The days preceding Christmas 2022 were cold all over the country, and especially so in this corner of East Tennessee. Low temps of 5 and 7 degrees and windy caused the wind chill factor in minus territory for a lot of the time when Santa was getting ready.
The inlet across Clark Rd from our house was iced over and got a snow dusting, and one small corner of the front porch showed a tiny spot of white.
But inside it was cheery. With a Yule log or two blazing in the living room, and with the tree and hearth providing good cheer, we had the perfect place to ride out the cold Canadian blast.
We had invaders from Virginia, looking for an overnight accommodation. David, Lucy, Laken, Drew, Dawn and Doug stopped by on their way to Pensacola for the Holiday.
Instead of putting up our "fake tree", we went with a live one. A Norfolk Pine that Carolyn had raised in the living room for a few years from a small seedling in the living room fit the bill, but did not take many ornaments. The sparse decorations fit in with the sparse number pf presents.
The coffee table was the go to spot for any thing from a manger scene to presents.
Presents included a good book, which I have already finished, and a gradient jigsaw puzzle which I have not, although I do have the outer frame done. Green on one side, blue on the other and the middle filling in shades a green on the one hand and shades of blue till they merge together in the center. Interesting concept, but not much to go on to finish. We'll see.
We did have some gifts for opening on Christmas Day including goodies, Flower Bulbs, a rain gage for Carolyn's flower bed, a computer plug in to store all my photos, and a gift for both of us. An inflatable kayak that we look forward to using in the warmer weather. It was a good day to be grateful and we were as we worshipped with others at a morning service on that day.
After Christmas we drove to Charlotte where we visited with Dwayne and Karen, Sawyer and Sydney, and a future family member, Prags, who is now officially Sawyer's finance. Fun time.
Carolyn's three kids (adult children) visited after Christmas, which is always good.
As I sit here looking out the window on 1/2/23, with temps supposed to reach 70 today with sunshine, it is hard to remember minus 20 on the wind chill meter just 10 days ago
In actuality we have been blessed with both sets of temperatures, inside by the fire and outside. We have been blessed by family, ones that visited and ones we went to see. We were blessed with those who could not come during this time, but whom we will see in the days ahead.
Looking back, I should have entitled this piece "Octogenarians are blessed, for sure"
God has blessed us with good health in these days. We know it and see it around us every day.
And we are grateful. ....and inside.
Blessings for a bright and beautiful new year!
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