A Sunny Saturday
We drove up to the Northern California Veterans cemetery before noon to help with the Wreaths Across America -
My husband and I will be there one day.
Beautiful day - no fog!
That's the Chapel in the distance.
Combat Santa - in his Christmas camouflage.
Note: this former retired Green Beret parachuted in.
I've reached a point in my life where I can walk through the cemetery and recognize many names - my father-in-law, my parents, and some good friends.
This afternoon, I finally finished up with the decorations -
My mom's paper doll house - 1940s.
That's all her mother could afford. When I was 10, she gave me all her paper dolls and this cardboard dollhouse. The furniture and paper-doll family that came with the house didn't last long because I had a little sister! After that, she wasn't allowed in my room while I was playing.
The two Santa Boots my sons made in kindergarten.
The Merry Christmas sign was the first wood craft I ever made -late 70's. It's been outside, inside - tucked in poinsettias, hanging on my dad's sled. For some reason, I still like it.
🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅
I had 2 bins that I didn't use, and I will try to go through them to donate. I would hope I can eliminate at least one bin/possibly two. That would be a gift I give to myself.
Last night, as we waited for the Instrumental and Vocal Jazz Ensemble. It was delightful. You certainly can't beat the price $5 each for us and 2 hours of good music and singing. 🎶
We were planning to go to the Nutcracker and the Garden of Lights, but we'll do that next year. Shopping is done, I'm almost done decorating, and now I want to bake, stay home, and savor the season. I also have a few decorations that need repair...
🍕🍕🍕
It's pepperoni pizza night - a time for me to put my feet up while the husband makes and bakes the pizza, all the while listening to Italian opera! He even knows how to toss the dough high into the air. He hasn't dropped the dough once!
He's so funny and always makes me laugh.
That's all I have for now. I'm tired and hungry, and tonight we've got a date to watch White Christmas - Came out in my birth year of 1954. No wonder it is a favorite of mine.
Until Next Time
Debby
You only beat me by one year, Debby, as I was born in 1955. What an amazing time to be a child! The innocence of that time cannot be replicated now that AI and other influences permeate our society. I'm so grateful for the gifts we have been given and pray we can pass as much of that as we can to the younger generations. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteYes it was an amazing time
DeleteThe gravestones look gorgeous with the wreaths. But it is such a sad beauty!! I have never heard of a paper doll house, this one is great! And looking in good shape, too. The sign you made looks so professional.
ReplyDeleteIt's in fair condition. I plan on using it till it falls apart. It was made to be enjoyed.
DeleteHi Debby, I was born in 1955 and I used to watch White Christmas and other musicals with my mom. I have to watch it every year and hubby saw it together last weekend. I enjoyed your pictures of the wreaths at the cemetery. My husband and I plan to go next week to visit our parents. They are at the same place, and we will be there too someday. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. I hope you have a blessed week
Delete(((grinning))) at the very thought of your husband singing opera and flipping the pizza up, smiles. Wishing you a lovely Sunday my friend.
ReplyDeleteHe's a character, for sure!
DeleteIt's a beautiful place! I love seeing the Santa in camouflage too.
ReplyDeleteThe concert sounds wonderful. What a nice day you had.
Yes it was nice, thank you.
DeleteLove your mom's old paper doll house...haven't seen one in years. What a very peaceful view of the graves. Made me stop and just stare at this photo for a bit. Sounds like you all have some fun things to do ahead. Enjoy every minute of this season..
ReplyDeleteThey're hard to find, being made with cardboard.
DeleteThanks, Shug - we truly are enjoying every minute of this season.
I loved paper dolls, the dime stores when I was a small child were full of them. Born in 1944. I had an old suitcase full of paper dolls. but no house. I used to hunt through old Sears catalogs and cut out clothing to fit the paper dolls. McCrory's Five and Dime was a favorite place to visit with my mom. each year I bought mother a blue bottle of Evening in Paris perfume for Christmas. your post stirred up those memories.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that family can be buried in Veterans Cemeteries. There is something that tugs at the heart strings when viewing all the headstones in long rows.
Veteran Spouses are buried there. My dad was a veterans, thus my mom is buried with him. And my husband is a veteran so I will be there, too.
DeleteI enjoyed seeing your vintage treasures Debby! The cemetery is a beautiful one and it's good to have those necessary things all taken care of. So nice to be home and cozy, the pizza sounds wonderful! My parents were born in the 50s and always shared their good memories with us. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteHi Marilyn - my parents were born in 1932 and 1934. I learned a lot of their memories through stories and through the keepsakes that were passed down. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteWhat a busy and wonderful day you had. The wreaths look perfect .
ReplyDeleteNo fog??? I think you gave it all to us. No sun yesterday and its so dense this morning. I can't see the houses across the street.
I love your paper doll house. I still have most of my special paper dolls. Many an hour was filled with the pretend of those figures.
