Watership Down & Pee Wee-in-the-womb Holidays

When I was a boy, my family and I would watch Watership Down during the Easter season. I remember feeling riveted, scared, sad, exhilarated, and inspired by this movie. My Mother especially enjoyed it. Though I don't remember a whole lot about the movie, I do vaguely recall the ending, when Hazel dies and his spirit lives on. I thought I'd share the ending (video link here) for nostalgic purposes.

Also, in Pee Wee-in-the-womb Holidays news (hereby referred to as PWIW Holidays in future posts), his due date is now only 60 days away. Mrs. Holidays and I are excited and nervous at the same time. Can't wait to show him all the Easter decorations when he arrives on the scene.

Holiday wagons

With only 60 days left till Easter decorations start going out, I thought I'd share one of my inspirations for the upcoming holiday: Jan Brett's The Easter Egg (video link). I saw this delightful book in a Barnes & Noble last year and was enchanted by the story and ornate imagery.

I was especially excited when I saw the image of the Easter Rabbit being pulled in his wagon by a team of chickens. It reminded me of my late Mother, God rest her soul, who once wrote a short story about a chicken, as Santa Claus, being pulled in a red wagon by a team of hens serving as the equivalent of Santa's reindeer. My Mom's depiction of the 'Wagon of Christmas Cheer' (pictured above from this past Christmas) predated Jan Brett's wagon in 'The Easter Egg'. Great minds think alike, right?

Visit with Grandmother Holidays

Mrs. Holidays, Pee Wee-in-the-womb Holidays, and I visited Grandmother Holidays this afternoon. I finally took a picture of her Valentine's Day sign. I also made the mistake of challenging her to a few games of poker. The results speak for themselves (my pile of winnings is on the left; her's is on the right).

Why not Valentine's Day?

People have been asking me, "If you're Mr. Holidays, why aren't you doing anything for Valentine's Day?"

I actually like Valentine's Day, and I have especially fond memories of it in grade school. But right now, my focus is directed toward three major holidays: Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. Why these holidays to start? Because I can decorate outside and share my passion with the community, particularly the kids. And at this stage of my nascent holiday career, I just don't think Valentine's Day is all that conducive to outdoor displays. However, as Pee Wee-in-the-womb Holidays begins to grow up, I may just have to reconsider; that is, if he's interested at all in my bizarre pastime.

In the meantime, Grandmother Holidays has taken it upon herself to bring the Valentine's Day spirit. Hanging outside her door is an eye-catching Valentine's Day sign, a sign that she believes is far superior to the rest of the decorations on the 3rd floor of her retirement community. I'll try and take a picture here pretty soon.

...64 days till Easter decorating begins.

Easter preparations have begun

Last week, Mother-in-law Holidays, aka "CFO" of holiday operations, generously purchased three dozen plastic eggs of various colors, a bunch of battery-operated tea lights, and three large plastic eggs with designs on the exterior. I will be hanging these plastic eggs on an outdoor cherry tree, which I plan on converting into an Easter Egg Tree come late March.

Today, Mrs. Holidays, Pee Wee-in-the-womb Holidays, the CFO, and I took a trip to a local Michaels in order to scope out the nascent Easter decorations. We saw a lot of neat things, and I may have even spotted a potential door sign for Grandmother Holidays. I ended up purchasing a plastic egg garland that could accent a basket under the Easter Egg Tree.

I took a couple of quick pics of the garland and the large plastic eggs. I'm thinking tea lights strategically placed in a few eggs might make for a luminous touch on one of the last nights leading up to Easter. But, we'll have to wait and see. It's still very early in the planning stages.

...66 days till decorating begins.