cooking, grandkids, Nora at home

Happy, Merry and Bright

55 Comments

This weekend all the wrapping, planning, prepping, baking come together for the big crescendo.

I started my holiday weekend yesterday by knocking off at noon to get that workout in (likely the last of the weekend!) and baking a couple of sour dough rounds for Christmas dinner with Love, Actually on the kitchen TV.

Now that’s a happy day.

Today I’ll bake Italian bread and lasagna for Christmas Eve with the kids. We’re going to set up a sundae bar for dessert. I suspect they’ll care little–even Kayla at fourteen–about what’s on the plate. It’s all about what’s under the tree, what’s in those bulging stockings.

Santa Bruce buys scratch-off cards for the stockings every year. Hope springs.

I’m looking forward to the untying of ribbons, the ripping of wrapping, the happy faces.

A part of me might miss those late Christmas Eve sessions dealing with the Some-Assembly-Required for little guy Santa gifts, but those are memories in the bank. And Nanas get more sleep!

Tomorrow, it’s my Pop’s pancakes–a long-standing tradition– bacon, sausage, eggs, a pretty bowl of berries and mimosas for Christmas brunch. Then the adults get to empty stockings, untie and rip wrapping.

Then it’s hang-out time, hauling out the trash, doing whatever strikes until dinner. (Gotta marinate that pork loin tonight!)

Lots of food, lots of family, lots of happy.

Before the day begins I’d like to wish you all Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Blessed Yule, Happy Kwanzaa or whatever celebration you use to mark the season. May your day be all you wish for, and just a little more.

So light the candles, pour some wine (or the libation of your choice) embrace the magic with the wonder of the child in all of us. And grab some moments to bank those memories.

Nora

A quick PS from Laura:  Thank you to everyone who stops by, comments, commiserates and celebrates  with Nora (and me) on a regular basis.  Here’s to a wonderful holiday season and the happiest, healthiest of New Years.  

55 thoughts on “Happy, Merry and Bright”

  2. Happy Christmas and a Blessed and Healthy New Year. Thank you for all of your posts this year especially the posts from Italy and all the fabulous excerpts. ??☃️☃️

  5. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all!! Hope all your wishes come true. Looking forward to mayhem tonite with house full of family and food! Enjoy and Blessings to all!

  6. Happy Holidays of whatever ilk people celebrate! Merry Christmas, Nora, Laura and your families! Thank you, Nora, for all the hours of pleasure you have given me over the years – and to come. I already know what I’ll be doing between Christmas and New Year’s – one of my friends bought me all the books from your last trilogy off my wish list! Those covers and pictures on the fly leaves are gorgeous and I know the words won’t disappoint.

  7. Wishing you Nora & Laura, and your families, all the blessings of Christmas and even more for 2017!
    One tradition I started years ago, was to begin and end each year with a Nora Roberts book (either a new or a favorite (there are so many) re-read). 2016 was no different and in January it was “The Liar” and I saved the three books of “The Guardian Trilogy”, so I’m ending December with “Star of Fortune & Bay of Sighs”. Which means the first book of January 2017 will be “Island of Glass”.
    Thanks for giving me such reading pleasure over the years! Looking forward to many more enjoyable reads in 2017 from both Nora & JD!

  8. Merry Christmas to you Laura! Wonderful wishes coming ya’lls way .
    This is the first Christmas with out my father, yet as the post said my memories are stored in my heart!
    Greetings to BW, Nora, Cat and all the family….
    Sue Neil Broschinski

  9. Merry Christmas to my favorite author, and her favorite publicist. Looking forward to great things in 2017!

  10. Christmas blessings to you and yours. Thank you for the great reading you’ve given me this year.

  13. Happy Holidays, Nora, Laura, and your loved ones! My the beauty and joy of the holidays fill your hearts, and warm your new year! Looking forward to more good reads in 2017!

  16. Merry Christmas to you, Nora, and your family as well. And you, too, Laura — thanks for the care both of you take to make sure the masses continue to be satisfied with goodies to read.

    The two if you are absolutely priceless. Happy holidays.

