Tuesday 2 December 2008

Lurkers show yourself..........

Righto.........i am still feeling miserable so thanks for the lovely comments - I always reply but just didn't feel up to it this time..........I really appreciate your kind thoughts..........

so we will try for distraction...........

I have hit 400 posts............

............yep I talk far to much so lets go for something fun......gotta get into the Christmas mood.........

...I know by my stat counter there are heaps of visitors at the moment so

come on stop lurking and tell me what your favourite thing about Christmas is.............it could be food, something you do, favourite tradition...............

if you don't have a blog just make sure you write in your first name and email address in the comment...........

.........take care til next time.....Chookyblue.........

PS parcels received by Cherri, Helena, Carole, Cheri, Missy, Nancy S, Katie, Nic, Deb W, Trudi, Lorraine W

PSS there will be a giveaway..............forgot to tell you that bit so hurry up never know when I will draw it.........

117 comments:

Abby and Stephanie said...

Congratulations! My favorite thing about Christmas is Christmas morning; everyone in their flannel jammies in front of the fireplace, pretty paper flying everywhere, eating chocolate from the stockings BEFORE breakfast, and if we're lucky...SNOW! I love Christmas morning not just for the gifts but for the "moment."

Angels Come to Play said...

Hey Chooks, let me be the first to comment. Christmas...let me see...would you like an SA or the short version? I think you have made Christmas special for me this year...The SSCS and the time on the phone the other night all add up to a new friendship and that is free. I just love everything about this time of year...the anticipation from the kids...planning the gifts..the day and well just everything. Love..love..love it.
Big hugs and thinking of you
Shelley xo

Angels Come to Play said...

Well the 2nd then...LOL

chook said...

WOW 400 posts congrats
now what do I love about christmas well
christmas
family ,food ,photos oh and some gifts as well
but most of all being with family
hugs Beth

Jo in TAS said...

Wow 400 posts! My favourite thing about xmas is traditions! In our house traditions are ham off the bone, salads, fresh prawns, beer or a shandy, trifle, pavlova. There's flies, heat and an afternoon nanna nap because you're so stuffed from all that food!

Vickie E said...

Congrats on 400 posts. I am a lurker. One of my favorite things about Christmas is staying up late secretly wrapping presents for my girls. My mom used to do that and when I was about 12 or so...I was allowed to stay up with her and wrap. Someday my oldest daughter will get to do that...I'm looking forward to it actually.

Debbie said...

Congrats on 400 posts, they are always an interesting read. Well the thing I enjoy about Xmas is watching the children's faces as they open their presents. Then everyone getting together for the meal. In our family this is the only time of the year that everyone gets together., Apart from Birthdays.

jodie said...

400 posts! you need to inhale! lol. Lucky I speak chooky (except when I am really tired). So what do I love Christmas? The enivitable stress when I think I am running out of time and still have way too much to do! NOT.... I love when the family is sitting around my table with full tummies because I have fed them a wonderful lunch and we have shared a special day together..... really I do..... just need to remind myself of that when I am caught up in that stress of there is still sooooooo much to do!!!

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Well done on 400 posts!! Christmas is my favourite time of year. I love spending quality time with family, watching the kids enjoy themselves, eating special foods, doing things for others, and having time off work!

May Britt said...

Happy blogiversary. I love visiting your blog so keep on posting.
Snowstorm in norway and we have a really beautiful christmas feeling right now. And I love all the secrets in december month.

Joy said...

I admit ... I've been lurking!!! Been reading and enjoying your blog for a little while now ;o) congratulations on 400 posts!!!
I love Christmas ... I used to love to watch my childrens faces when they discovered that Santa had been. Now that they've all grown up I just love to have the family all around. Oh, and I love the food (yum)and wearing silly paper hats from the bon bons :o). This Christmas will be a bit strange for us though, the first time in 25 years without our oldest as she's in London.

Calidore said...

