Tuesday, December 31, 2019

WEEK OF QUOTES - LIFE IS TOO SHORT...


"Life is too short to wake up 
In the morning with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right,
Forgive the ones who don't, 
And believe that everything
Happens for a reason.
If you get the chance, take it.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said it would be easy,
They just promised it would be worth it."

~Dr. Seuss~ 



Monday, December 30, 2019

WEEK OF QUOTES - FOR MOST OF HISTORY...

"For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it."
~Jacques-Yves Cousteau~





Thursday, December 26, 2019

FENCES AROUND THE WORLD

This is my contribution to Gosia's Fences Around The World.  Thank you for hosting Gosia.  As I wasn't able to take any fence photos to share, I thought this one would be okay.  It was when I was in England a few years ago.  

If you would like to see other fences around the world, or join in with your own, you can go here.  

Thank you for visiting everyone and have a great weekend.  See you on Monday!



BOXING DAY.


I hope you all had a wonderful celebration yesterday.  Our Christmas' are always special, each one seeming more so than the last.  Yesterday our son and daughter-in-law came over for several hours and what a super time we had with them.  

Before they arrived my family in Germany got in touch via Facetime, and I once again blessed this technology that allows us to be practically in the same room together, even though we are three thousand miles apart.  

We enjoyed a dinner of Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding with all the fixings.  This was the first Christmas Dinner that my dear hubby fixed and he did an excellent job.  There were old-fashioned Christmas Crackers on the table.  Gregg and I pulled the ends of ours so hard that the little novelties flew across the floor, and we never did find a couple of them.  We wore the paper hats contained inside, and told corny jokes from the little pieces of paper also enclosed, and after Christmas Dinner we sat around the tree and opened our gifts to each other.   

It went by too quickly and it seemed like no time at all when we were waving them off down the road on the way to our daughter-in-law's family.   The rest of the evening was spent relaxing and going over the fun of the day.  

We have no plans on Boxing Day but don't have to cook because we made sure to make enough for plenty of leftovers.  It will always be Boxing Day for me, the day after Christmas which my family enjoyed growing up in England.  

And it was a perfect day. 

Time to finish my post and I will leave you with a few lines I found recently.  You know how much I love my quotes.  

Enjoy yourselves and I look forward to hearing all about how you celebrated.




Simply give others a bit of yourself:
a thoughtful act,
a helpful idea,
a word of appreciation,
a lift over a rough spot,
a sense of understanding,
a timely suggestion.
You take something out of your mind,
garnished in kindness out of your heart,
and put it into the other person's mind and heart.

~Charles H. Burr~



Wednesday, December 25, 2019

HAPPY 25TH

“The joy of brightening other lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays.”
~W. C. Jones~


Wishing you a wonderful Christmas with your families and to all, the greatest of happiness and good health in 2020!

With love from our house to yours. 





Tuesday, December 24, 2019

A BEAUTIFUL POEM FOR THE CHRISTMAS

To everyone of all Faiths, may you find peace, love and joy during your own special celebration.  

The Littlest Christmas Tree
by Amy Peterson

The littlest Christmas tree
lived in a meadow of green
among a family
of tall evergreens.

He learned how to whisper
the evergreen song
with the slightest of wind
that came gently along.

He watched as the birds
made a home of twigs
and couldn't wait till
he too was big.

For all of the trees
offered a home,
the maple, the pine and the oak,
so strong.

"I hate being little,"
the little tree said,
"I can't even turn colors
like the maple turns red.

I can't help the animals
like the mighty old oak.  
He shelters them all
in his wide mighty cloak."

The older tree said,
"Why, little tree, you don't know?
The story of a mighty King
from the land with no snow?"

Little tree questioned,
"A land with no snow?"
"Yes!" said old tree,
"A very old story,
from so long ago.

A star appeared 
giving great light
over a manger,
on long winter's night.

A baby was born,
a King of all kings,
and with Him comes love
over all things.

He lived in a country
all covered in sand,
and laid down His life
to save all of man."

Little tree thought of the gift
given by Him,
then the big tree said with the
happiest grin.

"We're not just trees,
but a reminder of that day
There's a much bigger part
of a role that we play!

For on Christmas Eve
my life I'll lay down,
in exchange for a happier,
loving ground.

And as I stand dying
they'll adorn me in trim.
This all will be done
in memory of Him.

Among a warm fire,
with family and friends,
in the sweet songs of Christmas,
I'll find my great end.

Then ever so gently,
He'll come down to see
and take me to heaven,
Jesus and me.

So you see, little tree,
we are not like the oak
who shelters all things
beneath his great cloak.

Nor are we like 
the maple in Fall,
whose colors leave many
standing in awe.

The gift that we give
is ourselves, limb for limb,
the greatest of honor,
in memory of Him."

The little tree bowed
his head down and cried
and thought of the King
who willingly died.

For what kind of gift
can anyone give
than to lay down his life
when you wanted to live?

A swelling of pride
came over the tree.
"Can all of this happen
because of just me?

Can I really bring honor
by adorning a home,
by reminding mankind,
that he's never alone?"

With this thought, little tree
began singing with glee
happily and proud
to be a true Christmas tree.
You can still hear them singing
even the smallest in height,
singing of Christmas 
and that one Holy Night.


Merry Christmas!




Monday, December 23, 2019

REVISITING THE WREATHES AND GARLANDS OF COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

A few old photos from Williamsburg, from my archives.  They were taken at this time of the year, as you can see from all the decorations on the windows and doors.
Usually I have a recipe for you today but instead, at this link, you will find all kinds of colonial recipes on the Williamsburg website.  They have a link to one of my favorites, Peanut Soup.  Collops of Salmon sounds intriguing.













Thanks for visiting and enjoy the season.



Thursday, December 19, 2019

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED



The forest said to the little deer,
"Are you really surprised that you are one with all leaves, trees, plants, creatures, people, earth, sky?
We are all connected."

~Author Unknown~




Tuesday, December 17, 2019

MERRY MERRY AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

We are celebrating our 44th Wedding Anniversary today, and spending it quietly and joyfully. 

 I am also late with the decorations but hope to start putting ornaments on our tree very soon.