Christmas Eve in the Barn, 12-24-22

The manger?

Merry Christmas from the Country Threads Farm!

85 thoughts on “Christmas Eve in the Barn, 12-24-22”

  2. Diane, Squeak, and Buddy in Central Ohio

    We had an awesome Christmas! Our nephew from Columbus called yesterday to ask if he could bring his friend from church and her foster child. Of course! They came and the foster ended up being a beautiful 18 month old boy. We pulled out the grand kids toys ( they are 21,20, 19, and 18 now) and had a truly wonderful day. The foster mom received the call on Thursday that she had 2 hours to get ready for him. She is awesome and we were happy to share Christmas and that beautiful little boy. 🎄👼🏻

    1. Vicki Ibarra

      What a wonderful loving heart from the foster Mom as well as you! I am glad that young boy had the Christmas he had with you.

      1. Diane, Squeak, and Buddy in Central Ohio

        Thanks, Vicki. I liked what you said above, too. We all need to take a step back and reach out with love. When I taught school, I had my 10th graders practice saying please and thank you at home, in stores, at school or wherever they went for one week. They were amazed at the positive responses. One kid I remember told about getting a bigger ice cream cone each time she used please and thank
        you😀. We loved having that little boy with us!

  4. Gloria B - Illinois

    Mary, I look forward to your manger photo each year. It’s another reminder of what we’re celebrating. May the warm feelings from the manger fill your hearts today and all the days ahead. Merry Christmas!

  7. Brenda

    Kind of late to the party, but I also wish Mary and her many followers the happiest of the Christmas season…from snowy and cold Brainerd Mn 🙂

  9. Kim from TN

    Merry Christmas Mary, hope your animals are snug in the barn. Its bitterly cold here in middle TN. We opened our home to a friend who has been without electricity for 1.5 days. Her home hit 30 inside. Power outages are on-going. We are enjoying the company, doing some puzzles and eating lots of goodies.

  10. Sandy

    Merry Christmas to everyone from new Zealand! Boxing day morning here and a nice day, enjoy your day and relax! My love to you all, best wishes from Sandy

  16. Kris in WI

    Merry Christmas to Mary & Rick and all her readers. Thank you, Mary, for your picture of the manger and it’s reminder that, while we may be by ourselves this Christmas due to the weather, we are not alone, for God is with us.

  17. Tina W in Oregon

    Merry Christmas from NE Oregon! Our yard has a quarter inch of ice all over. Funny to listen when our dog crunches through it. I hope everyone has a peaceful and joy filled day.

  18. Jan Hebert

    Love the manger scene. The reason for the season. It’s cold here this morning but going up to the mid twenties today. I’ll take it. No snow here yet and the rest of the week looks clear and warming up to fifties by the end of the week! How strange is that? We’re staying home today, my husband isn’t feeling great and doesn’t want to spread anything to our kids. Our daughter Amity and her fiance are getting married this coming weekend! I pray he’s better by then and that I haven’t gotten whatever it is. We will have our Christmas with both families later in January. Merry Christmas to you, Mary and to Rick. And Merry Christmas to your readers all over the world! Jan in MA

  19. Sharon F

    Merry Christmas from the CA desert, where it’s sunny and warm. Thank you for your blog all year long and sharing the beautiful and inspirational reader quilts, as well as the news and stories from your life.

  22. Karen Cyr

    Merry Christmas, Mary! May the snow and cold abate and the manger be filled with love and animals for many years to come.

    Karen in MD

  27. Jeanne from Colo.

    I agree with Vicki Ibarras comments too. Why can’t we celebrate Christmas 365 days each year. Be kind, be loving, be good to one another, and be as Jesus would want us to be. Merry Christmas to everyone. Thank you Mary for sharing your life of quilting and animals with all of us on your blog. It’s such a fun connection with ‘friends’ all over the world. Mary, did you make it to church last night? There’s warmer days ahead.
    Have a blessed day everyone. Jeanne from Loveland, Co.

  31. Jeanine from Iowa

    Merry Christmas Mary, Rick and clan, and to all the faithful readers of this wonderful blog! What would we do without it? Like so many, I am so happy to see an email from Mary. Thank you again, Mary for all you do for all of us. We wish you a blessed day, and may the New Year bring new joys and happiness to you. God bless each and everyone of you, the readers, and Mary and Rick. Our wind has finally died down from what it has been for three days. We have a Christmas service at our church this morning.

