We lit our luminarias at dusk on Christmas Eve. While we were lighting them, the sparrows were chirping in the hedge, and the Sandhill Cranes were flying north along the river to their evening roosting spot, and calling continuously, which made everything seem more special. We went to our neighbors' house for dinner, with traditional New Mexico Christmas food. When we walked home afterwards, our outdoor lights and the luminarias were so beautiful and welcoming.

On Christmas, we spent the morning at home. I baked my sweet potato pie, and we put a roast in the slow cooker with onions, garlic, little potatoes and carrots. DH also cooked brussels sprouts for me in a foil packet on the grill. Then we went to a big wildlife refuge for the afternoon. We saw a lot of birds. It was one of those days with a lead gray sky, and when the sun finally peeped out between the clouds, it was low in the sky and was casting that golden light that makes everything glow. It was lovely spending Christmas with the cranes and Snow Geese and ducks.

We came home to a yummy dinner. We were both home yesterday and spent the day relaxing. In the evening we were invited to another neighbor's house. Now I'm back at work. I'll leave my tree up until New Year's day so I can enjoy all my decorations. I always feel a little sad when I take my tree down.
Allison

: :Thanks Allison,

: He's a treasure for sure! I thought
: the same when you started writing
: about your husband. I've been so
: happy for you too.

: We had Christmas day celebration over
: at his brother's house. I laughed
: so hard all day that I got a
: headache! We did Yankee
: Swap, which I've never liked much,
: but the energy of it yesterday was
: so funny and even sweet. There
: were some really nice gifts, too.
: You would appreciate that I ended
: up with 2 bird feeders, seeds,
: suet and a butterfly calendar!

: For a Christmas treat for myself I
: brought over a bar of unsweetened
: chocolate (aka baking chocolate)
: and some nuts. Other people were
: interested to try it. I warned
: them that it would not be sweet.
: There were a lot of puckered faces
: and disbelief that I found it
: delicious! My husband liked it
: too, ha ha. I don't eat chocolate
: during racing season because that
: plus racing gets me too wired,
: but I thought I'd try it in
: the slow time of year and see how
: it goes. So far so good. I'll keep
: you posted.

: JoEllen, this is such a beautiful