Friday, December 23, 2016

Christmas at FreeThinke's fireside

.~.~.~. Yes Santa Exists .~.~.~.
Yes, dear children, Santa Claus is real,
Even though so many don't agree.
Santa lives wherever people feel
Sweet and kind in all sincerity,
And show their love with understanding gifts,
Not gaudy, foolish, merely costly things.
The gift of Recognition often lifts
A sagging spirit high, and lends it wings.
Elves aplenty fashion tokens bright, as
Xanadu excursions, jewels and such.
If connected well, these brings delight. As
Substitutes for love, they're not worth much.
The more we spend, sometimes, the less we give.
Santa comes to hearts that love to live.


Christmas dinner at FreeThinke's house

Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!
FreeThinke 


30 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you, and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  2. FT-Beautifully done...Merry Christmas!

    tmw

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    Replies
    1. A great compliment coming from a true saint. Thank you, and God bless you.

      MERRY CHRISTMAS

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  3. How inviting! Wish that I could step into those photos and celebrate Christmas there. We're having a bit of a pared down Christmas here -- of necessity, as you know.

    Merry Christmas, FreeThinke!

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  4. PS: I love the Christmas china and those green goblets!

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    Replies
    1. This goblets were a great find. They appeared ten years ago at TJ Maxx for $2.00 apiece!

      The china is antique, hand-painted Royal Worcester and it's irreplaceable. We dare not put it in the dishwasher, so it is used only on "ceremonial" occasions. It's been part of every family Christmas celebration since long before I was born. A foolish thing, perhaps, but I will cherish it till the day I die.

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    2. FT,
      I know about china treasures brought out only for special occasions.

      My paternal grandmother (born circa 1880) specifically willed to me her Bavarian china -- service for 12. Even as a toddler, I admired that china in the three-cornered cupboard, so Grandma knew that I'd appreciate the treasure passed along to me.

      Grandma used this as her everyday china. Can you believe it? I'd never even consider using this Bavarian china for every day.

      Grandma's family was a large one, of the type that people had back in those days. Some eight children at one point.

      Many pieces were broken, of course -- especially the teacups and cereal bowls. We're down to only four of the former and one of the latter. But all the dinner plates survived.

      I know all about "irreplaceable." I've had no luck replacing any of the pieces. The pattern was a very limited one to start with, so replacement pieces run in at least the high 3 figures.

      Once in a while, even if the occasion isn't ceremonial, I'll bring out one of the china pieces to use for breakfast. Gives my whole day a lift!

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  5. Nice place FT, well decorated. Enjoy!

    Merry Christmas!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kid. I am blest to be able to live so well, but I worked hard for it for over half a century. Not so I could "show off," but because I treasure everything that reminds me of my family and a few beloved friends, and wanted to preserve as much of what they gave me as I possibly could. I see it as a way of honoring them and keeping their spirits alive as I enter old age and begin the journey all must make towards Eternity where I hope I may meet them all again in an atmosphere of peace, harmony and mutual appreciation.

      And a very MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU, Kid!

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    2. And the best of the Season to you, Kid!

      Hope your day tomorrow turns out especially well and satisfying.

      We really do have much to be grateful for this year.

      Realizing it is more than half the battle.

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  6. I ADDRESS the FOLLOWING PARODY to the MANY WHO HAVE DEPOSITED GRATUITOUSLY HATEFUL, BELLIGERENT, WANTONLY DISRESPECTFUL and INANE MESSAGES HERE ALL of WHICH HAVE BEEN REMOVED and DEPOSITED in the TRASH WHERE THEY BELONG:

    Drone on, all ye Hateful
    Doleful and indignant
    Drone on, and imbibe the Cup of Bitterness.
    Go on, IGNORE HIM, born the King of Angels

    Go on, try to IGNORE HIM
    Go on, try to IGNORE HIM
    His Spirit lives triumphant
    Despite Satan's fraud.

    Stink, Squires of Satan with each Exhalation
    Stink all ye Denizens of Darkness Below.
    Gory your doctrines trapped in fleshpots reeling

    Go on, try to IGNORE HIM
    Go on, try to IGNORE HIM
    His Spirit lives triumphant
    Despite Satan's fraud.


    Despite all that, we hope you undergo a change of heart and begin to journey in the right direction in a Glad and Gracious New Year.

    We wish you a Merry Christmas!
    We Wish you a Merry Christmas1
    We wish you a Merry Christmas
    And a Happy New Year.

    Oh, bring us some figgy pudding;
    Oh, bring us some figgy pudding;
    Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
    And a cup of good cheer

    We won't go until we get some;
    We won't go until we get some;
    We won't go until we get some,
    So bring some out here

    We wish you a Merry Christmas;
    We wish you a Merry Christmas;
    We wish you a Merry Christmas
    And a Happy New Year.

