Third Time Lucky?

In England we always used to make a big deal of New Year's Eve, going to friends when the kids were little or hotel parties when they grew up. We always had a great time. Here we've had less luck. The first year I ended up driving home from a friend's house in terrible snow and ice, last year we gave up and went to bed early because Grumpy had man flu. Fingers crossed that this year will be third time lucky. We're off to a party and overnight stay in an airport hotel, followed by a night with Mrs Hammerstein at her Lake Michigan retreat, snow willing.
A Happy New Year to all blog readers, see you on the other side of the decade.

Geese Down

Tonight's lead story on the local NBC news was that Canada geese had been found slain in two locations in Naperville. Shooting geese isn't illegal here, but one difference this time was that they were left lying in public places, not in the privacy of a forest preserve somewhere. We sent our sleuth out to discover what happened.

Private Detective Hilary Spade pulled down her grey fedora hat and wrapped her white trench coat tightly around her. It was cold and there was four inches of snow on the ground. Unfortunately she was only wearing her three inch heels.
She walked along the suburban road seeking clues. A small grey feather. A bird dropping or two. Then she saw it! Lying in the road was the taped outline of a goose. She was too late. Someone had stolen the body!
A police car pulled up beside her.
"Hallo officer," she said, bending down to examine the snow where the goose had been.
"Hallo. It's Detective Spade isn't it? " he said. "Good to see you're on the case."
"First crime we've had in Naperville since 1989," she said. "Absolutely shocking, people shooting geese like this. "
A whooshing sound caught the detective off guard. A flapping of giant wings nearly knocked her off her feet.
"Hey," yelled the police officer. "Duck, duck, goose!"

Frozen Delights

When the snow settles, there's only one place to go - the Riverwalk.

Downhill Racers

Ever positive, the good folks of Naperville make the most of the constant snowfall we've had since Christmas Day....

Weather Warming

With such a crazy mix of rain and snow, it's no wonder the weather forecasters are confused...

The Ice Storm Cometh

Sometimes we get rain, sometimes we get sleet, sometimes we get snow, but sometimes we get ice! Last night we had the first ice storm of the season and this morning we woke up to the result. These aren't drops of water, they're frozen...

Our gazing ball looks fabulous in the snow and I know I've posted a photo of it before with a huge blob of snow on the top. Usually its surface is smooth and shiny, but here it is coated in a sheet of ice.

Hope this won't stop us getting lilacs in the spring....

This is what happens when the storm knocks out your downpipe....

Snow Joke

Interesting the difference in attitude to snow on either side of the pond. In England everyone is currently moaning about the cold, snow, ice on roads etc. The whole country more or less comes to a standstill in the snow, but to be fair it doesn't happen all that often so it's little wonder they don't invest a lot of money in snow plows etc.
The Americans are much more positive of course. The news readers were positively beaming yesterday as they talked about people playing in the snow. However, even I think sometimes you can be too positive. Yesterday we had a good three inches of snow on top of what was already down. The newsreaders described this as a 'dusting'. And another thing. I understand an inch of snow has to fall on December 25th to constitute a white Christmas. In London just one flake has to fall on the Weather Centre roof!

If You Can't Beat 'Em - Don't Bother

A Holly Trolley Christmas

Last night we went with Geordie Sue and her family on a trip on the Naperville Trolley. As kids back in London, I would love going up to London to see the Christmas lights decorating Regent Street.
Now we have a new tradition - driving around the neighbourhood to see how everyone has decorated their homes here in Naperville.
Sometimes I wonder if this isn't the town where It's A Wonderful Life was set. It's so picture perfect even a film studio couldn't put together anything better. It's like living inside a Christmas card at this time of year.
Sue was thrilled to discover the tour actually drove past her new American home, but she and Nev quickly learned that subtle decoration is never going to earn them a photo stop. The one thing about the lights here is that they can never be too tacky, more is less, and unless you make the national grid flicker you just haven't done it right.
Big thanks to Annette Wehrli for the trip. Now, if only she could do them along Regent Street....

Happy Chanukah Naperville Style

Here's a pretty picture of the Riverwalk you won't have seen before. For the first time the Park District has allowed a chanukiah next to the Christmas tree. It's been a bit of a local controversy but eventually the Park District gave in because it was a gift from Chabad, a local orthodox outreach group. Naperville is nothing if not polite and it would have been rude not to accept.

Deck the Malls

Deck the malls with groups of singers,
Fa la la la la, la la la la,
Hats and scarves and gloves on their fingers,
Fa la la la la , la la la la
All commercials on TV now, advertise constantly in this way,
Plagiarising Christmas carols,
I’ve had enough so here’s what I say.

