I will be taking a hiatus today to spend time with family & friends. I’m roasting a 24-pound turkey, complete with homemade stuffing, cranberry-orange sauce, and all the other traditional trimmings, which we will then share with our dear friends and neighbors, Ali and Maha, and their three boys, Tholfaqar, Ibraheem, and Yousif. I will be asking the girls (daughter Chris and granddaughter Natasha) for much help, as it is about all I can do to stand for 10 minutes, but I am determined to do as much of the cooking as I possibly can.
I just want to take a minute to thank you, my friends & readers, for all the support you’ve given me over the past few difficult months. You truly are a blogging family and I appreciate you all so much. Jolly, Joyful and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and that you are able to spend time with the people who mean the most to you. Remember that no matter what your religion or lack thereof is, this is a holiday of light, of love, of caring for others. It’s not about food or presents, but about setting aside our differences and just loving each other. So, give lots of hugs today and have a wonderful day!
Merry Christmas, love ‘n hugs from Filosofa, Jolly, and Joyful!
Filosofa's Word 
24lb turnkey. Wow that was an achievement Jill!
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I made the stuffing, prepped the bird for the oven, but Chris had to do the heavy lifting 😉 Five pounds is about my lifting/carrying limit these days.
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Still, all that stuffing and prepping….Wow!
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😊
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Jill, I hope your day was beautiful. The food sounds yummy and having the company of friends and family is the best gift of all. 🤗❤️
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It was a great day, though by the time we came home around 8:30 I was so exhausted I could barely stand! But you’re right … friends and family are what makes any holiday joyous!
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I hope you had a lovely Christmas, Jill. Here’s to 2022 and good health and happiness.
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We did, indeed! It was a great holiday, and now I’m exhausted and ready to return to the routine! I hope yours was wonderful as well!
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It was quiet and wonderful. I’m glad yours was good.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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wishing you a merry Christmas as well. enjoy the day with family and good neighbors and continue to take care of yourself.
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Thank you, Scott … and Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!
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Sounds like a memorable holiday planned and a true celebration of the season. Happy Christmas to you.
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It was … a great day, albeit exhausting!!! Hope yours was wonderful in every way!
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Merry Christmas Jill! So glad your back and I hope you continue to get better! We need you!
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Thanks, partner!!! I’m working on it! Let us hope for a better year in 2022 than this one has been, yes?
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YES PLEASE!!!
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I hate that humans have to designate a particular day or time of year to celebrate kindness, togetherness, and love. We should be doing our best to not just celebrate, but to accomplish feeling this way EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, and more. But it is what it is. So Happy Giving and Getting Day and the whole season to you and yours, to all our blogging family and theirs, and to everyone in the world.
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Of course it would be a wonderful world if we all did our best, treated every other living being with compassion and love EVERY DAY of the year, but as you and I have been around long enough to know, it ain’t gonna happen. Humans seem to be wired for conflict and perhaps we’re lucky they even manage to play nice once a year. The video wouldn’t play, but I do know the song … perhaps next year I’ll include it in the line-up!
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“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.”
Peg Bracken – author of “The I Hate to Cook Book” in 1960; “A Window over the Sink ” in 1981.
You deftly share those basic ingredients on each and every blog post!
Enjoy your holiday…remember to pace yourself!! WHAK!! Thank-you!
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Awwww … thank you, dear Ellen! I tried to pace myself as you suggested, but there was just too much to do, and I must admit I overdid and am paying for it today, but still … it felt good to feel useful once again! WHAK!!!
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Pingback: Merry Christmas!!! 🎄 – Jackanori, (MPD)
Hugs right back. Enjoy the day.
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All the best, Jill. Be safe. Be healthy. Keith
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Merry Christmas, Jill. Enjoy your day.
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Merry Christmas Dear!☃️🌨😃🍫🍬🍩🧁
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Thank you!!! And to you as well! 🎄
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Merry Christmas, Jill! Have a wonderful day 🎅🎄🎁
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Dear Jill! Merry Christmas to you and your family! I am happy to hear that you are well enough to cook and entertain friends (although I am suspecting you will be doing too much and be wiped afterwards, but if it’s with a feeling of happiness, I guess that is ok…)! We managed to make the trip to Austria, despite all Corona measures and complications, and are enjoying our home and the beautiful nature here. It’s my first Christmas here without my mom (last year we could not come because of even more Corona complications), so in a way it is bitter sweet. But more sweet than bitter. Have a wonderful time with family and friends, dear Jill, and take plenty of rest afterwards! Take care! Hugs&Love from over the Atlantic!
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Merrymerryhappyhappy and thx for a thoughtful blog. But hey, you got daughter and granddaughter, if I were you I’d refuse to cook anything or even help.
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Merry Christmas
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