This is an annual event not far from me, a celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. https://www.chicagocatholic.com/photos/-/article/2025/12/23/frigid-temps-no-match-for-guadalupe-pilgrims

This must excite so many hi-tech villains and intelligence apparatus.

[image: 1767003209739-20251229_083604-resized.jpg] Hellebore are blooming

Iran is part of the global nuclear monitoring agency. Israel isn't. Israel refuses to say whether it has nuclear weapons or not when the world has known since the time of the Kennedy administration that it does have them. Fears are not facts. Insinuations are not facts. Accurate, concrete intelligence represents facts. I don't have a reason to think that there isn't fear mongering and war mongering happening now on the part of the powers that be who have openly, publicly been announcing their intent to go to war with Iran for decades now.

I've decided to change the bar pendant with crosses to this cross pendant. https://athenagaia.com/products/silver-faced-greek-cross-small You can get a sense of what it looks like in three dimensions by looking at this cross pendant. https://athenagaia.com/products/rustic-center-stone-silver-greek-cross-small

Addendum: I did bring out the oil-filled heater today for the room with the TV. It’s working well and the heat is so comfortable even on the low setting. It didn’t have much effect in the kitchen, which is draftier. It’s possible that the radiator isn’t getting hot enough because of air in the system. I should try bleeding it. [image: 1766893369546-img_2287-resized.jpeg]

His point seems to be things have changed over 60 years. A 25 to 30 year old doesn't share all the cultural touchstones of my generation. Go figure. Maybe he should play assisted living facilities.

@piano-dad Congrats to the family! For Christmas I love pulling out the china (my mom’s Noritake Oriental, bamboo motif) and her silverplate (service for 12; we have sterling for 8 from her uncle, but that’s not enough). It’s like playing dress up for the house. I don’t mind hand washing it all after guests go home. My kids stay and help with the clean up.

In a nearby suburb, a critter does what it was born to do. https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-1acbbiqidajexr23

@Piano-Dad said in Who’s decorating for the holidays?: Not me. We're out in Las Vegas preparing to welcome granddaughter Raven on New Year's Eve! Ahem. Is there something you’d like to announce?

Cheers for Kimmel

BBC's list of 12 books to read in 2026. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2e6nw1w40o

What a lovely looking pan. We already had a couple of heavy cast iron griddle pans at about 25cm, so our skillet is 30cm... and no handle at that size. Petromax brand. Got to look after them though!

It will be like the cliche-- banned in Boston. Now everyone will make a point of watching it. I haven't because the pictures alone are upsetting. I guess the point is Trump is sending people to this prison with no due process. He's also sending people to foreign countries in Africa where they haven't been been since childhood and when they don't speak the language (and presumably arrive with nothing). It's mind boggling.

@ShiroKuro Agreed.