Congratulations on 400 posts. Each and every post is better than the last and your blog is definatly my first stop for the day.
My favorite thing about Christmas has to be my family all making gingerbread men. We bake them one day and decorate them the next. Everyone gets in on the act - even DH - who happens to enjoy it as much as the kids even though he won't admit it - publicly that is...vbg. It's a time when our family comes together - no pressies, no pressure just plain and simple fun....and best of all yummy things to eat at the end of it.

Kris Meares - Tag Along Teddies said...

Hey Donna! Congrats on 400 posts!! Christmas is special because of family - that's my fave part of Christmas! I have wonderful memories of our extended family gathering at my grandparents' home, lots of matresses on floors, crowded table for meals, lots of noise, lots of laughter, lots of silly stories ... and lots of love! While we don't all get together in large numbers any more, the part of Christmas I most look forward to is spending time with at least some of my wonderful family - they're crazy, kookie, funny, a little strange - and I love them all!! Oh ... and presents of course! Tee! Hee! Hee! Hope our Christmas memories help cheer you up! Bear Hugs! KRIS

Narelle said...

Christmas brings everyone together, chatting, laughing, hugs and kisses, and of course pressies.
I also love the carrols and dreaming of snow while melting under the Aussie sun.
Cheers on your 400th post!

trash said...

Blimey! You sure talk a lot Missus!!

Christmas traditions? Well.... a recent instigation has been Christmas Eve dinner instead of Christmas Day lunch - gives waaaaaaaaay more free time for playing and less stress on the day.

And the one thing we have to take home this year is our copy of >
'The Chicken Who Saved Christmas' - even CK reckons it has to make the trip with us! Because unless the lead up to Santa's arrival is accompanied by a plethora of silly voices and squawking noises it just isn't Christmas!

Also please take this as confirmation that my package was sent to its new home - forgot to send you a formal email!

Janellybelly said...

Congrats on reaching 400 blog posts - incredible. My favourite part of Christmas is putting up the advent calendar, which we did yesterday :)
Blessings
Janelle
Threads of Friendship

corry said...

Congratulations! 400 posts...that is a lot! My favorite time at Christmas is when the whole family is together for a wonderful diner.

Nancy said...

Guilty Lurker here.....I love your blog and read all the posts, just don't comment. Sorry. Will fix that.

My favorite part of Christmas is Christmas Eve, when just our small family has snacks and watches movies and plays scrabble and UNO and is together....

jacquie said...

congrats on 400 posts my dear! i'm like stephanie...christmas morning is my favorite and in our house lasts all day. we open presents one at a time starting with the youngest and we go youngest to oldest over and over savoring each present..we'll stop for coffee and hot chocolate and breakfast...if someone gets a game we may stop and play. we try on clothes that we receive and do fashion shows. we take cheesy pictures and do our best to make the morning last. Santa filled stockings are shared at the very end. Santa always gives our family buckaroos (wooden paddles with elastic strings with balls at the end). We end the day having contests bouncing our balls on the paddles. We've done it this way since the kids were little.

Tina said...

Well, I will admit to being a lurker... But I find it difficult to say the things I want... By the way, Love your blog.
Congrats on 400 Posts. WOW..
As for my favorite thing about Christmas.. I don't have one favorite.. I guess the most favorite would be family getting together..
My birthday is Christmas Eve and my Daddy's was Old Christmas.. I was a Daddy's girl so I thought that was neat.. So there is 2 favorites..
Merry Christmas!!!
Tina

~Niki~ said...

You are invited to 'the last push' quiltathon! post the link on your site and of course pictures of your quilt progress Dec 13th!. Hope you will join all of us! http://www.justusquilters.blogspot.com
Niki in AZ
Just Us Quilters

Carolyn said...

Favorite thing about Christmas? Let's see...opening the gifts in front of the fire with our children. Christmas Eve service when we dim the church lights, light candles and sing "Silent Night". Having a Christmas dinner with our kids...I guess all my favorites revolve around our children!

Nemo said...

Congratulations! Wow, 400 posts, imagine that. :)

I think that one of my favorite things about Christmas, is the tradition (well, perhaps not a tradition, but it's a thing we do) my family has kept for as long as I can remember - we get up really really early on the day of Christmas Eve (or "julaften" as we call it) and spend the morning (and sometimes most of the day) watching old Christmas movies, children's TV, etc (the same things every year). :)

Cathi said...

