Monday, December 24, 2012

Tis The Night Before Christmas!



                                                                      Merry Christmas!
           So already it is Christmas Eve and I have been preparing all day as I am sure many of you have been too.
                              As many of you know we have a big family and thankfully, they are all able and willing to come for a traditional turkey dinner on Christmas Day.

                               So, I have set the tables in a simple style-there is always lots of dishes to do without going too fancy.
                              We use the two rooms with 2 big tables and a little children's table nearby.
                                                            I did some baking today.
                                        Cranberry oatmeal shortbread, pecan butterballs and  our new Christmas tradition of sticky date pudding because no one here seems to like plum pudding anymore. Some of our children bring desserts and sweet potatoe pie so there will be no shortage of treats.            
                                 The tree is decorated and the gifts are ready to be opened in the morning.

                                                           The stockings are hung.
                                                                The time is nigh!
                                                          A Christmas vignette.
                                                              Christmas mantel.
                                                             Candles are glowing!
                                                               The tea is ready!

                                    Happy to have nine 'little ones' to liven up our day!
                                                                                                                            I think I am as ready as I will be for our family Christmas Day. We are going  shortly to a lovely Christmas Eve service and then over to our daughters for a family open house. Oh! and we do have a dusting of snow ~ not sure you could call it a White Christmas but still not too bad!
 My hope is that you will have a wonderful Christmas  and that you will be blessed with good health ,peace,love and joy in the New Year.

Thank you for all your visits and lovely comments over the past year!

                             Love,
                                 Carolyn
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45 comments:

  1. Shabby Brocante, KarenDecember 24, 2012 at 5:44 PM

    Beautiful! Merry Christmas, Carolyn!
    Karen

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  2. MycolourfullifeDecember 24, 2012 at 5:58 PM

    Merry christmas Carolyn....lovely....

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  3. EDYTA KUBICZEKDecember 24, 2012 at 6:08 PM

    Merry Christmas Carolyn!

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  4. Kathy @ Creative Home ExpressionsDecember 24, 2012 at 6:28 PM

    Everything looks lovely, Carolyn! I had heard we might get some flurries overnight, but who knows. We had mostly rain today. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

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  5. La Vie QuotidienneDecember 24, 2012 at 6:44 PM

    It looks like a beautiful storybook Christmas. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday.

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  6. It's meDecember 24, 2012 at 8:04 PM

    Merry merry Xmas darling.....love from me ...enjoy these days.....thanks for your friendship.....love you ...Ria...xxx...

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  7. FABBY'S LIVINGDecember 24, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    Merry Christmas Carolyn and have a wonderful and blessed Eve, along with your dear family and that adorable cutie, in your gorgeous home and table.
    Fabby

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  8. Wendy@Once upon a rose havenDecember 24, 2012 at 10:10 PM

    Merry Christmas to you and yours!
    Blessings,
    ~Wendy

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  9. DebDecember 24, 2012 at 10:12 PM

    "Merry Christmas, Carolyn." Hope Santa is good to you. Hugs, Deb

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  10. KamillaDecember 24, 2012 at 10:16 PM

    Merry Christmas to you and your family...and yes you can call it white Christmas, we got only rain here:)

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  11. LindaDecember 24, 2012 at 10:54 PM

    You are blessed, my dear. Joyous, cozy, peaceful Christmas to all!
    Linda and Midge

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  12. Blooming Rose MusingsDecember 25, 2012 at 12:39 AM

    Merry Christmas, Carolyn. I wish you and your family a Joyous and Merry Christmas.

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  13. Marilyn MillerDecember 25, 2012 at 1:18 AM

    Lovely!
    Merry Christmas!

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  14. Carol E. in AZDecember 25, 2012 at 1:44 AM

    Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you and yours! Thank you so much for sharing pictures of your beautiful home and garden. It makes me smile!

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  15. jankasgartenDecember 25, 2012 at 3:56 AM

    Very Beautiful! Merry Merry Christmas, Carolyn!

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  16. PuumuliDecember 25, 2012 at 5:41 AM

    Merry Christmas to you too!

    Sari from Puumuli

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  17. theromanticroseDecember 25, 2012 at 6:40 AM

    Carolyn,BUON NATALE!Rosetta

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  18. Edith DUTERTREDecember 25, 2012 at 7:19 AM

    Très bonne journée
    de NOËL à vous tous
    bonheur , joie , et santé
    vous accompagne
    tendresse
    edith ( France )

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  19. Sanna - My Blueberry HouseDecember 25, 2012 at 7:21 AM

    Everything is looking lovely. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas Day.

