I stopped the video before I started yelling at Hazel right at the part of the song that goes “peace on earth”I knew that bark! Oh, why tonight?Sure enough, this is what she found –
The dogs once again minded my orders and dropped him and came to the house. I set the live trap and hope he’s in there tomorrow morning.
I wished Barney and the goats Merry Christmas.
After 4 hours waiting for my IPad to be fixed today. I was told it’s dead. Sigh
Merry Christmas, Friends of Mine!
Hope this works – I have my doubts but had to try anyway.
MARY’s IPAD is DOWN! And we are in the middle of a big blizzard! Please pass the word to other bloggers. Becky(Mary’s sister)
A late Merry Christmas . Love reading all about your day and read replies too. A blessing to hear you play Silent Night.
MARY’s IPAD is DOWN! And we are in the middle of a big blizzard! Please pass the word to other bloggers. Becky(Mary’s sister)
Mary,
I loved your piano playing and like others, Silent Night is one of my favorites.
I also couldn’t tell what it was that Hazel found in the barn.
We returned home late last night from Indianapolis. The weather got better as the day went on in Michigan, as forecasted, so we decided to leave for home later. It meant driving in the dark but it was better, better weather and less traffic. Only ice we encountered was our son’s driveway and our driveway too. Our trees are beautifully covered in ice.
Wishing everyone a relaxing end of the year and a Happy New Year.
Thanks for the blog, Mary. You are our connection! 🌻
Merry Christmas a day late. Mary I really enjoyed your video of you playing Silent Night. I always wanted to play the piano and even as an adult tried and just can’t. I grew up taking guitar lessons and could do that no problem so don’t understand.
We had a wonderful Christmas. We ended up with 14 instead of 16 due to illness. There is lots of room here to host that many, so it was nice. My turkey was done an hour earlier than I expected so it threw me off, then the slow cooker that I cook the extra stuffing in stopped working. Luckily I have a microwave/convection oven. So threw the extra stuffing in there. Everyone brought veggie or salads which helps me a lot. It was a wonderful evening with family and friends. Just as I feel Christmas should be.
Thank you for the blog and the work you do so we all can enjoy the pictures and reading the comments. You are wonderful.
Belated Merry Christmas Mary and Rick and the Happiest of New Year’s to you. Thank you so much for the musical ending to your post. There’s something about a quiet piano solo that is just right. We had a quiet holiday with just the 2 of us since our children both live out west. Just isn’t worth the travel headaches to travel this time of year. Did the cooking that we needed, even baked a couple more batches of cookies, to see what was wrong with my oven. As suspected it doesn’t keep an even temperature. It’s been my guess for a long time, but been putting off replacing it. Had to do the fridge last year. Will probably wait until spring . This weekend I’m hiding in my sewing room and just do something mindless while watching movies! Good luck with your iPad replacement. Apple does make it easy to transfer from one to the other. We’ve had to do it with a desktop and a laptop in the last couple years. Then there’s the phones, too! I’m getting too old for all this tech stuff, but it’s do or die it seems.
Thank you for your post, Mary – always a delight on Christmas Eve. The last two days were busy preparing for a gathering at my house, then at my niece’s house with the extended family. Lots of work, but a blessing.
Happy New Year greetings for you all. I’ve got to get my Dirty Dozen list prepared. May we all be able to complete our DD in 2026!
Belated Merry Christmas greetings Mary, Rick and blog followers! Sunny day here today, hardly any snow with the temperature at 31*, the sun is making up for the temperature! Yesterday was cloudy and foggy. I have my Dirty Dozen list prepared..I did not run out of items to write down, and will try to slip in a table runner should I get the main project of the month completed! Hopeful this will be motivation to give me that kick-start to get things done! Then maybe sewing will not be a burden with so many UFO’s which are mostly not started, just there! I am the ant with high hopes! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our kids and Grands! We all ate too much of course. I wasn’t able to figure out what the fur-ball was that Hazel and Keeper found in the barn, was it an opossum? Happy New Year is next on the holiday docket! Another sewing day here. Thankful for good health and loving all the photos and videos you provide every day! Quilting has evolved over the years, hasn’t it.
Merry Christmas just a bit late. Thank you for the video – it was beautiful. Our daughter, son-in-law and grands came over and you should see the house this morning. But we had a great time.
Merry Christmas Mary, Rick and all of your followers! I love the piano playing!! Silent Night is one of my favorite songs! Thank you for sharing your life with all of us!! Blessings in the New Year!!!
Doris in Alabama
Merry Christmas Mary. I really enjoyed your playing of Silent Night. It is one of my favorite Christmas carols. Also enjoyed the barn pictures.
I couldn’t comment this morning, so checked back this evening and am able to comment.
