“Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.”
Psalm 135:13 ESV
We love living in the country, but it is also a blessing to live near our city. I say “our” city because Pam and I were born and raised here! It’s just the right size, and located in a beautiful mountain/lake/river setting. If we have a need for larger metros, a half dozen places come to mind that are easy to visit in a day, or even an afternoon or evening. It’s not often that this scene could be captured without more folks and more cars. Thanks to our dear friends Wade and Tiffany, we have some nice photos this week of Christmas around town!
You may remember from a previous post that my choice for the patio “Charlie Brown” was not influenced by the fact of the tree’s perfect shape, fullness and size, but just the opposite. I pull for the underdog, and I feared our CBTree would be overlooked by Christmas tree perfectionists. My plan to display an overlooked star as a tree-topper were set aside because I ended up with a Monday through Friday schedule last week. That sounds like a work schedule but to clear that matter up…I was in the hospital 5 days last week. And, I wasn’t working, but a patient. That will interrupt plans and hinder the best of intentions. But never fear, the CBT may be lacking in some areas, but it’s a display of love and a tradition the kids and I like. And the tree does occupy a spot as foreground to the Sunshine Cottage!
Most of us would pass by here and never stop for a photo. There is nothing to catch the eye and you’re probably wondering, what in the world! There’s no aesthetic value, uniqueness, or scenic beauty so why the choice? Not chosen for a photo contest, but for a memory, and in particular, a Christmas memory, so please indulge me.
The left side of this duplex was our house when I was born and where I lived until age six. I have only vague memories of living here, and mainly remember one Christmas, when I was 5. We had a little eastern red cedar that was not quite as nice as the “Charlie Brown” tree above. On that Christmas morning, there it was, a real Lionel electric train on an oval track on the floor beneath that wonderful cedar. It amazes me that when other memories are vague and hard to come by, Christmas memories don’t seem to fade as much.
This is Cherry Street Park which is about two blocks from the duplex above. Not a place of scenic beauty either. I drove by and made this photo a couple of weeks back. It is the same park my Mother brought me to often, so it’s been here for many years. We would always walk, so we came mostly in warmer weather. But it brings to mind thoughts of Christmas every time I happen by because it reminds me of childhood days. I can’t think long about childhood days without my mind venturing to Christmas. What about you?
I am certain little Queen EM, who graces and adorns the space in front of our tree, is making Christmas memories…for herself and for PJ and me!
Here in the south, we have white Christmases every year. They blow in from nearby cotton fields!
A few more memories popped up as we placed ornaments on the tree. Does that happen to you? I had forgotten about the tour we took of Monticello some 40 plus years ago. I guess there are memories stored away in the boxes and storage places of our hearts and minds, and at Christmas we pull them out once again!
Ah yes, The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. This piece is one of those items labeled “Christmas Ornament” that we actually bought during the Christmas season and it’s attached to Christmas in that way. We enjoyed the Rockettes in 2007 and 2008 at Radio City Music Hall just after Thanksgiving each of those years. Pam had also seen them in 2005.
Once upon a time, at the end of a business trip to east Tennessee, Pam and I headed south to Asheville, NC and the historic Grove Park Inn. I also remember taking a couple of days for a nice stopover to visit friends in Raleigh.
A few elves gathered to play Christmas music under the gazebo for the recent downtown tree lighting. I am glad our friends Wade and Tiffany are out and about and catch every event around town (and share their pics with us).
If you viewed last week’s post you would’ve seen my traditional Williamsburg fan. I’ve never had this happen in all the years I’ve placed it here. The local rodents apparently discovered I was in the hospital and gone all week. Two apples are missing, and if you can’t take one with you, just eat it on the spot. The teeth marks say rodent all the way. Yesterday I saw a chipmunk scurry along the wall beneath the fan. I was already thinking squirrel. I’ve seen nothing in the act so far. They also enjoyed pulling out the lights to stand on while eating!
