I just returned from Field & Stream, sent on a mission to buy myself a cammo vest for Christmas. I ended up buying a blue plaid tussle hat (have to tussle it on) as well. Mary asked me if it was crowded. I told her: "I don't know, everyone was wearing camouflage clothing, so it was hard to tell!
UPDATE ON THE YARD: After talking it over, we have decided that the animals under the tree, were just not "Christmasy" enough, and called for a "Redo"! So, I moved the wooden houses and cast iron wagons, downstairs, under the tree. Added a few things, along with a cloth manger of sorts and we think, we have it where we want it! Good news is that I got my Ape & Fish back in the cabin!
We had the idea, when I retired....started with the log wallpaper.....and the moose head.....et-cet-er-a!
While sitting in church, yesterday, as I listened to the children sharing what their family does at Christmas that is special, I was struck with the thought that Christmas was God's idea! He sent a great Light into a dark World. Now I know that people could never conceive of such a thing as Christmas. Just look around and see what we have done with God's Idea. It's become one big advertising campaign!
More about the nativity. I found it at Goodwill two years ago,and it was missing the baby Jesus. We looked and looked, and finally I found a porcelain baby and a basket bed, and put them together. That's OK, because on that first Christmas, the Baby Jesus came along later, in the Story!