Photo Finish

Happy December! 'Tis the season to deck the halls, etc., etc., etc. I began sending out yearly Christmas cards once I got married. I always enjoyed the process of going out and selecting the perfect card but over the years the process of actually sending them became a bit of a chore. Over time I implemented a few changes to make things easier: I purchased pre-printed return address labels and blank labels that I could use to print out labels for the recipients. Once I set up the file containing the addresses it was just a matter of keeping it updated from year to year. The biggest improvement to the process was one I put off for years: downsizing the list of recipients. Several years ago I finally took the plunge and greatly reduced the number of recipients, primarily by removing people that I hadn't seen or heard from in years.

Even though we raised two boys I was never the person to do photo cards so that everyone could watch them grow up, nor did I write an annual fifteen-page letter detailing every aspect of our lives for the preceding year. However, things changed when we moved to our current home (aka The Cabin) in 2017. For some reason, that year I decided that I wanted to do photo cards - in part to show everyone our new house. I have kept up the new tradition and am actually quite enjoying it. While there are oodles of sites from which you can create/order personalized cards, Shutterfly is my provider of choice. I enjoy the process of selecting which card design and photos to use. One thing that all of our cards have had in common is a photo of my husband and I on the front and a photo of one of our cats, along with a "witty" saying on the back. (At least I think it's witty, LOL.) So, rather than getting to watch our sons grow up, folks will get to watch us grow old - which is fine by me. I hope that the recipients will also get to see a bit of our personalities that they may not have seen before. Now I invite you to take a stroll with me down memory lane with a peek at the main photos from our cards.

Our 2017 card featured what is still one of my favorite pictures of my hubby and I; our cat Nyx was featured on the back.

 

For our 2018 card we re-created the previous year's couple's photo - with me in my T-Rex costume. (Yes, I have a T-Rex costume.) Our cat Marvin was featured on the back.

Our 2019 card featured a picture of my hubby and I that was taken when we were at the Grand Prismatic Basin in Yellowstone National Park; Kota (the Kitten of the Apocalypse) was featured on the back.

Now, I'm going to give you a peek at the photos used on this year's cards which haven't even been sent out yet so shhhhhh! This year being what it has, I couldn't resist taking some 2020 appropriate photos of us and our newest feline family member, Bear, makes his debut on the back of the card.

Speaking of Bear, say a prayer for us y'all. A kitten's first Christmas is always interesting and I have no doubt that Bear will find his introduction to a Christmas tree to be beyond exciting.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year. Let's all raise a glass to a better 2021!

 

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LOOKING BACK-LOOKING FORWARD

I don't have a tree this year. I could blame family tragedies or the recent three minor surgeries that have got me nearly flat on my back. I could blame politics or climate change. I could blame my husband, after all, don't they often get left with the blame, whether guilty or not?

Or I could accept that this year, I will have no tree.

Actually, aside from the fact that the price of a Christmas tree has crept far beyond my budget, I'm also having trouble with the "disposable" mentality that goes with it. I mean, once a year, millions of people suddenly require the killing of trees that may not be ready to die. Then a month later, they are tossed away, forgotten. Some people recycle, and those lucky trees get to become toilet paper or paper towels. Maybe they are made into book pages. That would be nice. But fact is, there are lots of other recyclables that can be used for the purpose. The life of books does not depend on the death of Christmas trees.

I have a collection of vintage and antique ornaments, many in the shape of cats. I miss putting these on the tree, slipping them over the cool, spiky branches, then watching them shine in the colored lights for a week or two. But I put a photo on my wallpaper from back when I had a tree and am enjoying it just fine.

One thing I did participate in this year is the sending of Christmas cards. This small, non-electronic connection with friends and family gives me a great amount of pleasure. I love to see what people send back. (Those who still keep up the tradition.) As you can imagine, I receive a lot of cat-themed cards.

I like to look for interesting vintage cards on Pinterest. This year, I was especially enthralled by the 1950's black cat. Here are a few I found.

I also discovered a new artist who creates paintings in the style of that period, but with some added quirks of her own. Her name is El Gato Gomez, and she led me on a tortuous trail through social media as I tried to find out more about her. I failed. I don't even know where she's from. A Google search led me to old sites and error sites and multiple presence on Facebook. Still, I have to show you a few of her pieces.

So for all you with trees, please enjoy their loving ambiance for me. Possibly 2020 will be the year for me to put up a tree.

Happy Holidays!