Stop the Holiday Craziness!

My feet have been dragging!
I've been having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit.

The problem is that it is all too much!
Do you ever feel that way?

Decorations Sorted and Ready to Pack Last January

Time is getting shorter as the 25th rushes at me ~

but my To Do list gets longer as I procrastinate.

I'm feeling overwhelmed and a little resentful.

I have a bad case of the Christmas Blues.

"Get Rid of the Have-tos and Should-dos," proclaims Dr. Phil 

in the November issue of The Oprah Magazine.

So I'm drinking coffee and contemplating my Want-Tos.

What do I really want to do this holiday season,

and what can I let go of?

Decorations Waiting to Be Unpacked This December

Christmas is all about tradition ~

and like most families,

my extended family has many 

wonderful Christmas traditions.

But how do I distill all the wonderful,

but overwhelming traditions 

into the essence of Christmas ~

an essence I can relax into and enjoy?   

For the past several years, 

I have had a singular Christmas tradition.

I look long and hard at a photo

my niece Lisa took in Peru in 2009.

Peruvian Child, 2009

That photo pierced my heart the first time I saw it.

No child should look 

so dirty, 

so cold,

so disheartened.

It still pierces my heart.

That 2009 Christmas 

I stopped giving presents to my extended family,

and I began to make a donation to charity 

in their names instead.

In 2009 Terry and I gave a knitting basket 

of a llama, an alpaca, a sheep, and an Angora rabbit

to provide a family with milk, warmth, and income.

My family embraced this gift whole-heartedly.

Llama

Source:  Wikimedia

Continuing with our relatively new tradition,

this year Terry and I donated a heifer

in the name of our extended family.

Heifer

Source:  Wikimedia

  

But I'm still feeling dissatisfied and harried.

So aside from the spiritual meaning of Christmas,

what else does this holiday stand for?

I'm thinking love and gratitude.

What does it mean to you?

I think the answer to my Christmas Blues

lies in simplifying what I do during the holiday season.

Seriously simplifying,

because when it comes right down to it,

I just want to relax and enjoy 

being with Terry, our family, and friends.

I absolutely don't want to be stressed!

Decorations Waiting to Be Packed Last January

So I'm going to cut that myriad of traditions

down to a meaningful, manageable size!

I'm not sure yet what that means,

but I'm going to start with trimming down 

that ridiculous pile of decorations!

And I'm going to focus on gratitude

for all that I have been blessed with,

starting with the Ever~Patient Terry

who is the best possible husband

in the whole wide world for me.

My Hawaiian E~P

And what am I grateful for

on this cold, clear morning in Colorado?

I am grateful to be warm.

Baby, it is cold outside!

And I am really grateful for the men  

who hand-shoveled our driveway 

in the cold, dark subzero last night.

Now I haven't lost my baby,

haven't made him say goodbye;

but the music in this lovely winter song

sounds like I feel today.

 Source:  You Tube ~ sarahmclachlanVEVO

How are you dealing with the holiday craziness?
I am so open to suggestions for banishing the Christmas Blues!

Christmas Advent Calendar Countdown ~ in Clumps!

For months now,
I have been participating
in Jill's Made with Love
Scavenger Hunt.

It's been fun to meet 
new bloggers from around the world
and to see their amazing photographs.

Several regular and talented participants
are posting an Advent Calendar
Countdown to Christmas:
Amanda at Graham's Landing,
Joy at Daisy Row, and
Lizzy at Handmade Homemade Lizzy.

Now I thought this was a lovely idea,
and I've been following their Advent posts.

But knowing myself only too well,
I knew one photo post per day
for twenty-four days
would not fly in my winter skies!

But then I thought ~ 
maybe a clump at a time
I could do it.
So here goes a first clump of countdown photos!

Twenty-four days to go:  December 1, 2013

The E-P Enjoys a Quiet Moment

in the Lobby of the Ameristar 

in Black Hawk, Colorado

Twenty-three days to go:  December 2, 2013

Bringing Home the Christmas Tree

Twenty-two days to go:  December 3, 2013

Muleys with Christmas Tree

Twenty-one days to go:  December 4, 2013

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

It's a cold, snowy day,

and I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!

Here's a perfect December song.

I know I posted it last year,

but it wouldn't be December for me

without listening to 

Sara Bareilles' and Ingrid Michaelson's

gorgeous Winter Song

performed with the U. S. Coast Guard Band 

at the 2010 National Christmas Tree Lighting. 

Source:  You Tube ~ Steph Gallaway

November 2013 Scavenger Hunt: Colorado

I can't wait to see what photographs 

everyone has come up with for November.  

It's been fun chasing down the scavenger hunt items.

1.  Gold

Gold on Galena

Specimen #228 in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
has tiny crystals of gold on cubic crystals of galena.
It was mined in the Central City District 
of Gilpin County, Colorado.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science 
Photo of Gregory Gulch

Gregory Gulch is the site of Colorado's first gold lode strike.
The diggings are located on North Clear Creek
between Black Hawk and Central City
in Gilpin County, Colorado.

The largest gold rush in American history 

brought a major influx of people into Colorado in 1859 
when Colorado was still part of the Kansas Territory.

