Last weekend I was feeling out of sorts, so I decided to pull out my Christmas tree lights to see if they needed replacing ( which they did, but I had two extra boxes for situations like that, so problem solved. ) and then I decided while I was at it, I should probably give my tree a going over because it’s in sad shape last year and if it needed replacing I had plenty of time to do that.
I put it together. I stood back. I wondered if my neighbors would notice if I tossed the entire tree into the trash, or if I should do the right thing and take it apart first.
What I saw after I assembled it was that my tree was mashed on one side because I had re-packed it wrong, but then I thought- oh what the Hell. It’s got character.
So went ahead and decorated it because I really didn’t want to take it apart again. I didn’t want to make a sneaky run to the dumpster. I mean, it was up and the lights were working so…let’s do this!
Not bad, I told myself when I had finished decorating it. Not bad at all.
Oh. Yeah. Krampus is my Christmas Tree Star.
Photo A.M. Moscoso November 10., 2024
Over the years Hamish Macbeth has learned that when the tree is up and decorated it’s time for him to get his picture taken- which isn’t his favorite thing in the world to do but cookies are involved so he gives in.
This year he hit his mark without me asking and I was so happy I snapped his pictures super fast.
Photo A.M. Moscoso Hamish Macbeth November 10, 2024
I want to have something to celebrate and even the people I thought would be dancing in the streets aren’t dancing in the streets. They’re sitting in front of their TV’s and laptops, their phones clenched in one hand, a red cap in the other and they are waiting to hear the world is perfect now. They’re going to be sitting there for a very long time.
Last Halloween wasn’t exactly a fun time for me ( which is odd ). On my birthday ( aka Election Night ) the Monsters on Maple street arrived- and not in a fun way that monsters show up during the Halloween Season.
I’m not sure what Christmas will be like next year. All I know is that I have learned my lesson from the Halloween that wasn’t- is that want to find a way to celebrate Christmas- and I’ve decided to do it by jumping into it feet first.
Today I am thinking about Issac Ross ( my 5th Great Grandfather ) who fought in the Revolutionary War:
and my Grandpa Bert who fought in WWII for the United States even though at the time he was a British citizen and petitioned for US Citizenship in 1944
My Grandfather Bertram William Macdowell Godfrey Aged 18
And my Uncle Larry ( and his brothers, my Uncles too ) who fought in Viet Nam:
My Uncle Larry Guzman
This thought is for my Grandfathers, my Uncles, my Cousins and my niece- today is your day and all the rest are mine because of what you have given our country.
According to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum this is not just a copy of Edgar Bergen’s famous puppet, Charlie McCarthy, it’s a HAUNTED version of Edgar Bergan’s famous puppet.
When I took this picture of my Granddaughter and the haunted puppet I just told her to look at the puppet and I asked her if she thought it was scary as I set up my shot and this was the look on her face, which I didn’t notice until I was going through my photo album.
Pboto A.M. Moscoso “Jemma-Riplelys Museum, Dells WI USA
The puppet looked creepy and I thought my granddaughter’s expression as she gazed up at Charlie was pensive, which surprised me.
Creepy dolls aren’t a deal breaker with Jemma, she has a zombie baby doll that she says is her sister and she dearly loves her baby doll.
Jemma and Gwen Photo A.M.Moscoso October 2024
I have this theory that if you move a picture to gray scale, you see more.
In black and white Jemma’s reflection in the display case clearly isn’t pensive, she and Charlie have the same expression
I’m not sure if that’s good, I’m not sure if it’s bad.
It’s a bit bizarre and I like it.
Pboto A.M. Moscoso “Jemma-Riplelys Museum, Dells WI USA