On a rainy day week before last, a strange looking cloud or fog roll stretched for miles along and above the narrow valley at the base of Lookout Mountain. It was a weird phenomenon and hung around for a long time before clearing out. I was fascinated by the morning, but I admit this is gray and gloomy looking. I didn’t feel good about leaving you on such a dull note so…
…I leave you with some jolly ole color. I understand no one heard him say “Merry Christmas to all and to all good night”. It was either too early for that, or possibly he was anxious to get to the end of the parade route and head to a local restaurant!
So, I will say, Merry Christmas to All and to All good day!
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
Good morning Butch and Pam, Your post has all the Christmas ‘feels’ from the charming downtown street lights and decorations, parade float, Charlie Brown tree, tree ornaments with memories, EM and Santa. So glad you are home from the hospital. 🙏 Merry Sunday 🎄❤️
Thank you Mary. It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. I’m glad to be home. Now to finish my shopping! I hope your week goes well and Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
I pray that everyone is on the mend. Both my husband and I have been under the weather going on two weeks now. Beautiful pictures! The chipmunks are hibernating here in PA. When my Husky puppy finds a dead mouse under the leaves, she shows us her prize by running with it dangling from her mouth!
God bless
Thanks Maryann. I am better and we pray you and your husband are getting well. We discovered tonight the apple thief was not a chipmunk but an opossum! Have a great week and Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Just noticed this is number 475 Everyday Living Sunday post. A large milestone will greet you in January.,I’ve prayed for you this morning that Jesus will restore your health. Both of you were missed this week. I love the little duplex. I’ve always been fond of small homes in fact my grandfather that I called Papa made a one room space for us that we lived in for a while because my father didn’t treat my mother and us very well so he had us move in his back yard so that he could keep an eye on his wayward son and family.i have precious memories of living there until a house was built for us. We always had a cedar tree all the years I lived with my parents. Mama had to do most of the decorating because I was and still am allergic to cedar. EM looks so grown up in this picture Butch. I pray you and Pam are restored to good health and that Christmas will be most precious this year.
Alice, thank you for sharing the story about your grandfather. I called my grandfather Papa and he was a special man that I loved. I stayed with my grandparents a lot in the early years. I’m not allergic to cedar but they are very prickly. I wear cotton gloves to put lights in the Charlie Brown tree. I put colored lights on it like we did back home except these are the small ones. Have a wonderful week. Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! I am so sorry to hear that you spent last week in the hospital. I hope you are feeling better, and I will keep you in my prayers. The town you live in looks so beautiful decorated for Christmas. I loved reading about your Christmas memories from childhood. I often drive by the home I spent my first 12 years at, and the Christmas memories are always the most prominent. Miss EM is growing up too fast! She is so beautiful! I wish you both peace, good health, and joy in the week ahead. Take care!
Shannon, I am better and thank you for your prayers. Our little town does a good job and we are blessed to live in a pretty area with access to so much. I only lived in two houses before Pam and I married and both are nearby. Seems I have a new memory pop up every time I pass one of them. Have a great week and Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Christmas does stir up a lot of memories. One of my favorites was Christmas Eve 1964. My husband and I,(no kids yet) were staying with my parents. My Dad, as a minister, alway got so many calls for help during the Christmas season. On Christmas Eve, this lady called, in tears, that she had nothing for her children. So we found a drugstore still open and bought whatever we could find, and delivered gifts to this house. I always remember this when I’m with my children, grandchildren, and now great grandchildren who are so blessed!
Thanks for sharing that great story/memory Nancy. I vaguely remember my grandfather scurrying around one Christmas Eve to find a gift for someone I figure they had forgotten about and he found a drugstore open. Your story is one of giving. That’s the best. Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Merry week before Christmas Pam & Butch! I am so sorry you were in the hospital Butch, I pray that you’re ok~ Lovely Christmas memories, and I enjoyed seeing your town at Christmas. I love your Charlie Brown Christmas tree tradition, and I know your grands must be getting very excited about Christmas and Santa! That is awful about a critter feasting on your beautiful Williamsburg fan, I’m sure it will be back for more…
Merry Christmas week to you Jenna. I am better and hope I can recover at home. The grands are excited and making their Christmas memories. The critter showed up tonight and Pam spotted the rascal. To our surprise, an opossum! You were correct, he came back for more.
