The Queen's Parade . . .

"I will honor Christmas in my heart,

and try to keep it all the year."

- Charles Dickens

On Tuesday I shared some general photos from the Dickens on the Strand in Galveston,

a yearly tradition with this being our 4th in attendance.

Today...the Queen's Parade.

We found a spot a waited and for the parade to start, but as our luck would have it

a crowd formed right in our viewing path. So, I crossed the street to get a better position

where there weren't many people, just to have another person with two cameras dart in front 

of me more times than I would like to say. Father Christmas, missed it. The queen in her

carriage, yep, missed it.

Then at the end of the parade when the Texas snow came down (aka dish soap bubbles)

my camera malfunctioned and I missed that too.

But, I did manage to have really good timing on one of them . . . 

  

THIS ONE! . . . Sometimes the timing God's are on your side.

The Battle of Galveston reenactment crew - coming up next month.

And, this is what a whole lot of my shots looked like...someone always stepping in my way, oh well!

We were lucky to make it several blocks to the very end of the "bed races" after trying to figure

out how to get my camera working again. This was one of those 'one shot' deals before I almost got run over by a reindeer bed! lol

Always such a good time, although there was no 'real' snow machine this year for the kids

to throw snowballs, and the elephants were missing? One year one of the elephants managed to try and steal the glasses right off my face. Just in case you were wondering, elephant spit doesn't

smell so good! ;)

sharing with Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things

A Victorian Christmas Stroll

Every year, I look forward to  . . . 

"Dickens on The Strand" in Galveston.

For me, it's a photographers dream, to practice street photography where people

are not only dressed up, but where I don't have to feel like I'm stalking someone

while getting a hairy eyeball. They more than likely will want their photo taken.

It works for me . . . win, win!

And there just might have been a gazillion people, maybe the most I've ever seen.

Last year it was in the twenties, with a blustery wind, and the year before that I think we

were in shorts. This year, it was just right, although it was quite overcast and gray.

Since I'm linking up with Kathy's song-ography today I thought instead of writing

the lyrics, I would let you stroll to some music (if you like) to the song "Silver Bells"
and a little Bob Hope.

                       

Let's take a stroll, shall we . . . .

First stop, a turkey leg....of course!

Or a corn dog.

A little pit stop,

to watch a Greek Gypsy sing while doing a scarf dance.
(I have no idea how this fits in with a Victorian Christmas, so just roll with it) :)

OPA!!

Nearly everywhere you turn there is entertainment, and it's fun to watch some of the same
kids grow from year to year both physically and musically.

Sometimes people are so moved that they break into dance...

This girl reminded me of a porcelain doll.

Perhaps she was amused by the fire eater?
(kids DO NOT try this at home, or anywhere for that matter)

I wonder if he realizes there were turkey legs and corn dogs just up the street?

I can never get enough of the costumes. I've always wanted to dress up, but the dress I saw and fell

in love with was over $500!

Sometimes, people will just stop when they see you have a camera and strike a pose.

This cutie, stole my heart and he was getting a lot of tips! I wonder

if he needs an agent next year? ;)

(KK happy heart)

And it wouldn't be Dickens on The Strand without the "Christmas Tree Lady"...

Joy to the world, she has real working lights!

Or Father Christmas, or Captain Sparrow. But, I never caught up with Father

Christmas, and I was having camera malfunctions through out the day and missed the

opportunity with Captain Sparrow. Yep, the dreaded ERR message on my only 5 month 

old camera which I thought I figured out, only to have issues again. May need to send it

to Nikon - BOO!!

(I still have more to share, including the "Queen's" parade, later in the week.)

I would tell you that my tree is finished, but that would be a lie. It's been up for quite some

time, but I just haven't brought myself to wrap those lights. The way I look at it is, we are still way ahead of last year when I got the tree done a day and a half before Christmas because I was sick. But...on the plus side we are for the most part finished with shopping. Two hours, and the hubby and I pretty much had things wrapped up (pun intended).

Unfortunately, my son ended up with the flu and missed school all last week, and then got an acute respiratory infection. Yep, I was a little more than nervous about that since his infusions suppress his immune system and we have to be extremely careful. But he was back at school yesterday, and the best part is we are well past the period that the rest of us could have gotten it. (quick knock on wood)

Now I'm off to make another batch of fudge since the last one was commandeered by ants.

Don't even get me started. We've tried everything and they are so small that they find a way

in the house every time. Hmmm, maybe I could lace some bait fudge with ex-lax? lol

Have a great day!

Love, Kim

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday, Song-ography

Communal Global

It's Christmas time in the city . . .

Remember that time machine from a couple of weeks ago, well...

the great thing about a time machine is that there is no jet lag, and no expense.

