To all of you....

And to the many of you who sent me real snail mail....thank you so very much.
It was the best part of my week~ to sit down with all these "real live" envelopes and read each one.

And for the things you sent...little things from the places where you come from and live ~
So thoughtful!    ~Thank You~

Christmas means...

Have you ever watched the movie "Babe"?

I mean the talking pig movie....

where the pig is the hero- and the duck is just the annoying animal who 

everyone wishes would just waddle away?

When the duck realizes Christmas is upon them and one of the barn animals are in line for

 the dinner table, 

he quacks out in horror,

"Christmas Means Carnage! Christmas Means CARNAGE!".

This saying has become my boys' and my mantra (joke) as we challenge the city and all the 

shopping 'occupants'

 as of late.

Wow.

Talk about parking animosity, bumper to bumper cars, honking, cart line-ups along 

with the budding in line, 

glares, mutterings, and the quick grabbing of last items off shelves.

(Enter:  The Duck. "Christmas means carnage!")

I almost am embarrassed to call myself human. 

~~

So now, when we're out and about, and yet another person steals the parking spot we have been sitting waiting for WITH our signal light on,

we  yell out, 

"Christmas Means Carnage!"

...and putter down the parking lot for another available spot.

When someone almost takes my car door off as I try to get out, (in their haste to find parking):

"Christmas means Carnage!".

(Little do the boys know it's my half-hearted attempt to 

curb my own hostile retaliation...

Anger Management if you will.)

And then....I return home.

I grab my camera and walk.

And I find little scenes here and there, realizing that no one here

is budding in line 

or jostling in front of me 

or glaring.

Only quiet, little, vacant stares.

(Don't worry- not from my kiddos;)

No carnage here.

Just simple finds.

And the breathing room to remember what Christmas really means.

And once someone quiets the duck- 

we can eat.

~from me to You~

Wishing all of you....

....a very Merry Christmas!~

~~~

Favorite Things~

Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents to some extent a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece by thought, choice, courage, and determination.                                                                                                                             ~John Luther ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Sound of Music is song is playing through my head. You know the one... "These are a Few of My Favorite Things"? It's playing over and over (and driving me a tad mad), so I thought I would give it some photos as it played.  Except instead of "raindrops and roses" and "whiskers on kittens", it's December~~~ Colorful Candy Canes sitting on counters. ***** Snowflakes on my Tree ***** Lights Glowing magically as I sit at the end of a long day. **** The Treasures I find on a simple walk. **** Cinnamon Eggnog Lattes with whip cream~in a mug given by a dear friend. **** My Backyard Neighbors~ who seem to have closed up cottage for the season. ***** The Winter Sunrises from my bedroom window. **** The Reason for all of these favorite things. **** My Girl....who turns 14 tomorrow. (happy Birthday Molly!!) ***** The Magic you find sometimes when you come around a corner. **** Okay, Okay....I love Brown Paper Packages tied up with String! ***** These are a few of my favorite things! *****          Wishing you another Wonderful Weekend!!!