At some point in my stay here in Perth, I started to concede that I would not be going home for Laura’s birthday, Thanksgiving, nor for Christmas. I had resigned to open up the internet and shop for my family the best way I could.
Gradually, I got used to the idea, but that in no way prepared me for the 106°F day we had and the hot days thereafter, the reality hit that this was going to be like a Christmas I had never experienced before.
On Christmas Eve John put together our very unique tree.
I must admit, perhaps because of its uniqueness, I loved it.
John still in disbelief the amount of time it took me as we ran out to the shop to find the right decorations. But the color combination had to be just perfect. Silver and Gold reminded me of the song from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
The day came to start getting the food ready for our guests, John’s sons. Olivas, muscles, cockles, and anchovies for my Spanish Tapas plate.Cheese, prosciutto ham, sopressate, and deli meats seem to be a favorite.
Also prepared, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, a treat for John
Dessert time: Russian tea cakes, chocolate chip cookies, Dutch cookies, and of course, Christmas cakeCan’t get a picture without John going silly.A purely Dolphin Christmas photoThe boys weren’t our only guests, some Corellas shoed up, uninvited, but there was enough food for them on our acacia tree.But then some lorikeets showed up and upset them.Thank you Lorikeet for my Corella action shot.
The lorikeet looking rather satisfied with himself.
After a nice stay, the boys and birds left and the sky was calling us to the beach.
Made it just in time before the sun went down.
We went down to the beach and my Christmas flip flops could hit the sand.So glad we didn’t miss this Christmas sunsetA lovely way (and very different for me) to end Christmas Day.
Documenting our first Christmas together in Australia.
Feeling detached from one family, but blessed in many ways. Covid changed everything about my entire year, and it didn’t leave Christmas out of the changes. Here in Australia, our church had services to start our day, but before that, I got to see the Christmas Eve service from Maryland with my grandchildren at the hand bells and Miranda singing. Somewhere in all of that, we watched online a service from Troon Church in Scotland, where John’s cousin ministers at. We were well reminded of the reason for why we celebrate Christmas time several times and in several ways, from three continents. And that my friends, is my life.
