The weeks are flying by. One of the challenges about blogging is that when life is full and busy, it's hard to find time to write. And when there's time to write, I can't find something to write about.
This week was busy as can be, but I want to make time for Friday's Fave Five, to slow down for a minute to savor the good stuff.
A birthday party ~ Last Saturday, my dad turned 92. We celebrated his birthday the way he likes best with family gathered around the table and lots of laughter and good food. My friend Kathy made the lasagna, thick and dense, just the way he likes it. My sisters-in-law brought hors d'oeurves and I provided the salad and cake. I'm thankful for friends and family and the opportunity to gather together.
A winter bird trip ~ Yesterday, I wrote about a field trip I went on this week with a group of birders. It was in the mountains where the weather was crisp and cold and snowy. A great day, with lots of unique bird sightings. I enjoyed the company, the scenery and a day outdoors. I'm thankful for the great outdoors and especially the beauty of the winter season.
A date night ~ Last night Dan and I went out for a little holiday date, a concert by the Canadian Brass, a long-time favorite group of his. It was at the Macky Auditorium on the CU campus. The building is well over a hundred years old and full of charm. Before the concert, we went out for a light supper. The night was seasonably cold, and as we left the concert it started to snow. I'm thankful for the gift of music.
Holiday lights ~ Our town always does a nice job of lighting up the park in the center of town. It looks so festive, and having been out after dark several times this week, we have been able to enjoy it a lot. I'm thankful for the gift of Light in all its forms.
Favorite movies ~ What would Christmas be without watching favorite movies over (and over) again? Christmas With the Kranks is an all time favorite. This year we watched Elf with the grandkids. When I've finished baking, we'll watch White Christmas because that requires Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. My personal favorites are Love Actually and The Family Stone. And The Holiday. I usually watch those by myself. What are your holiday favorites? I'm thankful for the people who create art and performance for me to enjoy.
Ten days and counting down . . .
Happy Friday, everyone.
Hi Karen, I enjoyed my visit here today. Looks like you had a nice week! That concert hall is so nice. I hope to watch White Christmas tonight as I work on my Christmas cards. I also like A Christmas Carol and The Peanuts Christmas show. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteKaren, what a great family picture of a joyous celebration! The laughter was evident and I'm sure the food was delicious. You've had such a nice week full of favorite things and how wonderful that you went to the Canadian Brass concert. I love all your movies except one, Christmas with the Kranks, probably because I read the book it was based on first before seeing the movie, John Grisham's Skipping Christmas. Oh, if they had only stuck to that wonderful book! The soundtrack from Love Actually is one of our favorites, one we play when housecleaning. I do wish they'd left out a couple of scenes in it so it would be child-friendly but it has so many great actors in it. RH and I try to make an occasion of the night we watch it each December and can't believe so many years have passed since we first watched it. Wasn't it only yesterday?
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice birthday party! 92 years old. I love it when family get together like that. I've not heard of the Canadian Brass. I'll have to see if I can find anything about them. You Tube maybe? You Tube has just about everything! I love Christmas movies but I've not watched that many this season. I need to get going. My favorites - "Scrooge" the 1951 adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" with Alistair Sim is a definite. "White Christmas", "It's a Wonderful Life" and (don't laugh) "The Muppets Christmas Carol."
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a lovely celebration for your Dad and lots of other nice things going on this week. Love Actually is a favourite of mine too.
ReplyDeleteA very Happy Birthday to your father! Mine will be 90 in April and I treasure the times we have together. I enjoy Christmas movies, but haven't watched even one yet! I love the old ones like Christmas in Connecticut. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your dad! Wow--92! He's doing great!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy watching the birds that come to my porch feeder. I don't know many birds but I do recognize the cardinals. I think doing a walk about with other birders would be fun. and you learn so much.
The date night sounds lovely too!
Have a good week.
First the holiday movie faves: nothing modern. NOT A ONE. (although Elf was fun as well as the grinch). Our faves are the classics from the 1940s/1950s: The original Miracle on 34th Street. (THE BEST!!); White Christmas; Holiday Inn (where the song White Christmas had its start); Christmas in Connecticut; The Little Drummer Boy; The Bells of st Mary's.
ReplyDeleteLOVE that you had the big birthday celebration to your dad. Happy Birthday to him!!
I've been watching various birds all week at the suet and bird feeders in the back yard. I love their antics. We've had a persistent downy woodpecker; several bluejays and cardinals; nuthatches, and juncoes. AND some kind of woodpecker (i think) with a white back, red crown and looks similar to a downy except for the red crown and is a bit bigger but not as big as a pileated which we did see last winter. I have NO idea what this bird is but he's been coming to the suet f eeder daily and nope...i can't seem to get a photo of the little guy!
The Canadian Brass!!!! that's an awesome date night. I loved them and actually got to see them when i was in college out in Rochester NY. I even had a vinyl album of them. LOVED them.!!!
I hope you have a marvelous weekend.
Hello, my friend! Happy and Blessed Birthday to your Dad! What a lovely post today. We LOVE Christmas with the Kranks!!! Have you seen Noelle with Anna Kendrick? And Falling for Christmas with Lindsay Lohan? Love! Have a cozy Saturday.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your Dad on his 92nd birthday! Sounds like a lovely celebration you had. What gorgeous scenery for your birding trip! Your date sounds fun! We haven't attended a thing this year yet but I love live concert events. My favorite Christmas movies that we watch every year are Christmas with the Kranks, It's a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart
ReplyDeleteI love Elf! We also often watch A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott and White Christmas.
ReplyDeleteBelated happy birthday to your dad! I'm glad he had the kind of day he likes with his loved ones.
Your date night sounds fun! The radio station I listened to in college played the Canadian Brass often.
I love the lights this time of year, too.
Happy birthday to your dad! I love that you had a big gathering for him with his favorite food. Your date night to the concert and the birding outing both sounded fun, too.
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched any Christmas movies yet! My favorite is The Holiday. I watch that every year.