Advent B&W Photo Reflections 3rd December 2017

   "I put up the Christmas Lights" yesterday at home and when I say "I" of course I mean, with "the helper" who this year took on design work and the rope light tasks and did a great job! With two teenagers in the household it's still a fun task and a feature of this season of celebrations!!
   For many years my budget is about $100 which has been spent replacing worn out or dodgy light strings or where possible adding features, including last years laser ball. Other strings are now LED and so there may be a few additions in the next few years!! This pic includes a tree on  a stick that flashes different colours. Our front porch features LED icicles and a red rope light that made the task so simple. We won't win any awards but the whole shebang works on solar or two timers so it's seamless...
   Christmas holds so many life memories of Nanna's place, cooking, roast lunch, pressies and backyard cricket. It's a story of engaging in the story of hope and humanity it's about. I love summer so it's always a special time... In more recent decades of course there's new family connections and traditions and the tension around arrangements and how the day will be spent. Fortunately the focus on kids takes some of the pressure off for an introvert who works over the time... then able to crash in January for much needed recreation when the cricket seems to genuinely come into it's own.
   In that sense this photo speaks a lifetime of memories...