Congratulations on 400!
My favourite part of Christmas are all the old Christmas movies. Curling up after all the shopping and wrapping and decorating is done and watching one or two of those is like being whisked back to a much simpler time!

Mary Grace McNamara said...

Congratulations! The extra special family time together must be my favorite part of Christmas.

And the snow, hopefully.

And the music.

And the decorations.

Christmas Eve Mass of course.

The excitement of the little ones. I'm so blessed to still have two!

I guess I could go on and on. I do love Christmas!

MGM

Mama Spark said...

Congratulations on your 400th post! I have several things I love about Christmas. I love all the family time, the sparkly lights and the Christmas tree. I love how people try to be better people and I love having snow for Christmas. I love buying that perfect gift for someone too. Well, there isn't too much I don't like about it actually!

Anonymous said...

So sorry to read about your harvest, how heartbreaking, my prayers are with you and your family.

Congrats on your 400th post, I admit that I'm a lurker but always enjoy reading your posts.

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

Well, darling, one of my NEW favorite things about Christmas is the SSCS project! So there! Mine came yesterday and I am proud of resisting opening it for 18 whole hours now!

Congratulations on 400!

Katherine said...

Wahoo on 400 posts! Well done!

For me, it's spending time with my family. Talking, laughing and enjoying each other. I'm sure my boys would say the best part is the food... especially making/decorating gingerbread houses.

Ruthie said...

My favorite thing about Christmas is spending time with my family. I always seem to stress about picking the right gift for people and but when Christmas morning arrives, it just really doesn't matter about the gifts as much as the fellowship.

Teodo said...

Donna congratulations on your 400 post !!!!!!

The moment that I like most is the Christmas morning when we all wake up and open our gifts.
In my family now that the children are great we keep the secret of gifts until the last moment.

Judith said...

My favorite thing about christmas is spending a few days with my family as I don't see them often.

Nora said...

congrats on 400 posts.
My favourite thing is the feeling I get being with my family... and the HUGE dinner.
I also love all the christmas lights... heck, I just LOVE christmas :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS ~

Anita said...

My favorite things of Christmas, are the lights, the music, and the fun we always had of planning and wrapping gifts. We made alot of our gifts when I was young money was scarce and there weren't any shopping malls. It was a long way to town so we had to be creative. I loved to see the presents under the tree and try to guess what they were. It was always a let down when they were finally all opened.

Patti said...

I almost cried when I read about your destroyed harvest. Being a farmer has got to be one of the most difficult of life styles. You can do your very, very best, and then something over which you have no control can ruin it all. I pray you will come through this OK.

Now - my most favorite things about Christmas. Absolutely the best is time spent with family and friends. Christmas Eve candlelight service is next. Then colors of the holiday and decorations everywhere.

May your Christmas be wonderful in spite of the trials you aree so recently undergoing.

Patti said...

I almost cried when I read about your destroyed harvest. Being a farmer has got to be one of the most difficult of life styles. You can do your very, very best, and then something over which you have no control can ruin it all. I pray you will come through this OK.

Now - my most favorite things about Christmas. Absolutely the best is time spent with family and friends. Christmas Eve candlelight service is next. Then colors of the holiday and decorations everywhere.

May your Christmas be wonderful in spite of the trials you aree so recently undergoing.

~Michelle~ said...

Congrats on 400 posts! My favorite thing about Christmas is figuring out the perfect gifts to give my people, and watch them open it!

rachel griffith said...

yayyy on 400 post.
congrats!!!

oh what i love most about christmas:
watching my kids being SO excited christmas morning.
to me it just seems that there's nothing as innocent and sweet as those moments.
*sniff sniff*
haha.

p.s. i'm not a lurker...but i do stalk your blog...HAHAHA.

annemariesquilt said...

