Poor Chuck. His holiday is over and he has been relegated to the “Thanksgiving Bin” for the next ten and a half months.

We will miss his goofy, cheerful presence.

So it’s on to winter…

My childhood creche sat in its place of honor under the Christmas tree for many years. I would rearrange the figures daily. About ten years ago, when my mother asked me to clean out her attic, I was thrilled to discover the creche and all of its components still existed.

But I had forgotten (had I ever known?) that the precious childhood decoration was…cardboard.

I can’t believe it has held up for at least sixty-five years. The mice must have eaten the straw from the roof of the stable and the chalk figurines are worn and chipped, but I still get such a kick out of moving everyone around at least once a day. The twine tree was purchased in Shipshewana in 2023 and the green horse was added by my ten-year-old-horse-collecting self. The train of camels was a souvenir from one of my father’s Navy travels and was always part of the display (even though it was prone to tipping over several times a day).

The trees are back on the mantel. I found a new one at the Dollar Store last week. Can you have too many bottle-brush trees?

I think not.

My grandmother’s ceramic tree is on the pie safe next to the creche, which adds some Christmas cheer.

We are heading to Texas on Sunday, so we are not putting up our tree and hauling out red bins packed with ornaments.

Son Ben informed us that Amber and the Funny Grandson have put up their tree and decorated everything for the season. I look forward to enjoying it!

Son Will has a tiny artificial table-top tree at the condo, and I just bought a pair of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer earrings.

Texas will be festive and we can’t wait.