Thank you again for all you do for us every day. We all enjoy your blog so much!
Blessings on you in the New Year.
Merry Christmas to all and it’s so nice reading all the familiar names with their greetings that we go to look for each day on Mary’s blog. I enjoyed hearing Mary playing her piano. You keep us connected and what a treasure it is.
Merry Christmas everyone and have a great NewYear!
Merry Christmas Mary and readers! Wishing all a joy filled day, and year with lots of time to quilt!
Wishing you all a joyous holiday. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Mary, and everyone! The blog came through! Yay!
We have dense fog all night and today.
We bought Jay the new 13” iPad. He loves it. He can make the lettered really large for easier reading.
Have a wonderful day!
Merry Christmas and happy new year everyone! Thank you Mary for bringing together a community of wonderful, generous, creative people. God bless!
Merry Christmas to you and yours
I loved the videos. Thank you for sharing and for all you do for us
Dorothy i W WA
“Merry Christmas,” to Mary, Rick and all my blog friends!
Your video is a very special gift, Mary. Thank you!❤️🎄❤️🎵❤️
Merry Christmas to everyone! Have blessed day.
Thank you, Mary for all you do. I love the barn video and your beautiful piano playing.
Merry Christmas to all and wishing you the best in 2026.
Woke up to a light rain this morning.
Your barn looks very cozy.
Everything worked. The video and pictures were great. Your playing was awesome! Thank you for sharing. Merry Christmas and may God’s richest and best always be yours. Your blog is the best part of my day.
Good day Mary,
Merry Christmas everyone. I can now comment. It appears I can’t be the first one to comment for some reason. We had some sun for a bit earlier but now it is gray, and very windy. We are enjoying Christmas regardless of the weather. Friday we have a Winter Weather Advisory with mix precipitation and freezing rain. Glad for everyone it is not today. Janice Traverse City area
Friday, December 26th: Woke up to freezing rain this morning. It is slick outside. Definitely a stay at home day for us. Janice Traverse City area.
Merry Blessed Christmas. Peace to all!
Merry Christmas, Mary and Rick and the Chicken Scratch family! We got a dusting of snow yesterday, just perfect for Christmas. Listening to carols, baking a gingerbread for dessert. Roast beef ready to put in oven soon. Hoping for health and happiness for everyone in this coming year. Jan in MA
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and blessed New Year ahead!!
The playing of Silent Night was beautiful!
Thank you!
Merry Christmas to Mary, Rick, Haxel, Keeper, Mortie, Three, and all the other furry and feathered creatures who live with you!
I love the tradition of Christmas Eve in the barn, and your playing Silent Night. I’m sending love and good wishes to the whole blog family – you all feel like sisters.
Mary, I hope your transition to a new iPad isn’t too bumpy, The new OS 26 is very different, and I haven’t dared update my iPad and iPhone yet. The new one will come with it already installed.
Dot – oh, I can’t wait – I said sarcastically!!!! It’ll be weeks before I figure it out
Also reading in email and blig. Merry Christmas 🎄
Merry Christmas. It is working!
I also received this okay and apparently can comment, as well. Many good wishes for your holidays and so many thanks for being there for us. It is a big enjoyment for me everyday. I feel like you are a very important friend. Love to you and all the pets!
Merry Christmas to you and Rick, Mary. Your post came through just fine. Always love the peace of the barn, notwithstanding Hazel’s exploits, and the music on Christmas Eve. At least the storms have passed and you can celebrate without the blizzard effects. Good luck with a new iPad. Look at it as starting out the new year fresh.
Karen Cyr in MD
MERRY CHRISTMAS to one & all!! 🎄🙏🏻
Happy New Year, too!! 🎉🎊
Thank you, Mary, for all you do for us!!!
Peggy S. 💞👍🏻
Your Christmas Eve posts are always a favorite of mine. Thank you!
Merry Christmas, Mary, and to all that might read this response. It’s foggy and wet again today.
My iPad has no memory and not able to upgrade but it still works. I use it mostly for email and FB when I travel. Been like this for yrs. I still get the messages to buy memory and storage but the answer is no for me at least. So don’t give up on it yet.
Merry Christmas to you and all the readers!
Sounds like Santa will need to bring you a new Ipad! Good luck. So glad you persevere in communicating with all of us in spite of electronic glitches. We had issues with possums killing our chickens and on one occasion two gorgeous white peafowl. Along with skunks, raccoons and minks, it seems all wildlife likes chicken as much as we do. Have a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year!
Merry Christmas you and Rick.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Mary, and to all your blog readers!
Sara – evidently you could comment on this post – several readers have let me know they cannot – thanks so much
I received your e-mail and could read on the blog. Yay!