Garden Pic Wednesday: Winter Marigolds

The Garden Pic today is a nice shot of Dwarf Marigolds.
These along the walkway to the front door under the kitchen bay window. The are a cheery sight as a walk past.

 

This is my 2nd Christmas without Dave. He died before Christmas last year, but I was so numb, I really didn't process the season much. A friend stayed with me until about the 

Stargate SG-1. I have all 10 seasons, so that lasted until February sometime.

This year I processed the Christmas season emotionally more so. I decorated like I did last year, putting out my holiday penguin collection and wreaths with battery lights on the outside windows. I'd like to find like a tabletop tree of about 20 inches in height---but maybe I will look into that more next year.
What I did arrive at is that I needed to formulate for myself some new "holiday traditions."
Besides the decor.
I realized, being a widow alone without children and no close family nearby, that when it comes to receiving Christmas greetings from afar, by prefer receiving cards with either printed newsletter inside or a pre-printed note or hand-written note included.
 If you know a widow, do them the kindness of sending a card with a note.

On new traditions for myself I've so far decided:

Try to make sure I have new slippers to wear on Christmas morning. 
(I bought some back in Nov, a couple pair because I wear them all the time in the house and go thru 2 or 3 pair a year. I like washable type---nothing with fur inside.)

To make sure the week of Christmas to purchase a bag of Christmas themed coffee.
 Publix grocery used to have a Christmas coffee I loved, but they don't seem to carry that brand anymore, but I did find "Arctic Peppermint" Dunkin' Donuts coffee at Walmart. I especially love Peppermint Coffee, which is only available this time of year and I was lucky to snag the last bag that was only $2.70. What a deal!

To try to make sure I have, if possible, a plan to do something with other people on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
This year, one of the Bible Study guys is having a Christmas Eve dinner at his house. His family from Kansas are here and we are all invited to join in. It's a pitch-in, though he's making roast duck. Last year, friends had me over for one of those days.
A sister lives in Gainesville and I'm invited to join family at her house the day after Christmas, so I have that to look forward to.

Plan a good meal for myself in the days before Christmas, so I can have plenty of tasty leftovers.
Tomorrow I'm slow-cooking beef stew & baking a small batch of cornbread for dinner Thurs and leftovers for Christmas Day. 

I'm sure I'll think of more things as years go on.