SUNDOWN DEC.27

    I thought I'd have a little fun today and show the progression of sunset here this afternoon. I learned a few things about photography under these light conditions but I didn't learn any solutions. 

      Sunset this afternoon was at 4:28 PM. I started taking photos at 4:38 PM took photos every ten minutes. A couple of them are badly out of focus but show the light.  A few others are out of focus. 

     My first photo was at 4:38 Pm and then the others were at 10 minute intervals.

    Now I tried to get these in order from 4:38 to 5:38 but I've failed so you'll have to look at them backwards .

 

CHRISTMAS PAST II

       As soon as we were finished eating the big noon meal us kids were ready to go. However, we had to stay at the table for an appropriate time. We had to wait until all were finished eating. Once released away we would go for the rest of the afternoon.

     We all had Christmas presents to play with and share with the other kids. Amongst the eight kids there were usually a few new games to play. We played old games. We loved playing monopoly. We played with each others toys. We ran through the house and chased each other. 

    There were dishes of candy and nuts laid out so that we could help ourselves. Not many kids would turn down helping themselves to candy. We would sometimes sing when one of the adults would play the piano. We would sometimes play outside if the weather was suitable and especially if one kid got a new sleigh or toboggan. It was generally a very boisterous afternoon.

    So when we left the table our mothers would start cleaning up. There was a huge pile of dishes and pots and pans to wash. There was lots of leftover food to be put away. There was no refrigeration so much of it was stored in the porch which was unheated.

    Since we were farmers there were animals that had to be looked after. Our Dad's would go out to do the "chores" There were animals to feed and cows to milk. Our uncle had to take his horses and go back to his farm to look after the animals.

     About the time Mom and her cousin had finished cleaning up it was almost time for them to start preparing the evening meal. Our dad's would be back from doing their chores. The evening meal consisted of reheating what we had at noon. 

   So again us kids had much more fun and play time although we slowed down a bit.

    About midnight a cold plate and Christmas goodies were laid out and coffee made. You guessed it. The cold plate was leftover from the noon meal. So ended our Christmas day.

    Tired little kids went fast asleep in  few minutes. 

    I look back at these times and see how hard our mothers worked. I also see how fortunate we were to enjoy good food and good company. I also see that there are very few families today who get together for great times. 

    I can look back wistfully at these good times. There are good times today only smaller and a little  different. We can't have the large family gatherings as families live very far apart now. My daughter lives in the Chicago area and my son lives on the west coast so there's no spending a day with the family. We can't have large family gatherings because our families aren't very large anymore. 

    I was thinking about photos for this post. I do not remember seeing any photos from our Christmas day celebrations. 

    However, it is pleasant to look back at Christmas past and remember how we enjoyed the day. 

    Where ever you are , I hope you have a wonderful Christmas

CHRISTMAS PAST

        When I was a child in the 40's our Christmas Day  was a major celebration. It was very different from  what happens today.

        What I remember is after the war. The economy was better and there were no more ration restrictions. So we were able to enjoy things that were not available in the recent past. 

        There were many preparations and these were entirely my mother's efforts. There was a tremendous amount of baking done pre Christmas. Christmas cakes took the biggest effort. Many other things were baked: shortbread, ginger bread cookies, Chinese chews. matrimonial cake, mince meat pies, Christmas puddings , fudge and other things that my brothers will have to remind me about.  As you can see my Mom did a tremendous amount of Christmas baking.

      The merchandise in our local stores was quite limited. Clothes and many other items were ordered from the Eaton's catalog. There was usually one big parcel that came from Eatons and we were not allowed to see any of it so this is where she got our Christmas presents. 

      Before the economy picked up the three of us received a tricycle for Christmas. Another Christmas we got a dog. After the war they were able to afford individual gifts for us. We usually got a book, a toy , a game. or some clothes. We also got some small gifts from grandparents and Aunts and uncles.  There was much excitement over these gifts. So much excitement that we were sometimes awake and out before 5:00 AM. We were sent back to bed but were still up early to open gifts. It was bedlam with 4 little kids. 