The rapid growth in population led 
to the establishment of the Colorado Territory in 1861
and to the formation of the U.S. state of Colorado in 1876.

 Location of Colorado in the U.S.A.
Source:  Wikimedia

Colorado's Largest Known Gold Nugget

This nugget weighs 12 troy ounces 
and was found in Pennsylvania Mountain,
Alma District, Park County.
DMNS # 10549


2.  Five

Five of a Kind is always a welcome sight
when playing Deuces Wild.

  
Even more so when it is sandwiched between
a Straight Flush
and the Four Deuces!

A Modern Strike in Black Hawk!


3.  Patterns

Central City, Colorado

It is fun to walk through historic Central City, Colorado

and look at all the fascinating patterns in the old buildings. 

Patterns in Brick and Paint

Black Hawk, Colorado

Patterns in Lace Curtains,

Central City, Colorado

4.  Bread

Bread and Dough (Investments!)
Central City, Colorado

Bread from Pompeii (Cast)
Denver Museum of Nature and Science Exhibit

Okay ~ I cheated!

I actually took this photograph last January.

I was stunned by this plaster cast 

of a carbonized loaf of bread

recovered from the ruins of Pompeii.

Somebody long forgotten shaped this loaf

and probably died in the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius.

5.  Happiness

Happiness is visiting our four-footed friends,

Gracie and Rufus on Thanksgiving weekend.

6.  Rain

Snow Guns at Work, Breckenridge

It has not rained in our area this month, 

although it has snowed several times.

This photo of Peak 10 in Breckenridge 

shows snow shooting out of snow guns,

or artificial snowmakers on the runs.
It's a stretch, 
but this is a form of precipitation, if not rain!

I could hear the snow guns working

from the base of Peak 10.

Source:  You Tube ~ Breckenridge Ski Resort

7.  Traffic

I have the most patient

and understanding husband!  

I spent the entire trip 

coming back from the mountains recently photographing traffic 

and looking for the shot!

Really ~ 

260 photos of traffic!

The Stuff of Nightmares!

Sometimes my husband makes a great sucking sound

when we pass trucks like this.

He knows I have a great fear 

of being sucked into rolling wheels .

I don't find it as funny as he does!

My Favorite!

Just passing us by

on E-470!

8.  Boxes

Boxes of light in Breckenridge.

9.  Staircase

Staircase Adjacent to Williams Stable, 
Central City Historic district

10.  Sunset

11.  Park

City of Aurora Park Along Piney Creek

12.  Pair

A Pair of Peaks,  Seen from Frisco

Torreys Peak, 14,275 feet/4,351 meters (left) 

Grays Peak, 14,278 feet/4,352 meters (right)

Thanks to Jill and her Made with Love blog for setting up the hunt.

Blog:  http://suzzie43.blogspot.com/

Hunt:  http://suzzie43.blogspot.com/p/scaerngera.html

December's List:

Silver, 25, Christmas, Religious Icon, Shiny, Movement,
Celebration, Words, Recipe, Candles, Window Display, Cake

800 Miles and Walking … Well into Missouri!

Earlier this week I hit 800 miles
or 1287.5 kilometers of walking!

On day 529 of walking in a row!

St. Anthony, Newfoundland is still a long way off,
but I'll get there, one step at a time.

St. Anthony, Newfoundland

When I last updated you 
on my imaginary walk to St. Anthony,
I was at 640 miles
which put me at the Maple Leaf Lake Conservation Area
about 44 miles into Missouri.

160 miles more, and I am getting closer 
to the eastern border of the state.

800 miles from my doorstep puts me
between Foristell and Wentzville, 
on the outskirts of St. Charles, Missouri.

Foristell, Missouri

Source:  Google

Map: Aurora, Colorado + 800 Miles

Map of the United States of America

Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri are in the Middle

Source:  Wikipedia

My route is real,

as are the walking miles I've tallied.

I'm adding up all the miles I walk 

on the treadmill and the elliptical in gyms, 

on the sidewalks and outdoor trails in my neighborhood,

and on hiking trails anywhere

in my quest to be as healthy and fit as I can.

View from My Treadmill

at the Ameristar in Black Hawk

A Big Truck and Men in Hard Hats

Make Those Miles Fly!

If there is a blizzard or other such bad weather,

I housewalk,

round and round the inside my house

and up and down the stairs.

If I'm in the hospital,

why, I just walk up and down the corridor

dragging my IV with me.

One way or another I'll reach St. Anthony!

I'm going to walk the last few miles for real.

Then I'm headed straight for Timmies

for a giant cup of steaming coffee

and a great big chocolate-covered doughnut.

Tim Hortons, St. Anthony

Whatever it takes! is my motto,

and if a chocolate-covered doughnut

and a steaming cup of coffee

get this honorary Newf to St. Anthony,

so be it.

I hope the sun is shining next time!

Approximately 1,689,600 steps and walking…

On the Long Walk 

with My Favorite Walking Buddies:

Terry, Rufus, and Gracie

 A Favorite Walking Song in My Shuffle

Source:  You Tube ~ MN Rankin 

The E-P Makes Any Walk Better

What are your favorite tricks to keep you motivated

when tackling a major fitness challenge?

For more about House Walkers click here.