I have so much to share here on the blog….but my time is running out. This holiday season feels stressful for me. I have all of the gifts to wrap, tonight am taking Larry out to dinner for his birthday. Tomorrow I must finish two Christmas knitted gifts and in the evening we have a theater performance, Friday has three activities. Saturday I must cook for the Cookie Caper at church on Sunday. AND we all know what next week is! I just want to cry.

One good thing is, Larry and I mailed out all of our out of town gifts on Monday! They are wrapped and ready to put under trees far away.

I love Christmas and I am determined to make this one a happy wonderful celebration. I hope that you are handling the stress well and find time to celebrate your holiday on your terms.

Tonight Larry will celebrate his belated birthday. His birthday is always one of my favorite celebrations because he is my favorite person in the world. Last week, he was in Austin on his birthday but I have him all to myself tonight. His combined birthday/ Christmas gift will arrive this week and we exchange our gifts on Christmas evening at dessert. (wait till you see!)

Do you think that I will get all these gifts wrapped? (I do not use bags)

Have a happy Wednesday….I am off to yoga.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Happy Monday!

Yesterday, Larry opted for Sunday dinner and a movie, back in the big bed. The reason was, for his birthday, he received a new (and quite nice!) bed tray! I already had one, and he had wanted one, so, for his birthday Lauren, Josh and Matilda gave him one. Thus, dinner on his new tray.

I made one of his favorite dinners. Bratwurst with sauerkraut, on the most wonderful rolls. I also made potato salad. We drank Champagne with dinner.

Our movie was…..Larry’s favorite Holiday movie…..

Today is laundry day, (who is in the mood for THAT? Not me!) exercise, finish knitting a holiday gift, and mail off Christmas gifts to loved ones far away. It will be interesting to see how much of that list I get done! What are YOU doing?

I am off to do Laundry…. Have a wonderful day.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Yesterday Larry was home from his meetings and the birthday celebration commenced.

Tiff’s treats arrived early, much to Larry’s delight. He was in my work room visiting, when they arrived with his cookies. He was surprised……and now had a perfect Birthday breakfast! (it was a gift from Lauren, Josh and Matilda)

Tiff’s Treats are one of the favorites here at The Cottage….if you have not tried them, please do….

Larry’s birthday is always so much fun. FACT: he is a Birthday Scrooge, but we all “go with it” and he puts up with us all and the birthday antics that happen around him.

Gosh, one entire year till I get to celebrate with Larry again…I have a whole year to plan fun things. Right?

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Yesterday was dark and damp and today is exactly the same. Larry was in Austin for meetings yesterday, but he is home now and that brightens up my day very much. Yesterday was his birthday, but we are celebrating today. I say the word celebrate, but I honestly do not know what he wants to do. (he is in the office working right now)

The house was quiet when Larry was out of town…I found it difficult to relax so I worked on Christmas gifts. I am knitting a few things for my “girls” as I do every Christmas. I keep the projects in a sweet bag. A souvenir bag from our recent trip to Paris.

One afternoon while in Paris, I was resting in the apartment. It was a windy, damp day, and I was happy to cuddle on the sofa and read. Larry went out….I think that he was going to the wine and formage shops….and when he came home, he had this bag and a Paris key chain for me! How awesome is that? We have been going to France for many years and I STILL love souvenirs!

In this sweet bag are knitting needles loaded with stitches while making a holiday gift. (I am working on Lauren’s gift)

If someone were to make you a Christmas gift, what would it be? And why?

Have a Happy Happy Friday!

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

Happy Birthday to my favorite person. May your day be filled with birthday wishes come true and special moments that will live in your heart forever.

Being out of town on your birthday sucks. BUT I promise that when you get home, we will celebrate.

I love you BEYOND the moon. (so much!) Me

It was good to be home for Sunday dinner last week. We decided to have meatloaf, baked potatoes and green bean casserole for dinner. With a Medoc wine and cherry pie for dessert. American comfort food.

I do love French food…but having comfort food here at The Cottage, says: welcome back home.

Our movie was Christmas In Connecticut….and as always a complete joy to watch.

It was a good Sunday dinner, as we had missed planning them for a few weeks.

I have been struggling the past few days. Jet lag is difficult this year and Christmas is nipping at my heels. Being away with Larry, alone during our holiday was so wonderful…I almost don’t like being back home.( of course Larry is back to work and happy as a clam)

It is December 6th today. I must say good bye to this post and get busy on a project I need to finish before Christmas. How are you doing on your Christmas gifts? Remember to breathe.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

We always go to France with a prayer list in my purse. Since the Cathedral Of Notre Dame is closed due to the fire, we now go up on the hill to Sacré-Cœur for prayers and candles

Friends and family share prayer needs with us and it means the world to me that they ask. (OK, sometimes I ask them if they mind that I put them on the prayer list. No one ever says no.) Sacré-Cœur is a beautiful church high on a hill in Paris. At night it glows and is a light of love and care for the people of Paris.

This year, it was raining when we went to Sacré-Cœur. People had gone into the church to get out of the rain and it was crowded and noisy even though a service was going on.

It is a beautiful church, and it always takes my breath away when I go inside. I sit very still and take it all in hoping that my memory of this beautiful moment will last for a very long time.

We worship and after, we say special prayers and light candles. It is always emotional for me and this year was no different.

We have remembered many people during prayers over the years. Some of these wonderful people are still on our prayer list. It is a blessing indeed to be able to pray in such a special church. Even though we are home now, the prayer list continues…..

Please have a wonderful day.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

My favorite photo from France…..also includes one of my favorite things to eat while there…….

It was a cold rainy, day in Montmartre. We went to Sacre Coeur say prayers that were on our prayer list and we found ourselves in a bad rainstorm. It didn’t take long after that that we made our way to a cafe that we like near Place de Tertre (where ARTist paint and sell their paintings) and there were spots at tables outside! Larry and I drank beer (1664) and enjoyed hot steamy soup while we tried to warm up.

I had walked far in the down pour and felt a mess, but Larry insisted on taking my photo.

The sun came out while we were enjoying lunch, I promise….it was a lovely Sunday in Paris.

It is a lovely day in Texas today, too.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me