  35. Lori

    Merry Christmas Mary and Rick,

    We were just having a conversation about chickens, as my daughter is new to chickens and this is her first winter with them. This past week it has been -25 degrees or so. Do you heat your barn? She has a couple space heaters and her coop isn’t very big.

    How warm should it be for the chickens and guineas to be comfortable?

    Enjoy your day.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Lori – I choose to heat my barn and most of my neighbors laugh at me but I don’t care. The chickens are cold, too, and I keep it about 40-50 with a hanging L.B. white heater. Maybe the heat is more for my comfort than theirs but so be it. With our temps their combs and feet will freeze. I have a very old hen who got lost outside in the bitter cold years ago and her toes and then feet simply turned black and fell off. She lives with a heat bulb in the infirmary with another blind hen. I don’t think they’ll survive at -25.

  38. Linda

    Merry Christmas to all from frozen Saginaw Michigan. Once again we should pray for peace so people stop killing each other, Russia realizes the sins they are committing on the poor people in Ukraine and they quit the atrocities and peace for all the world like that which is found in Mary’s barn and my barn.

  39. Karen

    Such a beautiful thing …a manger.
    Shows that even the most important people come from humble beginnings. And No person should ever think themselves unworthy of great things Or belittle themselves thinking they are not good enough. And what a better time of year…Christmas… the birth of our lord Who lays in a manger.

  41. Sheila in WI

    Thank you for sharing the manger picture. So appropriate. Merry Christmas, Mary and to all my fellow readers. 🌟🎄❤️

  45. Pat Smith

    Merry Christmas to you, Mary and Rick, and to all the readers from around the world from Stowe, VT where it is cold but beautiful.

  46. Susan Sundermeyer

    Merry Christmas to all from Dayton, Ohio. It’s only 6 degrees this morning, but we are having a beautiful sunrise. Give Glory to God!

  47. Vicki Ibarra

    Merry Christmas to all. As we reflect, consider that we too often underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. May 2023 be a year where we remember and purposefully carry this out more often. This blog is a digital smile for me. It brings joy and often shares these elements of kindness: Jo with her work with the jail, many of the readers with their work with animals, the support woven throughout the comments….

    1. Connie R

      Vicki, How wonderfully put. The true gift of Christmas all through the year. Thank you for reminding us.

  48. Pattie From PA now in Texas

    Merry Christmas from the hill country of Texas. Was able to attend a beautiful Christmas Eve service last evening at Mt Olive Lutheran Church in Austin. String quartet, choir, piano, candle light, all so focused on the reason for the season. Hope everyone has a memorable Day with family and friends in spite of all the weather hardships we have been experiencing.

  49. Rita in Iowa

    Mary and Rick and all of the readers and quilters, MERRY 🎅 Christmas 🎄. Mary thanks for the wonderful barn picture.

  53. Elaine Kopischke-Trejo

    Merry Christmas to you and all from Wisconsin! Stay warm and safe and May peace surround you

  56. Kathy in western NY

    Look at the light in the manger. Beautiful serene picture. I missed our Christmas Eve candle lighting service as it was cancelled. Service today is a go as thankfully roads are good, winds calmed down but our kids live local and come over for brunch in their pjs. Stockings are hung on the mantle with care. Eggs casserole, sausage loaves, hash browns, spiral glazed ham, monkey bread, fruit, and cookies. Merry Christmas to one and all and Mary, our blessed Angel for caring for so many animals all her life.

  58. Fiona at Ice Bear Quilts

    From the Netherlands, Merry Christmas Mary and Rick! And Merry Christmas to all in the Country Threads Chicken Scratch community.

  64. patti leal

    Merry Christmas to all at Country Threads, and to all the subscribers near and far. Stay warm everyone. patti in florida

  67. Alice

    Merry Christmas from SW Ohio! Because of road conditions here I’ve delayed our Christmas until Monday night. Fortunately my grandkids are older (17-21) & understand! Couldn’t do this as easily with little ones!

  70. Heidi

    Merry Christmas to you and yours. Hope you have a blessed and safe holiday. Look forward to the New Year with you.

  74. Jane dumler

    Wonderful—there is nothing like a barn
    I hope the snow has quit and the winds are gone. We had 45 degrees and sun in Denver today. A blessed Christmas to you, your hubby and all your four legged friends.

  75. Sharon

    Merry Christmas to you!Christmas day in California will be 80 degrees,does not seem like Christmas at all! I love looking at your snow pictures. I don’t want a blizzard ,but I would sure like a little snow ⛄️

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