Christmas Season

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. Most people are big on the eggnog, caroling, Santa visits, or shopping. I'm all about the tree. Each year, when I open my box of ornaments, there are a few in particular that make me smile. Handmade gifts from family are at the top of that list. I also have ornaments I've collected while traveling, such as a Sydney Opera House ornament, one of Westminster Cathedral, or a flower from St. Lucia. Others come from living abroad. I was fortunate enough to spend six years in Germany (and my parents were there an additional three years, during which I made as many visits as possible) and collected a number of traditional wooden German ornaments and glass or crystal Czech ornaments that spoke to me. Here are a few of my favorites. If you celebrate Christmas, let me know about yours! What makes you smile each year as you decorate your tree?

A favorite: Santa's Nice List.

I bought four of these gorgeous ornaments in the Czech Republic.

A German Romeo and Juliet

German Geography professor, post-Berlin Wall.

Don't forget...if you're in the mood for Christmas reading, the three Royal Scandals holiday novellas are now out in a single collection titled A Royal Scandals Christmas: Three Holiday Novellas. It's available in your choice of ebook, paperback, or audio. Hollis McCarthy does a brilliant job narrating the audiobooks for the entire series. She hit it out of the park with this one!

Thanks to all of you for sharing this wonderful year with me. I hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2017.