Joyous Wishes For The Holiday Season

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Joyous Wishes For The Holiday Season

Joyous Wishes For The Holiday Season
Joyous Wishes For The Holiday Season

the warmest wishes

for a holiday filled with

the warmth of home

the love of family

and the company of good friends

****

I hope you enjoy the pretty watercolor painting I have chosen for this year’s Christmas greeting. The Atkinson Congregational Church was built in 1835 in Atkinson, New Hampshire. I think it is a beautiful example of a typical New England church as it looks during the holiday season.

This lovely painting was given to me by a dear friend, Karen Baker, shortly before she passed away. Karen was my next door neighbor when I lived in Atkinson.  I have sweet memories of the many holidays my husband and I spent with her and her warm and welcoming  family over the years and cherish their friendship.

Home, family and friends are all true blessings and are so appreciated during this special time of the year. I wish to thank you for your friendship, it is the best gift I could receive.

With warm wishes,

Karen

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I travel the back roads of the world, sharing great food and interesting places and enjoyable pastimes.

211 thoughts on “Joyous Wishes For The Holiday Season”

    1. Hi Donna, The painting is very special to me. I appreciate your kind words and friendship, thank you. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well.

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    1. Hi Bonnie, I agree with you about New England having so many lovely churches. The one in Atkinson sits on a hill and is lit up at night…it really is beautiful. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. Thank you Alli, I’m happy to know that you enjoyed this year’s Christmas wish. Friends and family are especially remembered at this time of the year. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  12. The card is lovely and the sweet thoughts of your dear friend are so in keeping with all the nostalgia we feel at this time of year remembering loved ones..
    Enjoy this holiday season..

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment, Monique. It is impossible not to think of our loved ones during the holiday season. I so enjoy my friend’s painting and thought it would be perfect for my Christmas greeting this year.

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    1. Hi Cathy, I’m happy that you enjoyed the painting. It is a lovely sight during the Christmas season especially at night. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well.

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    1. Thank you Peter, for your lovely sentiment…I’m glad you were able to overcome that little bit of Scrooge feeling that was lurking about. I hope you enjoy this wonderful season as well.

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    1. Thank you Mary, I’m glad you like the painting…it is a wonderful remembrance of my friend that I truly enjoy. I hope you and you family have a lovely Christmas as well.

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  22. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, Karen! I’ve really enjoyed following your blog this year…what an exciting life you live and it’s always fun to be an “armchair traveler” when I visit! 🙂

    XO,
    Jane

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    1. Thank you for your wish and lovely compliment, Jane. I’m happy to know that you have enjoyed my blog. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

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  23. The painting is a lovely year round memory of your friend and a perfect Christmas greeting. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Merry Xmas and a happy New Year to everyone.

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    1. Thank you Judy, for your lovely comment and wish. I know my friend would be thrilled that so many people are enjoying her painting. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

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  27. Merry Christmas Karen! It is a beautiful painting with even an even more beautiful sentiment behind it. I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family and friends, and an amazing New Year!

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    1. Merry Christmas to you, Kristy. I’m happy that you enjoyed the painting…I thought it would be nice to use for my Christmas greeting this year. I hope your Christmas will be a wonderful one…I know Miss A and Mr. N must be eagerly awaiting Santa. 🙂

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  28. A lovely post Karen and thank you. I hope you and yours have a happy and safe Christmas and new year break. As you enjoy the cool of winter, I’ll be loving some summer warmth and sunshine 🙂

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    1. Thank you Gary, I’m happy that you enjoyed the post. I know how much you like warm weather so I hope your holidays will be sunny and bright. Our’s will be white and cold. 🙂

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  30. What a beautiful watercolour. And that church is just gorgeous. The architecture in your part of the world is beautiful. What a lovely gift from a friend and I love how every time you look at it, you would be reminded of your friend and special friendship. Many Christmas greetings and best wishes to you, Karen and all your family xx

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    1. Hi Charlie, I’m happy that you enjoyed the painting. It is a wonderful way to remember our friend. It really is a beautiful church that sits high on a hill and can be seen from a distance. During the Christmas season, they light the whole building and there is a beautiful star hanging in the bell tower. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

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  32. Merry Christmas to you, too, Karen. The painting of the church is a lovely tribute to the friendship between you and your friend, Karen. You are so right: home, family and friends are the heart of the holidays.

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment and wish, Marlene. I’m happy to know that your thoughts are the same about home, family and friends during the holidays. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. I’m happy that you enjoyed the painting, David. I love my friend’s painting…she was a wonderful person, a good friend and a talented artist.

