Christmas · My Thoughts

An Elf Decorated My House: No, My Husband Did!

Elf in the air

Last weekend, an elf efficiently finished decorating our house for Christmas. No, really it was my husband, Lin!

Because of the dog attack’s effect on my foot and leg, I haven’t been able to help much in decorating for Christmas. I’m low on energy and my foot and leg hurt. Also, I don’t have much Christmas spirit this year, and usually I push to have our tree up the first week after Thanksgiving. So, Lin realized all this and put a gigantic effort forth and decorated! So, in reality, he is one of Santa’s elves!

Also, last week, I signed up for the Writing Intensive I wrote about last week, and it spanned December 4 – 8, so I couldn’t muster any extra energy to help. Throughout the time I was meeting in the loft on my desktop computer, I heard Lin downstairs quietly decorating. Then later Saturday evening, I had a Zoom meeting with two friends I met while living in Loveland, Colorado. We have kept up a monthly Zoom call since 2020 and the pandemic. Again I heard, that little—no not so little elf—decorating the Christmas tree.

I did contribute to two parts of the decorating. When Lin unboxed my Nativity collection, he just set the figurines on the buffet. Later that evening, I organized the different sets and then places the large focal Nativity set I in the middle.

The other part I helped with is a little village I put out each year on another stand. Our housecleaners came on Thursday, and the box of trees, miniature houses and the lights still set boxed on the stand. Previously I had unboxed my Charlie Brown Christmas tree and assembled it.

So before they came, when I did my major pick-up sweep I do each month before they arrive, I unboxed the trees, miniature houses and lights and set it up. That felt good.

Because of the insanity of this Christmas with my injury, Lin and I decided early on to tame down our decorations. Normally he puts up lights around the house and a Nativity set out on the patio Mom gave me before she died. That’s the Nativity set many of you saw years ago buried in the snow that looked like an Alien because of the lights. Also, we normally decorate upstairs in the loft and in our bedroom. This year, we did none of that—we decorated just downstairs in the living room, kitchen and laundry room.

Each year I make a family calendar for our family featuring pictures from that year. I really wanted to do one this year against all odds because we had two new babies this last year, and I wanted to feature them on the cover. I got it done!

So here’s what our house looks like this Christmas!

Here’s a bird’s eye view of the living room. That holiday elf is enjoying a video on his laptop and waiting for me to finish this so we can watch another Christmas movie! He probably has the Sunday Night Football game on the TV in front of him, too!

Bird's Eye View of Our Living Room - Elf

so many memories flood me as I decorate each year—the Santa dollar bill Tex White gave me as a tip when I was a beautician in Loveland. I hang it on the tree each year. I so missed the chance to touch that dollar bill this year or the other ornaments on the tree. But this year, I couldn’t do. Next year for sure!


Don’t miss out on the specials I’m offering this year. It may be too late to get an autographed book, but they will be on sale until the end of the year for 50% off. However— e-books and audiobooks can be downloaded, so go for it!! Something for everyone!

50% sale on most of my books at my Etsy Shop, Larada’s Reading Loft. Get an autographed copy!

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous ChristmasMemoir audiobook on sale for $3.50

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook on sale for $3.00

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Christmas · Costa Rica · My Thoughts · Spain · Travel

Lin and Larada’s Christmas Newsletter & Decorations

I love the idea of the Christmas newsletter! I love looking back over my year and reflecting on it. I also love decorating my home with familiar decorations. Two traditions I love! Every year for thirty-two years, I’ve written a Christmas newsletter to share with family and friends highlighting my previous year. Also I seriously enjoy Christmas decorations. So, enjoy Lin and my Christmas newsletter and decorations.

Lin and Larada's Christmas Newsletter banner

2020 Started Off Great!

Yes, 2020 started off with a bang! On January 7, 2020 Lin and I embarked on a trip of a lifetime—twelve days on a private tour of Costa Rica with Lin’s ex-wife, Victoria. She invited us and 7 friends on this delightful escapade. We invited two of our friends, so the “Dirty Dozen” was formed. Our tour guide, Enrique, led a square dance tour in 2001 that Lin and Victoria organized, so Lin was excited to reunite with his old friend.

We saw exotic animals—quetzal birds, iguanas, Jesus Christ lizards, monkeys and sloths—and spent time in gorgeous jungle areas. We sailed over the canopy of the rain forest on a zipline! What an experience! We ended our trip with some leisure time and a catamaran trip out to snorkel.  

The majority of the people on this trip didn’t know each other when we started, but we became friends by the end!