    Merry Christmas!
    Sanna

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  20. KathieDecember 25, 2012 at 7:57 AM

    Popping in to wish you, Andrew and your family a very happy Christmas. Excitement will be running high at your place today!! May 2013 be filled with blessings! xoxo

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  21. JeanneDecember 25, 2012 at 9:19 AM

    Beautiful and so lovely indeed.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours
    Love Jeanne

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  22. shirlgirlDecember 25, 2012 at 10:27 AM

    Merry Christmas to you and thank you for such a great way to set the mood for the day in a good way.

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  23. Szara SowaDecember 25, 2012 at 11:00 AM

    Carolyn! Merry Christmas from Poland!

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  24. SusanDecember 25, 2012 at 11:38 AM

    Dear Carolyn....May all the beauty you share with the world throughout the year come back to you this Christmas Day! Susan

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  25. ElzieDecember 25, 2012 at 12:11 PM

    Seems there were lots of people that wanted to join you at Christmas Eve. Here we were only two!!
    Have a lovely Christmas Day.
    Love Elzie

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  26. SandyDecember 25, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    Oh, my, what a beautiful home to have your traditional Christmas dinner for all of your family! It is soooo inviting and cosy at the same time. Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us. Merry Christmas!

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  27. domenica.60December 25, 2012 at 1:58 PM

    A thousand thanks to you and ...a Christmas hug!
    Franca

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  28. DoranmaDecember 25, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    Thank you for all beautyful pictures :) Merry Christmas to you!

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  29. Hélène Flont , french illustratorDecember 25, 2012 at 3:06 PM

    Heureux Noël en famille chère Carolyn.

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  30. AnonymousDecember 25, 2012 at 4:05 PM

    Merry Christmas to you and your family, Carolyn.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  31. Pamela GordonDecember 25, 2012 at 5:39 PM

    I always love seeing your Christmas tables all set for your large family gathering. It looks beautiful and I'm sure you had a wonderful time together. The day is pretty well done and we are relaxing. Hope it was merry. Ours sure was. Blessings, Pamela

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  32. UnknownDecember 25, 2012 at 5:39 PM

    Carolyn sei una persona speciale!!
    Bellissime le tue foto,molto elegante anche la tavola!!
    Felice Natale a te e a tutte le persone a cui vuoi bene!!
    Un abbraccio grande grande!!
    Sabry!!
    AUGURI PACE AMORE E SERENITA'!!

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  33. Amy ChalmersDecember 25, 2012 at 10:00 PM

    You have created the idyllic home for your family Carolyn! I think its no secret why they all come for dinner~its enchanting! Merry Christmas!

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  34. DeannaDecember 25, 2012 at 10:16 PM

    God bless and may you have a very happy and healthy new year.
    d in kansas

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  35. BohemianDecember 26, 2012 at 1:09 AM

    What a Warm and Inviting place to come Home to during the Holidays and Share Christmas with those you Love.

    Merry Christmas from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  36. MapleDecember 26, 2012 at 11:24 AM

    Hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family. It's Wed and I'm missing having our tea together. All the very best to you and your kin.

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  37. OceanFoamDecember 26, 2012 at 2:06 PM

    So happy to be able to visit you! I enjoyed seeing your festive home. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  38. UnknownDecember 26, 2012 at 3:37 PM

    Your home looks bautiful and so nicely prepared for your loved ones. Merry Christmas and all the bes in 2013!

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  39. OliveDecember 26, 2012 at 4:27 PM

    Enchanting and cozy. I know you had a lovely Christmas. Be Blessed, Olive

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  40. Heaven's WalkDecember 26, 2012 at 10:02 PM

    You truly know how to create the perfect Christmas tablescape, Carolyn. It's all so beautiful! I pray that you had a blessed dinner with your family and that the new year will bring you peace, joy, and success! I'm so glad to have met you here in blogland. :)

    xoxo laurie

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  41. lorenza marengoDecember 27, 2012 at 9:12 AM

    Tanti auguri!!
    Lorenza

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  42. AnonymousDecember 29, 2012 at 7:31 PM

    Absolutely gorgeous! I get inspired every time I visit your beautiful blog.

    Happy New Year to you!

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  43. VictoriaRoseJanuary 1, 2013 at 9:42 AM

    Beautiful Christmas decorations!

    I love your teapot stand. Is it a typical stand painted white with pretty plates or one piece? The plates are lovely, where would one find more?

    Hope your Christmas season was full of warmth & happiness & good wishes for a wonderful New Year.

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  44. Sea and SaltJanuary 1, 2013 at 8:23 PM

    Beautiful pictures!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Bella xx

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Thank you for all your sweet comments and may your day be filled with joy!

Carolyn