One of my favorite festivals on Galveston Island is their "Dickens on the Strand,"

where when you walk through the white gates you are immediately transported back

to a 19th-century Victorian London.

And just maybe, you might hear the song "Silver Bells". . .

But mostly because that's the song this week for song-ography. (Cue the music)

City sidewalks busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas

Children laughing

People passing

Meeting smile after smile

And on every street corner you'll hear...

Silver bells, silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring a ling, hear them sing

Soon it will be Christmas day.

String of street lights

Even stop lights, blink a bright red a green

(or maybe a 10 foot tall Christmas tree lady)

As the shoppers rush home with their treasures

. . . or watch the costume contest.

This was our third "Dickens" and by far the coldest. In Texas you just never know what it will be like this time of year. This year unlike years past, in shorts and a t-shirt, I couldn't bundle up enough and wished I had had ear muffs. I had to wear my hubby's barn jacket as I don't even have a winter coat anymore...normally there is no great need, but this year I could use one.

Unfortunately only three days later I came down very sick, and after a week was on the verge of pneumonia.

So, I'm on my second round of antibiotics, and finally after nearly 13 days I'm coming out on the other side.

Our tree only got put up a day a half ago, and I went shopping for the first time yesterday! Eeeek!

But, it's all good, or I keep telling myself that, lol!

Today, we are going to "deck" the tree, bake some cookies, and play some games.

It's a quiet Christmas just the four of us.

Wishing you a very joyful, merry and bright, Christmas!

Love, Kim

Oh Yes, P.S. - I have a little "jingle" over at Focusing on Life today for you...follow me there, {here}.

AND, if you would like to join me on my Facebook page you can "like it" here.  :) 

Sharing with Song-ography, Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday

  

I stepped through a time machine . . .

. . . and found Queen Victoria and her royal entourage!

(And P.S. I will be back with more)

You can find me today musing over at Focusing on Life on our monthly theme of joy.

Hope to see you there.

Love, Kim

sharing with Texture Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday

Foto Friday - The Holiday Season, Victorian style

Here ye, here ye, grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and stroll along with me . . .
as we wander through the Holiday season with a little Victorian style.

One of the things I love about the island of Galveston is that it's so full of Victorian architecture,

  and this weekend there was a hustle and bustle of people during it's 38th annual festival called

'Dickens on the Strand'. It's a festival celebrating the times of Charles Dickens,

where the Victorian era of the 19th century comes to life. And come to life it did! 

For an entire weekend there were gorgeous Ladies, and handsome Lords meandering through

 streets while store vendors in period clothing were rolling their carts and peddling their wares.

There were magicians, acrobats and jugglers, and carolers on street corners.

And the merriment of the Christmas holiday was everywhere as bagpipers and street musicians

strolled through the crowds playing music from the Victorian era. There were also costume and whisker contests, parades, and Victorian bed races. But of course no festival would be complete without funnel cake and turkey legs, and that would be Texas style!!

I took far too many pictures so I made a few collages to give you a better flavor of the day. 
I'm already looking forward to this next year, only next time I just may be dressed up too!

There were chimney sweepers . . .   and all I had to do was put my camera to my eye and if someone spied me, they were poking each other to strike a pose - Loved these guys!

There were high necklines, and low necklines!

Your eyes do not deceive you, yes that is snow, real snow only made by a machine  . . . and snowball fights ensued until it disappeared! That girl in the green dress was soaking wet, and having a ball!

And hats of all shapes and sizes.

{Sharing this with Photo Art Friday}

Yep more fun with smudge and hexagon pixels to give it the feel of an impressionistic painting.

{Sharing with Shoot, Edit, Submit}

And this woman really stood out in the crowd, just so beautiful and she kindly stopped to let several of us photograph her. Of course I love her dress - it's PINK!

There was a little bit of everything, a foxtail and some steampunk, well quite a bit of steampunk . . .

Oh yes . . . and who doesn't love a Jack Sparrow, just not sure what he has to do with Dickens?

More snow, I mean soap bubbles. When you live in Texas they get really creative to set the mood.

I mean what's a Christmas parade without snow bubbles right? Haha, yes it's okay to laugh!!

Pickwick's lanternlight parade . . . and incredible bagpipers!

And when we were walking back to the car, here was this absolute darling playing Christmas tunes

and his little brother happily managing his lute! ; )

And the very last stop before we walked out of the gate, was this precious. A young camel . . .

and are they ever soft and sweet. My daughter and I rubbed his head and he literally melted!

. . . and so did I!

Not sure about you but I need another cup of coffee, hope you enjoyed our stroll!

Have a fabulous weekend friends!!

Love, Kim

XO

   
   
Hosted by Cecily and Lolli