Christmas Day 2011

This Christmas was always going to be very different from any we had known before, hubby (and me since arriving here) having always spent the day with his parents in Oil City. With me having returned to work (hopefully for good this time!) there was no way we could go away so it was very much a case of start some new traditions.

Hubby dictated number one: we were having beef for dinner! Before I hear cries of disdain from England I wasn't really that bothered for several reasons;
a) we have a freezer FULL of turkeys bought very cheaply at Thanksgiving so we eat them regularly during the year (so I am not missing am English once a year tradition)
b) Brussels Sprouts just don't taste the same here ( I reckon they need some Fen soil/frost)
c) best of all ........... hubby cooks the beef for HIS traditional dinner = works for me!

Number two: we were not going to open presents Christmas morning! Since we have never been here Christmas morning we have always opened at night the last non working day before Christmas. This has made me discover it's somehow more fun opening presents by the lights of the tree than daylight, so I declared this year we wouldn't open gifts until Christmas night! This kinda worked except us being us we have opened odd things all week long as hubby has been here all week on vacation - I am taking the British longer Christmas holiday to a whole new level extending it to a two week period in this household at this rate (and hubby has admitted he actually likes that part of the English way).

So with the beef in the oven after a late start we decided to head out and go for a walk in the park

The geese didn't look too pleased to see us, or else it was a misunderstanding at the conversation regarding a bird being well hung that sent them scurrying!

A very happy looking hubby and he hadn't even had his beef and presents

Me becoming quite attached to a tree

I have no idea what it is that is intertwined around this tree but it sure looks impressive

I think I do recognise whats peeping out from this one but I guess to me it's impressive too

It is an impressive park whatever the season, and I love the trees at any time of year


Only here could I find a Stop sign in a tree!

the creek cold but beautiful

All in all it was a beautiful day and fun. We haven't as yet had any real snow though it is getting colder (until now it has been way above normal temps throughout December) with the sun shining it was the perfect day to be "out and about". We hardly saw another soul but it sure beat sitting indoors and just "vegging" and for some reason it is always a place where I manage to forget all cares and woes, almost as if its like stepping off the planet for a while, whatever the reason we arrived home refreshed and rejuvenated and ravenous for dinner.

We'd probably both have wished it could have been as a Christmas of old but life and times move on and for a new beginning this was a lovely day round of with beef, presents, A Touch of Frost and the best company of all.