My Christmas Day 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through links on my site, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.
My Christmas Day 2024 was quiet, just as I like the holidays to be.
Later in the day, I saw Kendra and her family. They had gone to Kasi’s for the holiday meal. Apparently, 10-year-old Andrew got up during the night and found his presents, so the family was exhausted.
Kendra, her boyfriend, Scott, and the kids, Riley and Marley, came over yesterday afternoon.
We’ve been discussing whether to bring another cat into this household. The jury is still out, but I’m getting warmer to the idea. I’m a little worried about how Ivy would react, though.
Scott brought a kitten into his household a month or so ago. He already had his cat, Sebastian, who is Ivy’s age. He said the kitten brought new life to Sebastian’s world. And, of course, I want that for Ivy.
But she didn’t do so well with the kitten I had three years ago, which inexplicably died one night. I had Gracie for about six months, and Ivy never really warmed up to her.
Does Ivy Need A Friend?
Kendra thinks Ivy seems lonely and needs a friend. She does seem bored. If you recall, I had people and their dogs coming in and out of the apartment all day, so there was a flurry of activity.
I try to play with her, but she mostly sits and looks at me. However, she played with the others yesterday, running after the swirly toy when they threw it for her.
I told Kendra that Scott is the cat whisperer because cats react so well to him.
Last night, she seemed more content after having visitors, rather than just Ivy and me. So maybe she does need a cat friend. I wouldn’t want to bring a young kitten in here. Ivy is a big cat, and I wouldn’t want to worry about her possibly hurting it.
So, there has been considerable debate around here about adding a cat to this household lately.
A Complete Unknown:
Then, the kids went to their dad’s house to spend the remainder of Christmas.
Scott and Kendra went to a movie. They were going to see A Complete Unknown, a film about Bob Dylan.
A Complete Unknown is a biographical musical drama film directed by James Mangold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks. The screenplay is based on Elijah Wald’s 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric!
In 1961, an unknown 19-year-old, Bob Dylan, arrived in New York City with his guitar. On his meteoric rise, he forges relationships with music icons of Greenwich Village, culminating in a groundbreaking performance that reverberates worldwide.
From reading about the movie, the only actors whose names I recognized were Edward Norton and Elle Fanning. Timothee Chalamet plays Bob Dylan. Monica Barbaro plays Joan Baez.
Taking Down Christmas Decor:
I’ll be putting the Christmas decor away next week. There isn’t much to do. I’ve chosen not to put up a Christmas tree for the past two years. Instead, I added holiday vignettes around the house.
Adding vignettes here and there is much easier than putting up and taking down a Christmas tree. Sometimes I miss not having a Christmas tree with lights, but not enough to want to drag it all out of the shed and figure out where to put it.
Don’t get me wrong: I love a Christmas tree. But I have tabletop trees, which makes it a bit easier to decorate for the holidays. I was happy with the decorating that I did—in small slices, you might say.
When I don’t put up a Christmas tree, I miss the lights twinkling in the dark.
But after I eat supper, I take a shower and retreat to my bedroom, where I watch a little TV and read. So, I never return to the living room after about 6 p.m. Therefore, I wouldn’t see the lights at night anyway.
My bedroom is small, so there wouldn’t have been room for a tree. I haven’t shown you my bedroom yet because I’m not quite finished decorating it.
My Bedroom:
My bedroom holds my bed, and there’s just enough room on either side for my white nightstand/dressers. I have plants in front of the window, my green dresser, and my TV in front of the bed. There’s so little room in there for a Christmas tree.
So, next week, we will begin another year. What did you do on Christmas Day? Do you have concrete plans for the new year?
Before I sleep, I ponder what I want to plant in the springtime.
Kendra just texted that Marley passed her driving test this morning! Yea, Marley! But the power is out where she passed her test, so she can’t get her license yet.
Brenda, it sounds like you had a very nice Christmas. A little quiet time and time with your family is perfect.
I don’t know anything about cats, maybe there are some “games” and game toys for cats? Another cat sounds nice but what if Ivy doesn’t like it? We have 3 dogs and 2 will play together and leave the 3rd out and then there is one that has from day one played on her own and loves it. Animals are much like people, introverts and extroverts.
