Tree Ornaments2

Well, I headed into the city yesterday afternoon to get a twilight shot of my favorite tree in the Oaks. The one I had photographed earlier in the week(12/20) with the large ornaments. What do they say about best laid plans of mice and men? In a poem by Robert Burns the actual quote is "the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley." The poem is written in Scots rather than English. I guess that explains the last three words. I just say 'stuff happens' to us all. Anyway, when I reached the park, half the trees were lighted, and the rest were dark. Yup, you guessed it the tree to be photographed was in the latter group. Not to be deterred, I moved to the right and shot this one of a tree, lights and skaters in the shadows. The camera just doesn't do the beautiful lighting justice. This evening, we'll attend the 7PM service at the First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham and then return to the homestead for dinner and a sharing of Christmas stories, our night before Christmas family ritual. Perhaps selections from: A Christmas Carol, The Polar Express, A Child's Christmas in Wales, and A Visit from St. Nicholas.
Christmas Eve brings back special memories to me. The four of us, sitting at the foot of our evergreen, staring intently at the sparkling tinsel cover, drinking Mom's homemade eggnog with always a piece of raw egg at the bottom of my glass(Yuk!) and finally singing carols with Mom at the big piano. After that, we all headed up the stairs, with or without 'visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads.' Merry Christmas to all!