Friday, December 03, 2010

Flashback Friday # 21 ~ Jim's early Christmas tree

Linda asked several questions about our early Christmas trees and family traditions. Click her icon, right, if you want to read others or participate in this with a blog post of your own.

Linda's questions and then my answers: (you will note that some of these I did not answer as they did not apply to my family situation--they may apply to you)

When you were growing up, when did your family put up and decorate the Christmas tree? Was it real or artificial? Who usually decorated it? Were there special decorations? What was on the top? White lights or colored, blinking or steady? How much did your family decorate for the holiday other than the tree (wreaths, dishes, snowglobes, miniature villages, etc.)? Did y'all do outdoor lights? White or colored, blinking or not? Are there special memories associated with decorating for Christmas?

This tree on the right is our 2010 church Christmas tree. Our tree isn't up yet. I am sure it will show up on the blog when we do get it up; Mrs. Jim is thinking this weekend.


Our tree at home when my sister and I were growing up was a small 'wrapped paper' tree. It sat either on the floor or on a black tramp art end table which I now have. I do remember a white tree skirt on the bottom.

Mom would put tinsel and bright ornaments then string it with paper chains we would make for it. It had one, maybe two strings of lights. That was the only tree she ever had. Lois (my sister) did give her a small tree to display on the front porch when they retired to town from the farm.

Mom also had a pretty Nativity scene. It was about eight inches across as I remember it. It might have been a pretty colored rectangular glass plate, I am not sure. Mom was very happy when she got the olive wood set we brought back for her from Bethlehem on our tour of the Holy Land.

At school we would decorate a nice cut tree with a lot of ornaments, lights, and things we would make for it. We ran green and red colored paper streamers all over room below the ceiling. I think there were bells and wreaths too.

We had to make the school look nice for our annual Christmas play. Santa would come after the play and pass out gifts and candy. It was custom also for everyone to bring the teacher a present. I don't remember what we got. Mom took care of all that I am sure.

Oh yes, Mom's little green wrapped paper tree sold for $100 at the auction Dad had when he moved to assisted living. That was a surprise as we almost didn't even put it up for auction.

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Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Blogaversary/Blogiversary? My 5th Year Blogging Anniversary post — MidWeek Blues —

The four pictures are a progression of a flower in our side yard bed. It comes back for torture every spring. It did have a couple of big red flowers but evidently I didn't catch it doing this for a picture this year. The little pink flowers come every Spring but they are on a different plant.

The cycles it goes through remind me of my blogging. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. But I enjoy doing it.

Yes, I will have something blue towards the bottom here.

Blogaversary: About 26,500 results
Blogiversary: About 106,000 results

Do you say blogaversary or blogiversary?

That doesn't matter too much to me. Today is my 5th Blogging Anniversary.

Jim's Little Blog was started on December 1, 2005. It seems like a long time that I have been pounding these keys but not quite five years!

They say that time flies when you're having fun.



When Jim's Little Blog was one year old December 1, 2006, I started a second blog, Jim's Little Photo and Poem Place.

Both these blogs are still up and running nicely. Like my money, any better and I couldn't handle things very good.

Then on December 1, 2009, I started Ask Dr. Jim (blog). That was the one that made my blogging almost too much for me. Fortunately it doesn't get very many comments for me to answer and I only post when a question arises.

From time to time I would start other blogs but these three have survived. I have ten titled blogs, seven of which are rather hard to find. This year I am tempted to start something different but it won't be on December 1.

Some stats:

Jim's Little Blog: 69,107 Visitors; 1747 Posts;

Jim's Little P&P Place: 16,998 Visitors; 777 Posts

Ask Dr. Jim (blog): 12,680 Visitors; 89 Posts (most popular:
How to make rooster stop crowing in the middle of the night, Mr. Seed needs to know for about 25 percent of the 'hits')

The other seven together: 563 Posts (some ran for over a year)


Miscellaneous:

So far there have been 15811 comments.
That first blog's commenters were Rachel, Cliff Morrow, and Ray (my daughter, Susie) on December 1, 2, and 10, 2005.

As far as blogs go, I believe mine are modestly popular. Some blogs have thousands of steady readers. I estimate mine to be over 100 but not 200. Quite a few are relatives and friends who do not leave comments.

I tell people that blogging is like having pen pals. Keeping up with correspondence via comments helps keep them all as friends.


Do I do MySpace, FaceBook, Skype, and YouTube? Do you?
I answer "Yes" to all of these but I am not very active on any. Adi blinking with the Christmas tree lights finally had 10,277 views (
link). I do not Twit.

Thank you all for sticking with me.
I won't bore you with stuff like this again until next year. So long.


Oh yes, my blue pictures:


(From our Canada week this summer)
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If you want to post a MidWeek Blues picture, go get directions from Rebecca by clicking on the logo picture on the right. She has a Mr. Linky and good directions . Just do what I did.

Or do less. All she requires is a BLUE PICTURE or BLUE THOUGHT, you don't have to write.

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Monday, November 29, 2010

.

Erin felt good!

Her friend had saved the day; her steer offering was accepted.

"Good-bye critters!
Too bad I'll miss the feast."



137 Characters
µ-fiction
Story Copyright
© 2010 Jimmiehov
All Rights Reserved


Picture from Susan's blog, Stony River

Check over at Susan's blog, Stony River, for more microfiction Monday! They should read quickly because our requirement is 140 characters or less.

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Sunday, November 28, 2010

.
Play the cards you draw;
standing room only

I drew my cards counted my meld
I was happy with what was dealt

An ace of beauty blessed my wife
a king of nature gave me life
the queen of soul painted my heart
a Jack of humor spiced my part

The Joker came to make me smile
comedy of life filled the aisles


Photo and Poem Copyright
© 2010 Jimmiehov
All Rights Reserved


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