A Unique Christmas, Dec 24 - 28, 2010

It was different. First Christmas that I wasn't with some member of my family in my whole life -- not parents and siblings, not children, but I did have one family member -- my dearest hubby!

Actually had a lovely time.

Some traditions. Some things new. All good.

Christmas Eve morning we drove through the 7 customs/immigration check points on the causeway and went to a church, yes a real church, in Bahrain! It was quite something! We stayed long enough to go out to lunch and stop at a couple of lovely spots, including a Gloria Jeans in honor of our Aussies, and then headed back in order to participate in a Christmas Eve dinner with a few Latino families who didn't go home for Christmas and adopted us for the evening. That's the Santa photo. Then went home and did the traditional Christmas Eve -- read from Luke, opened our gifts to each other, didn't have enough of 'em to warrant a half time, but thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Christmas dinner on Saturday on our patio -- taking advantage of the cool and comfortable weather!

Skyped kids at various times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Then off the next morning, Boxing Day, for Doha -- three days and two nights. I'll be quiet, now, and just let you enjoy the photos!

Happy New Year!

More House Photos

Finally, I'm posting the upstairs photos (as you requested, Jerz) and shots of my decorations for the season!

I'm starting with the kitchen shot 'cuz I didn't post a complete one of it, earlier.
Now, we travel up the stairs -- we're on the landing as we head up ... then on up ...

Family room (Niners are on TV, killing Arizona!) On the coffee table is our jig saw puzzle -- begun on Thanksgiving Day. We found it, here, after much searching! It's not a beautiful picture and it's cheaply made so, therefore, difficult to fit pieces together properly, but, hey ... it's still fun!

Jim's office and spare twin bed.

In large "hall" at top of stairs with office on left, bathroom straight ahead, and guest room/workroom on right.

Guest room/work room. Bright light streams in through the window all day long! Very motivating!

Master bath, our closets with mirrored doors are on both sides as you head toward the bath.

Master bedroom ... cozy and roomy ...

My desk and the area where I hang out most often when home and not teaching. It's at the top of the stairs with the family room behind me.

Looking down from my desk.

And now, the decorations! From what I can piece together, it's okay to have such things in our private homes but nothing can be public. I was able to buy fabrics, here, so most items I made and a few little things we purchased outside. The tree is REAL and GROWING! A Norfolk pine, very fragile so I had to use very lightweight decorations. We found it at a garden shop and feel very blessed to have it! The dahla hess (how's it spelled, Mom?) are from Ikea. They are cake pans. Jim drilled holes in each so that we could hang them. Hey, they're red and Swedish so they work for our purposes!!! :-)