The song says “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”- and I agree! It seemed like a short month, but when I look back, there was a lot packed in.

December 1– An inch or two of my favorite thing- what a great way to start the month! ❄️ Lititz, PA
December 2- The last page of the Chippy calender the kids made me for Christmas last year. I think I’m just going to reuse it for 2026! 🤓😃 Lititz, PA
December 3- The newest addition to our tacky light display! 😍 Park City Mall, Lancaster, PA
Then across the street to a very cold brass trio gig for Hospice.
December 4– Seeing one of my favors shows at The Fulton Theater🎅🏻 Lancaster, PA
December 5- A very cold brass quartet gig at Terre Hill Park- but the light display is excellent! Terre Hill, PA
December 6- Christmas gigs all day but a free evening meant a chance to go our friend Michelle’s Christmas Party, and visit Tam’s parents who live 4 houses away (Tam left, Michelle right). New Providence, PA
December 7- Woke up to the sad and shocking news that phenomenal drummer and all-around excellent guy Solera Mann (left) died in his sleep at age 27. This pic is from our last gig together with Funktion a few weeks ago. 😞
Break time on the Strasburg Railroad with Holiday Horns. Strasburg, PA
December 8– Headed out entertain some travelers with my jazz quartet and this crazy Christmas jacket 🎅🏻 Lititz-Leola, PA
December 9– Look who we ran into at Barnes & Noble! 🥰 Lancaster, PA
December 10– Tammy’s book club demands that she host the December gathering because they call our place the “Christmas House”. Pic by Tam. Lititz, PA
December 11- Seeing Fulton Theater’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” radio play was….wonderful😅 Lancaster, PA
December 12- Played a super fun Christmas show with this crew at The Shirt Factory and I could walk to the gig from my house! 🎅🏻 Lititz, PA
December 13- A long, cold day! Ran into friends on my morning gig at a Christkindlmakt with Happy Wanderers. Linglestown, PA
Then back to the RR for 6 hours of brass caroling. We call this The Chair of Self-Loathing. If you’re lucky enough to rest here for a few minutes, the bad lighting will exaggerate the moles you need cut off your face, the weight you need to lose, and other imperfections. Strasburg, PA
It was crowded all day and into the evening.
Made it to the Ware Center 5 minutes before showtime, and scored this 4rth row seat to hear trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg and her killer Christmas jazz quintet. Lancaster, Pa
December 14– a rare and beautiful, snowy day on the rails with Holiday Horns. Strasburg, PA
Crossing from car to car for 8 hours got a little treacherous 😅
Mom hates having her picture taken, so I surprised her by snapping this one 😁 Lancaster, PA
December 15– another light coating of snow made our light display look extra good. Lititz, PA
Do you recognize the new guy from the Dec 3 pic?
We expanded things a bit this year and put the nativity scene inside the yard behind an open gate.
December 16- My Fever Pitch band played for the inmates at the Camp Hill prison. Details here. No photos allowed, just this one from the outside of the compound. Camp Hill, PA
December 17- I love Christmas decorations, wherever I find them, including a local hotel I’m killing time in waiting for Tammy. Lancaster, PA
December 18- Some mornings are just beautiful. I don’t know if it came through in the picture but this one was. Lititz, PA
And I’m really into the way our third floor “Lounge” looks at Christmas. Lititz, PA
December 19- Our neighbors planned the annual neighborhood Christmas party around my schedule! 🤯🙏💚 🎅🏻 Lititz, PA
December 20– This was a big day of extremes. First a funeral for this super talented bandmate (Funktion) and awesome young human, Solera Mann, who died unexpectedly of a stroke at age 27. Swatara, PA
Then – helping these two get settled into their brand new house! Congratulations Bailey and Tom! 🎉 Lancaster, PA
You know how it is with moving/unpacking – sometimes you’re not sure where to begin.
December 21-Don’t let this early morning pic fool you – the trains were packed all day. Holiday Horns played for all 8 runs. 🎺 Strasburg, PA
December 22– Tam on the front porch roof trying to anchor down Santa and Rudolph after they were blown halfway down the street by some serious wind gusts! Lititz, PA
Here’s what those winds did to the fence around my in-laws pool 🤯💨
December 23- A trip to Koziar Christmas Village with Ally, Alec, and his parents. If you like Christmas decorations – this place is a definite must see!! Bernville, PA
Ally at Koziar
Still Koziar- Tam, me, Kathy, Ally, Alec and Mike
December 24– Christmas Eve Mass at Saint James. Can you spot the back of Tam’s head?Lancaster, PA
December 25- Christmas morning with the kids. Lititz, PA
Christmas afternoon/evening at Tam’s parents. New Providence, PA
Ending with some pool. New Providence, PA
December 26- Joseph has an ice induced head cold and runny nose. Lititz, Pa
November 27- Suited up to play wedding fanfares with my Royal Horns duo. Brooklyn, NY
Greeters at the Renaissance themed wedding.
December 28- This manger scene is one of the centerpieces of our town, but years ago it was subject of national news. That’s a good story for next season. Lititz, PA
December 29- I don’t remember why Mom is covering Dad’s face with a mariachi Christmas album. 😁 Lititz, PA
December 30- My first trip to IKEA. It lived up to the hype! White Marsh, MD
Bailey and her cart full of furniture to assemble.
Then we took a gym class with Ally, who “solo-taught” her first Restore class and did a great job😎 Eldersburg, MD
December 31-Excellent New Year’s Eve gig for a ballroom dance with Dave Winter, Bailey and Connor Stoehr- and it ended at 9pm! Willow Street, PA
Which means we could have friends over for the big moment- and since I had the fanfare horns handy anyway… Lititz, PA

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