I love Christmas lights. If you miss the twinkling of lights you could get a small strand of 25-50 and put them on one of your indoor plants.
Have a wonderful weekend Brenda.
How about a foster,see how Ivy reacts?
My Bella was 4 when I brought Buddy home, she’s always been very docile & non territorial,he definitely livened her up,he was about 6 months.
Funny thing, carrying his crate to the house from my car,I stepped in a hole and broke my ankle!
My mind was on whether I should keep them apart or not!
Good to hear about your Christmas, sounds like everyone enjoyed the day. I have enjoyed all your post about new home, move, pictures and decorating. Also, enjoy seeing pictures and hearing about your family. You have done so much for last few weeks considering your problems with foot. I hope the new year brings continued happiness to you as you continue to decorate new home. On Christmas Eve, we celebrated family meal at daughter’s house, son in law cooked low country boil, served along with desserts. Delicious meal, a change from traditional meal which I have cooked until this year. Due to health problems and husband being diagnosed with CA this year, daughter decided to have Christmas at her home. We had a wonderful day of family time, games, good food and many gifts. It is always fun time to see grandchildren, and get updates on them. On Christmas day, we went to daughter’s house for brunch cooked again by son in law, he is an excellent cook. Christmas afternoon naps were much needed after many days of activity. Age has slowed us down which makes afternoon naps a daily treat. Hope 2025 brings you much happiness at Mamie.
Every family should do what they want, not have to adhere to a “traditional holiday” style.
I am in an apartment and don’t have room for a big tree. I put little trees on the mantle. The best thing we’re all the strings of lights I put up on the curtains, curios, everywhere. It’s easy and so, so pretty and bright. I will probably leave them up through Valentines Day. Very neutral and so, so pretty! Not expensive. Easy, too!
I think putting up small trees is more fun than putting up bigger ones. I like to be able to move them if I want to until I find the right spot for them.
My daughter and I had a quiet Christmas. Exchanged some
fun gifts. I took in a female cat when
my friend died. Nobody in her family wanted it. She is a love and so
affectionate. BUT won’t come out of my daughter’s bedroom to play with our other female
cat. I feel so bad. I’ve never had this kind of trouble before. And for the most part have always had females. So I guess we just never know.
That’s what scares me. Ivy didn’t take to Gracie. So I don’t know what to do.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. New Year is just around the corner, and then 2025. Wishing peace and prosperity for all of us for the New Year. If I had enough room in this house, I’d throw a big cover over my Christmas tree and wheel it into a spare room and keep it there until next year, then just play some checkers with the ornaments on it and move them around a bit. Alas, no space available on the one and only main floor. Have you thought about rescuing an older doggy rather than a kitty? You have a back yard, you could have one of your male friends or ask Kendra to install a deep stake that a long leash can be attached to and you could let the dog out into the yard safely, since I understand it isn’t closed in with fencing all the way around (maybe I misunderstood?) Ivy seemed to get along pretty well with your dear Charlie, that might be an option.
Oh Jan, you make me laugh! Ivy got along well with Charlie. But he was there first.
My sister and I had a very quiet and peaceful Christmas. 🎄
Our holiday meal was from Olive Garden.
There was plenty of food and lots of leftovers.
I love and appreciate quiet holidays.
When you get older, it’s important for them to be peaceful.
Now, let’s all get ready for the new year ,,,,, 2025!!
I love Olive Garden! To me, holidays should be whatever you want them to be.
Maybe Ivey could use a male brother to play with. We had a quite Christmas day as we celebrate on Christmas eve. It was fun and the young kiddos had a great time, and just like that Christmas is over
It’s taking a big chance to bring another animal into your home. You never know if they’ll take to one another.
We had 14 for Christmas. only 2 of which were preschoolers. All the adults helped find room to assemble the various toys. all had fun playing with the cars and train and Minnie Mouse. It brings so much joy to the adults playing with the kids. That said, we were tired by end of day! The next day the kids were soundly kissed and hugged and packed into the car for their 4 hour drive home. We collapsed, watched TV, and dozed! It is so much work to host but right now I wouldn’t trade it for the world… maybe next year…hmm
You’re far braver than I am. The two daughters have always hosted holidays. That’s how they did it when their dad was alive. One does Thanksgiving. The other does Christmas. I’m invited; I don’t care to go. I like it after the excitement is over. Of course Andrew is the only kid. Marley is 16 and Riley is 21.
