Wednesday, December 20

Christimastime is here

Santa's Generous Surprise

It's definitely Christmastime! Santa's eaten as many gingerbreads as he can so it's time now to surprise his lil' helpers once more, hanging up the remaining plateful as decorations around their cozy cabin.

I just realised this morning that I forgot to post the sign-up last night! Funny thing is, I actually had this all completed and reworked a bit over the weekend.  Too many last minute things going on, I suppose. Well, as it is, you still have until midnight MST to sign up your piece below.

Needless to say, I'm bringing a few of these (pre-frozen) nibbles to the frigid picnic this week! Where's the fireplace? That's where you'll find me, sipping Welsh tea and joyfully dunking gingerbread galore. :) Oh, and I really should bring some up to the cabin we're renting the next two nights in Estes Park, about an hour from here, for our family xmas with the kids, before we depart for Kentucky,* Christmas Eve, to go meet Alex's family and post-celebrate her mother's wedding (first time in 20 years) which happens tomorrow (after the funeral,same day, for her fiance's brother who just passed away)! They just met three months prior but at this stage, there's no time like the present! :) It's going to be an interesting time indeed.

*Silly me, such a romantic idealist: as we're flying into Nashville first (where we'll be picked up), I'm dreaming of some kind of Tennessee Christmas with good old classic Amy Grant songs lofting in my memory, but I've heard Campbellsville, KY, is nothing like that! Hee, one can still dream though right? :)

Let me end this by saying, HAPPY CHRISTMAS to each of you and holly jolly New Year. I'm doing an end-of-year fabulous Christmastide giveaway to celebrate! Sign up below and get TWO extra entries along with 1 per entry since the last giveaway. The winner will be announced in the new year, along with a recap of the year which I think you will all quite enjoy. Please keep your eyes out on that. In the meantime, enjoy the well needed break, no doubt, with family and/or loved ones. I close out this year with our weekly Scribble Picnics certainly being one of the highlights of this year. Thank you.

For those of you on Instagram, you can follow along our winter's travails there, if so inclined. I might even publish a few oddball IG video stories too. Let's see. I do know that it's meant to snow tomorrow and get down to10F! Brrrrr... but, oh, how delightfully seasonal too.


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35 comments

  1. This is a delightful Christmastime piece chockful of beautiful details, even love the background. Merry Christmas to you Alexandra and family, safe travels!

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  2. good piece to end scribble picnic for 2017. I like the feathery snow falling down.

    I just finished my christmastime piece just about two hours ago. I'm glad I can at least finish one more piece before the new year starts.

    have a lovely holiday.

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    1. I'm looking forward to seeing your piece and so glad you got one final one in for the one year. You got it-- yes, feathery flakes was the idea. :)

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  3. Hi Michael! :)
    I LOVE your piece! Look at that happy elf...Santa looks like he's had plenty of cookies lol...just as he should look!
    I hope you both have a great time at the cabin, that will be so wonderful, maybe you can practice your mountain man skills for a few days! :) And also, I hope the trip to Kentucky is glorious and relaxing. Merry Christmas to you too! :)

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    1. Not sure it will be terribly glorious but, thank you so much, all round.

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  4. Oh, and I'm intrigued by your giveaway! Please enter me, twice! :)

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    1. I will add up everyone's evntries for the year and two for this theme's and so no worries, I am sure who ever wins ill love it. :)

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  5. its perfect! I love the elf peeking out at Santa,, Happy Christmas to you and Alexandra and you family!!

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  6. Great job....I have been thinking of making some gingerbread cookies and as of yet, not gotten that done! Welcome upon your arrival to Nashville let me say, Welcome to my fair city even if you are just going through to Ky. Enjoy your holidays! Merry Christmas!!

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    1. You're in Nashville? how fun! Yes, unfortunately jsut passing through, Pam, but wish we could have longer adn you could then recommend a good coffee or bake shop perhaps? Hope yours in a white xmas. :) Thank you.

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  7. Oh the finished product is such Christmastime....I love your Santa. He has such personality. Wonder where he got that...haha. You are such a master of "dark" colors. I will be baking a kizillion cookies as all the men and boys in my life (12) will get their own box of assorted cookies. The women and girls in my life will get a Wanda's cookbook. Off to the printers tomorrow. Have a marvelous time with Christmas weddings and all the Tennessee fun. Sounds perfect.

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    1. Wow, Wanda, sounds like a such an amazing presents! I love that idea too and nothing beats anything homemade.

      I think you need to come up with your own song: "The 12 Men of Christmas!" :)

      Thank you so much. hope you have the most delightful xmas and I will be sure to visit when maybe at the airport of having some down time back east and down south!

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  8. Bonjour,

    Il est adorable votre père noël ! Les petits décorations me plaisent beaucoup...

    "Chaque jour est unique, chaque année est une promesse de joies et de découvertes.
    Que 2018 soit pour vous une année spéciale, que des milliers de petites joies viennent embellir votre vie. »

    Gros bisous et joyeuses fêtes ❄️❄️ ☃️☃️ ❄️❄️

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    1. Merci beaucoup, Martinealison! Ravi de vous rencontrer.

      J'espère que cela vous rapportera ok. Je vous souhaite une joyeuse nouvelle année aussi.:)

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  9. Oh, you finished this up marvelously! I especially like the logs of the cabin and the icicles. Be careful standing so high on that ladder, Santa!
    Enjoy your trip, have a Merry Christmas, and see you next year!

