Season’s greetings and all that stuff

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Whatever you celebrate at this time of year 

I wish you a good one

65 thoughts on “Season’s greetings and all that stuff”

        • Hmmm. You’ve thought this through, haven’t you? You’ve helped me understand that this isn’t a good place for serious feuds. Anyplace you put a shovel into the ground you’re going to hit slate. So it’s goodwill to all, I’m afraid.

          Thanks for the good wishes and mine back to you.

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    • Thanks, April. Actually, I do celebrate Christmas. I grew up with it as a secular holiday–my parents considered the Jewish holidays religious and we skipped those but Christmas wasn’t. Don’t think about it too hard or your head will explode. It probably won’t surprise you to hear that my feelings about it are complicated, but we have a nice little tree this year and have gotten all sentimental about where the various ornaments came from. (Many of them were from my mother.)

      Wishing you a merry Christmas as well. And may the new year be kind to us all.

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  9. Happy whatever to all! We choose to mark the winter solstice as a secular holiday to welcome the return of the light but as my mum’s Sikh doctor told her, many years ago, “Any excuse for a party!” when mum asked if it was okay to wish her a merry Christmas. Jean x

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  17. What a lovely photo — peaceful snowy pastures. We don’t get snow here in the flatlands of California so I’m jealous!

    Happy Christmas to you and yours.

    Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!

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    • Having spent 40 long winters in Minnesota, I’ve seen enough snow to last me several lifetimes, so I’m happy to donate my share to California. Just enter your ZIP code in the invisible box and I’ll send whatever comes my way.

      Actually, we don’t get much here and when we do everyone (except me and my partner, who spent 30 long winters in Minnesota) gets excited about it. But I will admit it’s beautiful and makes for nice photos.

      Sorry to go all bah-humbug on you. Merry Christmas to you as well.

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  19. Happy Christmas, Ellen, partner & cat! Thanks for your entertaining and educational posts through the year, and all the best for 2025! Winter Solstice today, so I’m having a Baileys – it’s the traditional Druid sacrament for this festival, as you well know. :))

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    • Well, of course it is. Anyone knows that. And to celebrate the lengthening days, Ol’ Ma Nature is throwing one hell of a wind at us down here in Cornwall. Not as bad as Storm Whatsit but strong enough that I had to concentrate on staying upright when I walked the dog.

      Thanks for the good wishes and may the new year be kind to you.

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  23. Lo Ellen. Pic of our big bonsai dressed for Christmas. All the best for seasonal jollity and hoping we all have a happy, healthy and rewarding 2025! Cheers 🥂Cheryl n John x

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  24. Just stopped by to say “Hi” and mention that my wife and I spent some time in Cornwall this spring. Her family came from Penzance, well more accurately, up the hill from Penzance.

    We found the farm her great-grandfather lived on. It is still in the family. We also located his grave in the churchyard.

    It was Easter time, so we attended Easter services at the church. Very beautiful service but sparsely attended. I get it that people are not as religious anymore – but there is a thousand years of tradition with that church – something worthwhile to keep alive.

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    • It’s breathtaking country around there, isn’t it, and packed with ancient monuments. If you think the churches are old…

      I was once talking to a friend here about how casually the British take religion compared to Americans. She claimed that compulsory religious education and prayers in school had taught them to tune it out. On the other hand, even people who wouldn’t set foot in a church for any other reason want to be married and buried in them. And there does seem to be a lot of willingness to support the buildings themselves. So a mixed picture as far as I can figure it out.

      I’m so glad you got to see the area. Wishing you all the best for the holidays.

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  25. Hey, you got snow! Not Minnesota-style snow, of course, but snow! Happy Holidays, Ellen. Enjoy the festive week in England where everything is closed, as opposed to here, where, by tomorrow, it’ll be as if Christmas never happened and Valentine’s Day ads are just moments away. :( (Oh my God, Travel Architect! Don’t be such a downer

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    • Okay, it’s time to confess: I stole the picture–from myself but from a different year. It looked more Decemberish than what’s really outside the window, which is 50-degree weather and overcast skies. The village-owned shop stayed open for 2 hours because one of the founding group insisted, and still does. And shows up to do the work. Exactly what we’ll do with all the leftover chocolate santas and mince pies I don’t know. Looks to me like a serious case of overordering.

      The pub will also be open for 2 hours. It doesn’t look like we’ll go, but if it follows the usual pattern, they’ll pack ’em in, then toss everyone out at 2 pm.

      The first daffodils are out.

      Withing you a good Christmas, if that’s what you celebrate, and a winter that isn’t too horrible. (Sorry, that last part is the best I can do.)

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