Yes i guess I am one of your lurkers, he he..
What I love most about Christmas?
Well that is not easy. I love been with my familie and share good food and maybe some gifts. This year we are going to spend Christmas at our new cottage and that is very special and my mother is comming 81 years old. I wish white snow for Christmas!!

julia said...

Hi Donna,
Congrat on 400 posts (!!!!) - keep on blogging, you really make 'blogland' a nicer place ;o)
My favourite thing about Christmas is, when my family & me prepare Christmas dinner and then sit down to eat & chat...
Next is our 'Christmas bingo' game we play on 25th: one of our family collects small little items over the year for prizes (we always have special theme - this year I'm organizing the prizes and I think I'll go with all things spicy...) & there's always such a great atmosphere as everybody is excited - even about a simple tissue box or something like that.
I hope - despite all the bad luck regardin your harvest {I really feel with you - it must be terrible} - that you'll have a happy advent season...
Hugs, Julia

Stina Blomgren said...

Congratulations Donna... oh...you do have a lot to say ...don´t you ;o)...and please keep up with that!! Love to spend time at your blog!!
And Christmas..christmas...it is all about joy and family...(short version) :o)...I just love Chrisymas!!

Anonymous said...

400? Congratulations! That's a lot of bloging time! Thank you! It's always nice to visit and read what you have to tell...
About Christmas, being with the fammily it's the best part! This year, something new: SSCS!

Lynn said...

So sorry to read about your harvest in yesterday's post. You have so many people thinking of you and wishing you well.

Favorite thing about Christmas hmmm... strangly enough it has to be having my children home from school on a long break. No activities, no school, just time spent with the family, maybe some relatives visiting. I also am especially enjoying using ornaments, decorations from my childhood - full of memories, happy times.

Thimbleanna said...

My favorite thing is time off work LOL! Ok, not really -- I have too many favorite things, so I thought I'd just throw that one out there! Congrats on the big 400!!!

Chocolate Cat said...

I love everything about Christmas! The choosing of presents, the receiving of cards (the writing of cards is probably my least favorite thing!! but I do it)the decorating , the food, the family, the traditions , the carols (and boy do my family hate me singing those!), just well everything!

Unknown said...

My favorite thing about Christmas is the family spending quality time together.

Peddlecar Quilts said...

My favorite part of Christmas is the lights, the children, fire in the fireplace, the Christmas caroles and loved ones coming home. I always dream of a white Christmas too because I live in the desert!! It is by far my favorite time of year. It just doesn't get any better than Christmas!!!

Nic said...

Congrats on being so talkative.
One of my favourite Christmassy things is seeing the kids faces when they open a present and inside is something they really really wanted.

Annie said...

Wow, you do talk a lot!!!! My favourite thing about Christmas is the long holidays from school. I just love being home. Thinking of you Chook. Distractions are good when you're sad!

Anonymous said...

I feel like a lurker at the moment. I barely get time to look let alone comment these days.
My fav thing about Xmas is HOLIDAYS. It's the only holiday I get all year and I make the most of it......

Wendy said...

My favorite thing about Christmas is the sights, smells and noise of my mom's house when we all come together to celebrate as one big family! Especially when we get to see brothers and sisters that we haven't seen during the year because of distance. Wendy

Anonymous said...

Hello Chookyblue, congrats on your 400th post.My favourite thing about Christmas is when I make the Christmas cake and the aroma floats through the house and outside.One year, next door had the builders in and they came in asked what I was baking.Needless to say they had a freshly baked Christmas cake for their arvo tea.I have been making this particular receipe from the first year we married.We have been married 28 years now. Regards Lyn

Leah said...

Congratulations - that's a big commitmentof time and energy - well done :)

Pat said...

Congratulations Donna! Wow 400 posts. I love spending time with family at Christmas and then there will be time to rest and slow down a bit.

Chookasmum said...

Hi Chooky,
My favourite things about Christmas are many, the birth of our Lord, Family, food, pressies, afternoon backyard cricket, water fights, (waterpistols, buckets etc)roast dinner.
Unfortunately I will only have 2 daughters and their families home this year as 1 daughter and 1 son and his family live in Perth and another son and his family live in Queensland and No3 son is working night shifts at the mine, will slip in and have brekky with him and his family.However there will be long phonecalls to these children.
The tradition of roast dinner/lunch and backyard cricket goes way back to my childhood and my children have embraced it also.
I posted my SSCs last week and I also received my SSCS last week.
Hugs

RG said...

