CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

After all the beautiful and creative trees we have seen I still love the tree in my living room the most. Each ornament holds a story and means something special. I am glad Lynda was here to help decorate it and to enjoy my Christmas decorations. 

Lynda flew home on December 7 and we will fly on  Dec. 25 to spend time with our families. 

Merry Christmas.

 

GAME TIME

Every evening we would play these two games while Lynda was visiting. Larry would play Sorry and then Lynda and I played Rummikub for hours.  I hadn't played Sorry since I was little. It still is a great game. 

 

DRAWN TO LIFE

We went to Disney Spring with Lynda to go to the 5 o'clock show at Cirque Du Soleil.
 

We went a little early so we could walk around and do a little shopping. The Lego store has the most amazing displays of Lego artwork.

Of course there was the Disney theme.

Drawn to Life just opened in November. 

We had seats right by the stage. Before the show began there is entertainment. The pillow on stage was being silly. 

Four children were chosen from the audience to draw a pictures.  The theme of the show is a little girl who connects with her father through drawing. He has died and she has to find healing through drawing.

We could really see all the actors faces, and since there are no words it really helps to tell the story.

The start of the show. I was too mesmerized during it to take a photo and we had been asked not to. The athletic ability, the character development and the story was outstanding. It was a little pricy but I would highly recommend seeing it. Glad Lynda wanted to go.

LESSONS AND CAROLS

Lynda and I were able to enjoy the Christmas concert at the Performing Arts Center in Clermont on Saturday Dec 4.  It was Lessons and Carols put on by the Montverde Academy. Some of the  elementary children joined in for a few carols.

Ben Gulley and operatic grande tenor and Callie Day an acclaimed gospel and opera artist were special guest performers.

Listening to the readings from the Bible of Christ birth and the singing of the beautiful songs got us in the true spirit of Christmas.
 

NIGHT OF MILLION LIGHTS

Sunday night we went to Kissimmee to Give Kids the World Village for Nights of a Million Lights.  They really do have a million lights. We went last year, but there were no children staying in their facilities. This year there were children their, so we could only walk around part of it.

I was glad Lynda was able to experience it.

The part we were able to walk around had lots of really decorated houses and their was music playing and the lights danced and changed colors to it. You were surrounded by it.

This tree had balls of stars hanging on it. When a child stays at the village for their Make a Wish week in Central Florida they get to hang a star in their Castle of Miracles.

Picture with Mister Snowman.

Christmas Tree Trail with lots of pretty trees.

There are lots of corporate sponsors.

Ripley's Believe It or Not even had an upside down tree.

Throughout the village there were signs that gave you information.

There was a tram that took us through the part of the park where families were staying. It is 89 acres of land so it was good not having to walk it all.  It was narrated so you learned a lot of information and encouraged people to  volunteer. 

THANKSGIVING 2021

We had a nice family Thanksgiving with Lynden, Sabra and Lynda. We had a delicious dinner and then the guys watched movies while the girls did crafts. 

I had collected a lot of pretty shells at the beach when we were camping at De Soto Park.

So Sabra and I worked on making trees with the shells.  It took a while and some planning. 

My tree finished.

Sabra presenting her tree.

It took us several hours but we were pleased with the finished product.  Lynda choose not to do one and knitted instead.
 

GNOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Lynda and I went to the Waterfront in Clermont and looked at the tree display. The theme was Gnome for  the Holidays. Different groups and organizations decorated a tree using the theme and something that represented them.

A whole gnome tree done by the Vet Center. Look at the bottom of the tree and you will see boots.

These police gnomes caught the grinch.

This tree was done by one of the churches recognizing the loses people have had this year.

You could send them a name of a loved one who has died and they would write their name on a bird.

The South Lake Aquatic Team had a gnome ready to go swimming, even flippers on his feet.

How about a Carribean gnome?

This realty even has homes for gnomes.

I really like this Christmas tree.  There was a gnome sleeping in a hammock. A lot of creativity went into these trees. 

 

 

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING

On Sunday, November 21st Lynda, Yvonne and I went to the Sonnentag Theatre at the Ice House in Mount Dora. Vic and Karla had friends who were not able to use their tickets so they asked if we wanted them. Unfortunately Larry couldn't go because he had a meeting at church he had to attend.  The show was Some Enchanted Evening. 
 

It  was two hours of songs by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. They were sung by these four performers, They had beautiful voices and it was a very enjoyable show. I love all the music.

Our seats were great. The theater is small so I don't think there is a bad seat.

An amazing Christmas village was all across the front of the stage. I think there was about 90 structures plus all the little characters, trees and details. This is one person's collection. What a great way to display it.