Thursday, December 19, 2013

"Tis The Season

 
 
sharing with...
where you share 5 random facts about you, your day,
your pets, your kids, whatever...
 
1. Christmas comes at the same time every year, but as the years go by, I find that it has a way of sneaking up on me unexpectedly!
 
2.  I've always loved shopping, and have been a "shop till you drop" person, but this year, just as I was about to drop, I decided that next year, I will drop the shopping, and buy online.
 
3. Christmas dinner at our house NEVER includes turkey. No one likes it. We have chicken, prime rib, and ham.

4. I miss my dad more and more each Christmas. He passed away 12 years ago, a few weeks before Christmas. I will never get used to that empty place at the Christmas dinner table, and I will always raise my glass, and quietly wish him "Merry Christmas" at the end of the meal.
 
5. We also celebrate the Winter Solstice every year. Our granddaughter was born on the Solstice, and she surely is the light of our lives!
 
 
I'm taking a blogging break for the holidays. 

Wishing you and yours,
 the best of the holiday season!
 
 Happy Solstice
Merry Christmas
Joyeux Noël
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Posted by at

40 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlDecember 19, 2013 at 1:33 PM

    happy birthday to beep. :) may you have a full house and full heart at christmas, karen.

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  2. Joop ZandDecember 19, 2013 at 1:40 PM

    Thanks Karen

    I wish you and your dear ones also a nice Christmas time and for 2014 all the best.

    warm greetings, Joop

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  3. Nancy JDecember 19, 2013 at 2:01 PM

    Karen, to you and yours, all Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year, a happy time with family, remembering those who are not with us,(as I do, too), thinking of our blog friends all over the world, many fond greetings, from Jean

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  4. RedPatDecember 19, 2013 at 2:11 PM

    And a Merry Christmas to you, Karen!

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  5. Sylvia KDecember 19, 2013 at 2:32 PM

    Oh, yes!! A very Happy Birthday to Beep!! And a very wonderful, fun and Merry Christmas for you and your family, Karen!! Enjoy!!

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  6. NancyDecember 19, 2013 at 2:52 PM

    I do a combo of online and real shopping -- works for me.

    Thank you for joining in on R5F this week my friend -- it means alot to me.

    Happy Holidays to you and yours. xo

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  7. Linda W.December 19, 2013 at 3:18 PM

    Beautiful photo of your Christmas decorations.

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  8. Elephant's ChildDecember 19, 2013 at 3:20 PM

    For a season which is about peace and love, it slips too easily (for me) into frantic busyness.
    And there are empty seats at our table too - and I will stop and remember them at intervals all day.
    Happy Christmas to you and yours. And the turkey agrees.

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  9. Sallie (FullTime-Life)December 19, 2013 at 4:28 PM

    A lovely random 5, expressing beautifully the spirit of Christmas! Happy belated to your beautiful granddaughter. (Our oldest granddaughter will be 30 this week, another special age, but I so well remember when she was the age Beep is.)

    Enjoy your wonderful family Holidays with your family!

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  10. Lisa GordonDecember 19, 2013 at 5:06 PM

    Thank you, Karen.
    I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year.

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  11. eileeninmdDecember 19, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    Happy Birthday to your granddaughter! Lovely image. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!

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  12. Les...December 19, 2013 at 6:46 PM

    lovely post and a beaut pic, have a great Christmas and a happy, healthier New Year *VBS*

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  13. Icy BCDecember 19, 2013 at 7:23 PM

    I did more shopping online this year, and just a couple things in the store.

    My dad died on Christmas day 20 years ago, and I too have the same feeling when the family gathering.

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  14. Tina Fariss BarbourDecember 19, 2013 at 10:08 PM

    I don't like to shop--it is exhausting to me. I shop online when I can.

    My father died 16 years ago, and I still feel like the holidays are not complete. I remember him saying, when we asked him what he wanted for Christmas, "Just all my family to be here."

    Merry Christmas! Blessings to you and your family! :-)

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  15. StephanieDecember 19, 2013 at 10:35 PM

    Our family does not exchange presents anymore. Less stress, just enjoy the family more. Wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!

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  16. Gail DixonDecember 19, 2013 at 10:53 PM

    What a sweet post. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Enjoy the blogging break. But you will be missed for sure.