Ok, I confess to being a lurker at times :o)
Firstly I'm so sorry for your harvest loss.
Secondly I love the way you constantly inspire all the bloggers and non-bloggers alike...You go girl!
I love Christmas because of Family...even small amounts.. and friends too.
I think the funniest part and the most exciting...gives you that tingly excited feeling is: when our kid was young, he's come and jump on us on Christmas morn....now we go and jump on him!!
Congrats on 400! Woohoo!!
Robyn xx

Anonymous said...

Congrats on 400 posts....I have a long way to go to catch up!

A Christmas tradition in my family in making the gingerbread. I have a collection of cutters in "chrissy" shapes as well as the family dinosaur cutter.

My now 26 year old daughter doesn't believe its truly Christmas unless she has her Tricerotops gingerbread!

Robbie

Kathy said...

Wow 400 posts! I am in awe!

My favourite thing about Christmas (besides remembering why we celebrate it in the first place!) is wrapping gifts. I love it! I especially love to wrap little things for the kids individually, it makes the fun of unwrapping last even longer.
Cheers, Kathy

Peggy said...

I am a new lurker.. I love your Christams spirit! Chritmas means having all three of my adult children home! Peggy

Rita E in AZ said...

I am also a lurker but I do so enjoy your blog - congrats on 400 posts.
My favorite part of Christmas is getting together with the family. I also love the music but I may be the only one in the family. I won't deny I love the food too :).
Rita E in AZ
requilt (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

We come from Germany and have been in Australia for 25 years and still celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve, so we always have all our children and their families here and I love it.
We all draw a name out of a hat and only each buy for one person, as we don't want Christmas to be about presents, we want it to be about being together.

Merry Christmas
Christine

Dawn said...

Wow...Congrats! My fav thing about Christmas is watching my kids open presents, eating, reading the Christmas story and of course watching Christmas DVD's

rachelmp said...

I love laughing at the previous years santa pic. Four kids and a strange santa make a funny photo and it's worth it for the laugh! Oh I love everything else with the kids too. Congrats on 400 posts!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on 400 posts! My favorite thing about Christmas is the music. When I was little, we had an 8-track. (anybody else know what I'm talking about?) we had about 5 diferent albums we would listen too, and every time I hear one of those songs, I'm instantly transported back in time to making decorations for the tree (my 2nd favorite thing about Christmas) with my Mom and sisters.
~Missy

Kerry said...

Hi Chookie,
Yes, I'm a regular visitor, I think I've commented before, but not quite sure. Let's make ammends. Sorry to hear about your crop loss, as a property owner and dependant on weather, stock prices etc; I know how you feel. But that doesn't make it any easier. Now for some Christmas cheer! I love the excitement of the kids, the family getting together and the fun we share. The trips around sharing the decorations people put up in there homes/streets. The music and decorations in the shops. And it's lovely sharing everyone's preparations in blogland, especially where we can see 'snow'. We can only dream while we're sweltering! Best wishes for Christmas and always for you and your family Chooky; you're a favourite of everyone's in blogland.

Kris said...

I'm not a lurker (can't keep quiet long enough to lurk!), but I wanna say "hi!" to cheer you up too! Congrats on 400 posts! (You are so impressive.) Now, my favourite Christmas thing is everything! I love the planning, the lists, the making, the shopping, the wrapping, the carolling, the knock and runs, the christmas trees, the lights, the pageant, the brewery display, christmas eve, family christmas morning, presents!, cooking christmas lunch, feeding hoardes of people for a week or so afterwards, all of it!

Kate said...

Well done on reaching your 400th post! Sorry, I have a tendency to lurk on blogs for a little while before I post.

My favourite bit of christmas is spending time with my Mum in the kitchen. We spend hours together baking cake, pudding and mince pies. Eating all the food is a close second!

