Monday, December 28, 2015

A Few Holiday Highlights

I'm tired!


Before I start looking ahead to a new year, I wanted to look back at some of my favorite Christmas moments.


My month started with a visit to Southern Exposure, with another the following week! I loved my finished products and the friendships we enjoyed during our creative moments.

                    

And of course it wouldn't be December without a Cork Poppers holiday celebration!


Believe me, there are a lot worse things to do on a Saturday than sample wine, have a great feast and sing Christmas carols!


We sampled wines of the Southern Hemisphere. I'll post about this one in more detail soon.


The next day, Rick and his musical trio performed Christmas selection and classical pieces at a holiday party for a group of residents in an adult foster care home.


Santa made an appearance, too!


There was plenty of time with friends. Some of it was one-on-one with lunch or dinner and good conversation and some was at gatherings of like-minded souls, including my great gang of women friends and our mates!



There was time to be creative.


And time to celebrate with the kids.


There were quiet moments.


And Christmas dinner moments where spoons rested on noses, bells made their way into ears and Christmas cracker prizes and paper crowns delighted us all!


My brand new rolling cart (or at least the bottom level) was taken over in a coup by Lizzie Cosette, who also appears to have claimed my new favorite totebag as a comfy spot to rest!

 
We experienced our warmest Christmas in years (my daffodil bulbs are sticking their little green shoots out of the ground) and one of the busiest, yet most relaxed. For once there was time -- and more to come as I connect with other friends to belatedly celebrate the holiday and New Year. The only bad thing was that on Christmas Eve my camera broke so I'm using my old one that doesn't focus well!


Yes, we're tired.


But we're very, very happy.


Have a wonderful new year celebration. Back soon with an important post affecting every television viewer in the United States and another review of my favorite books of 2015!

21 comments:

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

What a cheery bunch! Right out of Dickens. Love the yawning kitty pic too! You captured the very essence of it all. Here's to a Merry New Year!

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

What a great Christmas season it was for you & Rick! I am glad that you got to see so many family and friends! That is so neat that Rick played at a local nursing home. I bet the residents loved that. I love hearing live music - especially instrumentals/string instruments. As you know, I had a great Christmas, too!

I'm looking forward to reading your best books post! I'm sharing mine tomorrow!

Deb said...

You had such a fun Christmas, Jeanie. Busy, busy. Your home looks so merry and bright and I love the photos around the table. Such fun. That Lizzie...she sure knows how to celebrate. Sending a hug to all, Deb

Sally Wessely said...

Loved reading all about your joyous season spent with loved ones and friends. That last photo of you and Rick is a treasure. (hope you get your camera fixed soon.)

Beate said...

What a wonderful, amazing Christmas season you've had! I love the combination of everything- family, friends, time for creativity and relaxation and lots of fun events :) :) So happy you got to experience this wonderful time. The first picture made me laugh out loud - that's exactly how I feel right now, too. Happy and tired :) Love that last picture of you and your husband, too!
Have a wonderful week. Lots of hugs to you,
Beate

Victoria Zigler said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful time celebrating the holidays.

And, hey... If the only complaints you have are needing to use your old camera, and being tired, then it sounds like a very successful holiday experience to me!

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

And happy we are as well. The anticipation, the tastes, the lights and the fatigue all warrant a good rest. This week we are relishing in the fact that we both have another week off from work and the weather seemed to know that too; we finally got socked with some snow last night, but not as much as they were saying. But that's all fine....we are staying in, watching movies, laying around and just waiting for 2016 to strike. May it be peaceful for you dearest Jeanie. BLESS YOU!

shoreacres said...

And in the midst of all that festivity,you know I had to notice those tiny tinsel trees with the tiny little glass balls on them. Yet another variety from the Christmas forest!

Interesting tease about the tv news we can use. Something new for the new year?

The French Hutch said...

HI Jeanie, isn't this the best kind of tired! Your wonderful Christmas memories and reflections most definitely need to be shared. Wonderful family and friends, creativity and celebrating are the things we all love. I am where you are but can't seem to catch up with myself. Thinking ahead now to celebrating New Year's Eve and looking forward to the new year. Where did 2015 go?
Happy New Year……..

Joanne Huffman said...

Great photos! Have a very Happy New Year!

Marilyn Miller said...

It looks like a wonderful holiday season. Was the cork poppers sitting in your living room? How I would love listening to the guitar music and sitting with Lizzie and you. Your tree just astounds me. It is so beautiful. Look forward to your book list and views on public television.

Linda Jo said...

Looks like you had a great December!!!! Love the last pic.. of you and Rick! So good! Happy New Year!

Lynda Shoup said...

Lovely recap of what looks like a month of fun. I imagine you would be tired in the end.

I am very intrigued by your pending announcement for tv viewers. Can't wait to see what it could be.

Thanks for your lovely comment at my blog. It was very touching.

Mary said...

What a wonderful celebration, Jeanie! And thank you for sharing all these beautiful and fun photos of your Christmastime. Love them. Big hug and a Happy, Healthy New Year to you and Rick and your family! xx

Anonymous said...

Everyone looks so happy in your photos. Happy New Year!

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

Oh, it sounds like an absolutely perfect Christmas and holiday season, Jeanie! So happy for you and wishing you the best in 2016!

bj said...

O, we all had the most glorious Christmas, the best time of the year.
You have the cutest smile and in all the photos, you stand out from the rest with your bubbly personality. I am thrilled to be your blogging buddy and hope the new year will allow us all to continue with the fun of blogging.
Happpy New Year.

Barb said...

Looks like you had a fabulous Christmas, Jeanne! Your smile makes me smile, too. Happy 2016!

~*~Patty S said...

Thank you for sharing these lovely photos full of friendship and kindness and merrymaking.
Looks like you deserve a nice rest dear Jeanie.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year.
I am looking forward to another inspiring year of connection and fun with you in 2016.
oxo

Bella Rum said...

What strikes me most is that you did find time for all of the important things. It looks like you had a full and joyful holiday season. Happy New Year, Jeanie. May it bring you all that is good.

Lynne said...

You write a wonderful, colorful, happy post that tells a story about you, your friends, loves, life.
Everything looks delightful!
I think I might hear someone say . . .
"Hostess with the mostest!"
(I love your curls . . .)

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