Friends

On the day after Thanksgiving, jb and I limped into a brunch given by two of our closest friends. We were both facing surgery, jb's Mother had just died, and my Mother was living with us complete with her walker and an uncertain future. Before we left that day, without our involvement, a plan had taken shape for five of our friends to come to our house and decorate it for the Holidays.

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That's exactly what they did. Last Saturday they all arrived, complete with appetizers, dinner and drinks. Complete with social cheer and decorating know-how. They put up our tree, the kind and talented "Red Mojo" strung our lights to perfection, they made wreaths, hung garland, and strategically placed Christmas critters here and there.

If you've never made a Holiday wreath, all you need is a glue gun and ribbon. jb is an expert in this area. We gave one away, to the wonderful woman who is helping with my Mom, and the other two will be on proud display outside our house.

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Gotta tell you about this garland. It's actually environmentally-friendly packing material--a substitute for styrofoam peanuts. Our friend Amy brought it to us in a paper bag--don't ask me why!--jb spray-painted it gold and silver and my MOM strung it, piece by piece. It looks quite awesome!

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Last summer Amy bought a box of run-of-the-mill salt and pepper shakers from the local Wednesday night auction. Here they are in their new incarnation, embellished by jb with Balsam and berries, sitting on our kitchen window, quietly reminding us 'tis the season.....

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I don't know who placed this snowman on our bookshelf, but he's clearly in good company. jb weaved the wall hangings--there are five of them in all--,the dried hydrangas come right from my very own garden, my son-in-law Mike gave us this great candlestick holder, and my best friend Ces drew this sweet illustration called "Tea in a Tree" for jb when she was sick. Not very hard for me to count my blessings from this shot alone.

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And speaking of blessings, here is Mr. Ryan when he was ten minutes old, this photograph sitting atop a Christmas table wreath in front of one of those singing Christmas cards I gave my Mother, who cannot believe Bing Crosby is singing "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" everytime she opens the card.

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Here is the final masterpiece: Friendship, kindness, love and blessings all wrapped up in a Christmas tree five friends built for two temporarily hobbling women who might not have pulled it together otherwise.

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Happy Holidays to All...I hope and wish every one of us has friends like these.