I sure hope everybody had a lovely weekend!!!
I was tied up with Daddy Warbucks who was in town for his Christmas visit before he visits his family, and then heads back to England. We had a swell time and went to Delaware to the Winterthur Mansion for their Yuletide Tour and Tea. The mansion and grounds is always beautiful, but really comes to life at the holidays. The weather could have been better, but no problems. Thank you all for such kind comments over the weekend, I see you enjoyed the Candy Shop wish list....... and glad to hear some of you enjoy the old traditions like myself. Things you have said, are things I have been thinking myself. While Christmas is still a fun and sparkling holiday, I too wonder what it will be like for the children growing up now. Even though from Sunday's Silly Symphony is, well, silly, you never see them rerun anywhere. There still very fun to see. But the kids these days will never be entertained by such simple cartoons. I too can remember when the little towns would put up Christmas decorations, almost every house on a street would be decorated, and the stores would always amaze me and take my breath away. It was a magical experience to go shopping then. Store décor tends to be a bore now in most, if they even do anything. Our store is located in a mall, and the lines to see Santa are no where near as long as they once were. Do kids still believe in Santa??? Luckily in my fair hamlets here, they still decorate the towns, we even have Santa passing out candy canes, and Doylestown even sets up a Santa cottage for the kiddies to go see him. And in New Hope, the New Hope/Ivyland Train still runs, decked out with the Claus' passing at candy, and they serve hot chocolate to all for the 20 min train ride. The station there is so adorable.
I guess that's why I try to hold no to so many traditions. When there gone, they may never come back.
Rest in peace Zsa Zsa Gabor
Feb 06, 1917 - Dec 18, 2016
I'm in a nostalgic mood today, can you tell? What's your
thoughts?
And now boys and girls.... a beautiful rendition of the First Noel performed by the fabulous Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy conducting.
I would never want to be a kid nowadays. It seems that much of the magic and imagination of the holidays are gone. Life is no longer a Silly Symphony, but rather a chaotic cacophony.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos, as always. Beautiful balls, hairy hunks.....and Joan Crawford looking her ultra-best.
Difficult to believe Zsa Zsa was 99. Longevity was in the family. Her mother Jolie lived to be 102.
I met Zsa Zsa when I was sixteen. She was a close friend of my piano teacher (I mentioned it in my blog today).
Anyway, thanks for the nostalgia!
I very much enjoyed your recount of Zsa Zsa! I had the feeling you'd enjoy the pictures.
DeleteI agree with the post. I miss all those old traditions and the stores not decorating. And I know its because everybody doesn't celebrate every holiday. But years ago this wasn't a issue, no why now? I still say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. If you don't like it, you saying nothing. There's no reason to make a scene.
ReplyDeleteWhat a magical wee train station! And so festively and beautifully decorated!
ReplyDeleteAs with many things, it's what we make of it. Your blog gave me the incentive to buy all the wire brush trees I could lay my gay hands on. I bought the entire stock from an antique shop owned by a very nice elderly couple. I bundled some other holiday items like wind up Santas and I said I'd take every tree if they could hit a certain price. They hit the price, of course. I probably should have added them up first. Maybe I got rooked, but I don't care. We placed them around the house, by the train sets under the tree, near the manger set, on the stairs and around a deacon's bench we use for the TV and for seasonal displays. Sadly, we have no mantles.
ReplyDeleteIf no one comes to see it, who is worse for it? Not us, because we enjoyed collecting them, we enjoyed saving them, we enjoyed putting them out, we enjoyed sitting together looking at them and we'll enjoy wrapping them up safely for next year. I look past the religious tone and see Christmas as a wonderful time to be awed again, to be a kid, again, and to believe, again. Because we do these things, who is the worse for it? Again, it's not us because Christmas is its own reward.
I always took my son to Strawbridge and Clothier's to see the Christmas Carol display. Every year, I'd cry at the part when Marley's ghost tells Scrooge his chain was as long and as ponderous 7 Christmas's ago and that he has labored on it since. It makes me wonder what my chain weighs. My son would turn to my partner and say "Dad's blubbering, again". That was nothing compared to the year we went there to discover that the store had closed. I stood on Market Street in Philadelphia and wept. Thank the gods we walked down to Wanamaker's to hear the organ and see the light show and were informed the display was set up there. That was Christmas at work.
If Christmas isn't what we remember, it's up to us to make it so. Maybe years from now, when I've found out how long and ponderous my chain is, my son will walk his son down Market Street and tell him the story about how his father would drive hours just to take him to see the Christmas Carol display at Strawbridge's and to eat at the Reading Terminal. It's what we make of it.
Jon: "beautiful balls" hehehehehehhe laughed out loud at work on that one.
Thank you for stopping by! Your are absolutely right about claiming the holiday and keeping it going. I think that's why I go out of my way to enjoy the season, see the sites in and around town, and go to holiday events. I thoroughly enjoyed you story about your son, what a cute story and funny.I remember Strawbridge's well, when my mother and I used to shop in Philly. They later opened in King Of Prussia and the center city store shuttered. Even though Macy's keeps the Wanamakers Organ and light show going, I wish they would take better care of the store also. It used to be such a grand store with 13 floors. But it is still magical and a must see. Do you ever attend any of their organ concerts? They are free to the public which is great. And I absolutely loved that you found and got those bottle brushes, they sound wonderful. I'm so jealous. Next year, I definitely need to look for more. I have very much enjoyed your comment, and Merry Christmas to you both if you don't stop in again before Christams
DeleteI knew you'd mention Zsa Zsa, Mistress. We should all be lucky to live such a long and colourful life. Daddy Warmbutt lives in England? How often do you get to see him?
ReplyDeleteWell, yes, I felt I had to do a hat tip to the dahling, we were like two peas in a pod.
Deleteps- Daddy Warmbutt actually lives here, but is in England for a year and half. He works for a movie studio and does much location research and takes care of the contracts and agreements to secure locations where filming will take place.
DeleteYES TO THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTake a bow handsome!!!!! I heard the concert yesterday.
DeleteWe had it great back in the day. None of the stores decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving. We had special cartoons and TV shows to look forward to. It was even safe to go caroling, too.
ReplyDeleteNow, the only thing I'd miss from today's festivities would be Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
We sure did have it good, and I am going to continue it if it kills me.
Delete"I was tied up with Daddy Warbucks" - and I bet you enjoyed it too! ;-b
ReplyDeletemy parental units have so many of those old ornaments; I recognize most of them.
and thank the dogs and cats for wanamakers (now macy's) preserving old philadelphia traditions!
(I lift a french martini cock-a-tail in your direction)
I adore those old balls!
DeleteAnother lovely Monday post with such beautiful accompanying photos. Hey, I think its wonderful someone is preserving these old traditions. Keep marching to your own drum I say. My grandson does believe in Santa.....at least for now.
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you, that Philadelphia Orchestra version of The First Noel was amazing. I listen to them often when they feature them on my public station. They are consider second best in the country I believe. The song got to me a bit.
ReplyDeleteThey play my favorite version of the First Noel. It so beautiful, I get teary eyed.
DeleteSpectacular balls darling. How do you collect such fabulous specimens?
ReplyDelete