The Day After Christmas

Sunday, December 27, 2009. This afternoon I saw it: blue sky. It's been a long, long time since we saw that here.

Christmas is over: sort of. Some folks, this family included, keep rolling through Epiphany (January 3, this time around). But the crazy-making cultural business that Yogi Yorgesson immortalized in "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" is over, except for trading in presents that are either the wrong size, or something like a stuffed lizard with a clock in its belly. Next stop on the holiday parade is New Year's Eve.


Christmas Eve in Our Lady of the Angels church. December 24, 2009.

My family has a tradition of me taking at least some of the kids on a drive after Mass on Christmas Eve, officially to take a look at the Christmas lights. They're getting a bit old for that sort of thing - but it's still fun: for me, anyway. My oldest daughter went along for the ride this year: and I got some photos.


Each year, those lights on the front walk look like runway markers for Santa to me. December 24,
2009.


This is one of my favorite displays: particularly those bluish-white silhouettes. December 24, 2009.


There's something to be said for lighting up the night, too. December 24, 2009.


Cool. December 24, 2009.

A household on the near north side has, most years, had a very exuberant display. They seem to have the philosophy that, if one glow-in the dark snowman is good, a crowd is better. With cartoon characters, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and a Christmas choir to keep them company. I like it.


If they tell you, "you can't miss it" - believe them. December 24, 2009.


Same house, another side. They've even decorated a sort of patio in their back yard: If you know what to look for, you can make out the stairs at the photo's far right. December 24, 2009.

I'm not going to try figuring out who's prepared the most elaborate household display in town. There are a few 'top performers.'


Santa in an airplane, Santa in a racer, inflatable merry-go-round: and that's just for starters. Wow. December 24, 2009.

Civic decorations on Main Street and Sinclair Lewis Avenue, downtown, are a bit more low-key, but they're nice too. The new 'old-fashioned' street lights have strings of lights spiraling up them.


Main Street ("The Original") in Sauk Centre. December 24, 2009.


This year, the snow globe had a cap of snow. December 24, 2009.

Christmas lights and holiday decorations are fine - and the Christmas weekend storm gave the town a sort of 'picture postcard' look. But eventually someone's got to shovel out the cars and clear the sidewalks. And streets.


Christmas Eve. Think this is impressive? Check out the next photo. December 24, 2009.


That was a lovely scene, and I'm told that chickadees found shelter under this car. But it's going to be a job, shoveling it out. December 25, 2009.


Good job! Then more snow fell. December 25, 2009.


Lovely: as long as I can stay inside. December 25, 2009.

I took that last photo just a few inches from my webcam. It's not on quite 24/7: I have it offline most evenings for a few hours after sunset, for example. But, barring technical glitches, it's usually there, giving a view of south Ash and 9th.

That bit of self-promotion done, here's something really interesting: The choir director at Our Lady of the Angels had her first baby, a boy, right around Christmas.


Driveway in an alley getting blown clear. December 27, 2009.

The rest of the family's come home from Soo Bahk Do class, so it's time for me to wrap this up.

Monday's coming, and no winter weather advisories. That's fine by me. And, as usual after the sort of weather we've had, the forecasts say it'll be a bit colder: Eight below (Fahrenheit) Monday night: which isn't all that cold, by my standards.