It certainly is the most wonderful time of the year! Our Christmas tree is decorated and ready for all the presents we've been buying to be wrapped and place beneath it.
We have been enjoying holiday parties, gingerbread house making, a light parade, Santa Claus visits and church services, where we celebrated the second week of Advent this Sunday. The next few weeks I'll be busy making our favorite Christmas cookies and a favorite savory Zeppole treat.
The beautiful bright Super Moon that passed this month reminded me of the special star that heralded the birth of Jesus and which led the Wise Men to his simple and humble birthplace in a stable, where He lay in swaddling clothes in a manger. The King of Kings who came to teach us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor like yourself."
As you can see on my Mille Fiori Facebook page on this link, we had horse-drawn carriage rides in our neighborhood recently. It was fun to sing "Jingle Bells," along with all the riders, as we rode through the neighborhood under the bright moon.
I wanted to share this photo from my MilleFioriFavoriti Instagram feed. As you can see the Colorado foothills that surround us are dry and without a speck of snow! We have had an unusually warm autumn here this year, due to a La Nina weather pattern, and the weatherman tells us that no end is in sight. This Sunday it was 62 degrees Fahrenheit in the Denver area. We can go outside wearing only a sweater or light jacket. I took this photo because I saw this bird flying by, and from a distance, I thought it was a bald eagle. When I came home and cropped the photo I laughed, as you can see it is a crow carrying a white bag in his mouth. Maybe he was doing a little Christmas shopping? I hope this photo always made you smile!
Enjoy this most wonderful time of the year!
I'm linking this post to the following blog events:
Amaze Me Monday, Mosaic Monday, All Seasons, Blue Monday, Blogging Monday, Through My Lens Monday, Inspiration Monday, Blogging Grandmothers, You Are the Star Blog Hop, Good Random Fun, Nature Notes, Grand Social, Photo Tunes, Happiness Is Homemade Tuesday Talk, Tuesday Treasures, Our World Tuesday, Ruby Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, Oh My Heartsie Girl's Wonderful Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Wonderful Wednesday, Share Your Cup Thursday,Little Things Thursday, No Rules Blog Linky, Travel Photo Thursday, Thankful Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Friendship Fridays, Friday Photo Journal, Skywatch Friday, Sweet Inspiration, Weekend Travel Inspiration, Pink Saturday, Over the Moon, Happiness Is Homemade
Thank you blog hosts!
Beautiful!! Your tree is amazing. Love seeing the eagle.
ReplyDeleteYour tree is stunning.It really is the most wonderful time of the year-end mostly because we celebrate the birthday of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteNo snow? That is bad! We only have a sprinkling here too, although there is lots in other parts of Sweden.
ReplyDeleteLovely festive tree - and I had to wonder about that last photo!
Dearest Pat,
ReplyDeletehow beautiful your Christmas Tree is, and you really made me lagh watching at your last shot, the bird you caght has truly made some Christmas shop !
Alas, it's not a good thing to have such a dry season, we too don't see any rain for so long after the driest Summer we can remember ...
Wishing you a peaceful new week, sending blessings to you all
XOXO Dany
Hello, your Christmas tree is beautiful. The carriage ride and singing sounds like a fun time. I think we have your snow here, I wish I could send it to you. I rather have weather in the 60's. Wishing you a blessed advent season and a happy Christmas. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead.
ReplyDeleteYour tree is wonderful How fun to have a sleigh ride this time of the year! Fun not eagle photo.
ReplyDeleteClassic and beautiful tree location! Looks like a Victorian Christmas card. That photo of the bird still makes me laugh! Merry on, Pat!
ReplyDeleteYour home is beautiful and welcoming in its Christmas decor. The "eagle" photo makes me laugh. Have a blessed Advent.
ReplyDelete..."It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" you can say that again. What a festive tree, thanks for stopping by and enjoy this exciting season.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Merry Merry!!! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt DOES make me smile! How many times I've photographed something and looked at it on my computer and it's not what I thought! I hate finding out I've captured 'trash' in the water or in the woods when we hike. You've made a beautiful mosaic of fun family pics and I love those holiday mugs. Your tree is gorgeous too! I think about how many years we've been blog friends and I feel so very blessed. Holiday hugs!
ReplyDeletePat, The tree looks gorgeous. Crows are gathering at this time of year too! We can not have all the fun. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteYour tree is gorgeous! The carriage rides look fun, as well. Been a while since I have taken one.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful tree.
ReplyDeleteEven the crows are Christmas shopping -- and I haven't done mine yet.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Christmas decorations in your home Pat! Thank you for sharing.
I was chatting with my Colorado d-i-l yesterday and she said people were outside in shorts since it was 60 degrees. Here in Fort Myers when it gets to be 60 people stay indoors because they think it's too cold to go out ;>)... it is all relative!