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  7. ★ Merry ★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
    •。★ Christmas 。* 。
    ° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
    ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______ /~\。˚ ˚ ˛
    ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門| ˚And a Happy New Year
    * Joy to all! ♫•*¨* Peace on Earth ♪♫•*¨*

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    Replies
    1. What a wonderful "typo-graphic!" I love it.

      Thanks and Merry Christmas!

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  8. Hope this Christmas Eve finds you in both good health and company. Merry Christmas, FT!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, and the very same to you, FJ –– and nothing less. ;-)

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  9. Merry Christmas to one of my favorite people I have never met! I have been remiss in my responses this year, though, I do think of you often.
    Your home is lovely. Your blog is like home to me.
    God Bless you and keep you!

    xo

    Andie

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Andie, You are a regular powerhouse of ingenuity, creativity and ceaseless inspiration. As such you have no need ever to apologize.

      While I do wish we could see more of you both here and abroad, I think I understand the driving force you cannot –– and ought not –– resist.

      God bless you and your sweet family, and may Christmas and the New Year bring you and yours much joy, continued good health, inner peace, and contentment.

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  10. IN THE MIDST of REVELRY and MERRYMAKING WE NEED ALSO TO CONSIDER THE SOBER SIDE OF CHRISTMAS:


    __ The Holy Enfant __

    Born in a manger
    ___ a low start in life
    Given to see
    ___ that no one is alone
    Ill-fated Child
    ___ destined only for Grief
    The Star disappeared;
    ___ Herod killed not the One

    But hundreds of others
    ___ God saved Him for us.
    He was to show us
    ___ that we could be saved
    Be happy and free
    ___ from all animus.
    But we work to kill Him
    ___ we are so depraved

    God loves us. ’Tis we
    __ are the ones who destroy.
    Each trust betrayed,
    ___ each gift that is spurned
    Is a stab in the heart
    ___ of an Innocent Boy,
    But, we’ll all feel the agony
    ___ all we have learned:

    He suffered the Cross
    ___ to give height to our goals
    ______ light to our minds
    _________ and flight to our souls.



    ~ FreeThinke, The Sandpiper - Winter 1996-97

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  11. "In so much as ye have done it uno the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it also unto me."


    I wonder as I wander out under the sky
    How Jesus, the Savior, did come forth to die?
    For poor ornery people like you and like I ––
    I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

    When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall
    With wise men and farmers and shepherd and all,
    But into the manger a Star's light did fall,
    And the Promise of Ages we then did recall

    If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
    A star in the sky or a bird on the wing,
    Or all of God's angels in Heaven for to sing,
    He surely could have had it, for he was the King.

    I wonder as I wander out under the sky
    How Jesus, the Savior, did come forth to die?
    For poor ornery people like you and like I ––
    I wonder as I wander out under the sky?


    ~ Appalachian folk tune, collected and transcribed by John Jacob Niles

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  12. Jesus a king who wore no crown,
    walked among shepards upon common ground.
    No splendor or grandeur where his to have,
    As he strode in sandals and plain robe throughout the land.

    His message of hope and good will to all,
    Lifted the spirits of those who would hear.
    His kingly blood yet common ways,
    taught mankind the powers of forgiveness and the path to light.


    MERRY CHRISTMAS

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  13. I understand. To have a moral pig follow our decent and dignified First Family is nauseating. We have the "Christian" evangelicals to thank for discarding their values for power. They are as morally corrupt as Trump.

    We can take pride in knowing that President Obama had a scandal-free administration and conducted his private and public life with honor.

    And we can only watch in horror as a Pussy-grabber defiles the People's House.

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    Replies
    1. Blessed is the man who walketh not in counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful ... For the ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. ...

      ~ excepted from Psalm One - Holy Bible (KIV)

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  14. For unto us a Child is born
    Unto us a Son is given
    And the government shall be upon is shoulder
    And Hs name shall be called
    Wonderful Counselor,
    The Mighty God,
    The Everlasting Father,
    The Prince of Peace.


    ~ Messiah

    WE HAVE, therefore INFINITE CAUSE for REJOICING.

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  15. Guess Who? said

    I want to wish all of my family, friends and readers a very Merry Christmas!

    I will return sometime next week, motivation for blogging is DOWN.

    Christmas Eve Night and Christmas Day are a special time for my wife and I, and she is not having to work the holidays this year, the luck of the schedule!

    We have a family tradition that we’ve embraced for 22 years now and the blog takes a back seat, as it should, but I will always take time to remember those I love and care about.

    I hope you have ALL you need, shared with the ones you love!

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  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  17. Merry Christmas to one of my favorite people I have never met! I have been remiss in my responses this year, though, I do think of you often.
    gclub
    สล็อต ออนไลน์ ได้ เงิน จริง

    ReplyDelete

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