I’d love to invite all of you to see our decorations, but since many of you live so far away I know you won’t stop by, so I’ll just have to do this long distance.

 We have a celebration of polar bears! (Which is what a herd of polar bears is called. Seriously. Look it up.)

First, come into the living room. We have a skinny tree so we can still get from my office to the living room, with white lights and lots of shiny decorations. I’m like a magpie; I love shiny things. And I love reindeer and rocking horses and polar bears and penguins. And silly birds in funny hats. And snowmen.

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The polar bears on our tree were made by my late Aunt Virginia, and they make an appearance every year. We have a celebration of polar bears! (Which is what a herd of polar bears is called. Seriously. Look it up.) I think of her whenever I look at them. Our Papier-mâché Santa on the mantle was a wedding gift from the wonderful Pennsylvania folk artist Linda Beazley, who also happens to be Steve’s aunt.

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Our dining room is bedecked with greenery and lights, more reindeer and penguins! Our kitchen has a reindeer cookie jar (full of the problematic gingerbread stars), and ornaments on cabinet pulls and windowsills where I can see them and where they make me happy. Even my dish detergent gets a holiday apron! If you have to wash dishes you might as well be in the spirit!

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I hope you have a wonderful holiday however you celebrate it, and peace and joy in 2015. I appreciate each and every one of you who has read and commented and e-mailed and called, and I’m sending you all light and love in this beautiful blessed season.

Deborah