Happy New Year!!

 Happy New Year! As usual, I am posting my monthly calendar pictures. January means new calendars! The family are coming over on New Year's Day to finally celebrate Christmas, so I may not be posting or visiting for a day. I hope to return with pics of that, and later in the week some very amazing New Year's pics

The new desk calendar is The Old Farmer's Almanac. 

“January is the perfect balance between winter’s stillness and the new year’s potential.”

 

New Year's Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.

James Agate

New Year's At The White House

 Have you seen the inside of the White House at Christmas time? We watched a T.V. show where Jill Biden gave a tour of this year's decorations, while I snapped away!

Here is the big star over the front entrance

The East Collonade before

And after

Decorating the ceilings and chandelier with doves and other things

The Gold Star tree, where the names of men killed in duty are written on the star ornaments. The metal tree has star shaped layers and the six layers stand for the six branches of the service.

This room is completely decorated with those little ceramic trees that light up that almost everyone has.

This tree was made into a carousel. It was unable to stand without quite a bit of support.

 

And finally, this exquisitely decorated mantel 

“The White House is both a lighthouse and a haunted house.”

• “It’s a monument to hope—but also a stage for scandal.”

   

• Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!!!

The Best Of The Rest

 A short tour around the neighborhood to some of my favorite lights.

The window of the local art gallery.

A laughing dinosaur holding a teddy bear, just plain strange.

Of Cats & Cows

 The Big Cat was all dressed up for Christmas this year. He is a bit disapproving that I am posting him so late. He is kind of lost in the crowd this time.

But he does agree that it's better late than never. He is in a very good mood this season, because his rival, the Big Cow, is once again completely naked! So he is once again Top Cat.

...And A Peacock In A Pear Tree

 This house has rows of animals all around it.

But not really animals you would associate with Christmas!

Flamingos.

Piggies

And a peacock. That's O.K. Christmas is not just about reindeer.

They're Baaaack!

 First, we did not get together with family today because of illness in the family. But we hope to get together very soon and I will post photos then. Till then, here are our three grands in their Christmas P.J.'s, snapped by our Daughter-in-law.

Do you remember the house I post that decorates wildly for every holiday? The one that even paints the house with seasonal colors? Well, here it is, I snapped it just today. They seem to have been gone for about a year, and now they are back.

This time, they added an entire temporary dormer to the house, kind of like a clock tower! I have circled it in blue.

Here is the very top of it.

Christmas 2024

 Wishing all of my dear followers are wonderful Christmas!

Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.”

John 8

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

Luke 2