Hope you enjoyed your movie and hubby-made pizza. Yummm!
Sue
The fog was dense this morning but lifted by noon. It's sunny now! My poor knees are so affected by the fog. I had to rub some arnica gel and that's a first!
DeleteI actually preferred paper dolls to real dolls.
I love the symmetry of veterans cemeteries.
ReplyDeleteI do too, Kathy
DeleteEnding the day with your husband making pizza while listening to opera (and tossing the dough!) followed by White Christmas sounds like the most perfect, cozy, and well-deserved end to a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteYes it was! Thanks for dropping by! God bless
DeleteI like how the wreaths are on all the graves. They do that at the two cemeteries in town too.
ReplyDeleteI've seen photos of Arlington with the wreaths and snow on the ground - its beautiful.
DeleteI LOVE THE SANTA in the Christmas camouflage. The cemetery was nice. I played with paper dolls - no paper doll house.
ReplyDeleteYeah Combat Santa caught everyone's eye as he parachuted in. Quite the character
DeleteA solemn reminder of those who served so we could remain free. Our cemetery here adds wreaths to soldiers tombstones too. I love both movies that Bing Crosby sings White Christmas. Holiday Inn and White Christmas. One of my favorite Christmas songs. Then there is the First Noel. Janice
ReplyDeleteYes it a a reminder every time we go up there.
DeleteI'm so glad that traditions such as Wreaths Across America are still being upheld. Watching that former Green Beret would have given me goosebumps.
ReplyDeletePaper dolls never lasted too long at my house, but I'd have loved that doll house. Never saw anything like that before. (Lucky duck, lol)
Gotta love a man who cooks ... especially pizza. That sounds like a perfect evening!
It's the only meal he cooks good! So he does pizza once a week. And it's the best pizza!
DeleteI liked this post I was born in 1962 and I feel that I had a good childhood, not that I remember a lot of it
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo-Anne. 💕
DeleteAre the Santa boots paper mache'?
ReplyDeleteYes. My sons made them in kindergarten and they've been a park of our Christmas ever since. If nothing else, gets put up, those Santa boots will always be displayed. ❤
DeleteHello Friend,
ReplyDeleteWhite Christmas is my very favorite. :-) I love, love, love it. I like to sing along.
Thank you for sharing the cemetery with us, all the wreaths made me smile. The combat Santa, that would have made my boys smile big time.
God Bless our Military!!!
I love to sing along too. Sisters! Such a classic.
DeleteYeah that combat,Santa parachuted in and then every grave, he presented with a wreath, he saluted. It was touching
Oh, I love that paper doll house that belonged to your mom. And from the 40's, even more special. I've always liked paper dolls. And I was wondering when you would bring out the red Santa boots that your sons made. What a treasure those are. The homemade pizza sounds wonderful, and White Christmas just makes me happy. I've already watched it this season, and will watch it again one more time. So good of you to give away some of the Christmas stuff you no longer want. I want to do that as well.
ReplyDeleteHave a good December week, Debby.
~Sheri
**Yes, we did get the fog. My son picked me up from the airport, and he said it was so thick. It's supposed to rain here all this week, we'll see. ; )
Oh yes, the Santa boots are on top of the China cabinet. I love them! Sometimes I don't realize how much I have collected until I start pulling them out from the containers. I remember when I first started decorating for Christmas and always wished I would one day have special keepsakes. Now I'm wishing I didn't have so much.
DeleteYes, rain coming tomorrow. Way better than fog! Big accident in town due to the fog. People drive too fast!
God bless you my friend. Love to you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you as well. 💕
DeleteOur veterans' cemetery looks much like yours. The Christmas wreaths are a stunning addition. I love that. We plan to visit our cemetery tomorrow with some of our kids.
ReplyDeleteThat will be nice.
DeleteI love the boots and am so glad they are out on display once again. I am praying for all those who were killed or injured in Australia during the Hanukkah celebration. Such a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Yes! That was horrific. Our local Shul, postponed the Hanukkah lighting because the date was so public. They will email when they plan to do it. Terrible they feel they have to do that. We've not had any issues here but it only takes one time! Prayers indeed!
DeleteThe cemetery looks quite beautiful.
ReplyDeleteTo end your day with pizza cooked by your husband sounds great :)
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
It was delicious
DeleteWasn't allowed in your room when you were playing. That's funny. Love the combat Santa though I'm confused. You don't get to get buried next to him?
ReplyDeleteNext to my veteran? Yes, spouses are included.
DeleteWow, this was a special post. The visit to the veteran's cemetary is really touching. I love the wreaths. (((HUGS))) to you as you remember your loved ones there. A paper doll house? I never saw one of those before. I remember the metal doll houses that looked similar to that, but never saw this kind. We did play with paper dolls a lot, but we never had a house for them. Amazing it still looks so good! And I love your other treasures. Those boots are really special. Thank you for sharing your special memories with us.
ReplyDelete