Here’s a Merry Christmas trip down memory Lane from Christmas past.
I love this picture of Rocky. He was the best cat. He only let me get this one quick pic then he went after the costume to get it off.
Santa Rocky 2013 photo credit Deb Neumann
The Snow Family – Photo Credit Deb Neumann
Added a little Photo magic to the house in Taunton, Turned it into the 2014 Christmas House. All your favorite characters are visiting.
Christmas House 2014 Photo Credit Deb Neumann
Here’s Rocky again in 2017 with his little friend, the Christmas mouse.
Rocky & the Christmas Mouse 2017 Photo credit Deb Neumann
Is That Santa in the sky?
My city is proud to have the nick name- The Christmas City . Every year they try to out do the previous year when the set up displays on the green.
Taunton Green 2013 Photo Credit Deb Neumann
Disney world 2016 – photo credit Deb Neumann
Things change and life goes on. This year I’m trying to get used to my new life of retirement. Rocky passed over the Rainbow Bridge a couple of years ago and even though I swore no more cats I am once again living with two tiny terrors. No Christmas tree this year. The Kids are too young and would make short work of any tree or decoration.
Their names are Banner and Balboa and both are insanely funny, affectionate and royal pains. Banner is more of a gentleman than Balboa. Banner is sneaky in his destruction. Balboa is in your face. Banner steals my keys, my fit bit right off the charger and miscellaneous other items. But Banner is also willing to watch the birds out the window for hours and is content to sit near me, a quiet companion.
Banner Guarding the printer 2022 Photo credit Deb Neumann
Balboa has many aliases. He is Sir Talks A Lot, and Wreck it Ralph to name just a few. If he can’t find something to get in trouble with he will create it. I find cat toys in my bed. He likes the high road. Banner likes the floor. As frustrating as he can be, he makes me laugh because his antics are just over the top. This is just one example. It wasn’t “posed” I just hadn’t put the bowl away and I turned around to find he’d stuffed himself in it. You can see the “insanity” in his eyes!
Balboa 2021 Photo Credit Deb Neumann
Like I said, Balboa takes the high road
Balboa 2022 Photo Credit Deb Neumann
Unlike the Spirits in Dickens, I don’t know what the future will hold. As the saying goes, nothing is certain except death and taxes. So as we head into 2023 I wish for good health and prosperity for all my friends and family. Maybe next year I can have a tree!
Santa at Busch Gardens 2018 Photo Credit Deb Neumann
It doesn’t feel like Christmas this year. The parties and holiday spirit just doesn’t seem to be here. I think it’s because we’ve spend almost a full year locked down. I didn’t even send Christmas cards this year. Oh I made them up and put them together ready to send but then I never got around to addressing them and putting them in the mail. Do I send them late, an after Christmas wish or save them for next year? In case I decide to save them, here’s my Christmas wishes to all.
Busch Gardens – Santa
I’m happy to be saying good bye to 2020. It wasn’t bad enough that we’ve spent most of the year in quarantine but we lost my beloved sister -in -law, Robin.
And I lost another piece of my heart when my furry feline companion of 19 years crossed the rainbow bridge in March.
Rocky’s spirit lives on in his namesake, Balboa. Rocky was named after Rocky Balboa from the Rocky movies. When I adopted Balboa I decided to keep his name. It just seemed to be the right thing to do.
So now I have Banner and Balboa to brighten up my days.
Banner & Balboa 2020
So with two kittens (Banner 6 months & Balboa 4 months) in the house I decided to skip the Christmas tree this year. Then I found a cat tree that looks like a plant, maybe not a pine tree but at least a tree. The tree is a hit. Both cats tear around and through it.
I wanted to have a picture of before and after. A picture of the cat tree and then a picture of it decorated as a Christmas tree. I figured if I used plastic ornaments the cats could play and not hurt anything. Wrong! I never got the lights on before Banner got them in his mouth and snapped the wire right in half.
So we have the tree but no decorations… this year. Just wait you guys, 2021 will be a different year!
Happy Holidays or is it Merry Christmas? It is Christmas Day, the end of December. December 25 to be exact. Since Thanksgiving the world has been going mad with Christmas spirit. Displays in stores, Christmas Carol’s on the radio, Christmas movies on TV, Christmas everywhere. Even if you aren’t Christian it’s hard not to get caught up in the frenzy. You have Santa Claus at the mall and even the Grinch!
This year will be a white Christmas in many areas. Folks are embracing the cold as just part of the season. No offence to Old Saint Nick but you can keep the North Pole weather right where it is, up north, at least as far as I’m concerned. OOPS ! Did that sound grinchy? I’m just not a fan of the cold.
It seems to me that the Christians in the world know Christmas stands for the birth of Christ but in this modern world it’s just a commercial holiday. It’s meaning much like Labor Day, Memorial Day and so many other holidays has been diluted. For the religious that’s bad but think about it another way. The holiday has become a season of celebration for many people of diverse backgrounds. They may not join in the religious aspect but they enjoy the lights, the music and the joy of the season. I have Jewish friends that celebrate Hanukkah in December and also join in with the Christmas parties that abound. And what about Kwanzaa which celebrates African Heritage.
There’s lots of celebrations in December so maybe Happy Holidays is the best choice.
And finally, there’s Season’s Greetings. Maybe this is the best choice of all. Not everyone is happy this time of year. I know many families and individual’s that are missing loved ones. Some have passed on other are estranged some are fighting wars in far off lands. Some families are struggling with illness or other hardship. It’s easy to forget that not everyone is happy during this time of year. Lets be gentle and tolerant and remember that many struggle in this season of joy. I’ll end this missive with a nice generic
I started taking pictures of highly decorated houses in Taunton in 2013. I thought it might be fun to see the top 3, in my humble opinion.
2013
2014
2015