Shari said...

Congratulations on your 400th post! I love everything about Christmas. Remembering the birth of Jesus, family, tradition, the tree, the Christmas songs, the presents. And this year I have a lot of new blogging friends to include. How Wonderful!
Merry Christmas!

Birdydownunder said...

ohhh Christmas I could fill all of cyberspace with the reasons I love Christmas.
And two of them are you the fabulous swapmom thank you and Betsy my swapee. Have posted about my parcel. thanks feel better soon, tis the season to be jolly

Janice said...

Wow, 400 posts. My goodness, I don't know if I'll ever hit that. I love the tree at christmas. I hate putting it up and I hate taking it down but I love the part inbetween. I love having the time off work to spend with family and friends. I love making trifle and all the other special christmas time only things.

Linda said...

OK. You've caught me. I've been a long-time lurker of your blog. I enjoy the fact that you update regularly. There's always something new to read. My favorite Christmas thing is going to the Christmas Eve candlelight service at church with my family. That service means to me that Christmas is here.
Linda lequilts@gmail.com

debbie said...

Congrats on your 400th! I am a part time lurker..lol...I have commented before, but have been too busy lately to read blogs. I just happened to pick yours today to see what you have been blogging about.
Christmas it gonna be different this year...My side of the family is not currently speaking to me. Looking on the bright side, less chaos to worry about. In addition i have tons of medical bills to pay from being sick in the spring. With finances being so tight i got a part time job to pay for my medical bills. The medical Co's just don't understand me wanting to to buy the kids gifts instead of paying them. BUT! My husband, 5 kids and I will all be together and perhaps we will start some new traditions of our own! :o)

antique quilter said...

my favorite thing is that is seems the world is a happier place...people seem kinder and in good spirits.
I love the smell of real trees and greenery in a home...and gingerbread baking...
snow on Christmas day...the excitement on children's faces.
I could go on and on!

Sweet P said...

Happy 400 posts! My favorite thing about Christmas is watching the Christmas Mass from St. Peter's Square.

Trudi said...

Congrats on reaching your 400th post! My favourite Christmas things are singing carols while decorating the tree (and the rest of the house.....more each year...), watching the boys faces as they unwrap their gifts and I always get choked up watching the kids Christmas presentation in church, no matter how "bad" the singing/acting/reading might be!! Let's hope and pray that 2009 will be a "normal" year.

Flutterby Angel said...

hey chookyblue

We are all here to help you through this cropping disaster and to help take your mind off it. We all love you heaps.

Now...Christmas - my favourite things about Christmas are....
Family
Friends
I love the Christmas Mass
Giving and receiving
The food and festivities
Little children's faces at Carols by Candlelight....ahhhh just gorgeous!

And....Congrats on your 400th Post!

Julie said...

Hi! My favorite thing about Christmas is the Merry Go Round that our community always puts up.(Valley, Alabama - USA) We have it for the whole month of December until Christmas. The rides are free!! It has been happening here for many years and as I child I would walk to it after school and my mom would pick me up there an hour or two later. I would get to ride it over and over again - to my heart's content! It opens in just a few days!!

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

Hi, I am so not a lurker, but will say I love the family getting together, love how excited the kids get and love getting the perfect presents for everyone!! well done on 400, you have rounded me up nicely! Tracey

julieQ said...

I love seeing my sweet son, that is my favorite thing. One fun thing we do is to tease that if a person does not say what he wants for Christmas, he gets only socks and underwear! We always all get new pajamas for Christmas, opened on Christmas eve and worn for the night. We always go out on Christmas eve and search for the Star in the East...and have never failed to see a large luminous star in the eastern sky.

Annette said...

Congratulations. I have a loooong way to go to catch up to you. My favorite part of Christmas is the weeks ahead making special things for special people. So fun!

