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| Bernardo Daddi (d.1348) 'Nativity' |
As we look forward to celebrating the birth of the Christ Child, we have been enjoying time with our one-year-old grandsons.
Christmas will be very special this year.
Presents have been wrapped, and piled around the tree...
I have been to see the Queensland Ballet perform 'The Nutcracker', a traditional Christmas event in our city..
A joyful and festive ballet, it delighted an audience including many young children..
I loved the snowflake scene..
We are having a heatwave - temperatures around 34c/35c and high humidity.
And tropical, afternoon storms.
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Tomorrow I will make our traditional boiled Christmas pudding..
The fruit is marinating in rum as we speak...
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Decorations at the Mall - a group of talented teens were singing carols there today, which lifted my spirits to Christmas levels...
At my final pre-Christmas workout at the gym...
From our house to yours, wishing all my dear readers a very safe and Merry Christmas, and a healthy and happy New Year for 2022.
XXXXX
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| 'Nativity', Giotto, 1304 |
Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures. The giant mall ornament is fantastic.
Merry Christmas Salty Pumpkin! There are several of those giant ornaments throughout the shops, and you can sit inside for a photo. I agree, fantastic :)
DeleteSo nice to have the chance to catch up with you. Happy 50th Anniversary. That is an accomplishment. I know you will be excited to see those little boys. Grandchildren are the best. Have a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year my friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Darla. We can't wait to spend Christmas with the tiny ones, and their big brother who is now 12! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our house to yours.
DeleteEverything looks beautiful, Trish! The Red Cardinal quilt is spectacular … so lovely! I love quits and have a black and white quilt as my bedspread, and it keeps me just the right amount of warm at night. Wishing you a Merry Christmas week!
ReplyDeleteHi Debra, I made the quilt a few years ago - it seemed only right when I came across the red cardinal fabrics :) Your black and white quilt sounds nice; I love the tradition of American quilts and twice visited the Amish country in Pennsylvania in the 1990s - loved it! Merry Christmas to you in the fabulous Big Apple!
DeleteMerry Christmas, Patricia! Those two little ones will add a lot of fun to your Christmas celebration. Our little one-year-old is just taking her first steps.
ReplyDeleteThese are all beautiful scenes, modern and old. Christmas is for the ages!
Oh how adorable for the little one to walk for Christmas! She can inspect the Christmas trees, the presents, and all the fun. Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you and your family.
DeleteI would love to have Christmas in a heatwave again, Patricia. It makes me very nostalgic to read that. I'm so pleased you'll be with your grandchildren and family. As for your photos of the ballet, they are beautiful. I look forward to the day we can go to the theatre again and see a performance of any kind. Wishing you and yours a happy time at Christmas and a healthy New Year, Patricia!
ReplyDeleteAh, Val, I suppose after many years of cold Christmas, the heat would seem enticing. We don't particularly like the humidity, but on the whole prefer to be here although the two occasions we went to snowy Canada at this time, it was a real treat. I hope you can go to the theatre again soon. There have been long periods here when things were closed, but thankfully we have enjoyed a few theatre trips recently. The Omicron variant is taking off here, so I foresee some closures in the New Year. Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year to you and your family.
DeleteDearest Patricia,
ReplyDeleteSuch a joy to see you were able to attend the Nutcracker's performance.
MISS the tropical Christmas times we enjoyed while living and working in Indonesia... You enjoy yours!
Big hugs,
Mariette
The Nutcracker was stunning - a shorter than the original version, this one was choreographed by Ben Stevenson of Houston Ballet fame. Theatre performances here during covid have been reduced to two hours. Thank you for visiting my blog, and I am off to see yours! Merry Christmas!
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DeleteThe Nativity scenes you share every year always touch my heart, Patricia. The paintings are so beautiful. Your Christmas pudding looks YUMMY.....and moist! I bet the rum added makes this dessert. That was so nice of the carolers to sing delightful Christmas songs at the mall. Haven't heard carolers in awhile. How wonderful you get to see your grandsons for Christmas. And the Nutcracker is always fun to see, a classic performance. Merry Christmas to you, dear Patricia. Thank you for your blog friendship all these years.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Glad you enjoy the early Nativity paintings, Sheri. I love them too. Yes, rum is the secret of our old-style pudding. It is boiling away as I type. Carols really make Christmas, don't they? It was a nice surprise to see them at the Mall. Merry Christmas and thank you for your blog friendship too - loving your new, snowy, place!
DeleteIt is always a delight to see the Nutcracker ballet - a ballet I love. Christmas will be an extra special delight for you with your two young grandsons. Have a lovely time Patricia and Happy Christmas to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteThe Nutcracker is now a Christmas staple in our town, and the Qld Ballet is better than ever, such perfection, under Artistic Director Li Cunxin (Mao's Last Dancer). This bright new version is by Ben Stevenson, Artistic Director, Texas Ballet Theatre. I can't wait to take our little grandsons in a few years. They are starting to sing, la la la, and it is adorable. Merry Christmas to you and your family Rosemary.
DeleteLoved the ballet scenes, it's been years since I saw a live production - but recall it vividly, such a fun and beautifully costumed ballet.
ReplyDeleteYour decorations are lovely - I see one on the tree I recognize! The quilt is awesome Trish - and just so you know, the red cardinals are busy outside my window this morning!