Butch and Pam
Pam and Butch,
Such a beautiful and heartwarming post! The childhood home, city lights. grandchildren, ornaments…the promise in the verses. But I’m sad to hear of the hospital stay. I pray daily for you both. Thank you for making our lives so enriched through the way you view our world and most importantly, our Savior! I always enjoy seeing you. Daily I send love and prayers. I’m unable to comment on the Reader app, so I hope this appears somewhere. Love, Karla
Karla your comments did come through and as always, you are an encourager. We are working to figure out the WordPress reader issue. We appreciate your prayers and pray daily for you. Have a blessed week and Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Hope all is well and you are on the mend. Prayers now for good health for the big day. Love the Rockette ornament. Pretty amazing all the memories. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris and I am better. Good to be home. I appreciate the prayers and wish you a Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
As ever, what a love-filled post. I recall the Christmas year when my older brother found his Lionel set under the tree..what an exciting event for all..I don’t recall what I received that year, but I shall always remember and can still visualize that train whirling around the base of our tree and the wonder of it all. It is quite moving to see and read of your childhood memories, Butch; a special gift that clings to us in later years. Your town does a remarkable job of creating and sustaining Christmas memories..may it ever be so. We learned early on and fitted our Williamsburg arch over the door with the most realistic faux red apples we could find, so the little nippers had to look elsewhere for dessert. Lovely EM just glows with the Christmas tree …and your travel event memories speak of exciting times. How you both honor His Blessings. Daily prayers for your restored good health and energy. Pre-Christmas wishes to all for love, peace and joy.
Mary, as always, thank you for the lovely comments. Our small town does do a nice job and we live only a few miles from where we grew up so that puts us in touch with memories quite often. Pam spotted our Williamsburg fan apple bandit a few minutes ago and I was very mistaken by falsely accusing rodents. It is an opossum! I appreciate your prayers. Have a blessed week and Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Butch, I’m so glad you’re home from the hospital. Home is the best place to recover fully. I know it must’ve been a stressful time. The memories of Christmas are both so beautiful and a little sad, aren’t they? We realize what all our parents did for us to make it magical. I love Christmas, but am also so keenly aware of those who are alone for whatever reason. My family is big, and not everyone can be with us, but the memories are what keep us together.
Wishing your family good health and good times this Christmas week.❤️
Thanks Rita and I agree, home is best for healing if your able to be there. Truly there are sad memories but the happy ones seem to overshadow those and I’m grateful for that. Many are alone. Having loved ones to share with is a great blessing. Have a wonderful week and Merry Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Love the memories of Christmas’s past Butch and I hope this finds you well. I, too have memories of childhood Christmas’s but sometimes remember little else. It is amazing what we retain as children isn’t it? Your pics are lovely as usual…EM is so pretty and I love the cotton snow. We wish you a Happy Christmas and a very wonderful New Year. Hugs to you and PJ
Thank you so much Kari. It is amazing what we retain from so long ago. We are likely relying on cotton snow, the real stuff being very rare for us, but not as rare as for you! Merry Christmas to you.
Butch and Pam
I love the memories that flood back when we decorate our trees and hearing yours and seeing the beautiful ornaments is a treat. And I am so glad you shared about your childhood birthplace and home. How wonderful to be so near. (I can relate — I am, too.) It looks like lovely holiday happenings in your world I send the merriest of before Christmas greetings your way.
Thank you Jeanie. Childhood memories are precious to me. Merry Christmas to you. Hope you have a great week.
Butch and Pam
Butch, I am very sorry you were in the hospital last week. Prayers of thanksgiving you are doing better and continue to do so. I loved reading about your Christmas memories and seeing photos from around town. You are so right that this time of year brings up so many memories. When I was about 13, I was obsessed with becoming a Rockette…my father said absolutely not!