After being home a few days, I squeezed  in a trip to Branson, CO to do major revisions on my book project. We left on February 27 for Barcelona, Spain with a group of square dance friends. Lin and I fell in love with Barcelona! Our tour guide, Bradley Dick, entertained us with his extensive knowledge and humor. Again, I can only give you highlights of a jam-packed twelve days.

I loved La Sagrada Família in Barcelona, a cathedral beyond description—truly sensory overload—and Gaudi’s other amazing architecture throughout the city. We also visited Montserrat, an 11th century Benedictine monastery built on the side of a mountain. There we saw a fascinating black Madonna and Christ Child.

In Valencia we enjoyed delicious paella, the place of its origin. From there we headed to the Arabic Triangle of Spain: Granada, Seville and Toledo with Córdoba in the middle. In Granada, we visited the Alhambra and Generalife, marveling at the influence of the Arabic world on Spain. 

In Seville, after dinner, we had a carriage ride with high-stepping Andalusian horses, stopping for photos in front of the Plaza America. In the evening, we saw Flamenco dancers, a much-awaited event for me! Dazzling sweeping costumes, taps on shoes and snapping castanets! 

On our trip to Madrid, we toured a gigantic Mesquita (mosque) and Catedral (cathedral) at Córdoba. From Córdoba to Madrid, we drove through La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote! In Madrid, we explored a small section of The Prado then drove to Toledo and toured this scenic city built on a cliff.

We left Madrid on March 8, 2020 and Spain had 500 coronavirus cases. Our magical second trip of a lifetime ended abruptly on our arrival home.

Then the Lockdown!

On March 9, we woke up to Spain’s explosion of coronavirus cases to 1500 in one day, so Lin and I started a two-week quarantine. I was certain we would get sick because we spent the last two days in downtown Madrid and then at the airport, but thank God, we didn’t. And that’s the way spring, summer and fall went. All of our annual square dance events were canceled. Lin dedicated his extra time to his garden and he produced the most amazing explosions of color and foliage ever—hours upon hours of work.

Because of Lin’s work in the garden, he always has a gorgeous tan and is very wise about how he does it, so I adopted his method and did a lot of sunbathing and reading.

Immediately, I became a fan of Zoom and have used it weekly to connect with family and friends. I’ve lived here for nine years and finally cleaned out a storage shed Lin bought for my extra stuff when we married. I found some treasures I’d forgotten about!

We have watched lots of British TV series, and my cat, Jesse, assumes the position on the arm of the loveseat every night for our TV time—something so unusual at our house!

We had planned a square dance trip  to Germany in September, but it was canceled too! We moved it to 2021!

And the Release of Flippo’s Book

I spent my time finishing up my newest book,  Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo in the midst of the pandemic. I had planned to release it at CALLERLAB at the end of April, but that event was canceled, so I had more time to work on it. I released it May 8, 2020 and am so proud of the end product which took me nearly three years to complete. It was the project of a lifetime.

Because all square dance events were canceled, I have spent time promoting this book online and have enjoyed the connections I’ve made with Flippo fans all over the world.

If you are interested, visit my website: https://www.laradasbooks.com

Lin’s Wildlife Habitat Certification

Lin's Certified Wildlife Habitat - Christmas Newsletter
Lin’s Banner

In planning his garden, Lin plants flowers that attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, and we’ve seen the increase of visitations from these creatures over the years. He also puts out bird food that attracts birds at twenty-five feeders. The culmination of his efforts resulted in meeting the qualifications for certification by the Wildlife Habitat, and he received his certification in October.


Miller’s Christmas Decorations

I’d like to feature our decorations at our home. You can’t come visit our house because of the pandemic, so I’d like to bring my home to you!

Santa & angel collection: Christmas Newsletter
Our Santa Claus & Angel Collection
Small village - Christmas Newsletter
A small Christmas Village
Our Christmas Stockings
Nativity - Christmas Newsletter
Our Famous Outside Nativity

A Miller Christmas Eve tradition is Lin reads a Christmas poem, “A Cowboy’s Christmas Prayer,” from Tombstone Epitaph. Enjoy!


Christmas newsletters, decorations, the magic of this holiday! Yes, I do believe!

~Visit my Christmas blog posts:

~HAVE YOU ORDERED A PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR A LOVED ONE OR YOURSELF?   AVAILABLE NOW! Go to the homepage on my website & pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com

~Here’s Christmas greetings from Flippo & Neeca, featuring his song, “When Its Christmas Time in Texas”: https://youtu.be/mpJCUGffU3A

ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW:

~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me & my books:  https://www.laradasbooks.com

~ Visit my Etsy Shop for 25% off individual paperback titles. Good until December 20, 2020. Here’s the coupon link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaradasReadingLoft?coupon=25OFFS&IA1220INDIV