Photography From the Fourth Week in December

The Fourth Sunday in Advent

As I post this, it will be Sunday, December 20th, the Fourth Sunday in Advent. And as I have been doing for the past few weeks, a Sunday post means sharing photographs I have taken during the current week, just not the current year. Last Sunday I shared photos taken during the third week in December. So today I am sharing five photographs taken between December 20th and December 26th. The years are 2006, 2007, 2012, 2018 and 2019. Five pictures showcasing my photography from the fourth week in December. All of the photos shown here are linked to their sales page on my RedBubble sales gallery. I hope you enjoy them. The fourth week in December also means Christmas–this coming Friday. You’ll note a theme in these photographs

A Christmas Hibiscus

What better way to start out this holiday post but with a large red and green plant. No, not a poinsettia. I love hibiscus, and have had several at home over the years. The one pictured above was in Momma’s house in Smith River, California. Even in California, I had to keep the plant inside for it to thrive. When I started looking for photographs taken during the fourth week in December, I saw a folder dated December 24th, 2007. This hibiscus was one of the photos in that folder. How appropriate, I thought. Later in my processing, I noticed that I took the photo much earlier in December. But the folder implied Christmas Eve, so I’m leaving it up. I take a lot of floral shots, and post a lot at my RedBubble sales gallery. To date, I haven’t sold a single flower photo. I have a good feeling about this one though.

What is Christmas without Cranberries?

I bought my first Nikon digital single lens reflex camera in December 2006. It was a Christmas gift to myself. On the 21st–during the fourth week in December–I drove north through Coos County, Oregon. Coos County farmers grow a lot of cranberries for Ocean Spray. I was caught by the color of these bogs and had to stop and photograph them. Yes, the red in the photo is made up of cranberries. Lots and lots of cranberries.

Kevin’s Birthday is during the fourth week in December

December 24th, to be exact. Everyone who has a birthday during the holiday season has a right to feel cheated. When Kevin was a child, his parents told him to pick a present from under the tree as his birthday present. I don’t give him Christmas presents. On the 24th, he gets a birthday present. Last year, I took him out to dinner at the Texas Road House in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. On the way, we got off the Interstate in Wallace, and drove up Idaho Highway 4 to Burke. A friend had told me about this barn, so I had to photograph it. We’ll probably go to the Roadhouse again this year, although we may make a farewell appearance at the Olive Garden since that chain is closing this month. I doubt we’ll drive back up to Burke on the way.

No, it’s not a Christmas Cactus

A few years back, we were in a nursery along Flathead Lake just outside of Polson. In the greenhouse were several cactus plants in large hanging baskets. I was amazed. Never had I seen such a large Christmas Cactus. When I spoke with the owner, she let me know these were NOT Christmas Cacti, but rather Orchid Cacti. I had to have one, so I bought a small one in pink. The next year, we returned and I bought a small one in red. The pink one has bloomed twice. The red one never stops blooming, and the blossoms are huge. I’m going to have to move the pot so the blossoms are more visible. I find them extraordinary and would like to display them better. I took this photo on December 21st, 2018 and posted it almost immediately on RedBubble. As I said above, none of my flower pics have ever sold. Maybe that will change now.

And So I’m Offering This Simple Phrase

To kids from one to ninety-two, although it’s been said many times, many ways,

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!!

And, if that’s not enough, click here to have Nat King Cole sing it for you.