It was a very enjoyable Christmas Eve. A drama free (dee-lish) dinner.
Everyone enjoyed their gifts including the furry kids who hadn’t destroyed their toys as of Christmas morning.
I had a long and delightful phone chat with my family. Two younger Brothers, cousins, and cousin-in-law. I was able to hear everyone clearly (first time!) with my cochlear implant. I think I was a bit giddy because I rambled all over the place, chatting about how the cochlear implant has changed my life.
We shared memories about Christmases past. Lots of laughter as I said goodbye.
Owen brought over a bunch of old ’78’s (Those of a certain age know what I’m talking about).
We listened to vintage performances of Christmas music performed by Bing Crosby, Mahalia Jackson, Gene Autry and Red Foley. Yes, Red Foley. “White Christmas” is still a signature song of the season and it belongs to Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby.
One of the 78’s contained soundtrack music from the 1942 film, “Holiday Inn” in which Bing Crosby introduced Irving Berlin’s beloved “White Christmas.” Gene Autry’s “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” brought back a rush of childhood memories as did a rendition of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” I found myself singing along — softly — because I sing off-key.
What a blast! Thanks, Owen.
I, too, wonder about the mince-pie mystery.
What happened to mince-pie? Marilyn and I have been searching in recent weeks for mince-pie, fresh or frozen. No luck. No answers. I just read an online piece about a cache of mince pies discovered in England, stashed in a basement — from World War Two. A Mom’s gift to her Son in the army. The pies are over 70 years old. No mention of how they taste.
This still doesn’t answer our mince-pie mystery. Russian collusion?
Christmas Day is upon us. The house is quiet. The furry kids are searching for their toys. Santa Claus has been very kind to us. Yes, Donzo, there is a Santa Claus.
I suppose he forgot about you.
Share this:
Categories: #Photography, Christmas, Garry Armstrong, Holidays, Music
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Garry, I’m having a ‘blog commenting holiday-pause’ but wd like to send you just THE link for mince pies. I send it to you because I don’t want to create more work for Marilyn…. 😉
https://ourfrenchoasis.com/2018/12/09/%e2%99%aa-%e2%99%ab-its-the-most-wonderful-pie-of-the-year
LikeLike
Merry Christmas! My mom used to make minced meat pie but I was never sure what was in it.
I also never tried it.
LikeLike
My Lady is German. Their tradition is to open presents on the Eve. My upbringing is English. We used to do that in the Morn. Whatever … it’s all good when the Love’s there.
LikeLike
I held a 78 (maybe even 2 or3??) wayyyyy back in my early childhood – My Aunt had an english ‘Bush’ player that played those and the ‘new’ 45’s! 😉
Glad you got to speak with your family and HEAR them as well!
Like Tas and DC we make our own (well Mum does) I’ll get the recipe and send it to Marilyn – i’ m not sure how they’d travel from Aus in Winter? 😉 ( They’d probably get there in under 70 years though! 😉
A wonderful 2019 to you my Friend. 🙂
LikeLike
We made a bunch of small mince tarts as e do every Christmas. As well as raspberry almonds tarts. No shortage of mince north of the border! Clearly a Trump government shut-down issue!! Cheers.
LikeLike
Merry Christmas to you both. Mahalia Jackson is one of my favourite gospel singers.
LikeLike
What a wonderful Christmas gift to be able to enjoy a phone chat with family and Christmas music. That must have been really special
As for the mince pies, I’m a little confused because the ones I know are small but it sounds like you have regular pie sized ones too. I made a couple of dozen of the little ones over the weekend. I’d loved to have been able to give you some.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Small ones sound like a perfect idea because a great big pie tends to only get half eaten.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Today was our big day and we had mince pie. I’ll have to send you some Garry.
Leslie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Last we night we say your brother on our local PBS station. I am not sure why, but these Christmas music specials are always a great joy. PBS knows how to do this. We had beautiful music into the late night.
LikeLike
Anton gives a great concert! We’ve seen him live in a bunch of places (obviously being Garry’s brother and all), but even on tape he’s great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It ran here late evening. Many of the musical shows run again over night in the wee hours.
LikeLike
Gene Autry’s “Rudolf” brings back memories of when I was a VERY little girl and I’m at my Aunt Jo and Uncle Hank’s and, for the first time, I get to “play” with glitter. I made an awful mess. I was three or four. I can see the paper and the glue and the gray carpet perfectly clear. I made a mince pie to take for Thanksgiving. It was a huge hit. Maybe it will make a comeback. On my own for Christmas, a whole mince pie lying around seemed like a bad plan. There are mince tarts on Amazon for like $13. 🙂
LikeLike
We haven’t even made it through one cheesecake — and that was with help from the rest of the family yesterday. We need a taste of things. We ate yesterday’s leftovers today and tonight’s dinner is deferred to the day after tomorrow because I’m overfed. I feel like if I didn’t eat for the next week, it might be just about right. Mince is more Garry’s thing than mine, but I wanted him to have it because he wanted it. Oh well. He probably would have eaten a forkful and left the rest to get old in the fridge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My husband loves mincemeat pie, but no one else does. He’s been recalling his grandmother’s homemade mincemeat pie, and got all excited when he saw a store-made one at our local Wegmans. He didn’t buy it, though, because he didn’t want to have to eat it all by himself. Hope you and Marilyn are enjoying a stress-free day. We are.
LikeLike
Garry is more mincemeat than me, but I would have gotten him one had there been one to buy. But there wasn’t and as it turns out, we had LOT more food than we could eat anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a wonderful celebration! It’s exciting to see you mention the wonders of cochlear implants. Recently read an essay from the Elie Wiesel Foundation about pediatric cochlear implantation. Merry Christmas to your family!
LikeLike
Yes, now children born without hearing get a chance to grow up normal. It’s quite a thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merry Christmas to you
LikeLiked by 1 person
And to you and yours as well 🎇
LikeLike
🥂🎁🎄
LikeLike
All is quiet here. A few for a very untraditional Christmas dinner. (Traditional will be Friday when Jim’s sister is here.)
Happy Christmas!!
LikeLike
It’s been a quiet year. Maybe that’s just as well. It has been a very raucous year, otherwise.
LikeLiked by 1 person