Celebrities Lost in 2019

As our family has suffered the loss of two family members, including my only sibling within the last three months. to close out the year above is a video by Legacy.com of celebrities we have lost in 2019.

May we celebrate the lives of those we have lost and remember their positive contributions to the Earth and may they rest in peace in God's hands.

17th Century Swedish Warship Vasa

Photo:  Source

This 17th Century Swedish wooden warship is on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.

It sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was raised in 1961 almost fully intact and the most well-preserved one of its kind.

It is a warship that was 69 meters long, over 50 meters tall with 64 cannons. It was to be the most powerful warship in the Baltic sea, but the master shipbuilder, Henrik Hybertsson, was ill when construction began and was not able to oversee the construction and with pressure from the King to finish and launch it was despite there were warning signs it was not ready.  

Instead of being the strongest warship in the world, which it may have been in the few minutes, with a gush of water through the open gun ports, it sank 1,300 meters after setting sail, perhaps making it the shortest maiden voyage.

For more information and pictures visit Vasa Museum website and Wikipedia.

VINTAGE PHOTO: 1917 Photo of Sailor from WW1 forming the US Flag

Photo:  Source

This photo is from over 100 years ago of sailors during World War I form the American flag at Naval Base at Great Lakes in 1917.

Can you imagine the planning that went into this to orchestrate how it would look like a flag waving in the wind?  It is just amazing!

You Might Need To Be Over 40 To Get This Joke: "Shining" Twins - Dog Version

Photo: Source

This is from an iconic scene in the 1980 Stephen King based movie "The Shining".

The dog version looks more cute than menacing though in those little shoes and innocent looks on their faces.

Clip of "The Shining" from Youtube

Twas The Night Before Christmas...

Photo:  Source

Merry Christmas!

Cat Friendly Christmas Tree Alternatives

Photo:  Source Unknown

Cats are notorious for climbing Christmas trees.  Growing up we had many cats any my Mom tied the Christmas Tree to the wall using a jump rope and a hook screwed into a beam in the wall.to keep it from falling over when the cats went on their adventure in a near-naked tree.

If you are handy with woodworking or have a family member or friend that is, the above cat tree would be a great alternative, provided the ornaments are plastic and tied on securely. 

If not,  Catster has a post on an Easy DIY Cat Friendly Christmas Tree alternative using a shelf from IKEA.

Another alternative if you have the wall space would be to create the look of a Christmas Tree with garland or tinsel, but high enough up to deter kitty from trying to get at it.

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#christmastreetapestry #christmastree #tokai #トーカイ #クリスマスツリー #クリスマスツリータペストリー　#クリスマスタペストリー

A post shared by Chiyuki Sato (@chiyukim1824) on Nov 27, 2016 at 6:34pm PST

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Embassy Animated Window Display - 2019

The Embassy Theater has continued the tradition that began in the 1920s when Wolf & Dessauer Department store with animatronic Christmas displays.

Below is a timeline in one of the current windows on display:



I think these are the ones that were originally on display at Wolf and Dessauer and on loan from the History Center.

Location:  Harrison Street Side of Embassy Theater, Fort Wayne, IN

Hallmark Christmas Movie Plot Generator

Source:  Wronghands - Cartoons by John Atkinson

The above is by clever cartoonist John Atkinson and does seem to sum up many of the Hallmark Christmas movies I have seen (yet enjoy watching anyway!).

U.S. Soldier's Family Christmas Float

Photo: I am an American Soldier

This float is a depiction of a soldier's family at Christmas.

If you can, there are many organization's that you can donate to help, such as USO Wishbook.   Also, Dollar Tree usually asks this time of year if you would like to donate a toy (they usually have a few in a basket by the registers). 

Please keep our military service personnel in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season. 

Grinch Themed Christmas Tree

Photo: Source

This creation spotted on Facebook captures the essence of Dr. Seuss's "How The Grinch Stole Christmas".

It is whimsical with its an off-kilter overload of decorations and the Grinch diving into to tree getting ready to pick it up and hoist it over his shoulder to take it up the chimney.

These Gingerbread Men Don't Quite Emboy the Christmas Spirit...

Photo: Source

Not quite Christmas, but is quite clever (or should I say, cleaver).

May God bless and watch over you on what superstition had deemed an unlucky day.   

Not Quite Elf On A Shelf

Photo: Source

Might not be Elf on a Shelf, but think it would be clever to incorporate into that for kids.

License Plate Theme Christmas Tree

This license plate themed tree was one that was on display at the Festival of Trees at the Embassy Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Since 1984 has had this festival to support the ongoing restoration of the historic theater.

Sampling of Festival of Trees - 2019 - Embassy Theater

Here is a sampling of some of the decorated trees on display at the Festival of Trees at the Embassy  Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana this year.

I plan on posting pictures of the individual trees over the coming few days.  I would be hard-pressed to pick a favorite as there were many amazing trees!

NOT A FRIENDLY SNOWMAN...

Photo: Source - Outlaw Ewok

There Had To Be A Better Way...

Photo:  Source

I am guessing whoever came up with this idea though they were saving space and only looked at the display from the front.

Galeries Lafayette unveils Bee Themed Christmas Windows, Paris 2019.

Photo:  Screenshot from video below

This year a Galeries Lafayette in Paris chose a more ecological subject for Christmas and incorporated bees with 11 different themed displays,   

Be sure to watch the video below to see more of the whimsical artistic displays with animatronics for Chrismas with a bee themed.

"Queen Bee"

Photo:  Screenshot from video below

"The Banquet"

Photo:  Screenshot from video below

Looks Like They Are Ready For Christmas In Duluth...

Photo:  Source - Heather Grand

True Christmas Spirit

Photo:  Source

While this time of year for many it is about scoring great deals in-store or online for presents, these young boys demonstrated the true spirit of Christmas is seeing a man in his wheelchair shoveling snow and asked if their father if they could stop and help him out.

Christmas is not just about presents and a day; it is about filling yourself with the Holy Spirit and helping your fellow man.

Christmas Tree For Households That Have Cats

Photo: Source

Not this year kitty....not this year!