A.J. and I both got new phones for Christmas, to replace our antiquated Blackberries. Mine, for instance, had less-than-full-featured versions of Facebook and Twitter, what I liked to call the “fake” Internet, and a really crappy camera. (It’s amazing what we become accustomed to, though, isn’t it? Not that long ago, my phone was just a phone.)

But now he has a fancy schmancy iPhone, and I have an equally fancy schmancy non-iPhone. With “real” Internet; a big, glorious, crystal clear screen, a fantastic camera … and a few apps, including WordPress.

Soooo, even though we still don’t have (computer-based) Internet at our house, in a pinch, I can now do blog posts from my phone. Fairly short, uncomplicated ones at least — I am typing with my thumbs, after all — but still. Right now? I’m sitting on the couch with the cat on my lap.

And to prove my point about the new camera, here’s a photo I took earlier today of the beautiful (carriage-related) stamp that came on a Christmas card from friends in Bermuda.
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I realize that this last “old Christmas card” isn’t actually a Christmas card, but I think it fits in with our overall theme nonetheless.

On the front …

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And on the back …

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Unfortunately, I can’t read the postmark date, but the card was sent to Mrs. Geo. Simpson in Palmyria, Indiana. And the message reads, “Wishing you and (Husband) a very Happy year and a successful one. Your Bro, Bill”

One of A.J.’s Christmas presents came from his favorite local menswear store, and they even wrapped it for me. The store, Graves Cox, was established by the current owner’s grandfather in 1888 and is in just its second downtown location since then. The Graves Cox logo sticker on this particular gift was one of theirs I’d never seen before, and I of course had to share it here:

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If you go to the Graves Cox website, scroll down, and click on “Old Store Pictures,” the photo in the lower left shows one of the store’s early horse-drawn delivery vehicles. I may have to ask them if they have more old photos …

These and other hard-working horses in the nation’s capital received a bit of a treat in 1919, when they were presented with a Christmas tree covered in edible decorations.

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Sorry I missed posting anything yesterday. I was caught up in the holiday: doing some Christmas shopping, going to parties, and anticipating a bit of vacation. Today A.J. and I got our tree, and we’ve just finished decorating it.

Most years, we walk the three or four blocks to our local garden shop / Christmas tree place, pick the cutest, littlest tree left on the lot, and carry it home. And we usually do this on Christmas Eve. But we drove by there this morning, and all their trees were gone. So we ended up having to drive to the next nearest tree lot to bring home a BIG tree instead.
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I’ll be taking a break from posting for the next couple of days.

I’m intending to post a few things during the week, but I’ll actually be on vacation … so we’ll see.

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope yours is merry!