Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas, sad times and cuddly cats

Our boy has arrived safely back from his distant town; my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and niece get here tomorrow; and I have done much of my Christmas shopping. Tomorrow I might wrap things. I apologise for the airer that stands in the archway in the picture above: it's an elegant semi-permanent feature to discourage our furry friends from regarding the arch as a tree for climbing. It sort of works.

This morning we were at a very sad funeral: the lovely 41-year-old son of extremely nice people in our church died suddenly last Wednesday, leaving a wife and two teenage children. What a difference a week makes.

It made me appreciate our son even more. Not to say our daughters. They’re all so precious.

We like Sirius and Cassie too, who have decided that this cardboard box with its crumpled wrapping paper is even more comfortable than their specially-designed cat beds, lined with soft, warm fleeces. It’s the new fashionable, credit-crunch shabby chic.


Tomorrow I really shall have to concentrate on Christmas – I have much still to do – so I hope you all have a wonderful day with your loved ones.



20 comments:

  1. I hope you have a very nice Christmas with your family, the cat's are cute, they usually like to get into open boxes.

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  2. Happy Christmas to ALL your family.
    Sad news - makes you realise you should count your blessing and enjoy each other's company while you may.

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  3. I love the shabby chic look - those cats know a good fit when they find it!

    Very happy Christmas to you all.

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  4. Have a wonderful Christmas with all your family, Isabelle!

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  5. Those cats have wonderful taste. I love how it doesn't take much to make them happy. Merry Christmas to you.

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  6. You have a tree AND decorations up so you are ahead of me in the Christmas preparation stakes! Have a lovely Christmas, pass on my season's greetings to K and let me know when you are next up for a coffee and a blether.

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  7. So sorry to hear your sad news. Wishing you and your family a very wonderful, happy Christmas
    Kimx
    What is it about cats and boxes?!

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  8. 41, wow. Way too young. Helps us to remember our blessings and family, hm? Merry Christmas and a great big hug, to you and your family!

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  9. Happy Christmas to you and yours Isabelle!

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  10. Ouch, sad news.

    I hope you have a lovely Christmas, you and your Lifes. Thank you for blogging; you make the blogosphere an even lovelier place than it already is.

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  11. I hope you have a lovely Christmas with your family, Isabelle. Hope it's not too cold either - it was 30ÂșC here, pretty warm but not as hot as it can be for Christmas in Australia.

    Happy New Year too.

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  12. So sad for that poor family. I wish you and mister Life and your three children and two cats a very happy Christmas indeed.

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  13. Oh, that is tragic indeed. 41 years old and just before Christmas. My MIL is almost 96 and just wants to 'go to sleep'. Someone Up There makes strange decisions about who goes when..
    Love the Catlets in their new nest! They are sooooo sweet the way they curl up together!

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  14. Isabelle, Yes it does make you take that second longer look with love at our children doesn't it....why I just hugged my 38 year old son this afternoon with a huge hug and told him I love him do I do it enough no I am sure I don't but today I did.......I wish you a wonderful year and happy boxing day to you from a sun filled, hot feeling summers day in Australia.

    Lee-ann

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  15. So sad about your neighbour's son. May he rest in peace. Christmas will always be sad for them now. Losing a child must bring unbearable heartache......

    It's a cat thing---climbing into strange spaces. Casper loves boxes and paper bags and crinkly tissue paper and ribbons!
    Hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas!

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  16. Belated merry Christmas to you Isabelle.

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  17. sorry to hear your sad news. I hope you had a good christmas

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  18. I'm so sorry to hear that you attended a funeral in the middle of the holidays. How very sad.

    But happy that you were surrounded by your whole family for Christmas. Love the little wreath picture -- mostly 'cause it lets me peek back into that hall LOL. That will ALWAYS bring a big smile to my face. Your blog is like the gift that continually reminds me of our wonderful trip!

    And the catlets! Your catlet picture talents amaze me -- how do you take such great pictures of black cats? I've tried and tried with Paul and I just get black blobs with alien flashing eyes!

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  19. I've had such a laugh over your last several posts. Thank you for always providing mirth..it's such a good tonic :)
    We are so much alike in some ways...the Christmas cards (I confess to sending a computer generated letter to a little over 50 friends and family members..with a personal message added to each).
    And the choir...my thoughts exactly about some of those songs, but mostly I love the music we sing. Our concert this Christmas (we do 4 a year) was beautiful, with familiar carols done in intricate arrangements...really lovely.
    I had tears in my eyes laughing about you singing along to the bag pipes.
    DH was laughing too :)
    So sad about your friend's son though. It's good not to know what the future holds.
    Merry Christmas to the shabby chic kitties!

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  20. Isabelle, you seem like a lovely person! I enjoyed your post and hope you had a wonderful christmas. If you have any blogging tips please let me know and visit me at: The Mythical Money Tree.

    I wish I had cats. I'm allergic.

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