#OptOutside Day

For those who define themselves (or let corporate globalism define them) primarily as consumers, yesterday was Black Friday. For the rest of us it was #OptOutside Day. I'll admit we cheated a little. Our first outside excursion was to a Christmas tree farm where we "harvested" (reduced to possession would be more accurate) a Fraser Fir. On the way to acquire a tree, we stopped in Cambridge for coffee and one of our frequent explorations of Scout & Morgan's book selections, where I was delighted to find a copy of Joy Harjo's memoir Crazy Brave. (I'm claiming a small local business, indie bookstore exemption for this, plus my caffeine levels were dropping dangerously.)

Our real outing was late in the day, actually, early at night, to the Taylors Falls Lighting Festival. Nighttime photography of moving lights is close to impossible for an amateur like me, but I did better than last year. I'm following Samuel Beckett's advice/strategy: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better." It seems to be working and it give's me an out for my perfectionism.

luminaria and lighted trees

tractor pulling a Christmas tree on a hay wagon

Santa, Mrs. Claus and helper

What it says: "Merry Christmas"

May you and your true love(s) enjoy all the days of this season.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

By Anonymous 

The first day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

A partridge in a pear tree.

The second day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The third day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The fourth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The fifth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Five gold rings,

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The sixth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Six geese a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The seventh day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The eighth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The ninth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Nine drummers drumming,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The tenth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Ten pipers piping,

Nine drummers drumming,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The eleventh day of Christmas

My true love sent to me

Eleven ladies dancing,

Ten pipers piping,

Nine drummers drumming,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

The twelfth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me

Twelve fiddlers fiddling,

Eleven ladies dancing,

Ten pipers piping,

Nine drummers drumming,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five gold rings,

Four colly birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, and

A partridge in a pear tree.

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