     Our Christmas day activities were huge. We celebrated with Mom's cousin. There were 12 people altogether. If Mom had Christmas , her cousin Margaret did the same on New year's day. The next year it would be reversed.

     I grew up in a rural community. Our roads were blocked with snow in the winter and we had very old cars. As a result winter travel was with horses. Our cousins would arrive just before noon and the horses were put in the barn.

     The big meal took place at noon. 

     Preparing the Christmas meal took tremendous effort. Turkey was the main item on the menu. They only grew 25 lb turkeys at that time! So we had stuffing , gravy, mashed potato, creamed corn and another vegetable. We were not able to get cranberries . Lettuce and other produce was not sold in our local stores so we didn't have salads. The country stores didn't have coolers and no electricity so they didn't sell produce. We sometimes had a jellied salad. These meals were prepared with wood stoves. There was no refrigeration or coolers and no running water. But these meals were some of the best that I remember eating. 

     We all sat down together to eat. Food was passed around in large bowls. Generous second helpings were common. 

     And then there was dessert! Christmas pudding and mince meat pie. Yes both of them at the same meal. 

    So our Christmas day was so huge that I have to describe it in two posts. 

A COUPLE OF CONFESSIONS

      First, I notice that I haven't posted since Dec. 16. I'm slipping up on the job. I've been busy and it's hard to keep up with reading your posts. I'm hoping the New Year will start out better. The micro Manager is in recuperation mode so I have to look after most things right now.

      Two posts ago in my title I had Meryy. Yes, it was a typo but it was a typo that I didn't catch. It's interesting that with such a glaring error, some people jumped on it and told me. Others made a rather mild comment. Most didn't comment. I would think most readers saw it and a very few didn't notice it. 

      In my last post I covered the issue of type size and it surprised me how many comments the junky little post got. It was loud and clear that the blue color I use was hard to read. I was also surprised that it wasn't just me who found color font and size made some blogs difficult to read.

     So right away I decided to  change the color. It should be easy? Well what I thought was easy may have been easy but not for me. I spent quite a few hours trying to find out how to change print color. I still haven't got my title cover changed. 

     So how many people find this color easier to read? 

      Well, how about that. I didn't get my print changed color! Maybe next time.

      Now I'm really messin with your minds. I've done my color change again. I think I got it this time.

ONE LITTLE (NOT THE LAST) REQUEST

   A phrase " Comfort of the House" is sometimes used in formal conventions. By that someone is requesting that something be improved such as the sound system.

    I would like to request that some bloggers increase the size of their print. I don't find the fine print impossible to read but it's difficult. 

    There is one blogger I follow but haven't read for a couple of years because his type is just too small. He's a good blogger but I don't read him. 

    So make your type at least the size of mine. 

TIME AND TIME AGAIN

        Your comments are what really makes blogging for me. On Wacky Idea the opinions expressed were very thought provoking. So thought provoking that I want to say more. You were very frank about what you think of time change. 

        It's not surprising that people don't like time change. People aren't sure if they want to stay on standard time or daylight savings time.

       I used to think that I would like to stay on standard time. Your comments have made me take another look at the issue. 

       The following photos were taken just before 10:00 PM on June 21. I was out riding my bike. Many people were riding and walking. The second photo shows the sun about to set a few minutes before 10:00 PM. The third photo shows my back yard when I got home from my bike ride. You could still sit outside when it was light. 

       

     So when I think about this , do I want to lose the long summer evening? I also know that at this time sunrise would be about 5 :00 AM.

    Now if we were on standard time it would be getting dark and we would not have such a long evening. The sun would rise at 4:00 AM. Much daylight would be wasted because I would still be in bed.

    So you made me have another look at the situation. 

    And no one made fun of my wacky idea and some very respectfully thought about it. 

      

MERYY CHRISTMAS

       Our city hall park has been lit up very nicely this year so I went out for some photos. Some photos are a little out of focus and some I was probably shivering from the minus 7 cold. You've got to use bare hands with the camera. 

       Many people were out enjoying the decorations.