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  35. Dear Karen, from my home to yours, best wishes for a joyful Christmas. Thank you for your beautiful posts throughout the year. Love the painting, you must truly treasure it xo

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    1. Thank you for your lovely wish, Lizzy and I appreciate you kind words about my blog. I do treasure the painting…Karen was a wonderful friend. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. Thank you B, for your wish. I’m happy that you enjoyed the watercolor…I’m thankful that I have something so lovely that my friend painted.

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    1. Hi Donna, I’m glad that you enjoyed my friend’s painting…I thought it would be prefect for this year’s Chrismas greeting. I really appreciate your sweet compliment and wish, thank you.

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  42. Have a wondrous and warm Yule and may the New Year to come bring health and contentment. Thank you so much for your beautiful posts throughout the year . . . each and every one has been appreciated and so much has been learned. Lovely peaceful painting . . . and here it is Christmas already . . .

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    1. Thank you Larry, I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas as well. Yes, even though we had some freezing rain there is still a lot of snow on the ground for Christmas.

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  45. Karen, the painting is what “Christmas” means in all it’s simplicity and joy. Thanks for sharing this lovely image with us all. Especially us who are in areas where the temperature can reach 65 on Christmas day with nary a snowflake in sight. Happy, Happy to you.

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    1. Thank you Sam, I hope you and Meakin have a wonderful Christmas too. Yes, it does look and feel like Christmas…in the 20’s with snow on the ground.

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    1. Thank you Juliana, for your compliment and wish. I hope you have a lovely Christmas as well. I’m happy that you enjoyed my Christmas greeting.

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  51. Merry Christmas Karen and wonderful wishes for a very happy and prosperous New Year. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your friendship and support , it means a lot of me 🙂

    Nazneen xx

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  52. beautiful art and sentiment. Merry Christmas!
    .(And I hope you are not without power in the middle of a terrible ice storm as I write this. We escaped here in the Boston area, just cold rain, but the news is reporting lots of problems up your way, best of luck.)

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    1. Hi Carol, I’m happy to know that you enjoyed my Christmas greeting this year. I thought everyone might enjoy the painting, I’m glad you did. Thank you for thinking about us, we did get freezing rain but not enough to do any damage for which I am thankful. I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas.

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      2. Thank you Carol, we were lucky. Thank goodness, we put in a generator in our barn that runs our whole house with a 500 gallon propane tank buried in the ground…it comes on automatically 10 seconds after power goes out. It is the best thing we ever did when restoring our home. 🙂

      3. my mom finally did the same thing a few years back after having suffered many power outages over the years! Except hers is gas-fired so it has to be started, but still a luxury to have heat, water, lights etc during a power outage.

  53. That is a very beautiful watercolor, Karen. Tied to the memory of a dear friend really adds to its importance, I’m sure. Thank you for the lovely Christmas blessing,and I also wish the same to you. You share your gracious home, travels and delicious food with us all year long, and at its close, I feel like I know you. Isn’t that a wonderful thing to realize—clear across the country about as far apart as we could be, and sharing the enjoyment of our blogging experiences. I look forward to a great deal more in 2014. I hope your Christmas is truly joy-filled and peaceful, my friend. ox

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    1. Thank you so much Debra, for your lovely comment and wish…I really appreciate your kind words. Isn’t it wonderful the friendships that have developed through our blogging experiences. It is true that there are miles between us but I enjoy our virtual visits and am happy to call you my friend. 🙂 Merry Christmas.

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    1. Thank you Roger, I hope your Christmas is a special and enjoyable one spent with your family. Let’s hope next year is a good one for all of us.

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    1. Thank you Frank, not only for your wish, but for your wonderful gift of music videos under your tree…I loved them. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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    1. Thank you Susan, I’m happy that you enjoyed the painting…I thought it was perfect for this year’s Christmas greeting. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. Thank you Susan, for your nice comment and wish. I’m happy to know you are looking forward to next year’s adventures. I think we will warm things up with a trip to Florida for a little winter respite later before too long. 🙂

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  64. So sorry to see the loss of such talented artist. But I’m glad she left you such a beautiful and wondrous gift, Karen. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🙂

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    1. It is so good to hear from you Emily. I appreciate for your kind words. I know my friend would be so pleased to know how much everyone has enjoyed her painting…she was a talented artist. I hope you have a nice Christmas and that the new year brings good things your way. 🙂

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    1. Thank you for your lovely wish, Rajini. I’m happy that you are looking forward to a new year of posts. I am also hoping to see more of your wonderful cooking shared on your blog. All the best for the new year to you and your family. 🙂

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    1. Thank you Louise, I’m happy to know that you enjoyed this year’s Christmas greeting with my friends lovely painting. Merry Christmas to you!

