A Different December -

Les Mois - Décembre

Eugène Samuel Grasset

1845-1917

Cold nights and mornings now.  

The Winter Solstice is today and it will be Christmas in

 a few days.  Where has the time gone?

This year has been impacted by Bob's ongoing health issues

 and he's not out of the woods yet.

Northern Mockingbird

Very little holiday decorating done this year due to time constraints.

Trying to get some baking started now. It will be a rather quiet time

 at Christmas.

Bob returns for another chemo infusion on Boxing Day - Dec. 26 

(usually my favorite day of the year!). As I said, it's definitely a very

 different Christmas this time around.

Sending best wishes to you and your families - have a joyful holiday.

I plan to come back here more frequently once Bob's treatment is 

completed. I've really missed everyone's news.

Happy Christmas to all.

Mary

Photo Challenge December. . . . . .

The season surrounding Christmas and a coming new year gives us many 
opportunities to take and share our photos.
Posting on what Christmas means to each of us, and adding our photos taken
around our home, or of family and friends and holiday celebrations,

 allows us freedom to express ourselves in many ways.

Because of Donna, our gracious hostess for the Personal Photo Challenge, 
we have snapped and gathered our photographs to share with one another 
each month throughout the year. . . . and what a lot of fun it has been. I have 
always looked forward to every fun challenge.

December's topic, Christmas Scenes (and perhaps we'll also be treated 

to some Hanukkah scenes which would be nice) is an easy one, hardly a 

challenge, more a modern way to wish one another holiday greetings when we 
may not have a mailing address to send an old-fashioned card.
So, here's to you dear friend - may your Christmas 
be full of special moments and many blessings.

I took several photos this month as I decorated the house and garden for the 

holiday season. I love Christmas, I love tradition. I have however changed

my decorating style indoors over the past several years, not because I no 

longer like bright reds and greens, more because silver and gold, cream and 

white, make it easier to keep many of my year round items in place. I then  
add Christmas decor and natural items such as live greenery, and of course this 
year the wonderful brushed nickel pumpkins I shared in this recent post .

The gazebo at dusk dressed for Christmas 

Outside, the garden in December becomes bare and almost colorless when you 

live in a non-tropical climate, but at Christmas you can light it up easily. Then the cold, 

dark nights take on a special brilliance.

Here in the southeast we still have plenty of leaves falling, but there are tall pines,
winter grass, ivy, and even shrubs which stay green despite the chill in the air.

All pics taken with the Nikon Coolpix S6400. 
PicMonkey is responsible for a little editing 
including  the 'dusk' effect.

Go HERE to visit Donna's Personal Photo Challenge blog and share your 

holiday photos.

As most of you know, sadly this will be the last 'challenge' for a while.

Donna is very busy caring for, and staying close to dear Mr. Jim during his

 illness. We are praying for them both during this difficult time.

It crept up on me!

Gosh, I was having such a good time at the coast I completely forgot that December was knocking at the door!

Eugène Samuel Grasset (Swiss, 1845-1917)

DÉCEMBRE

So a little break from blogging needed because, like you, I have so much to do in December. 

I still have cards to write to people far away across the pond, to the north and west. 

I've started decorating the cottage for the Christmas holidays but I have more, a lot more, 

to do. I've shopping planned, recipes to organize, baking to get started on, 

lists to check, concerts to attend, company visiting, and a very special wedding.

I'll be back soon!