*sigh* It's over already?

 

 Christmas Eve at Harmonie House

My Dears,

How can it be that Christmas came and went?? Now it's 2012!!  Can someone tell me how is it that time can possibly fly so? Oh well...we move along I guess...and happily so!

Christmas time was indeed quite lovely and filled with joy and magic. December was also the month of my birthday and to keep with tradition, my fella took me to NYC to celebrate. Yes, I did visit Santa Claus at Macy's and whispered in his ear my Christmas wish. We also enjoyed roasted chestnuts as we lined up at Lord & Taylor to take in their festive window displays. I guess of all the displays, my favorite was Macy's interpretation of "Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus". Truly magical!

Harmonie House was fully dressed in Christmas splendor. One cannot help feeling the spirit of the season when surrounded by the many reminders displayed ever so....

 

  The nook all dressed up!

One of two villages.

 Nutcrackers on the mantle.

The view from the living room.

Christmas Eve itself was quiet though the air held the crackle of anticipation within! The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, and the presents waited under the tree to be opened with glee. Oh yes...I became a child once more on Christmas day. My fella and I sat by the tree and opened our gifts while enjoying some "coquito" in between. Coquito? What is that pray tell..says you my reader. Coquito happens to be the traditional Puerto Rican eggnog, loaded with coconut goodness, spices, and some rum. *winks* Christmas just isn't Christmas without it.

 

Filled with Christmas cheer!

How pretty the wrappings!

Would you like a glass of coquito?

The New Year was brought in dancing and in the company of friends. With noisemakers in hand, festive headgear worn just so, and the glass of champagne at the ready, we welcomed 2012 amidst cheer, blowing horns, and loving kisses. With hearts filled we also asked 2012 to bring us many blessings, joy, and bliss.

To each of you I want to say thank you for reading my musings throughout the year and for making blogging  an enjoyable pastime to share with you! Though we are, most of us, strangers in this huge sphere called blog-land...I still like to consider each of you a friend in spirit. 

May the New Year bless you with wishes come true, blessings a-plenty, good health to last a lifetime, and bliss to kiss each day of your life.

Happy New Year from me, my fella, and Knightley too!!

Blissful Tidings!

xoxo

Miss Sandra

Christmas and a New Year's Wish

Christmas at Harmonie House 2010

My Dears,

I hope Christmas Day brought along loads of joy to each and every one of you. It was a most sweet and blissful day for me and my fella. We had the perfect Currier & Ives day filled with music, food (my honey makes a most delish pork roast!), a toasty fire in the hearth, roasted chestnuts, and of course....the most delightful presents! We were almost childlike with glee when opening our gifts. Truly it felt like Christmas should always feel.

Here are some house photos taken that morning...

Ahhh..the Christmas spirit was in the air.

Moments before my fella brought the firewood in.



The stocking was "stuffed" by the chimney with care...

Of course Boxing Day followed and it brought along its own gift to us all.....A Blizzard!
Being the winter gal that I am...I was most pleased with nature's gift. I wanted a white Christmas after all.
Unfortunately, many cities have suffered from this storm due to lack of plowing response. To this day, there are many cars still under snow and streets with mounds of snow narrowing the roads. I hope conditions improve and that all these cities get off their lackadaisical perch and clean up their streets.

Now for a few pictures...

Yes..that is my car!

Pretty isn't it?

Winter wonderland...

December came in with a simple and gentle serenity...it hurried on with purpose towards a most magical Christmas....and it leaves us with a coating of white fluff and the promise of beautiful days to come in the new year.

The year 2010 brought to me the sweetest of surprises
...and it leaves me with a kiss of bliss.

There were many happy moments and some sad that's true, but every moment was an experience and each day a blessing. New friends were made...some old friendships strengthened...and unfortunately some gone astray. Yet as with everything in life there is a lesson to be learned and I learned that change will come...whether good or bad, it will come. It is inevitable and we know to keep the good in our hearts and to forgive and let go. We are only human..we will laugh, we will cry, we will smile, we will hurt, and we will be kissed by amazement from time to time. Just remember that there is nothing you cannot do. We hold the key to our own happiness. Let's turn that key, unlock the door to 2011, and open our arms to life and its amazing possibilities.

My New Year's wish for you all is a life filled with good health, happiness, sweet surprises, and oodles of bliss. Don't forget to always count your blessings, for you will find there are many!

There is so much more I can wish for you...however, I shall let it be told in song. May you always...and always..and always.

(Please be sure to turn off the blog music on the player at the bottom of this page before you play this video.)
Happy New Year to one and all! xoxo Miss Sandra

Happy New Year!

My Dears,

A most wonderful, blessed, and happy 2010 to you all!

I welcomed the New Year within the comfort of Harmonie House, in the company of dear friends. It was a joyful evening filled with music, laughter, dancing, good food, and lots of bubbly! Midnight kissed us with smiles, hope, wishes, love, and dreams.

Good friends...good times.

My dear girlfriends looking so lovely in vintage attire.

Waltzing

Swinging good time!

The slipper fits...the coach didn't turn into a pumpkin at midnight...
Two out of three ain't bad. *smiles*

I wish so many wonderful things
for you all.
Make this year one to remember! Do not be afraid to take risks for they may lead us to new adventures,
unlike any we've ever dreamed. Find your bliss and absorb it into your soul. Life is too short..live to the fullest and have no regrets. Continue to dream and hope. Never forget that life is ever filled with unexpected surprises and that the road to possibilities and happiness is never
..never too long.

I raise my glass to each of you and say...Cheers my dears!!

xoxo
Miss Sandra

On New Year's

My Dears,

I have lots to ponder in regard to the year 2009, for I must do some heavy duty soul cleansing before 2010 comes in.
I want to begin the New Year ready to absorb new beginnings, new energies, new surprises...new Everything! So I must begin to organize...keep the good, and out with the bad.

I plan to store away all the beautiful moments of 2009 deep within the treasure box of my heart. It will include: the year's successful moments, the laughter shared with family and friends, the moments of pure bliss and love, fruitful self discoveries, and those unexpected sweet surprises. I will have a special section for the wonder, the magic, and the dreams which helped to make this a most amazing year.

I shall sweep away, right out the door, those aspects of 2009 which were less than desirable. I shall remember them only if there is a lesson to be learned from them.

My arms are open and my heart is ready to welcome 2010.

Speaking of the new year...what are you doing New Year's eve? Please turn off the music at the bottom of this page and listen to a lovely old tune. It tends to evoke a wistful sigh or two on my part...Enjoy!





Let me close this by saying thank you..each of you.. for being one of the best additions to my life in 2009. Making new blog friends definitely goes straight into that treasure box in my heart.

May 2010 grant you those wishes from the heart...and may it ever be filled with good health and happiness.

From my home to yours I wish you Peace, Love, & Joy...
xoxo
Miss Sandra