I'm lucky to live in a place where Christmas continues on for a few more days, through the feast of the Three Kings (or Wise men or Magi or Magicians or Astrologers) on January 6th, when these men, likely merchants who traveled the trade routes around the Mediterranean, followed a bright star in the sky that lead them to finding the baby Jesus and presenting their finest gifts. This means that many of my neighbors of the Eastern churches still have their holiday lights up outside and inside. So while others have thrown their live spent trees out for pick up to be turned (sans fake snow or flocking) into wood chips, I've kept mine up because of the children nearby who expect these lights to help their slightly delayed gifts arrive to the right homes.
It's been raining and the weather people say this is the wettest season in years, and that's a good thing because of the terrible drought we've been having. But I lived in Southern California for years without using an air conditioner or a heater, and the leaves changing color and falling from the trees is rather new too. My fairy lights have continued to twinkle in the dark and the rain, and I think they are safe, because I took care to wrap the electrical connections in plastic.
This year I met some Russians and Armenians, as well as Ukrainians, who are celebrating their traditional Christmas season, and who have not been here long enough to know that what they are experiencing is exceptional weather for Southern California. Coming from colder climates they seem quite happy for the relief of too high temperatures and dryness that characterized another rather insufferable summer. Also, they are quite happy when they go out of the city to smaller towns that are not so expensive, congested, or where the crime is so high. I completely understand.
For the first time in years, I decided to bake gifts. I toyed with a few recipes to make them my own and the results were quite pleasing. I hand delivered on the Winter solstice.
My dog is also very into the holidays. I'm sure that the smells of the earth and the leaves have changed as they became wet and fell and those trees waiting pick up have been interesting for her to do her business near too. My precious little one, who likes to stay under the warm covers when its cold outside! She is such a California girl that she does not know how to deal with the rain and thunder scares her. I get her out onto the front lawn, but she wants to make it fast, and run back into the house!
The Rose Bowl Parade is interesting to me (while football is not) because of all the creativity and hard work involved. I must say it was great fun to see that Lucy Pet Foundation surfing dogs float! What a talented surfer that one bulldog was, in particular.
So, slowly, I am gearing up for another year of challenging and rewarding genealogy research, so very slowly, for I too like to spend some extra hours under warm covers when it's cold and wet outside. I watched some films that I think would be of interest to my readers as well, so I think I'll start out this year's ANCESTRY GENEALOGY BLOG by covering some of them.
Happy New Year 2017!
