A Snowy Night with Downtown Durham Lights

Edited to add: wow, so much for scheduled posts.  argh!

After our delightful meal, we went wandering through downtown Durham, taking in the lights under the snow.

Wildly flattering picture of me, right?

View from above, towards the ball park.

Tree walk, part of a fundraiser for area nonprofits.

There were a bunch of really pretty trees, and they look awesome at night under the snow.

DPAC behind the trees.

I really like the tulle on this tree.  It's hard to tell, but it was really glittery.

Love the elephant topper, and all the ornaments are various computer parts.

I like the Hope topper, and the use of picks/etc for the top.

Love love LOVE the blue lights and the little house topper.

ATC lights!

Holiday Recap

We were so lucky to get to spend the holidays with friends this year. R&C hosted a lovely dinner at their new home.  There was merriment and a little bit of wine.  I might have been banished to the bad kids table, which was fine, cause you know that's where all the fun goes down.

Stinky snuggles down.

There were decadent and delightful desserts. 
I was way too full from dinner to enjoy them, though.

And it started snowing before we left!

It will have to be another post, but after we left, Scott bundled me up and we wandered around downtown taking pictures.

Merry Newtonmas!

Fellow Hannukah Bloggers!

There aren't a whole lot of Hannukah decorating blogs, so I figured I would share the ones that I've wandered into.  Plus my house in the this last weekend's perfect little snow.

Snowy Hobbit House! And yes, those are totally Halloween lights.
And  a skull cutout on the door.  It's my holiday of choice.

Felt So Cute has a lovely Hannukah mantel, complete with glitter dreidls. Love love LOVE the dreidls. Everything is better with a thick coat of sparkle.

The Cape on the Corner has a blue/white Hannukah (and Christmas) decorating scheme for her home.  I desperately need a copy of  "Hanakkah, Shmanakkah!

Creative Jewish Mom has a post up at Curbly pulling together a bunch of stuff.  She also has her own blog featuring all kinds of Jewish stuff.

And of course, Martha is always willing to break it down. I particularly like the Menorah of Glasses and Beads, The Dreidl Shaped Place Cards, and the Hannukah Match Boxes. 

Holiday Gift: Tree Topper

So, using House Revival's tutorial for woven stars, I made my friends B&M a tree topper for their holiday tree this weekend.

I dug out a small hole on my craft table, busted out strips of paper and wove.  And painted.  And glittered.  Oh, how I glittered.  Even my poor dog got glittered.

Plan one had been to do three stars in varying sizes.  I rejected that after I realized how enormous the topper would end up being.   Although after I saw it on the tree, I kind of regretted not going with the two larger, rather than the two smaller stars.

I ended up with a teal metallic paint for the medium star and orange glitter for the smaller star.

Silver and blue

Blue and orange.

On the tree!

Upskirt shot!  And shows how poofy the stars ended up being.

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Polly Wanna Crafter!

Happy Hanukkah! And Early Grichmas to you too!

I'm working on a lovely post
with woven paper
Star of Davids.

So, I've been asked some serious questions about the roots of my somewhat grinchy attitude about this time of year. 

Much of my commentary is being silly[1], but I think a lot of people don't realize how alienating this season can be.  I walked by all the decorations going up at my work yesterday, and yah know, not a single non-Christmas one.   And there are Jews and Muslims and Atheists and Buddhists and Hindus here.

More woven paper fun!  I'm participating in
Holiday Cheer!

Hearkening further back, I have incredibly strong memories of having to stand up in front of my 6th grade class for every single Jewish holiday (and oh my god, there are A LOT) and tell my classmates, most of whom had never even heard of  Jews, how I was different from them.  Endless explanations that no, I did not believe in Jesus.[2] And no, I didn't kill him.  And don't even get me started on the hilarity of my Bat Mitzvah[3].

And I really thought that I had moved past being the awkward shy new kid, standing in front of a classroom telling people this thing about me that they all thought was completely insane.  Except in the last 3 months, I had to explain to someone that, in fact, there were not two kinds of  Jews.  The ones that believe in Jesus and the ones that don't.  We are talking about someone with half a century under their belt.  Do you have any concept of how awkward that was?  Having to tell someone my dad's age that the whole new testament thing didn't exist for Jews.  He was respectful about it, but it also kind of blew his mind.

It's not that I don't want people celebrating their holidays, but I hate the assumption that I celebrate it and that your need to celebrate trumps mine.  And I do love holiday lights (and Hanukkah is the festival of lights).  But when someone gets all uppity cause I say 'Happy Holidays' it makes me hate this season a little bit.  When what I represent is shut out of public celebrations, it feels crappy.[4]

Enjoy the lovely aspects of Christmas celebrations.  I'll come to the parties and enjoy the time with my friends.  I will even (happily!) trim your trees. But when you are wandering the public sphere or in your workplace, try to check your holiday privilege. Don't let the little drummer boy drown out all the wonderful flavors and varieties all around you.

Happy Holidays!! Have A Merry Newtonmas and a Happy New Year!


~~~~~~~~~


[1] As funny as it is to say when people ask me why no tree in my house, I don't actually think that Christmas trees actually symbolize the wood of the cross. And no, the coca cola polar bears killing seals don't actually symbolize the blood Jesus spilled.  But apparently my serious bsns face is really serious, and if you say anything deadpan enough, people will believe.  FYI: You will be struck down if you don't send me ponies laden with giant sacks of cash.

[2]  PROTIP: When you ask a non-Christian about the existence of Jesus, we will probably lie to get out of the conversation.  Please, don't push your luck, the conversation is already awkward enough.  Let it go.

[3] I did get a sweet pair of cross earrings, which slightly horrified my mom.  She was game though, when she told me that most people just thought it was a vague religious thing, and didn't realize the whole 'no really, no Jesus'.  Man, I wanted to wear those things though.  What? It was the 80s and I was really into Madonna at the time.

[4]  I try and harness that crappy feeling to help check my myriad privileges in the world.

I am a BAH HUMBUG

I am the one that ruins your holiday spirit (at work).

I don't want to listen to Christmas music (it's not even Thanksgiving yet, so triple that sentiment) at work.

Ever.

I know people like to spout the 'it's a secular holiday' line at me...except, it's not. There are parts that are more secular than others, and definitely parts that are ingrained in our culture. And hey, I love the hell out of the light shows. But when you are caroling about the baby Jesus...that ain't secular.

But at work, I don't want to hear holiday music. Ever.

Some of it is retail-based flashbacks. I remember the year we got TWO different CDs we could (rather *had* to) play OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THREE MONTHS. It was only marginally better than a single CD.

I just don't want to be bombarded with Jesus for 8+ hours a day. Is that such a terrible thing?

Edited to add: OH MY GOD, I have found my holiday spirit. I want to shit in Frosty's head (and for the best price possible)!