Pat, I love your Christmas tree! It's beautiful. I too, need to wrap presents. Christmas seems to be coming quickly now. Your activities look wonderful, especially the sleigh ride! Merry Christmas to you and your family. Oh, the crow carrying the bag is a hoot! ♥
ReplyDeleteYou have the Christmas tree at the perfect place, by the stairs! Must have been fun that drive with the horse drawn carriages! When you have grands the Christmas feast only becomes bigger! I know Zeppole from the Italian restaurant - am now getting hungry for them Pat! May thanks for sharing your family Christmas with All Seasons! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice tree!! It looks like you are ready for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWhat a strange world we live in when your area in Colorado has no snow, and south Texas does!
My you have been very busy enjoying the holiday! The tree is stunning and that alone would take me a week to decorate, lol. I don't even have a tree that I use anymore save for a small table top one. I don't enjoy decorating trees and I am not so good at it but I do love to see them nicely decorated.
ReplyDeleteLove that tree! And the hillsides look much as they do here in Greece -
ReplyDeleteWonderful Christmas Time at this Post - your christmas tree is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Kirsi an merry Christmas
How beautifully you have decorated your tree, there must be hundreds of memories hanging there.
ReplyDeleteLove the image of the crow on his way back from the store!
Have a wonderful week!
A lovely Christmas tree!!! Your home is beautifully decorated.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/12/at-dusk.html
Your tree is beautifully decorated. I'm missing the holiday spirit here...
ReplyDeleteThat's the second giggle I've had with that bird n bag having seen it via Instagram. It's a brill photo, as are they all as you say it's a wonderful time of year! Enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteWren x
Love your tree and very festive photos ~ Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Week to you,
A ShutterBug Explores
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Love it! Very pretty! Come visit and link up with me!http://nanahood.com/holiday-decorations
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tree and images!
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful tree.
ReplyDeleteSo good to see all the photo's in your mosaic.
Enjoy the Christmas Season.
All the best Jan
What a lovely tree you have Pat, and so many beautiful memories you're making with the grandchildren. Thanks for the card, and have a wonderful holiday season.
ReplyDeletePat - your tree is dazzling - and looks like there is plenty of space for presents! I think your crow is also a magician if he fit his shopping in that little bag! Wishing you a White Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhat a very beautiful Christmas tree. I enjoyed your post very much. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLovely Christmas post! Loved seeing the horse-drawn carriage...they have them here too, and I have heard sleigh rides, but we don't have any snow yet! About the crow/raven....I am reading To the Bright Edge of the World and one of the things in the book is about how Ravens are supposed to carry souls into heaven after death, and seeing one is an omen of death....seeing the "note" in his beak made me chuckle...is he carrying such a message to someone? :-)I hope not! Happily we are not bound by such superstitions. Have a beautiful, blessed Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI think I love your tree about as much as any tree I've seen this season -- it's just beautiful. And all the smaller photos. So personal and lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt's snowing here -- 7" today and very cold. It does look beautiful. But I'd rather it be snowing in Colorado!
Good to see you are making the most out of the season! Your tree is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYou have the most gorgeous Christmas tree! I laughed at the photo of the crow flying about with the white bag. Yep, maybe he'd been Christmas shopping. lol!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up and have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYour time sounds very busy but very happy!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your Christmas tree - so festive and cheerful and inviting!
ReplyDeleteI'm envious of your horse-drawn carriage ride, accompanied by sleigh bells and "Jingle Bells!" I don't think we have anything like that around us here in CT...but I'm going to start researching it as soon as I post this comment!
I found your blog via Beverly's Pink Saturday blog hop - so Happy Pink Saturday!
I love the tree and the horse rides... I hope you and your family have the best of holiday seasons. A very Merry Christmas to you Pat... Michelle
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, always lovely photos to accompany your post. Your tree is very pretty and the eagle! Wow! Nice capture! I am not looking forward to the bitter cold headed this way by week's end. We need snow which I do not mind at all but the bitter cold can go back to the North Pole! I hope you and yours have a lovely and Merry CHRISTmas ! We are nearly ready for it. The wedding threw us off a bit but we got back on track! Enjoy your week and thank you for sharing. Hugs
ReplyDeleteLooks like you are all set for the big day, Pat, the tree is gorgeous! Happy Holidays to you all.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
It truly is and I hope that your Christmas is a wonderful and memorable one with your family.
ReplyDeleteThe horse and buggy rides would have been fun. Your tree is beautiful as too is your granddaughter. I hope you had a nice Christmas Day and have a very Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a very Merry Christmas and I wish you a Happy and healthy New Year
ReplyDeleteYour tree is very beautiful. Happy New Year :)
ReplyDeletewww.artdecorationcrafting.gr