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    1. Hi Stacy, I’m happy that you enjoyed the painting and my Christmas greeting. We had a very nice day and I hope you did as well…thank you.

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    1. Thank you Tin Man, I’m glad that you enjoyed the painting. I’m so happy that I have such a lovely painting to remember my friend by and thought it was perfect for my Christmas greeting this year. I hope you had a nice Christmas.

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  78. Beautiful painting and I bet it looks charming hanging in your beautiful Christmas decorated home. Thank you for your friendship my dear Karen. Wishing you a super holiday, take care, BAM

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    1. Thank you Bobbie, The painting does look beautiful in our home. I know Karen would be thrilled to know how much everyone likes her painting. I appreciate you kind words and friendship as well. I hope you and your family enjoy the holidays. 🙂

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  79. Dear Karen, wishing you a wonderful holiday season! To you, your family and all your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!

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  80. Karen – I love the painting, as it reminds me of many Christmases I spend in New England. (Mark would say that it is the perfect way to experience snow – in a painting!) Merry Christmas to you – and happy Boxing Day! Virtual hugs for the New Year!

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    1. Hi David, I’m happy that you enjoyed the painting and it brought back nice memories of Christmases spent in New England. Thank you for your wish, I hope you and Mark have a great New Year.

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  86. That is a beautiful watercolor & perfect for New England. It’s so nice to have something special to remember your talented friend. I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and wish you a very merry new year.

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    1. Thank you Diane, I’m glad you agree with me about what a nice representation the painting is of a typical New England church. I’m very grateful to have Karen’s painting as a wonderful remembrance of our friendship. We had a great Christmas, I hope you did as well.

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  88. Beautiful painting and a lovely tribute to a friend. The poem definitely covers the essence of Christmas and all of my favorite experiences. I hope yours was joyous for you and your family as well.

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    1. Thank your Andrea, for your lovely compliment. I’m happy that you enjoyed the Christmas greeting. We had a wonderful holiday…thank you. I hope your Christmas was great.

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  90. What a beautiful painting and memory to have of a dear friend. It’s often hard at the holidays to remember those we’ve lost. I hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas and wish you much heartfelt happiness for the New Year.

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    1. Thank you Lola, for your kind words. I know my friend would be delighted to know that so many people have enjoyed her painting…it is a wonderful remembrance of our friendship. We did have a lovely Christmas, I hope you did as well. Happy New Year!

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    1. Thank you Laura, for your lovely compliment. I do agree with you about the painting conveying New England during the Christmas and winter season. I hope you have a wonderful new year too.

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    1. Thank you Pamela, I appreciate your nice wish. I smiled as I read your comment…wait till you see my post tomorrow. 🙂 Wishing you all the best in 2014.

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  97. What a gorgeous card and so beautiful in its meaning for you, Karen. This is a painting to truly cherish, just like you cherished your friendship. I was just telling my cousin, there is altogether too much of this happening around us these days. Let’s all pray for continued good health for ourselves and our loved ones in the New Year! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and good tidings for 2014!! xx

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    1. Thank you Rebecca, for your nice compliment. I’m happy to know that you enjoyed the post and my blog. Wishing you all the best in the New Year.

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  99. Yes, a lovely and delicate painting of such a peaceful chapel. May your year to come be filled with all kinds of joys and blessings and your family be upheld in comfort and hope!
    xo
    Kathryn

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  100. I hope you spent a lovely Christmas with your loved ones!

    I wish you a Happy, joyful 2014 filled with good health, great foodie adventures, many trips & great new things to discover!!! xxx 🙂

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    1. Hi Sophie, We did have a lovely Christmas…I hope you did as well. Thank you for your nice wish, I’m looking forward to the New Year. I hope the New Year brings you lots of happiness.

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  102. Karen, I’m a bit late for Christmas …. but thanks for the kind words and the delightful post.
    I’m a big fan of water coloring too – it makes the painting so soft. Beautiful choice. Happy New Year to you both.

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    1. Hi Viveka, It is never too late as far as you are concerned. I’m happy that you enjoyed the post and the watercolor that I used for my Christmas greeting…thank you.

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