So this was Christmas . . .

 

(source)

 

Just a quick little post today to thank you all for your Christmas Greetings. I had a really nice Christmas and was exhausted by the end of the day yesterday!  It was a lovely day spent with family, filled with loads of love and plenty of good food!

I went to Cindy and Dan's early in the day to do the gifts.  The roads were not bad at all. We didn't get a fraction of the snow over Christmas Eve that we had been threatened with, thank goodness, but it was a very white Christmas all the same! (Beautiful!)

The whole time I was bringing up my family, we never had gifts as adults. All of our spare dosh went into making sure that Santa Claus delivered a Happy Christmas to the children and to make sure a decent holiday meal was on the table. Getting presents has never been one of my top priorities, but spending time with loved ones has always been really special to me, and one of the things I love most about the holidays.

Dan was our Santa's elf, handing out the presents to each of us yesterday. He always does such a good job of that. He is really the holiday elf. Nobody loves holiday celebrations more than Dan does! He puts the "hol" into holiday! Love him to bits.

One of the best bits was having our father with us for another Christmas.  At almost 91 he is slowing down quite a bit, and we never know how much longer he will be with us.  He is doing great in every way but his mobility.  He was really happy yesterday and we were really happy to have him with us.  I think he enjoyed the whole day.  The gifts in the morning, his breakfast, spending time with family. facetimes with our brother, Eileen and Tim, a delicious Christmas dinner prepared by my dear sister.  Everything.  It was a good day.

 

Of course, Gus was right in the thick of it.  He loves Christmas wrappings and bows.  Especially the bows. Such a little cutie.

All the cats were enjoying it really. I just didn't get pictures of the others.

Cindy cooked us such a lovely meal for Christmas Dinner.  And she wouldn't really let me help with anything. She cooked a lovely roast chicken (it was huge) and made mom's stuffing. We had sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, carrots and gravy.  She had all kinds of goodies baked.  I am sure I am missing something out.  My brain doesn't remember it all.  Nobody went hungry and there were no leftovers at the end, except for chicken, stuffing and gravy.

I cut into my Christmas cake, and I think it turned out really nice as well. There was Mince Pie shortbread, and Russian Teacakes, Date squares, pumpkin pie, etc. It was all really delicious.

Eileen and Tim really enjoyed themselves also. I picked them up around noon and we came here for a bit before going over to Cindy's.  I had made them some cheese and crackers and of course some sausage rolls that I had frozen from my video that I made. They really enjoyed themselves, I think.  They are such a cute couple, and always so happy. Not hard to please at all.  I will be picking them up today and they are coming here for Boxing Day as well.   I am going to cook a lasagna, make a salad, some garlic bread and there is Christmas Baking, Christmas Cake, etc.  Loves their Christmas t-shirts that they had gotten and wore for the day.  Very festivus!

It really was a lovely day. I had no time to feel sad about things. My niece (Cindy's oldest daughter) sent me a lovely message on Facebook, we face-timed with our brother David.  It was all lovely.  I hope your holiday was equally blessed!  

We always put so much effort into preparing for this one day and it always seems to be over so quickly. All we can do is to carry the good feelings and the happy memories in our hearts like little jewels, and I have a whole treasure chest just filled with those. 😃

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.˛.For each morning with its light.

For rest and shelter of the night.

For health and food.

For love and friends.

For everything thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emmerson, Prayer of Thanks

I have much to be thankful for.

In The English Kitchen today.  How to make a Pot Pie out of Any Leftovers.  Delicious. Simple.

I hope that your day was richly blessed yesterday and that you have a beautiful day today, filled with light, love and more blessings than you can count!  Whatever you get up to, don't forget!

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And I do too!