Monday, December 31, 2018

Christmas 2018 Wrap up

Hope everyone is having a very 
merry holiday season.
I thought I should round out the year with
at least one post for December.
It was a pretty good month overall.
Let's take a look at a few new finds
on the little round table. 
Sam and I found this awesome 
battery operated snow globe at Kohl's 
by FAO Schwarz. 
It lights up and a little motor 
inside creates a snow storm.
The lighted houses and little 
snowman is just so charming.
Plus, having something special from 
FAO Schwarz really notches up 
the Christmas nostalgia.
When placed in my vignette, it's almost like 
Santa has a personal magic globe 
to peek in on the village and 
check out the weather for the night.
Next we have a new Hallmark ornament
called "Santa's Christmas Train Musical Ornament
with Lights and Motion".

 There really is a lot of motion!  
The train, the handcar, the elves, 
the package delivery, the reindeer and sleigh,
Santa's head and arms all move.
The lights flash and music plays 
"Jolly Old Saint Nicholas"
Santa blows a train whistle and 
moves the train controller.
It really is magical.
It really goes well with the 
Toymaker Santa Ornament series
that I've been collecting from the start.
2018 toymaker Santa
 Now we go out front to see
the new "RING" doorbell
my folks sent us as a Christmas gift.
 It's pretty nifty.  
It certainly records all the action out front 
and makes our phones ring a little
wind chime noise, and I mean ALL
action!  Our house sounds like a wind tunnel
with chimes going off all the time.
I've been tweaking it to be less sensitive
so still a work in progress.
Now a bit of bad news.
My dream car, the 2013 Red Scion XB 
was rear ended by a motorcycle this month.
I was in front of him in steady rush hour traffic
then suddenly there was an abrupt stop because of a 
traffic light waaaaay up there.
I stopped in time and two beats later my back window 
exploded.  I was not injured.
 The motorcyclist got a concussion and was 
taken away in an ambulance.


 The insurance company said there was $7,500 in 
damage and that was over 65% of the total
cost of the car. 
State law says they have to total it.
 They gave me over $11,000 for it.
Thankfully my dear ol' dad helped make my 
Christmas merry and bright when he
added to the insurance money and after
a whirlwind car search Sam and I found
a 2019 metallic red 
(they call it a scarlet ember tintcoat) 
Nissan Rogue SV with the 
"Sun and Sound Touring Package" upgrade.
That comes with a large moon roof 
and 9 Bose speakers. 
 Plus fog lights, mud guards, floor and cargo mats,
a first aid kit, and a chrome rear bumper guard.
It even has a heated steering wheel!
Plus a complete driver's assist safety package. 
Which means auto braking and steering when needed.
It sure has a lot more than my Scion ever had,
but I sure do miss my little XB.
Big thanks again to my dad!
We bought it December 21st right before Christmas.

I'll need to think up a 
Christmassy name for it.

This year I moved the Becky Denny Retro Santa 
candy dish to this little accent cabinet.
And filled it with Santa hat Hershey Kisses
I think it fits in quite nicely.
Right before we took the tree down this year
I put away my "grandson proof" LGB train
and had a little fun with my 
Aristo Craft C-16 2-8-0 locomotive.
It sure is a pretty engine.  Sadly,
Aristo Craft is no longer in business.
My guess is the rising cost of production 
and the fact that there's almost no interest in
electric trains by today's young generation.
There's just no competing with smartphones.
Here's a shot of our little Cher bear 
and her squeak toy Christmas present.
She's good at looking innocent.
till you get too close.

That's a wrap for December 2018
Thanks for stopping by
and Happy New Year!