Considering The Season, Non-Fiction Ponderings

Santa and his sleigh have made their appearance at the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Christmas Season is upon us.

Now is the time that I must stop complaining that it! is! too! early! Christmas comes after Thanksgiving. Even us grumblers must admit this. But it was so! early! this! year! My first sighting of the green-red monster was in September, photo above. Below is screenshot of the message I sent to my husband upon witnessing Christmas-in-September.

Now is the time that I admit that this is what we, as a society, want. Stores would not be carrying the stock if customers weren’t buying. And, I guess, grumble grumble, early planning is required for a holiday parade or holiday party. Or if one needs to get ones gifts mailed. I still don’t have to like it. Grumble.

Now is the time for my annual repost of Scalzi’s nod to what is left of the month. A Bitter November. [Non-Illustrated] 2022 & [Helmet Watch 2023]

Now is the time for my annual rant about the Start of Advent. Wait. Not this year. In 2024, Advent does in fact start on December 1st. I will save my traditionalist tsking for next year, when December 1st is a Monday and Advent starts the day before, Sunday, November 30th. Yes, November. Advent starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas. But I digress. [Advent, A Prose Poem, Afterword]

Now is the time for me to decide how I will approach Christmas. I don’t mean the holiday itself. For me, traditional observation of Christmas-the-occasion is Christmas Eve Candlelit service, opening gifts with family, and travel. The fact that I don’t do any of it these days is due to logistics rather than philosophical opposition. More recently, we celebrated Jewish Christmas, i.e. going out for Chinese food. This year, we are considering an Icelandic Christmas, i.e. books and hot chocolate. They even have a word for it, Jólabókaflóðið (Jolabokaflod). Sign me up.

Now is the time for me to decide how I will approach Christmas-the-season. One year I was over it. “I am declaring it to be December. That’s it, just December.” [A Brief Check-In, intro]. The next year, I went the other way, “I’ve been leaning into Christmas this year.” [Fractal Christmas Tree] This year will probably fall somewhere in the middle.

Now is the time to think about the parts I enjoy. Music. December is the only time I play music. I might even sing. Occasionally. Where no one can hear me. I’m really bad. But I do enjoy belting out Adestes Fideles. Blog material, particularly photography. So many options. Television. I’ll watch the Grinch, the original cartoon with Boris Karloff. [Advent, A Prose Poem in 22 Memories]

Remember, at this point, I am talking about Christmas-the-month, not Christmas-the-2000-year-old religious-celebration.

Now is the time to think about the parts I would like to see. More variety. Same colors. Same songs. Same plots. Even Santa is the same. At least in the US, the man in the red suit always looks as if he just stepped off a can of Coca Cola. More about other Christmas traditions. Learn about Christmas around the world. More about other holiday celebrations. Learn about December around the world.

Now is the time to admit that I have one holiday tradition.
update. Attended, no post. 2024
[Up, Down, & In-Between, A Saddle Seat Miscellany] 2023
[A Grinch Attends A Christmas Party] 2022
Attended, I think? 2021
Don’t remember if we were doing outside stuff by then. I stayed home, from everything. 2020
[Tree Topper, Christmas Party 2019]
[Let The Festivities Begin, SSF Christmas Party 2018]
Attended, no post. 2017
[Foto Friday: Stall Decorating] 2016
[SSF Christmas Party 2015]
[Barn Christmas Party] 2014
[Barn Party] 2013
Probably attended. My first year at SSF. 2012

What do you do for December?

Onwards!
Katherine

Curious Cat Contemplates Carrots, Guest Photos

Awareness of the outside world. Kew Gardens: How climate change is affecting carrots, Dove 2021. Dated but a) interesting info on wild vs. domestic & b) these problems are not going away.

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Checking out a quintessential horse treat. Photos by Roaming Reader. [archives]

Curious Cat meets carrots in their natural habitat.

Curious Cat checks out a carrot.

Curious Cat would like to thank The Hands for photo assistance.

🥕Down The Rabbit Hole🥕

“Carrots are root vegetables that were first grown in Afghanistan around 900 AD.” WebMD: Carrots: Nutrition, Benefits, Risks, & Preparation, Begum & Nelson et al, January 25, 2024.

” ‘Carrot and stick’, of course, refers to the old method of getting a horse to pull a plow by dangling a carrot in front of his nose, which is attached to the end of a stick. The correct use of the metaphor would be to mean anytime when someone is motivated by promises of a nonexistent reward.” Carrot & Stick Misuse Watch

Captain Carrot. Discworld Wiki: Carrot Ironfoundersson.

Onwards!
Katherine

Leather Embroidery, Art

Awareness of the outside world. RedDotBlog: Why You Should Never Judge a Potential Art Buyer: Lessons from a Gallery Owner, Horejs, October 2, 2024. This applies to more than art galleries, speaking as someone who a) is often coming from the barn & b) is not from around here. [Cultural Commentary]

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Women’s Leather Embroidery Belt
Duluth Trading Co
Bought October 2024

I don’t know that I have ever seen patternwork on leather. Decorative stitching, sure. Straight up embroidery, no.

Onwards!
Katherine