Thursday, December 17, 2009

Dear Friends,

Thank you again for your sweet comments and support; they bring cheer into our lives!

Christmas day is fast approaching, and we have been blessed to be able to enjoy a quiet season (in spite of the pipes freezing for three days), full of simple pleasures~

The big Christmas cactus is in bloom~


Our sweet friends the Watts sent a box of beautiful clothes~




We had a tea in honor of Jane Austen's birthday (the 16th)~


Complete with blueberries!


And made a family of snow people in the back yard~




We've spent time reading about how the Ingalls spent their Christmases~


Mr. Graham has been portraying Jacob Marley in "A Christmas Carol" (Scaaary!)~


And of course, the dolls have been busy sending off cards and gifts to their friends!


We hope that you are enjoying winter's simple pleasures, as well; be sure to take time out to nurture your own soul, and to remember the real reason we have Christmas! Let's all work to make it a true remembrance of the birth of our Savior again :) .

Love,

Marqueta

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"The True Christmas Spirit"

by Magee Pratt

The purpose of the Christ day is this: To bring together the fortunate, happy, blessed people who have precious things in abundance, and the poor, sick, friendless, ragged, hungry ones who are despairing--the people who have no true knowledge of the best. And they meet, these two sorts of people, to make merry together, not for the comfortable to make the wretched forget their pain by their gifts and leave them, but to be happy together for Christ's sake on Christ's day. Now this can be done by those who have little money but much love, which is better. In my short journey through the world, in great cities full of wealth, or country places where a few hundred live, I have discovered streets and villages where death or misfortune had needy victims, where there were lonely, empty lives. Everywhere there is someone who would be grateful for a loving word, everywhere is a need in man or woman or child, and the Christmas season seems cruel to those who have no friends, few clothes, and poor, hard fare. Every mother out of her mother love could do a little for them, give them a present of the Christmas sacrificial good. It might cost something more precious than money, cost thought and time and love, but the good it did would be worth so much more--just to steal away the burden of pain from a breaking heart for the Christmas day.

(From the Mother's Magazine, 1909)

19 comments:

  1. dear mama,
    i love you and i like you.
    papa is scary. i like the post.i made 1 boy snow and his sister and audrey made 1 snow boy.:)
    love~tasha

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  2. Dear Mama,
    This is a very nice post!
    Yes, indeed, Papa is quite scary!
    I am glad the pipes unfroze!
    The Christmas Cactus is quite a beauty! I like all the clothes that the watts sent us! The Cranberry Biscuits we had at the Tea Party were Delicious!
    I Love You And I Like You!
    Love,
    Audrey

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  3. what a beautiful post! I love the pics. Hope you have a great evening! Blessings, Faye

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  4. Dear Marqueta, Children, and Marley,

    What a beautiful Christmas cactus! My Mum has had one for years. The young ladies are wearing such lovely frocks! What a tasty blueberry treat and big blueberry smile for Jane Austen's birthday! We just love those snow people! The little snow fellow in the sled is precious! We too love Laura Ingalls Wilder, especially at Christmas. Tell Marley to be sure to take along some gloves on his nightly haunts as his hands look a bit purple!

    Your friends,
    Diane and daughter Sarah

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  5. Great post! I thought Evangeline looked absolutely great in that jacket (and, as usual, Tasha is donning her winning smile), and the way the author you quoted used the term: "Christ Day."

    Now, for my part, I think I know Christ was not actually born in the dead of winter. I think he was actually born in or around the ninth month, or "September" (which, for whatever it is worth, actually means "Seventh Month"(!)). Nevertheless, if people are in the mood for thinking about Jesus Christ at this time of year, I am anything but going to stand in their way! Merry Christ-x!

