Over the years, I have had lots of fun shooting this Christmas Tree. However, each year the family puts it up, the less the lights work and the branches are starting to get worn out. I have a feeling that next year will bring a new tree.
I took the family for a drive through the Holiday Lights at Veterans Park. The drive through was pretty nice and the displays were pretty good. This was one of my favorite.
I went to the Woodstock Christmas Jubilee Parade of Lights the other evening. The temperature dropped after dark and we did not stay for the tree lighting. However, I got a few shots around town before dark and some of the parade.
One of the paths at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is a walkway that goes through the canopy of the trees. For the Garden Lights exhibit, they had wrapped many of the trees in Christmas lights. My wife and kids had gone ahead and I was trying to catch up to them. Unfortunately for them, it took me quite a while. There were a few good compositions up here.
So, I’m a little late with today’s post thanks to this wonderful Georgia weather. Thanks to the prediction of just a trace of snow, schools opened and people went to work. A trace turned into 3 inches here rather rapidly. Last time I remember this type of prediction was in 1993 and we ended up getting around a foot. If you’re in the affected area, stay inside and warm.
I wish we had the weather we are having now at Christmas time. I know that I live in a place where white Christmas’ are just a dream, but sometimes dreams happen. This snow is just a few weeks late to have made that dream this time.
This is the bridge across the railroad tracks in Jasper that leads to the Woodbridge Inn. When I was out for the Night of Lights, I found that they had Christmas Lights making a tunnel across the bridge.
Christmas Day, I made the hike up Blood Mountain to the summit. We hiked from the parking lot near Neals Gap, up the Byron Reese Trail then along the Appalachian Trail. I started bundled like little Mikey from “The Christmas Story”, but by the time we make it to the Appalachian Trail, I was in jeans and a t-shirt. That did not last long when we reached the summit and then stopped by the trail shelter. This shot was taken on top of the rock beside the shelter and the wind was blisteringly cold coming up the mountain.
I made a quick stop in downtown Fairmount the other night to get shots of the Christmas Ornaments. My youngest decided to brave the cold with me. Most of the time, she was running around looking at the other lights, but for this shot, she stood patiently beside me.
I hail from a large family. So, when it comes to Christmas time, it is usually massive. Just to give a reference, there are five kids and all of us have children. We celebrated the other evening and this was Mom’s tree prior to the distribution.
One of my favorite poems of Christmas
by: Clement Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