I definitely think Ivy is bored and wants company, but it’s really about how the new cat gets introduced that’s vital. for starters, First, don’t get another female, go with a neutered male. And get a neutered male that isn’t an alpha, because Ivy is definitely an alpha cat. I had success using the introduction method from The Cat Whisperer, Jackson Galaxy. Place the new kitty in it’s own room, with food, water and litter. Don’t let them meet at first. The goal is to make them curious about each other. After a few days, create a see-through barrier so they can see each other but not touch. I created that by taking a window screen off temporarily, and using it as a screen door to the new kitty’s room. I went in and out easily by using duct tape to hold it in place. After about a week, they connected in the same room and it went great! No fights, just curiosity. And then, you have to play with them together, that also helps them feel comfortable with each other. You can’t just come home and plop a new kitty down in the space. It takes a plan. but it’s worth it.
https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/collections/aggression-1?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAmrS7BhBJEiwAei59i8dUIcSxZeNmLLhb-3kcdxZT7rbn8PyLPy5p9daUNCMevROspTa8DBoCZtAQAvD_BwE
Thanks so much for the advice! Kendra already told me about the separate rooms. How do you know if a male cat is an alpha?
I’m not sure how to describe alpha behavior to you, it’s something I can just seem to recognize. you might Google around and see if the internet has anything to say about that. alpha kitties are very confident and not skittish for the most part. cautious, but not skittish. I forgot to mention I also used this multi-cat formula from this place and I believe it really made a difference
https://www.catfaeries.com/essences.html
I did Google it right after I read your comment. But I’m still not sure I understand.
In my experience with introducing new cats, it takes a while for the second one to be accepted. I have had experiences where on the surface it didn’t seem like the second cat was fitting in, but in fact it was just the older cat playing the superior role. In reality the older cat started enjoying having someone else around. That is my two cents. In the end, every cat has their own personality and you just don’t know until you try. My 15 year old Nikki is happy with visits from a neighbor cat that looks in our windows and doors. She will look for him, get all excited and then take a long nap.
Ivy naps all the time. I’m concerned that she doesn’t have much activity. She doesn’t seem to want to play with me.
We had a quiet day yesterday until our daughter arrived about dinnertime. We shared a couple gifts between us 3. I fixed a fairly simple meal, made yummy chocolate cake for dessert tho. We watched Home Alone 2…having watched Home Alone 1 Sunday. Silly movie but makes us laugh. We felt happy with the day.
We don’t give gifts anymore between the adults. We do that at birthdays though and go to lunch. At Christmas it’s always about the kids.
Il faut bien réfléchir avant de donner un compagnon chat à Ivy.
J ai une chatte noire, Gigi, que J adore et quand mon frère est décédé J ai bien sur adopté sa chatte, Milena. Je pensais que tout se passerait bien parce que J avais déjà eu 2 chats en même temps, mais cela fait 2 ans et il est impossible Qu elles soient dans la même pièce, feulements, attaques… C est terriblement triste….
Oh no! That is sad. I’m worried about that. So I’m on the fence about the whole thing.
I love the idea of another lucky kitty getting to join your family. I wonder if a male younger one would be more accepted by Ivy? Also, the rescue would understand if you wanted to “try one out.” Then, keep introducing a new member until Ivy decides it’s one she likes!
You had a perfect Christmas! Saved yourself stress and anxiety and a big clean up task afterwards. Many of us are not so lucky. We do it to ourselves!
I know most of you do everything yourselves. Growing up, we did not celebrate holidays. As I got older, I reverted to that behavior. I like to decorate for holidays. But I don’t like the additional stress you speak of. Sometimes I feel guilty about that. I lived in Texas and this arrangement is what they came up with. They seem content to continue doing it this way. Kendra is 50 and Kasi is 46. So they’re old enough to want their own traditions.