Greeting cards have all been sent, the Christmas rush is through. But I still have one wish to make, a special one for you. Merry Christmas! (and yes, I borrowed the lyrics from the Carpenters!)
In the spirit of relaxing and relishing this time, I am borrowing heavily from Christmas songs for this post, rather than put in all the work of writing my own prose. Perhaps that is as much a gift to you as it is to me!!!
For me, the Christmas season officially begins the day after Thanksgiving, the first day Spousal Unit will let me play Christmas music. I wasted no time on that, as well as creating pine swags for our fence and near our front door.
Some aspects of Christmas start earlier in the year, such as selecting designs for cross-stitch ornaments for the "kids", and then executing them. I can show these to you now since they have already opened these presents!Haul out the holly Put up the tree before my spirit falls again
Fill up the stocking I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now
For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute
Candles in the window, carols at the spinet
Yes, we need a little Christmas, right this very minute
Hasn't snowed a single flurry, but Santa dear we're in a hurry
The snow was late in arriving (the ski resort had to delay opening two days, and with limited terrain) but in the last week or so, Mother Nature has been making up for lost time!
Winter sports help me outweigh eating my way through the holidays! At the encouragement of my Dear Neighbor Friend, I am now the proud owner of a set of cross-country skis. Swishing my way through the woods and meadows near our house is just about as Currier and Ives as you're going to get!
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
A week ago, the moon rose over the hillside opposite our house, and we were in awe. It wasn't the Star, but I could easily imagine how the Three Kings might have felt upon observing it as I gazed at that shimmering orb.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
...it looks like you enjoyed a beautiful white Christmas. Happy New Year to you Angie.
ReplyDeleteI like cross country skiing. I haven't had a chance to go yet this season. Maybe this week.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a nice Christmas. Your neck of the woods is stunning in the Winter!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! I am jealous of your ski tracks in the snow. The snow looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWishing you and yours a very happy and safe Christmas season. Your wintery images look like Christmas cards! I so love seeing wintery images from the northern hemisphere this time of year while we are sweltering in over 100F heat! Thank you so much for another fabulous year of Mosaic Monday. Take care. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. Good for you for honoring your dear mom by making divinity. I've never made that. Now walking out your front door with your cross country skis and setting out has to be a great treat. Glad you had a good Christmas. A very Happy New year to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am glad you had a Merry Christmas. The snow scenes look beautiful, love the sky/moon shot. The cross country skiing sounds like fun and a work out. I wish you all the best in 2022, a happy and healthy New Year. Take care, enjoy your day and week ahead.
It is amazing to me how often I read that people only do things when my husband (or wife) will let me. What century are we living in?
ReplyDeleteGood to hear your Christmas was happy, Angie. I spent all of Christmas Day in the hospital emergency department as my father had a turn and they had to run tests. Happier next year I hope...
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year from Minnesota!
ReplyDeleteLovely to see the snow Angie, enjoy that cross country skiing, only tried it once and didn't go that well!! Love the cross stitch. Happy Christmas
ReplyDeleteI am singing now....thank you for a beautiful post. Though I would have equally loved your own beautiful prose. I always love your writing, Angie! Oh, that moon, the snowy wonderland, your Christmas, your Christmassy swags....and your daughter's Love van... all equal fabulousness. How lovely you honoured your dear mum cooking something she would have. 'Tis a pity I can't cross country ski all my much-too-much-Christmas-eating off; but that is probably a good thing as I would break a leg...or two! Enjoy all that snow!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2022, Angie!
What a gorgeous view!
ReplyDeleteStunning winter photos with clear blue skies & pure white snow! Wishing healthy & happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a wonderful celebration! I wish you a happy and healthy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOh I love your snow photos - to me it looks like just the right amount of snow - you can still get out and ski - but I have no idea really!! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I'm loving all the snow! :D
ReplyDeleteAll the best for 2022!
Happy New Year from rainy Britain Angie. I reckon that it's not stopped raining since you left to fly back to the US. Never mind snow shoes, we are thinking of buying a boat to get to down to the shops. And I'm thinking those snow scenes of yours would be welcome here right now if the rain turned to snow.
ReplyDeleteStunning snows scene, I love it. Season's greeting to you Angie.
ReplyDeleteLovely seeing all of your photographs, so pleased you had a good Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI do often wonder where 2021 went, as it seemed to pass by very quickly.
As we look forward to a New Year I wish you and yours a happy and healthy 2022.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
Sure looks like a winter wonderland. Some places in the west have had crazy piles of snow accumulate. Hope things are calm in your neck of the woods. Cute cross-stitched ornaments. Warm wishes for a wonderful new year.
ReplyDeleteIt looks very Christmassy where you live. Just be sure and keep all that white stuff that you like out of Oklahoma, we don't want it.
ReplyDeleteI love all your decorations. To me the best part of Christmas is the time between the day and New Years. Lots more relaxed then than before.
I wish you and your family a Happy New Year!!
Beautiful snow scenes. Best wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy 2022.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! I enjoy winter. Happy New Year! I liked your story about the mouse in your comments on my blog. Such fun!
ReplyDeleteHello Angie, I felt sure I'd commented on this post!?
ReplyDeleteMaybe not ...
I did enjoy it though.
All the best Jan