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  17. Kim@stuffcould....December 19, 2013 at 11:22 PM

    I think I will buy next years gifts online also! It has slipped up on me this year too. I miss my dad so much this year, it is a fresh wound for us.
    Merry Christmas to yall

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  18. Hootin AnniDecember 20, 2013 at 8:22 AM

    #4....melts my heart!!

    Happy Christmas to you and your loved ones.

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  19. Life Images by JillDecember 20, 2013 at 9:03 AM

    I love that quote you have used on your photo. and the little insights into your Christmas world.
    I will be raising my glass to my Mother while you are raising your glass to your Dad.
    Wishing you blessings at Christmas. And thank you for stopping by my blog this week.

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  20. Sharon WagnerDecember 20, 2013 at 9:26 AM

    Ham is definitely the way to go!

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  21. StephanieDecember 20, 2013 at 10:32 AM

    Super bokeh shot! Merry Christmas.

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  22. AnonymousDecember 20, 2013 at 11:11 AM

    I lost my dad 13 years ago. He was the joy of the family especially during the holiday season. I don't think I'll ever truly accept that he is gone. Once the parents are gone, we the children become the matriarchs of the family... we can only hope that we do as good a job as our parent's did... XOX

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  23. EG CameraGirlDecember 20, 2013 at 11:34 AM

    What fun to be born on the Solstice...except that it's awfully close to Christmas. I wonder what Beep thinks about that!

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  24. Buttons ThoughtsDecember 20, 2013 at 1:19 PM

    Oh Karen HUGS I wish you and your family the very best of Christmas and all that love that comes with the time together. I lost my Dad six years ago at Thanksgiving and I know what you mean. Have fun with your Granddaughter and be careful outside I think you are probably getting what we are slippery. Hugs B

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  25. DottiDecember 20, 2013 at 1:49 PM

    Love this image ... a perfect Christmas card/greeting! Yes, shopping stores after Thanksgiving is suicide. What I don't get before then I get online ... or not at all and there's still plenty under the tree. Have a very Merry Christmas!

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  26. Elizabeth EdwardsDecember 20, 2013 at 5:41 PM

    #1 is so true. how does that always happen?? no matter how much i plan ... it is just there too quick! ( :

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  27. UnknownDecember 20, 2013 at 10:37 PM

    Merry Christmas Karen. I'm sorry about your dad and think it's lovely you quietly toast him. I just lost my mom in Oct. and it's weird knowing i'm not buying presents for her. Of course this is the year I see everything I'd love to have given her too.
    Have a beautiful holiday.

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  28. SharonDecember 21, 2013 at 12:16 AM

    Merry Christmas to you! I lost my dad Dec 8 ten years ago. I miss him so much especially at Christmas. Your toast is a great idea. I'm going to copy it. Have a wonderful holiday!

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  29. MastHolidayDecember 21, 2013 at 2:54 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  30. MastHolidayDecember 21, 2013 at 2:55 AM

    Merry Christmas, Karen! and Happy Birthday to your granddaughter..

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  31. My Odd SockDecember 21, 2013 at 5:04 PM

    Love them...except for the anti-turkey message.

    A very Merry Christmas to you & your family.

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  32. MeDecember 22, 2013 at 8:02 PM

    That is very beautiful. I miss Bert too.

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  33. IndraniDecember 24, 2013 at 7:51 AM

    Beautiful golden capture.
    Merry Christmas!

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  34. Little Wandering WrenDecember 24, 2013 at 7:53 AM

    Enjoy your blogging break and chicken, ribs and ham on Christmas day - maybe your family would enjoy an Aussie seafood lunch, although we're going traditional with Turkey this year!
    Wren x

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  35. LeoviDecember 24, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    Searching for beauty and find hope
      Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2014! Hugs from Spain. Leovi.

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  36. Betty ManousosDecember 25, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    merry christmas!
    xoxo

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  37. beepDecember 26, 2013 at 4:06 PM

    Tis the season to be jolly falalalalalalalala.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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  38. Coloring Outside the LinesDecember 27, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    Happy Birthday to your granddaughter- and shopping online is fast becoming my favorite way to avoid the mall- at any time of year. Happy New Year!

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  39. HilaryDecember 28, 2013 at 9:04 PM

    That's a very lovely photo. And your quiet toast to your Dad is very touching. I hope your Christmas was lovely. Enjoy the rest of your holidays.

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  40. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2014 at 6:42 AM

    Wow..the jewels are just so pretty!
    It's time to get back to routine :-)

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