Deck the church with sales assistants,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Let them sing without resistance,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Keep commercials free of carols, make your jingles free of bells,
Write your own tunes for the season,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

How the Cookie Crumbles

This morning I (and 72 home made peanut butter cookies) attended my first ever Christmas cookie exchange. There were three reasons for this.
1. We don't bake or buy Christmas cookies in England.
2. I don't celebrate Christmas.
3. No one's ever invited me before.
However, when you're invited by Dolly McCarthy, NCTV's news anchor, you don't say no. (It's the Naperville version of being invited to Oprah's Christmas party).

Dolly judges the ugliest Christmas sweater competition.

Which oddly enough I didn't win.

The ghost of Christmas future meets the Rockettes.....

(The lady on the left is Annette Wehrli, usually seen driving the Naperville Trolley. Her sweater featured the state bird the red cardinal. I have no idea why. I've never seen one on a Christmas card in place of a robin).

Dolly's home looks like something out of a magazine. It fact it often is something in a magazine. Here it is all decorated up for Christmas for the Cup of Cheer house walk.

The Cup of Cheer is a local event where people can walk through decorated houses to learn tips and raise money for charity. Apparently Dolly had 2,000 through this year. Hopefully not all at the same time!

Little girls always dress the part here in Naperville.

But when no one's looking they're just like normal children. Only polite.

For the uninitiated, a cookie exchange is where everyone takes along a batch of home made cookies to admire. At the end they go round gathering up a selection to take home. That way you get a large variety and a chance to show everyone what a wonderful baker you are.

Of course being Naperville, I wasn't surprised that they all looked like they'd been made by master confectioners, just even more disappointed that the ones in the stores look so tacky.

For those of you who still haven't put up your trees and decorated your house within an inch of its life, this is what you should be aiming for. (If you still have time after baking all those cookies).

You can't be too twee in Naperville at this time of year. It's like living inside a Christmas card.

Here's a special wish for all of you needing to improve your hearing. (Read the letter racks carefully).

The ironic thing was I played hooky from volunteering at Loaves and Fishes food pantry this morning to attend this food fest. Guess this is how the other half eat.

This toffee is the pride of Naperville. It used to be made by the old Cock Robin store before it went out of business many years ago. However, the recipe lives on and is now made just at Christmas to be sold in some of the local stores.

Christmas v Chanukah

As I visited Fox Valley mall this afternoon, it occurred to me there are lots of similarities and differences between Christmas and Chanukah.

Our Christmas tree can whip your menorah...I guess that's round one to the Christians.

Here Chabad of Naperville learn that just because you make Christmas trees out of green cans, it doesn't make them kosher.

(They were actually making a 'canorah' which they donated to our food pantry Loaves and Fishes afterwards. Trust they changed the name to Chollas and Gefilte fish just for today).

Both festivals feature jolly looking people with big noses....

Christians have Santa Claus....

whereas we have men with black beards.

But whichever religion you are, it's always nice to receive a pair of book ends as a gift.

Chanukah Sing-a-Long

Rabbi Rudolph leads us in a rousing version of Mo'At Tzur, the most traditional of all Chanukah songs...

Happy Chanukah!

Welcome to our third annual Chanukah party! If you couldn't make it, here's a taste of what you missed....

A few decorations to set the mood....

And just a little food. Don't need to overdo it......

Mike, Vicki and Chuck learn that you can't chat without being interrupted by a photographer in this house.

"It's no good pretending she's not there," Wendy and Raye tell Shelly. "She can still see you."

"'ere, Uh nooz Uh only cem 'ere becooze ov 'ilary's blug," Geordy Sue from Dubai tells Neighbor John. "But that duzney mean I wanter be innit."

The Duke and Duchess of Douglas Avenue are game for some new games with a little help from Jim and Bernie.

Kay Mary and David Harleyson learn you can only look presentable at a party if you leave the bike at home.

Spike and Annamarie

It's been a long night for the Oracle...luckily Rebecca of Sunnybrook Drive is there for a little support

Rabbi Marc Rudolph lights the candles on the hannukiah for us. Why do it yourself when you can call in a professional?

"Look, I don't mind lighting the candles, but I wish Hilary wouldn't insist on writing scripts for everyone. I would never say this.

"And she thinks she can write songs? This one doesn't even rhyme!"

Playing around. The Oracle exchanges his golf club for a game piece.

Congregation Beth Shalom board meeting - Middy and Marc with Alberto and Marta.

"Smile please!" Grumpy wore a face mask throughout the night because he has a cold and didn't want to infect everyone. It was amazing how appreciative our guests were, although Rabbi Rudolph wants to make it clear that Purim is the festival when we usually wear masks!