Friday, December 17, 2010

The Merriest Christmas and Happiest Holidays

Some time ago, there was a wonderful Cathy comic strip. I remember it every year as I somehow don't get all the things done I'd planned to do. Very resolute, she said to herself:

I will not start knitting on December 1.


How these days slip through our fingers. There are cakes to be baked, presents to be wrapped, trees to be trimmed, and lovely parties to attend. I adore it all, but I must admit to "editing" a bit more than I used to. Yes, Cathy, I will not start a vast project just before Christmas.

I want to enjoy the season--the hustle, the bustle and all the good cheer. My stepmother was a whirlwind and enlisted all the rest of the family in her magnificent plans at Christmas. Our tree was a sight to behold and her village under the tree, spectacular. She made Christmas so special for all of us and she inspires me still to deck the halls and try to think of special surprises. My love of Christmas was shared for many years with magazine readers--so I have had many more Christmas than the the personal ones in my own home.

And so from my family to yours, the greetings of a season of love. For in the words of the poet:

Love came down at Christmas
Star and angels gave the sign.

Photo © Wendi Schneider for Lindemeyer Productions, Inc.

14 comments:

  1. G'morn Nancy ~ Love your vignette.
    Have a beautiful Christmas season, all year ~
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  2. Now THIS is the perfect Christmas present...a new post from Nancy! Love those beautiful candle holders...is there a story behind those? I've never seen anything like them before.
    Just this morning, I could have sworn I heard sleigh bells...It's getting to look a lot like Christmas around here!
    Love from under 2 feet of Rochester, NY, snow!
    Karen Marline

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  3. A Merry Christmas to You
    from elsamarianne
    in Sweden

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  4. Beautiful! A Merry Christmas to you.

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  5. May all the Christmas Joys remain in our hearts all the days we live. Wishing you the very best!

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  6. Merry Christmas to you too!

    That line at the end of your posting... Love came down... it's still one of my favorite lines too and I first read in a classic Victoria Christmas issue long ago.

    Now that you remind me, I'm adding your Packing for a Woman's Journey to my list of reading for the holiday season, especially the essays in which you share those 'special' memories your Christmases past.

    Wishing you gladness and great joy!

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  7. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you too. Maybe if we started our big projects in January they would be ready in December, just smiling.

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  8. From one Nancy to another....a very Merry Christmas!!

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  9. Just stumbled on to this blog

    YES YES I remember You !

    I even had a NL dress - navy blue polka dots on white ground

    buttoned all the way up the front with a darling linen embroidered collar


    sighhhhh

    those were the days & I miss my waistline.....

    Thank You for that dress and many delightful issues of Victoria

    that I still cling to.

    You Were The Best - it was never QUITE the same w/o You, Madame.

    xo ~ S.

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  10. I am so excited to have found your blog!! I completely agree with the above post by One Crabapple, Victoria has never been the same. Blessings in 2011!!

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  11. Hi Nancy!-My pc has been on the brink lately- but was able today to check here for your posts.-I am wondering about the gorgeous candle holders on your pic above-- so pretty ,I have never seen any like it!?-- I just love them- so am asking, --are they Antique or vintage? regardless, I want to find some like these too,& start yet another Victoria inspired,fabulous collection....-- Could you tell us what they are? Are they perfume bottles fashioned into candleholders,or little oil lamps maybe? Thanks much ahead,-Valery

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  12. I just found your blog.... oh, how I miss Victoria. The old issues that I have kept are treasures. I especially love the two issues that featured Mary Baltz's home. All have such good memories inside the pages. Thanks!
    Lisa

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  13. Nancy, I am stopping in to tell you that I hope your holidays were the merriest and also that I hope you are not buried somewhere under all that New England snow. I am missing your posts, but I understand that life gets very busy. Hope to see you posting again soon.

    Blessings to you,
    Christi

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  14. Hope you are staying warm and cozy during this long frosty Winter. Hope to hear about your latest adventures soon.

    Best regards,

    Mary Jane

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