The World Traveler Tree

 The blog posts of last week were activities from November. The next six posts cover the busy month of December.

I enjoyed decorating for Christmas this year. I was able to display all the Christmas ornaments I have been collecting on our travels. The first step was finding all of them as they often were placed in locations other than the tub labeled Christmas ornaments. It was also fun to remember the location or trip where each ornament was purchased.

the Dala horse from Sweden

below it is the moose from Alaska

ornament from Oslo, Norway bottom right

yellow lemon from Naples, Italy also tucked in there

beer stein from a Kathe Wohlfahrt store in Stillwater MN

representing our visit to Munich, Germany in 2017

ornament from Hawaii

(OFD and I did shop at the original Kathe Wohlfahrt store in Rothenburg, Germany in 2017 but I did not buy any ornaments at that time.)

amber ornament from Tallinn, Estonia

beaded ornament from Guatemala

ornament from Klaipeda, Lithuania

cathedral ornament from Barcelona

kiwi Santa bird from New Zealand

Remember Everyone Deployed from Hubby's Midwest Honor Flight

colorful houses and cruise ship from Curacao

 better view of the Klaipeda turret

Norwegian cruise ship ornament

Eiffel Tower as the tree topper

This is just a fraction of the ornaments collected from our travels. I have an ornament of Mount Rushmore that I gave to my dad in 1999. I have handcrafted ornaments from Mexico that we purchased on our first family visit in 2001. Lots of fun memories to hang on the Christmas tree.

These Christmas trees used to be displayed in the park model. They had to be a certain size to fit the height of the space above the refrigerator cabinet. I have been collecting the trees for years. They found a home on the dining area sideboard. I was able to display the painted Christmas tree rock we found when geocaching. 

The skinny decorated tree in its place next to the sideboard with trees. 

the Willow Tree Nativity set

I purchased this set over several years, YEARS ago, like more than 25.  I waited until the local department store (Herbergers) had a coupon to help justify the cost of the expensive Christmas decor. This year I thought about adding the stable. OMG! One of the two choices (my preferred one) is priced at $186.99. The Holy Family will continue to be displayed without the creche.

Some of my followers may wonder how we are adjusting to being home (in SD) full-time. We have adjusted quite easily. Hubby has all the high school and college athletics he wants to attend and I have found community classes and culture options that interest me. Life is good!

McBe's Martial Arts

 Grandpa watched McBe's TKD testing last month for his next belt level.

in the center, wearing his glasses, demonstrating form movements

in white, sparring with a black belt student

making contact during sparring

He has advanced to the first of three levels in Red Belt. That is the level before Black Belt.

Earlier in November, he participated in a competition in Sioux City where he won three gold medals and qualified for a Taekwondo National Tournament in Alabama the summer of 2026. His medals were in each of the three categories: form, sparring and breaking boards. We surprised him with balloons and his favorite bakery treat. 

Goodbye Big Red

Even before selling our AZ home, Hubby and I have been lamenting how we would park our two vehicles in the standard double-stall condo garage. We rearranged storage options and workbenches in the garage. We decluttered. Both vehicles, the F-150 and the Edge would fit, BUT it was impossible to get into either vehicle and back out without removing the other when we wanted to go anywhere. We have an HOA with snow removal anytime it snows 2 inches or more, so keeping the truck outside was not a very good option. Thus began the hunt for a smaller, more-convenient-to-park-in-the-garage, vehicle. After searching and researching, Hubby found a Honda Ridgeline pickup.

He really went outside his box by getting the white, 2018 vehicle at the end of September. (He really likes red ones!) We love how both vehicles can be parked inside, and driver doors can be opened without damage to the wall or other vehicle. We have yet to miss Big Red.

Life is good. 

Cabaret with Miss W

 November 25th Miss W performed in Our Songs, The Lincoln High School Cabaret. Twelve songs were performed by the 19 high school kids who auditioned and were selected. 

She was a member of the three songs performed by the ensemble and had two other numbers.

she had the third solo in the song

her solo in "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma

"Footloose"

having fun with "Footloose"

her duet "Stepsisters' Lament"

song from Cinderella

I love her facial expressions

finale "Be the Hero" from Big Fish

She asked Grandpa to take her to lunch that day. Then he surprised her with flowers after the performance.

Proud Grandparent moment!

Just an FYI: There were 5 songs (and choreography) to learn for this chorus event. She performed four songs in the Fall Choir Concert on October 24th. I am keeping track as she has two more performances in 2025.

Another FYI: Yes, we go EARLY to get a good seat. We're retired! We have nothing else that is more important!

November Northern Lights

 South Dakota and states as far south as Arizona (a friend sent a photo) were treated to another awesome Northern Lights display on November 11th, the night before the deck was demolished!

Here are some of my photos beginning at 7:31 and ending at 8:38 PM.

All the photos are from the deck of the condo using my iPhone without any editing. I did some research and wanted to try some features in the camera mode, but did not get the chance the next night. The guys working on the deck had placed some plywood on the runners so I could step out safely, but the light display just wasn't there on November 12th. I feel so fortunate to have seen such a magnificent display twice in the same year!