Ice Skating and An Open Fire

via What could be better than ice skating in the snow with your friends

via and then warming up before an open fire?

Lazy Day after Christmas

Here's hoping you don't have to work today and were able to sleep a little later than usual, as I did.

Webster doesn't like having a late breakfast. He's always famished and likes to eat early.

They have both eaten and gone outside and have now gone back to bed.

Are you enjoying the day after Christmas too? I have always loved this day and I'm looking forward to spending it indoors puttering around the cottage. 

Today is "Boxing Day" in England and Canada. I always pictured men in boxing gloves and never understood this holiday until today. It seems that the servants who had to work on Christmas had the day after Christmas as their day off and their employers presented them with boxes of presents when they departed. Thus, it became known as Boxing Day. How nice! I wonder if we will see this played out on Downton Abbey? 

How to gift wrap a cat

This just struck me as funny. I think I could have done this yesterday if Tabitha had gotten in my way when I was in super-drive-wrapping-mode.

Merry Christmas

I hope Santa was good to you.

Santa Claus by Thomas Nast 1881

Merry Old Santa Claus
Harper's Weekly January 1, 1881

I had one of the originals and this is my photo of the lithograph which was sold long ago. The historic Thomas Nast House is in nearby Morristown, NJ. I accomplished just about everything I set out to do today and delivered lots of local packages wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string. Really! I hope Santa is good to everyone. Merry Christmas.

I took this photo of the Nast House from my car with my iPhone in the fall.

The Rush is On

I have so much to do today. It's Christmas Eve and I have presents to wrap, a small tree to decorate, and dishes to prepare for tomorrow. I added a border to this print I posted last year of the Christmas Hares. Maybe I'll have time for something original later. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Christmas Decor with No Red

A blue and white (and green!) Christmas with Carolyne Roehm. via

Prince Charles playing with delight in 1949

Princess Elizabeth, the Duchess of Edinburgh, playing around with her young son and heir, Prince Charles, in 1949.

It's easy to see he was adored by his mother. I love these animated gifs, don't you? Imagine what fun they must have had at Christmas!!!! via