MERRY CHRISTMAS OR HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

My Christmas tree is not a pretty tree. In fact, I call it my artificial Charlie Brown tree because iff you look at it from a certain angle, you can see right through it. I prefer thick and bushy pines or cedars. But it's the idea of a yule tree that's important, right?

Another tradition is Opus. I've had him for years now, and he always drags out his antlers and ornaments to make me feel good.

Also, my Christmas clock! How I enjoy it as it chimes our a carol on the hour! (I do have to cut off the sound at night; my guy objects.)

These are some of my favorite things to look at as I listen to Christmas music. And in this season, I'm not particular what people say to me in passing. I may be used to "Merry Christmas" but I'm always glad to get a "Happy Hanukkah!" or "Happy Holidays!" as well. As long as the wisher is pleasant and smiling, I'm okay with whatever greeting I get. It's the thought that counts.

So here's wishing you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Winter Solstice, and the ever-appropriate, Happy Holidays! May you all have an enjoyable respite from the daily grind and use the joy of the season to carry you through to the spring.

LEMON TREE, VERY PRETTY, AND THE LEMON FLOWER IS SWEET

You probably remember this picture from a few weeks back. Our Meyer lemon tree we planted two years ago is about five feet tall now and looking good. We had lots of blooms but Hurricane Matthew blew through and we ended up with only a few as shown.

So we went to get one and suddenly we only had four lemons! Don't know if the squirrels have been making off with them or what but...

Anyway, I picked one and made a lemon icebox pie.

Fattening but ummmm good!

LOVERS OAK

In our mainland town, there is a tree called Lovers Oak. I have no idea why. I'm sure some of the oldtimers could tell me if they would.

According to the plaque, it was alive at the time of the signing of our Constitution in 1787. Other sources put it close to nine hundred years old. I have no idea of the real truth.

This view shows off the trunk.

And here is the entire tree.

Impressive, isn't it?

And wasn't is the operative word.

A too-big truck went by the other day and tore off a branch. You can see the stub in the next photo. The huge limb, about a foot or more in diameter, hung directly above the Lovers Oak sign.

But the tree is still there, minus one of its appendages. I hope the county arborist will put some tar on the broken place to keep insects and disease out.

I think we ought to become a sanctuary for trees. Then when something like this happens, someone would have to pay a hefty fine. Maybe then they'd be more careful.

TREE LIMB DOWN

I opened the blinds the other morning and looked out. A lovely English lady in our neighborhood usually walks early in the morning and was passing by. But she had stopped, staring at something in our yard.

A tree limb had fallen. No rhyme or reason. It just fell. Yes, it had drizzled a bit during the night but this seemed an excessive reaction.

My guy gets out with his lopper before he brings out his electric chain saw (his big saw has been with a relative since our move). A neighbor across the street sees and comes over with his big chain saw and cuts it up. He even gives us a phone number for someone who'll haul it away. So by lunchtime, we were back to normal. Except for the gaping hole in the tree.

When the leaves come off this autumn, guess it'll get taken down. Now we have to decide what to plant in its place so we can have some shade in the evenings.

I was later told Bradford pears often split like this.

I knew I never liked that sucker for a reason. Besides the awful smell, I mean.

COURTHOUSE OAKS

A few weeks back, I blogged about a wedding at the old courthouse. The bridal couple were beautiful and so was the setting beneath all the great oaks.

A few days ago, part of a tree on the grounds fell and they had to take down the rest. And it seems another one is coming down, too. This will make six in the past six years that have been lost in this vicinity. If the county doesn't start taking care of them, they'll lose the one thing that distinguishes them from thousands of other courthouses throughout the country.


Here are some pix I took earlier this week. First one is the stump. See my shadow as I hold up my camera to take the shot?

Here's a better view of the stump. It's about five-six feet wide.

Here's the stump from a few yards away. The courthouse is to the left, in the background.

Here's a longer view of the empty place on the lawn. It's in the middle, behind the tiny tree.

 And this is the tree that's doomed. They say it can't be saved so down it will come. Sigh.

I think I must have been a druid in a previous life, so upsetting to me is this sad affair.

TREE FACES

Our island has someone who goes around and carves faces in suitable nodes on trees. I like them. They're kind of interesting.

But when we started walking the streets around our new home, I spotted this tree face. No carving. I think it's sculpture fastened to the tree. Pretty neat!

AFTER CHRISTMAS DOLDRUMS

We're kind of sluggish around here. No walks, barely getting out to pick up laundry. After a hectic holiday, we're back in the condo recovering. Even the cats are sluggish. (Aren't they always?)

Here's the boy cat under his denuded Christmas tree. The heater is right across from him so guess he's enjoying the heat. Due to dietary restrictions, neither he or the girl cat got ham. I think they're still sulking.