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

Congratulations on 400 posts. Wow!!! My favorite part about Christmas is different each day because when I am decorating that's my favorite thing, but then it's time to bake goodies and that's my favorite thing, then I want to listen to carols so I play my favorite music, but I guess if I had to say one thing, it would be giving gifts - not big fancy ones - but little gifts that are just perfect for the person who will receive the gift. I love seeing the smile, the joy that those gifts bring. And, of course, it all is twice as good when it's all enjoyed with family!!! And one last thing that I remember from childhood.......I loved the sound of the house the night of Christmas eve, it was special and it never sounded the same any other night of the year.

Lissa Jane said...

*coming out of hiding*
christmas is the three F's...

family
friends

and most important

FOOD!!!!
and fun
and ferrero rochers...


so thats 5 F's..

AJMC said...

OK - well, now I have found that nothing nasty will happen if I leave a comment I'll give it another go...
Christmas tradition here is dad cooking eggs and serving with ham carved from the bone and toast for breakfast, and pineapple jiuce, which is now giving way to champagne, so a new tradition too!
Bye
A

loulee said...

Slithering out of lurkdom to add....
Happy blogaversary.
My favorite thing about Christmas is presents, I spend all year planning, I buy things and ferret them away, so that when Christmas comes I have very little left to buy.

Anonymous said...

My thing about Christmas is waking to the kids excitement at opeing their pressies and then having brekkie with everyone around.

Simone de Klerk said...

We have a tradition at home with my parents (even though we all passed the age of 40, that is, not including grandchildren). Each first Christmas morning my mother would come with a big tray with on it 6 angels holding a lighted candle. Each year a different one for all of us. I think she kept this tradition for more than 20 years. But with 12 grandchildren it became to much.
What is your favorite part of Christmas?

Peg - Happy In Quilting said...

You go girl...400 posts well done...Christmas I just the way it makes you feel, saying the word, the decorations, the christmas carols, that warm nice feeling that comes over you when you have found that or made that perfect gift for someone special, to dress up silly with funny hats and dangly heavy baubles hanging from your ears which then brings a smile to someones face...thats what I love about Christmas....'the feeling'
Look forward to the next 400 posts Chooky.

Willow Grove - Kez said...

Hi, I have tagged you. I hope that you dont mind. Hopefully you have time to do this....

Treasa said...

I like to decompress and watch It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. All by myself.

Jantine said...

I was sorry to hear from your loss! My favorite thing of Christmas is going to church with my family and celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Anonymous said...

Wow 400 posts, your amazing. love following your blog as its so interesting. Favourite thing about christmas would be spending time with family and friends around the Christmas tree. Chill-laxing as my teenage son would call it.
Raelene

Jenny of Elefantz said...

I'm really enjoying getting to know you through your posts. :-)
My favourite thing about Christmas? HOPE. Christmas winds up the end of a year, and we've had a lot of pretty emotional ones, so when Christmas comes around I thank God we're all still together and loving each other, and I have hope in the year to come and the good things it can bring.

Trisha said...

Congatulations! There are so many things I like about Christmas, it is hard to pick one. I think my most favorite is watching a loved one open a present that I bought or made for them. That is the best!

Laila L S said...

Congratulations!
I love all the christmas preparations we do; tidying and washing first, then decorating the house. And of course making or buying presents. I love thinking of what to make or buy for friends and family.

Brigitte said...

Congratulation to your 400th post, dear ELF
I love the special smell from the tree inside the house, the warmth of the candles and their light. Unpacking the nice wrapped presents one after the other, each of us looking what the others got AND christmas songs of course!
hugs Brigitte

Candace said...

I'm behind in my reading, and started reading to see you have hit 400. Congratulations! I'm not sure what my favorite thing about Christmas is, I'll have to think about it.

Peddlecar Quilts said...

You go girl! Look at you---400 posts!! It really is a fun site to visit, no wonder so many of us love to come and see what you are up to next!

Sandy said...

Congrats on your 400th post, and looking forward to many more. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Love the decorating, baking the goodies, making and buying the gifts. And the best part is watching the little ones expressions when it is time to exchange gifts.

paront1222@comcast.net said...

I love everything about Christmas. I love the wrapping paper and the color "RED" everywhere....
Peggy in NJ, USA

Noémia said...

