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~ 

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~

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~

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. 

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!

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.

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~

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.