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  6. Brr...I hope you have been able to stay warm!
    The girls dresses are so pretty ~ just like the girls!
    Oh, I wish I knew it was Jane Austen's birthday, I might have a spot of tea tomorrow with some lemon cranberry bread in her honor.
    Hugs))

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  7. Dear Marqueta~
    I have several cactus' blooming now but they have only a few blooms and none look so exuberant as yours! It must really love where it lives!
    I love the dresses the girls are wearing from the Watts! What a sweet friend to send along those treasures! I know that it is just as fun for the 'giver' as for the 'givee'! We passed along many of the dresses that I made for my two girls so very many years ago, and believe it or not, there is still one or two showing up now and then on someones grandbabies! It brings back sweet memories to see them!
    The snow family are great! Oh, I wish we had snow! We did get a 'skiff' but it soon turned to rain. Our lovely winter weather has turned into typical Washington weather ~ rain! Don't get me wrong, I do like the rain! It's what keeps Washington green, but I was hoping for a White Christmas!
    How fun to have a tea in honor of Jane! I was reminded of her day a little too late to celebrate!
    I just love the Little House books! A hard but simple life full of love!
    Dickens is my favorite author and A Christmas Caroll is my very favorite story! I love how the 'thread of redemption' runs through the story! Your hubby makes a marvelous Marley! :~O
    Christmas Blessings!

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  8. As Lady Farmer said we had much joy in sending those dresses along and we feel most blessed that we have friends to send them to!.....Anna and I did have a good giggle at the rather blueberry Little Frankie....Anna said that is just the sort of thing that happens to her when she drinks her Hot Cocoa lol so she could relate!! The snowmen looked wonderful I do not think we will have a white Christmas it has been getting quite warm during the day and very dusty again but then we do live in the desert! We could sprinkle powedered sugar outside and see what animals come along hehe!
    The Children loved seeing Mr. Graham all dressed up in character. We have some letters on the way~Merry Christmas & Blessings Love The Watts

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  9. Dear Marqueta, thanks for stopping by and offering me the well wishes. I loved seeing "Marley" as we just watched the 1951 version of Scrooge:-) The dresses are adorable! Have a blessed Christmas.
    Peace,
    Suzanne

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  10. Dear Marqueta, you have brightened up my evening. I love the pictures. The candle lighting is pretty. I see a pretty face in the background. :) The dresses are lovely! Do I spy a little doll house letter! We need to get busy here with our Holiday cards. Where is the time going?? Thank you for sharing the sweet Christmas story.

    Lynn

    PS - The Christmas cactus is so beautiful!

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  11. Your family is so sweet and precious!

    Thanks for the comment you left me, your a gem!

    love candy

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  12. I enjoyed seeing your lovely Christmas Cactus and that beaming blueberry smile...how cute that was!

    So glad to have found your sweet blog!♥

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  13. Just wanted to wish you and your family a joyous Christmas.
    Warm wishes.

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  14. Mi querida amiga,

    Que linda esta tu planta. La mia, no me ha dado ni una sola flor...para mi que necesita mas luz :(

    Las ninas se ven tan lindas con sus vestidos...son para verano verdad?

    Yo he estado leyendo la historia de "little house" tambien, en verdad me mantiene simple en mis celebraciones.

    Una carta esta en transito para ti...

    Con mucho carino,

    maria

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  15. Christmas Blessings
    to you~ dear friend!
    Rejoice a King is born!!
    This post was so lovely....
    your dear daughters look
    so sweet and happy!

    Many Blessings~ Miss Jen

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  16. What a lovely December you all have been having! And glad to see Jane's birthday celebrated in style! You have such a warm and happy home~

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  17. Dear Marqueta,

    What a lovely post! My Christmas cactus finished blooming a few weeks ago, but our paperwhites are in full bloom and smell fabulous! Your children are so precious! The girls look beautiful in their new frocks. That was so kind of your friends. Frankie is adorable with those blueberries on his face. Tea is the perfect way to celebrate beloved Jane Austen's birthday! Your husband makes a wonderful looking Marley!

    My, you have a lot of snow! The snowmen look so cheerful as do your precious children! Thank you so much for visiting me and for your kind words that were a blessing to me!

    I hope you and your family have a blessed and Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!!!

    Much love to you sweet friend,
    Paula

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  18. My dear friend!

    I wish you a wonderful Christmas! I hope you and your lovely family are enjoying your quiet time!

    I always enjoy seeing your photos! The dresses are lovely on your girls and look beautiful!

    Do you have a Christmas Ingalls book you are reading from? I would love to know!

    Again, Merry Christmas and God Bless!

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