I love Christmas night, after the tradicional meal and after open the gifts the family goes together to the midnight mess. There are a cerimony to put the little Jesus in the caban who He is born, corus and music, and we return home,in the cold night, but happy and in peace.

Unknown said...

Congratulations! I love all secrets in December. When I read the comments on this post I think it´s fantastic that so many people all around the world celebrates Christmas. I like to be a part of something big, and at the same time have our own Swedish traditions...

Renee said...

400 posts - wow! Congrats! What do I love about Christmas? Everything! Being with my family, lots of food, games and lots of laughter!!

Joolz said...

My favourite thing about Christmas is Mum's hot Christmas pudding. She says each year that she won't make it next year but I always protest and say that why she is alive, she HAS to make it! Ha Ha!
It is a simple recipe that her mum used to make, using suet. The fruit is soaked in brandy for a week or so then the pudding is put together and steamed in a pudding bowl. Yummy with hot custard and cream. No matter how hot the day, I can always squeeze in a piece of that pud! Mmmmmmmmm!

Cheers - Joolz

Shoebox Days said...

My favorite thing about Christmas is the candlelight everywhere - In the Luminaries that the children decorate our neighborhood with, in the church, in the rooms in our house, in the windows. The little sparkles of dancing light just seem to bring hope to the present.

Carole said...

Congrads on being a babbler! lol It will take years before I hit 400! lol My favourite thing about Christmas is Santa. I love Santa and everything he stands for. Keep well!

Bev C said...

Congratulations on 400 posts. I would have to say the best thing about Christmas is FAMILY. After spending some time with my brother who is very ill in hospital yesterday I would say that it doesn't matter who has the biggest best tree lights presents etc as long as your family is healthy and happy that is the best thing about Christmas. Best wishes.

Julie said...

Wow, 400. My favorite thing about Christmas would have to be going home to Mum's cooking. Yum.

Victoria M. said...

Besides time spent with family, my favorite thing about Christmas is the music, not so much the holly jolly type tunes, but the classical religious Christmas music, choral music in particular. The Alice Parker/Robert Shaw carol arrangements are wonderful and the more recent Lauridesen O Magnum Mysterium is an awesome piece. It would be interesting to know if any of your other lurkers are familiar with these.

Congratulations on your 400th post. I've enjoyed reading your blog.

Nan said...

How wonderful you have hit 400 posts! You are my blogging hero! I am sorry to hear about the crops being destroyed - the photos broke my heart. On to better things! My favorite part of Christmas is Christmas morning, when we open the gifts in our Christmas stockings and then have our traditional breakfast of Eggs Benedict - yummy!

Browndirtcottage said...

Woo-Hoo...400 posts...(i have a ways to go)..congrads!!

i love Christmas morning....just jammies and cozy-ness!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!
I love almost everything - the evening before, the baking and the smell of cinnamon in the weeks before, decorating, packing presents, the unpacking in the morning, Christmas lunch with the family. It is special time with special atmosphere - that is the most special and favorite thing in Christmas for me.

Anne Ida said...

Wow, wow, wow!!!! 400 posts!!! You are amazing!! Congratulations!!! And keep it up :o)

2ne said...

Congratulations :-) I love Christmastime with all the secrets. I decorate my home with lots of snowmen...in all different scapes. Love to listen to Christmasmusic and make presente, cards,cakes.... Have a lovely weekend

Sheila said...

I can't believe 400 post you have been busy in cyberland. My favorite things about Christmas is time spent with loved ones. I love decorating, putting up the real tree not the fake one and making cookies and candy with my mom and daughter. That's the best parts of Christmas for me.

Lori in South Dakota said...

Christmas tradition. I always put out the things DD made for us or bought us when she was small. My snowman collection. And a recent change--DD's garter from her wedding (that her dad bought!) adorns the top of our tree!

Mary L. said...

Family gathered round the table, eating until you are stuffed, laughing, playing board games, telling "remember when" stories. Inviting those who would otherwise be alone to share your home, food and holiday spirit.

Martha said...

Lots of family fun, and food, and friends . . .