Happy Christmas

To all of my friends and family, blogging and otherwise, I wish you the happiest and merriest of seasons.

“What kind of Christmas present would Jesus ask Santa for?” – Salmon Rushdie

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.”  – Roy L. Smith

I put something different on my tree this year – hydrangeas from my garden.

They bloomed late, probably due to all of the early spring and summer rains.  Many large heads were still on the shrub when a frost was pending, so I brought a bouquet indoors.  It made a massive collection and I wondered what to do with them.

As we were bringing in the tree and trying to set it up, we must have knocked into the shelf holding the arrangement.  I thought, why not add them to the tree?

At first my husband thought I was a bit nuts.  But after he saw the nice effect, he was quickly won over.  So hydrangeas have a new place on my tree, along with the routine shiny bulbs, sugared fruit, and a few things picked up from travels like a Venetian mask.

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie

Did I mention dolls?

“The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!”  
― Charles N. Barnard   

But what to do with the leftover ornaments?  Put them on the mantle of course.“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!”  
―    Charles Dickens

The teddy bear isn’t complaining.

Perhaps he’s enjoying the music.

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.”
―    Agnes M. Pahro

May all your Christmas dreams come true.