Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Christmas Theatrics

Wraith - His usual location

We are a theatrical family.
And by that, I mean that we are deeply involved in theatre.
Not that we are prone to theatrics in the home.
That would just be silly.
The Tolleys are known for things like – bursting into song instantaneously.
And everyone knowing the words.
Launching into long quotes at the mention of a single phrase.
Dressing up.
Our family was, quite literally, raised on the stage.
To anyone not so inclined, we're weird.
We do weird things.
We direct/perform in/produce plays.
We host Medieval feasts for no reason.
We dress up on a theme and invite the neighbourhood to come in and eat pie to celebrate . . . whatever.
To our neighbours, we are that family who doesn't do anything normally.
Even our Christmas decorating is a bit . . . I'm going to go with the PC term and call it . . . different.
We don't do lights.
We did, but we've gotten lazy.
Now our Christmas decorating consists of our Halloween decorating, plus a small addition.
I know. Weird.
Years ago, for her graduating project, our youngest daughter sculpted a wraith.
You heard correctly.
A wraith.
Nine feet tall and rather spooky looking.
We love it.
Wraith at Christmas
And, yes, that's a Humbug hat.
Don't ask . . .
It comes out of our back yard every Halloween and is prominently displayed next to the front door.
Where it can scare the cookies out of the little 'trick-or-treaters'.
And where it usually freezes so solidly to the grass that it must remain through Christmas and into the spring thaw.
Sigh.
How do you hide a nine-foot-tall behemoth?
In plain sight.
You can see what I mean.
Yep. Christmas at the Tolleys.
Everyone welcome!


10 comments:

  1. Wow ... that's all I've got. Wow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, Delores. We're scary. And contrary to popular opinion, we LOVE Christmas!

      Delete
  2. Well I'd put some lights on him a red hat and black belt and a white beard lol He'd become Santa.
    I also like to keep my decorations out all year round.
    Like the tree is up all year round. It is nice to make every day feel like Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Diane,

    What a delight to meet you - your post made me smile!
    I appreciate the nice comment you left on Inspire Me Monday! I am now following you and I invite you to join us on Friendship Frdiay, where you'll have the opportunity to meet and mingle with some other members of my my fabulous community!

    Have a wonderful week!

    Ramona
    http://create-with-joy.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ramona! I'm so glad I could give you a smile! I think 'Inspire Me Monday' an absolutely amazing idea. There aren't enough uplifting things in the world today. We have to support the ones we find! I will definitely look in on Friday!

      Delete
  4. I'd say, anyone who gets invited to the Tolleys for an evening are in for a lot of fun.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I immediately thought of him as Father Christmas needing his clothes back from the dry cleaner. I hope they arrive by this Christmas. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Father Christmas. Never thought of that. He'd look great in a nice Father Christmas robe! Oh, I do hope we get him unstuck from the lawn before next Christmas though . . .

      Delete

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