Andrea here. Well, for those of us who celebrate the holiday, Christmas is over . . . or is it? I don’t know about you, but over the last few years, with family all having different plans for how to spend the holidays, it’s not always easy to meet up on the 25th. So for me, “Christmas” has become rather fluid, sort of like the “parlay” in Pirates of the Caribbean—a guideline rather than an etched-in-stone gathering.
On Sunday I zoomed with my nephew, niece-in-law and their newborn in Wyoming, then with my younger brother who came down with covid and was in quarantine, then face-timed with my niece who was walking on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific, and then texted with my nephew, who was surfing in Costa Rica.
Tomorrow, I am driving to Massachusetts to visit with my older brother and his wife, who are both fabulous cooks. I love to cook too, so we will crack open a good bottle of wine, spend a fun evening in the kitchen whipping up some wonderful dishes, and then sit down for a splendid candlelit dinner,
And today, a dear friend stopped by for tea and cookies—and brought me a delightful candle carousel as a gift, which we decided was exactly what a Regency man of science would have created to keep his friends and family amused!
So, this year Christmas has turned into a week-long party. What about you? What with modern life, do you find yourself having multiple celebrations? Whenever and however your celebrate Christmas, I hope it was full of warmth and love!
I know what you mean, Andrea! It’s almost impossible to get everyone to be in the same place at the same time these days as we’re all so spread out. Thank goodness for Zoom and FaceTime! I really long for the days when my entire extended family lived in the same town. Glad you’re having some lovely celebrations!
I know what you mean, Andrea! It’s almost impossible to get everyone to be in the same place at the same time these days as we’re all so spread out. Thank goodness for Zoom and FaceTime! I really long for the days when my entire extended family lived in the same town. Glad you’re having some lovely celebrations!
I know what you mean, Andrea! It’s almost impossible to get everyone to be in the same place at the same time these days as we’re all so spread out. Thank goodness for Zoom and FaceTime! I really long for the days when my entire extended family lived in the same town. Glad you’re having some lovely celebrations!
I know what you mean, Andrea! It’s almost impossible to get everyone to be in the same place at the same time these days as we’re all so spread out. Thank goodness for Zoom and FaceTime! I really long for the days when my entire extended family lived in the same town. Glad you’re having some lovely celebrations!
I know what you mean, Andrea! It’s almost impossible to get everyone to be in the same place at the same time these days as we’re all so spread out. Thank goodness for Zoom and FaceTime! I really long for the days when my entire extended family lived in the same town. Glad you’re having some lovely celebrations!
It sounds like a lovely week, Andrea… enjoy!
The candle carousel looks like a charming gift to add some light to these darker winter days. What a thoughtful friend.
It sounds like a lovely week, Andrea… enjoy!
The candle carousel looks like a charming gift to add some light to these darker winter days. What a thoughtful friend.
It sounds like a lovely week, Andrea… enjoy!
The candle carousel looks like a charming gift to add some light to these darker winter days. What a thoughtful friend.
It sounds like a lovely week, Andrea… enjoy!
The candle carousel looks like a charming gift to add some light to these darker winter days. What a thoughtful friend.
It sounds like a lovely week, Andrea… enjoy!
The candle carousel looks like a charming gift to add some light to these darker winter days. What a thoughtful friend.
Andrea, I quite enjoy the way the celebration is spread out. More time to see important people, less stress–and probably more food!
Andrea, I quite enjoy the way the celebration is spread out. More time to see important people, less stress–and probably more food!
Andrea, I quite enjoy the way the celebration is spread out. More time to see important people, less stress–and probably more food!
Andrea, I quite enjoy the way the celebration is spread out. More time to see important people, less stress–and probably more food!
Andrea, I quite enjoy the way the celebration is spread out. More time to see important people, less stress–and probably more food!
Andrea – Because my mother-in-law is 98, and even though she is still burning brightly, her 8 children and their families decided to visit singly rather than all at once this year. My husband and I will be spending New Year’s Eve day and evening with her, and we will be the last to visit. I do fear she will find it rather quiet in January! But it has meant our own Christmas feels quite extended which is lovely! And in honor of her French heritage, I am making a Paris-Brest for dessert on New Year’s Eve. My own family always celebrated until January 6, which was called “Old Christmas” in our house, and we always saved one gift to open then. As children, that was never easy!
Andrea – Because my mother-in-law is 98, and even though she is still burning brightly, her 8 children and their families decided to visit singly rather than all at once this year. My husband and I will be spending New Year’s Eve day and evening with her, and we will be the last to visit. I do fear she will find it rather quiet in January! But it has meant our own Christmas feels quite extended which is lovely! And in honor of her French heritage, I am making a Paris-Brest for dessert on New Year’s Eve. My own family always celebrated until January 6, which was called “Old Christmas” in our house, and we always saved one gift to open then. As children, that was never easy!
Andrea – Because my mother-in-law is 98, and even though she is still burning brightly, her 8 children and their families decided to visit singly rather than all at once this year. My husband and I will be spending New Year’s Eve day and evening with her, and we will be the last to visit. I do fear she will find it rather quiet in January! But it has meant our own Christmas feels quite extended which is lovely! And in honor of her French heritage, I am making a Paris-Brest for dessert on New Year’s Eve. My own family always celebrated until January 6, which was called “Old Christmas” in our house, and we always saved one gift to open then. As children, that was never easy!