  17. A very Merry Christmas to you (and Laura). Thank you, Nora for sharing a part of your personal life with us. To peek inside your family traditions. Hoping there is a little NR gift under my tree from Santa this year.

  18. Merry Christmas! I wish my favorite author and publicist a Happy New Year as well. You have made this past year happier and in darker moments more bearable than it would have been without you. I am really looking forward to the new adventures you have in store for your fans in 2017. The “new direction” sounds very intriguing.

  19. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, Nora. Thank you for making me happy 365 days a year, because of your excellent books. Remain blessed. ??☃☃??

    #professionalromancefan

    Stephanie H.

  20. I wish for you, Nora and Laura, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with all of life’s best.

  23. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

  24. Merry Christmas. I’ll start this one with my fur babies and then go enjoy my friends
    Thank you Nora for all my favorite books

  25. Merry Christmas to all. I am enjoying Festive In Death today, it is terrific and apt for now. Happy New Year and thank you for a great blog and wonderful books.

  27. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to Nora and Laura and your families. Nora thanks for being an awesome story teller. And Laura thanks for all you do. I’m looking forward to 2017 and new memories. Happy holidays!

  28. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2017!! ???⛄️

  31. Beautiful sentiments! Thank you for making my reading addiction so enjoyable! Look forward to 2017 and more great stories from you! Hope this Christmas is one of the best for you and your family! ???

  32. Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends. Thanks for all the wonderful books you have written. I have read and enjoyed them over and over through the years!

  33. Merry Christmas and thank you for the gift of all the stories over the years. My bookshelves runneth over. ?

  34. Merry Christmas to Nora, Laura, and your families. I wish the best for you in 2017. Happy holidays to all the fans. Nora, we love your books. Keep them coming, that includes JD Robb books too! Love and hugs.

  35. Merry Christmas Nora and Laura – thank you for the reading pleasures I’ve received from your books, and also this year, from your newsletter. Hoping you all find wonderful little treasures in your stockings and lots of goodies on your table.
    Sending with a Christmas Hug,
    Freddie

  36. Wishing you the Happiest Christmas Holiday ever. Laura thank you for your hard work and dedication to help keep everyone in the loop. Merry Christmas! Nora enjoy your moments with your family. May 2017 bring many Blessings and gifts of the spirit. Hugs!

  37. Merry Christmas Nora and Laura and blessings to you both! Wishing you both a magical 2017!

  38. Merry Christmas Laura and Nora and your families. Enjoy and see you in the New Year!

  39. Merry Christmas to Nora & Laura and a special holiday greeting to all of Nora’s fans. Nora, you tell a great story and we all appreciate you!

  41. Merry Christmas Nora, Laura and families. Thank you for all you do for us readers.

  44. My own memories from decades back tell me you’re giving those kids a precious gift, the happiness of the memory. A very Merry Christmas to both Nora and Laura, and a happy and healthy new year!

  47. Merry Christmas Nora, thank you for the many moments if reading pleasure you provide. Thank you Laura for keeping the Facebook current and interesting. May the blessings of Christmas continue into the New Year.

  50. Merry Christmas Nora & Laura I love you both for sharing with us!

  51. Merry Christmas Nora and Laura! Thanks for all you write (both of you). It brings extra joy to my life.

  52. Happy Holidays! Got the last of the Guardians trilogy in my stocking and will be knee deep in the Island of Glass during the holuday week. Gave a healthy wondrous New Year and ieep walking on the new path Nora. I can’t wait to read it!

  53. Git the Island if Glass in my stocking and am raring to go and spend a while in NR land. Good luck in the New Year and keep walking on your new path.

  54. Happy Boxing Day!
    My wish is that you and yours had the best holiday so far…and that you find 2017 beyond your wildest expectations!

    Christmas night I finished the reread of the MacGregor Brides…now is that perfect or what!

    Am so grateful for the privilege of being in a warm home, with candles light, surrounded by friends…and wish that everyone could have this same experience..

  55. Thanks Nora, Laura and team for the Christmas card from Eve and Roarke..love it

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