usually, it’s more mild at this time of year. There are lots of light show/display choices in our area though we’ve been to none this year. It’s in the back of my mind to make more of an effort to put these on the calendar next year, at least one.

They didn’t have it this year but in 2019, I did get to go with some friends to Winterfest at World’s of Fun (photos). 

And in past years, we’ve gone to see the iconic plaza lights.

Other classic light displays/events (not so many parades here at Christmas time) are something called living windows on the Independence square(photo below), some sort of huge display downtown at Union Station, Powell Gardens, Christmas in the Park (a free drive through display though they do collect for charity at the end), something called The Magic Tree (I need to do this, never been to it), and probably many others I’m forgetting.

New things this year are something called Zoo Wild at the Kansas City zoo, some sort of walk through experience at the Renaissance Festival grounds, and a newer drive-through light display somewhere east on Interstate 70.

Of course, I’m not giving up hope on seeing some lights as many of these displays run until New Years. And I know they keep the plaza lights on generally until some random mid-January day.

Finally, the last day of the catch up post…

Blogmas Day 27: Christmas Past, Present, and Future

Since past is first, I’ll start by sharing the little girl with the wreath since I stumbled across her photo when looking for light pictures.

And her she is with her sleigh. The bag in it is from a local soap company, I threw it in there that year.

She’s definitely from the Christmas past. I’m keeping this section fairly brief and so just moving on to Christmas present.

How is your present Christmas season going? I cannot explain my relief at getting a delivery of a substantial part of the Christmas presents last night before the storm hit. Whew! Other than that, I’m a bit of a mess this year. Can’t think straight/get organized/minimal decor out. And I don’t think it’s just me in talking to my hairdresser yesterday.

As I pondered this yesterday, I think what it might be is an after-effect of the pandemic. Things were so off the past two years and then suddenly, they’re mostly back to normal this year. A bit of a jolt and I don’t think I’ve had time to adjust to the sudden changes from the past 2 years. Maybe? I don’t know. Just a thought. I’m certainly glad Christmas is back to normal this year though we’re doing something different for the 3rd time in 3 years. Dinner at my brother’s which is kind of back to normal and yet it’s been so long it almost feels new again.

Finally, Christmas future. I’m still enjoying this season (and playing along with Blogmas is helping!) but I’ll tell the truth and say I’m also thinking ahead a bit to things I might do/not do/do differently for next year. The yearly wail of next year “I’ll be more organized!” certainly comes to mind.

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If you’re in the path of the great storm, I hope your staying safe and warm. Don’t forget to go check out all the wonderful Blogmas posts over at Chasing My Life. I’m off to bake a few cookies but I’ll be back later to add today’s topic in a new post.