Andrea – Because my mother-in-law is 98, and even though she is still burning brightly, her 8 children and their families decided to visit singly rather than all at once this year. My husband and I will be spending New Year’s Eve day and evening with her, and we will be the last to visit. I do fear she will find it rather quiet in January! But it has meant our own Christmas feels quite extended which is lovely! And in honor of her French heritage, I am making a Paris-Brest for dessert on New Year’s Eve. My own family always celebrated until January 6, which was called “Old Christmas” in our house, and we always saved one gift to open then. As children, that was never easy!
Andrea – Because my mother-in-law is 98, and even though she is still burning brightly, her 8 children and their families decided to visit singly rather than all at once this year. My husband and I will be spending New Year’s Eve day and evening with her, and we will be the last to visit. I do fear she will find it rather quiet in January! But it has meant our own Christmas feels quite extended which is lovely! And in honor of her French heritage, I am making a Paris-Brest for dessert on New Year’s Eve. My own family always celebrated until January 6, which was called “Old Christmas” in our house, and we always saved one gift to open then. As children, that was never easy!
That sounds like a wonderful plan, Constance. Now I have to Google Paris-Brest!
That sounds like a wonderful plan, Constance. Now I have to Google Paris-Brest!
That sounds like a wonderful plan, Constance. Now I have to Google Paris-Brest!
That sounds like a wonderful plan, Constance. Now I have to Google Paris-Brest!
That sounds like a wonderful plan, Constance. Now I have to Google Paris-Brest!
Thanks, Christina! Yes, modern life seems especially dependent on cyber gatherings. I’m grateful for them, but nothing beats being in person with family and friends!
Thanks, Christina! Yes, modern life seems especially dependent on cyber gatherings. I’m grateful for them, but nothing beats being in person with family and friends!
Thanks, Christina! Yes, modern life seems especially dependent on cyber gatherings. I’m grateful for them, but nothing beats being in person with family and friends!
Thanks, Christina! Yes, modern life seems especially dependent on cyber gatherings. I’m grateful for them, but nothing beats being in person with family and friends!
Thanks, Christina! Yes, modern life seems especially dependent on cyber gatherings. I’m grateful for them, but nothing beats being in person with family and friends!
Thanks, Kareni. It was quite lovely! And yes, the candle carousel adds such a warmth to a winter’s evening. And is even more special having come from a dear friend.
Thanks, Kareni. It was quite lovely! And yes, the candle carousel adds such a warmth to a winter’s evening. And is even more special having come from a dear friend.
Thanks, Kareni. It was quite lovely! And yes, the candle carousel adds such a warmth to a winter’s evening. And is even more special having come from a dear friend.
Thanks, Kareni. It was quite lovely! And yes, the candle carousel adds such a warmth to a winter’s evening. And is even more special having come from a dear friend.
Thanks, Kareni. It was quite lovely! And yes, the candle carousel adds such a warmth to a winter’s evening. And is even more special having come from a dear friend.
Definitely more food! And chocolate!
Definitely more food! And chocolate!
Definitely more food! And chocolate!
Definitely more food! And chocolate!
Definitely more food! And chocolate!
Constance, what a lovely treat for your mother-in-law to have special time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful time as you ring in the new year with her.
I love your family’s celebration to Three King’s Day! But yes, hard for a kid to wait that long for the last present!
Constance, what a lovely treat for your mother-in-law to have special time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful time as you ring in the new year with her.
I love your family’s celebration to Three King’s Day! But yes, hard for a kid to wait that long for the last present!
Constance, what a lovely treat for your mother-in-law to have special time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful time as you ring in the new year with her.
I love your family’s celebration to Three King’s Day! But yes, hard for a kid to wait that long for the last present!
Constance, what a lovely treat for your mother-in-law to have special time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful time as you ring in the new year with her.
I love your family’s celebration to Three King’s Day! But yes, hard for a kid to wait that long for the last present!
Constance, what a lovely treat for your mother-in-law to have special time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful time as you ring in the new year with her.
I love your family’s celebration to Three King’s Day! But yes, hard for a kid to wait that long for the last present!
Me, too!
Me, too!
Me, too!
Me, too!
Me, too!
Constance, what a special treat for your mother-in-law to have time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful new year’s day!
And I love your family tradition of celebrating until Three King’s Day. But, yes, hard for a kid to have to wait that long to open the last present!
Constance, what a special treat for your mother-in-law to have time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful new year’s day!
And I love your family tradition of celebrating until Three King’s Day. But, yes, hard for a kid to have to wait that long to open the last present!
Constance, what a special treat for your mother-in-law to have time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful new year’s day!
And I love your family tradition of celebrating until Three King’s Day. But, yes, hard for a kid to have to wait that long to open the last present!
Constance, what a special treat for your mother-in-law to have time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful new year’s day!
And I love your family tradition of celebrating until Three King’s Day. But, yes, hard for a kid to have to wait that long to open the last present!
Constance, what a special treat for your mother-in-law to have time with each individual family. I hope you are having a wonderful new year’s day!
And I love your family tradition of celebrating until Three King’s Day. But, yes, hard for a kid to have to wait that long to open the last present!