Being with friends I have known for half a lifetime is a special joy at this time of the year. This lighting makes us look faded but I promise we are vibrant ladies with amazingly full lives.
As a coincidence, the three of us have all had a lot of enjoyment in the publishing world, one as a writer for Maine Antiques Digest years back covering shows in Texas, one as a contributing editor of Simple Life magazine since its inception and I have a long time very pleasant association with Early American Life magazine which has published a number of my small "how to" articles in a more than twenty year span. There is one in the current December issue.
I am the youngest one in this shot and I will be 86 in January 2017. At my last check in with my doctor, he said with an earnest look, "How are you?" I answered "I am busy and happy and I do not hurt, so who has more!?" This continues to be so as I look toward the coming year with hope and gratitude. 
My Spiced peaches are in the yellow bowl, recipe is at the end of this post.
Only Barbara would think of placing a nativity set on a cake stand.
I must do a painting with this goose! I have half a dozen others started at present, need to finish some.
Penny's ship model was borrowed for my painting over the mantle.
The Elephant in the Living Room.
I enjoy my three Santas from Becky Lowe.
Dolls love to be by the Christmas tree.
My Mother crocheted the suit on this cotton Santa 72 years ago for my Brother's first tree.
Jackie enjoyed the fine furniture in his room.
Nice Stoneware flasks and a Staffordshire bust of George.
Lafayette in a nice old painting.
Elvis
Pickled peach recipe (a recipe from the 1950's)
1
large can Del Monte peach halves
½
cup sugar
½
cup vinegar
1
stick whole cinnamon
½
teaspoon whole cloves
Two
days Before Serving:
Drain
peaches reserving 1 cup syrup. In sauce pan combine syrup, vinegar, sugar,
cinnamon and cloves. Simmer uncovered 5 min.
Add
peach halves, a few of which may be studded with one clove. Bring to a
boil, cool, cover, and refrigerate at least two days. I remove the
spices on the third day if some are left so they do not get too strong.
To serve, drain peaches and heap in serving
dish. I double and triple it for large groups.
Thank all of you for the warm expressions of friendship and good wishes. I read and re read all of them. I wish all of my readers a sweet holiday season, and to those of my Christian faith, a very Merry and also tender and sweet Christmas. My family had four generations in church last Sunday morning, where Jackson sang in the children's choir. As the senior one, I felt like the Queen Mum, happy and grateful and proud of my family around me. e