Bonnie, What a group of good looking ladies!!! My DS would of loved to help with your party.LOL He's 32, still single with new home, owns 2 businesses and lots of toys. I should post a picture but instead I'll End the story! Everything looks great. I really like how you decorated your entry table or buffet. It is a double WOW! Maybe it's those wonderful dishes and accesory pieces to your set. Thanks for sharing and hope the New Year will Bless All and bring more wonderful enjoyment here for all. Punk

Same to you from Northern Ontario !

Very cute! I loved it. This brings up another point and that is additions have been made in the telling of this story. Nowhere in the Bible does it mention how many 'wise' men visited the Christ Child. It only mentions 3 gifts; There is no record of how many men or people paid respects. This void has been filled in by artists, assumption, and common practice. Our culture abounds with images of three wise men on camels to the extent that many people automatically think: Three Wise Men traveling on camels. It is assumed they were on camels. This is a plausible assumption because a camel is capable of traveling long distances in desert terrain. People of that period also rode donkeys. In a few instances, I have heard people say that the Magi (Zoroastrian Wise Men) followed the eastern star to Bethlehem. But wait, what is recorded in the Bible? Of the 4 Gospels, the Christ Star is mentioned only in the Book of Matthew. Quote, Matthew 2, 2: "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East [or at its rising]." The Magi were from Persia (Iran) and if they traveled toward an eastern star, they never would have arrived in Bethlehem. The Magi saw an eastern star as a sign of Christ's birth, and traveled toward Jerusalem, not toward an eastern star, made inquiries, and then continued to Bethlehem. We do not know if they arrived in time for Jesus's birth or some time later.

I can't imagine Christmas with out snow It's really quite wonderful. Tomorrow's high is forecast for 62 - our winter weather. My staghorn ferns and bromeliads look great after the rains last week. Camellias are blooming too.