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    1. Hee, a normal man his size would def have to be careful, but you know, he's light on his feet with all that xmas magic. :) thank you. Hope you have a good Christmas too, Jolene.

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  10. Magnificent painting !
    i adore your very beautiful art my friend!

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    1. Oh wow, thank you so much, Baili. HAve you visited here before? I feel like Ive seen your name prior on one of my other art co-ops. Lovely comment. Thank you again and may you have a marvelous Xmas season.

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  11. Thank you Micheal for doing your magic. I would love to follow you on Instagram, but not sure how to do it. Meanwhile your gingerbread cookies and Santa have my mouth watering. There are a lot of Christmas goodies (cookies) that I love and it is hard to resist chowing down on everything when I am in my Holiday spirit :) ... Oh well, once a year :)
    Your family Christmas sounds exciting and full of love. Families can be complicated, but if you just sit back and enjoy it is a wonderful thing. My Christmas will be simple this year ... no kids around to turn it into magic, but I will enjoy with everyone else. Merry Christmas to you and Alexandra ... God Bless :)

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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    1. Andrea, you can simply click on the Instagram link any time you like on my "follow me" side bar. (It's the brown icon that looks like a camera.) Once there, jsut click on the images and read the text. You wont' be able to leave a comment if not on Instagram (which you would have to do from a phone but you can at least see my photos and follow on. That would be grand!

      Having my oldest son in Africa (Botswana) for PEace Corps and doing out family xmas in a rented cabin days before the 25th means being flexible but I am jsut thank ful for whatever time I can get. Yes, kids grow up and have their won married into families or such to visit so the time together, whenever that is, is so appreciated. May yours be a lovely holiday too. :) Thank you

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  12. Michael, I'm all on board for snow, gingerbread and tea as well. Seasonably cold and frosty here as well which we are loving! Wishing you both a Happy Solstice/Yule and a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy the family time and the variety of locations. Safe travels and I look forward to seeing what you both create in the coming New Year!

    nicolas

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    1. Thank you, Nicolas! The same to you. Your blog is one I have on my list to visit over the holidays to catch up a bit. Last time I checked, you didn't have anything new that I've not already commented on but am sure you have by now. :)

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  13. Fabulous Christmas piece Michael. No wonder Santa's chubby with so many goodies to gobble! Your gingerbread cookies sound yummy and will definitely be a hit in Tennessee. Have a great time at the cabin and then enjoy your visit to celebrate Alexandra's mom's wedding.
    Christmas can be difficult - we all want to be together but it doesn't always work out as families are so scattered around the globe. Our Christmas Eve will be fun here, whereas Christmas Day will be quiet compared to last year when we had such a great time with my cousin and his family in Torquay!
    So, regarding Scribble Picnic 2017 - think it has been a lot of fun, thanks for hosting and ALL your fabulous comments - you really are a great guy - and hope we can all continue next year. Meanwhile everyone have a great holiday.
    Hugs - travel safe - blessings to you all.
    HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
    Mary -

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary. However you celebrate it and with whomever, even if jsut quiet with Bob, I hope it is magical for you. :)

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  14. What a beautiful Christmas post and illustration, Michael! It turned out just great! I wish you and Alexandra safe travels, a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

    I have been woeful at keeping up with Scribble Picnic the past couple of weeks I'm afraid...choir performances, asthma due to high humidity, and back pain all knocked the wind out of my sails. I'm trying to work on a Christmas illustration today but not sure how I'll go. I hope to get back on track in the new year though as I do love participating in Scribble Picnic!

    Cheers to you and Alexandra,
    Serena

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    1. It's all totally understandable. Please never feel bad if you have to go ages in between. The only one to feel pressure is me as the host! :) I hope you feel up to snuff for the while Christmastide through to the new year. Wishing you all the best...and thank you for not always slaughtering me in Word with Friends! Thank you for all the challenge! :)

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  15. I really want to make gingerbread now lol

    Merry to Christmas to you all!

    and great holiday art piece :)

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    1. If you do, jennifer, please at least post it to IG! :) Thank you.

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  16. Santa looks confident in his magical powers that won't allow him to fall off that ladder! Such a cheery scene. The gingerbreads make wonderful decorations. I'm sure the birds will love the treat too! Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season. You sure have lots of fun to look forward to with the little ones and then the wedding. Safe travels and warm wishes.

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    1. The same right back to you, Lorraine! :)

      Thank you. And yes, you are totally right - his xmas magic keeps him light on his feet. (You know, some of those old roofs aren't that strudy for such a jolly fat Santa!) :)

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  17. Just came across your delightful blog, and IG. And Oh I will be looking in, from now on.

    Your illustrations are wonderful! Your words are fun also. And I "love-to-pieces" the background you give, on your IG. All those little known facts and especially, lore. Yesssss!

    Enjoy a warm and wonderful Christmas with family!

    And again, thank you for being here. And on IG.

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    1. W.o.W. - that you so much! Lovely. You too. I will have to pop by and visit at some point. Please leave a note on IG as Im far more likely to visit there since obviously, liek most of us, am on my phone far more. :)

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  18. We have a white Christmas here in the Midwest ... how about you? Wishing you a wonderfully loving Christmas with family. Stop by for my furbabies Christmas card :) https://fromthesol.blogspot.com/2017/12/christmas-at-our-house.html

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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