Thank you Roxanne. I’m home and better. Blessed for sure. I formed a rock band at age 15 and my dad wasn’t happy about that either. Thanks for your prayers. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
What wonderful Christmas memories. Thank you so much for sharing them with us and letting us take the trip down memory lane with you.
Nonie, it’s our pleasure to share. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Sweet remembrances… I hope you are on the mend. Sending prayers, dear friends.
Thank you for your well wishes and prayers Maristella!
Butch and Pam
Good morning Butch and Pam, We’re so sorry to hear you’ve been in the hospital again recently. Hope you will soon be on the mend. We’ll be praying for you. Christmas does bring up wonderful childhood memories of loved ones no longer here on earth and all the surprises for the children that they worked extra time on the job to afford. As a child we don’t think about that, but as an adult, we know it had to happen. Your town is beautiful lit up for the holidays. Your CB tree is beautiful! I think every southerner had a cedar Christmas tree at some point in time during their childhood. For our age, maybe even an aluminum tree with a color wheel! Those pesky rodents found a great food source! Take care of yourselves. Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️🙏
Thanks for your prayers Clara. You are exactly right about looking back and realizing the sacrifices our parents and grandparents made. I guess it’s especially seen at Christmas. And I absolutely remember the aluminum tree and color wheel. My grandmother had one for several years. The rodent turned out to be a ’possum! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Butch and Pam
Butch and Pam, You have been in my prayers so much. I am grateful for the doctors and nurses who cared for Butch and brought him through last week. Continuing to pray for your medications to bring complete healing. I am so glad you are home now.
You bring such interesting information both visually with your photos and the written dialogue which is both informative and heartwarming.
I’m praying for a restful healing week and a beautiful Christmas with your family. Blessings, Bonnie
Bonnie, thank you for your prayers and your kind comments. I’m extremely tired but feeling ok and looking forward to Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful week and a Merry Christmas.
Butch and Pam
Sorry to hear you’ve had a hospital stay Butch, I hope you are on the mend now & can celebrate Christmas with your beautiful family.
Merry Christmas to you both & blessings, Jennifer 😊
Thank you Jennifer. I am better and Lord willing I will be home for Christmas. We wish you a wonderful Christmas!
Butch and Pam
That’s wonderful to hear Butch & thank you!
Pam and Butch, I so enjoyed this post, a look back to memories with you. I’ve found that memories of my years with Monnie is what keeps me moving forward. Grateful for all the years we shared and the wonderful memories we made together. Five days in the hospital is no small occurrence, Butch. I’m relieved to read you are back home, hopefully on the mend. Take care!
Always a pleasure to visit here. Happy Holidays!
Thanks so much, Sarah. I am so glad that you are treasuring the precious memories with Monnie and they keep you moving forward. Butch is improving each day. Sending you hugs, my friend!
Butch, the pictures are gorgeous as usual! I love the CB tree and its so nice to see your city with all the lights for the Christmas season. EM is adorable and I can see the anticipation in those eyes. There are many memories in those Christmas ornaments. I was sorry to hear about the rodents and the Williamsburg wreath and even sorrier to hear about your stint in the hospital. I hope you are feeling better and can enjoy Christmas with the family. Merry Christmas to all of you!
Thanks so much, Kim. Butch is feeling better and thank you for your concern. Wishing you a joy-filled Christmas, my friend!
Dear Butch and Pam, I am so sorry to ;earn that you were in the hospital Butch for five days but I am happy that you are now home. With prayers from so many and now home with Pam, I hope that you are feeling better as each day passes. Wishing you both a blessed Christmas with your family and that you make new memories together for many years to come.
Thanks so much, Karen. Butch is feeling better and we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas!
Pam
Oh, I am SO sorry to read that you were in the hospital! I trust God has laid His healing hand on you by now, and I pray that you were able to fully enjoy the Christmas season, in spite of all. Your friends’ Christmas photos remind me of scenes from a Christmas movie. May 2024 bring much better health and many blessings to your household.
Thank you, Cheryl. Butch is better and thank you for your prayers!
Pam