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Wednesday 22 December 2010

IT CAME, IT SETTLED..... and, IT'S MAGICAL ..........


SNOW !!!!! .......... within half and hour, the whole of the UK was covered in at least six inches of snow. Cars and people were stranded, trains and buses were cancelled.........we were supposed to have been going into London for dinner for our daughter-in-law's birthday, but there weren't any trains, Heathrow is at a standstill and many people are still trying to get home BUT, come and see how pretty it looks where I live .......... I'll clear up all that snow in our lounge later !! haha ..........


Mr Home and I went out for a walk , it was a long walk, hence the amount of photographs !! There were more but I have spared you !!........ this is our road, with the cemetery on the right......... into the cemetery..........




Doesn't it look beautiful ? I always thing that the bottle-shaped yew trees are like something from Alice in Wonderland. They look as if they might just come to life ..........










Down past the Council Offices. The tower is Victorian and the building next to it was built in the last ten years, and they mirrored the windows and shapes of the old Victorian building.


Opposite and built into the wall are these steps. These were to help people get onto the carriages in the 16th, 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries.



Into  St Mary's church ..........



Past Church House ..........


This is the entrance to the park, opposite the church,




An iconic English postbox ..........







Round to the back of the church,



a front door looking festive, that we walked past ..........








We are expecting more snow over the next few days so, it looks as if we could be having a white Christmas which will be perfect. Back to my Christmas decorating and wrapping and cooking. Enjoy your preparations.













image 1 - via design wonderland, image 31 - Alessandra Ambrosio via Google, all other images by ME !!


Jackie







87 comments:

  1. Your photo images are absolutely glorious! What lovely scenery. I think if I lived near that, the snow might actually be bearable.

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  2. Jackie, have a very Merry White Christmas. These snowy images of the church are gorgeous. Love the red mailbox. I have never seen one before. Stay warm and travel safely in all that snow. ♥O

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  3. Oh, how beautifully perfect! My 4 year old daughter keeps asking me "when is it going to snow?" As I look out across the street at the Christmas decorations sweltering in the 29 degree heat I have to keep telling her it doesn't snow at Christmas in Australia. One day though, I promise we will go to the other side of the world and have a white Christmas. in the meantime though I gaze at your pictures which have captured what I want so perfectly. Love the steps into the carriage!

    Have a wonderful Christmas
    Michelle (usually a lurker but had to post re this!)

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  4. Bonjour Jackie,
    A Winter Wonderland! Your images are fabulous, enjoy it (just don't head to Heathrow)!
    Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and the best New Year ever!
    Mimi

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  5. Beautiful photos!!! I miss snow.....

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  6. WOW! those are AMAZING!!! snow sure does make things looks more beautiful and poetic, however, you put snow on already amazing architecture and it's really breathtaking - especially that Church Jackie! Are you going to Mass there Christmas Eve??

    xo+Christmas Blessings,
    Anne Marie
    (I wish you all the peace and happiness Jackie)

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  7. Oh to be in England now that snow is there!

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  8. Jackie it looks just perfect...magical. I've only had one Christmas in England, and it wasn't white sadly, but every time I see a picture of a typically English scene like this I remember what a wonderful time I had there. Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you so much for all your wonderful comments this year xx

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  9. Beautiful. We have snow at our house and more coming on Christmas eve. Merry Christmas.

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  10. Beautiful photographs Jackie! It must have been fun to walk in the snow when you don't have it often! I love the blue doors and the blue clock! :) Merry Christmas!

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  11. Isn't snow at its best just after it has fallen?
    Your local area is quite beautiful- so very English.

    It's been very cold here in Cleveland, Ohio USA (averaging 5 degrees Celsius) for the past 3 weeks and the snow hasn't melted a bit. We're ready for a thaw and it's only December!

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  12. Jackie ~ these pictures are gorgeous! There is nothing like the calm after the storm and a walk is perfect to get out and enjoy all the white. All I have left is some wrapping then bring it on! xo

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  13. Oh so beautiful, Jackie!!! That is my dream to have a Christmas like that, aside from all the being stranded in airports (i could live without that..) Your neighborhood is simply gorgeous!! xxoo :)

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  14. Stunning pictures! I can see why you took so many. I was wondering about the photo of the steps until you explained, how interesting!

    Enjoy your White Christmas!

    XO,
    Jane

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  15. I know it can be hell..but I am so very..very jealous. Jackie - what fun to see your winter wonderland; nothing compares to the beauty of a snow covered landscape or crypt!! I'm sorry about Laura's birthday celebration but hopefully you'll all be out soon to celebrate.

    I will be writing you shortly but in the mean time; stay-warm, I've heard cognac helps keep the frost off you nose!

    Merry Christmas my dear friend to you, and to your whole family.

    xo xo Deb

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  16. Sheer bliss!
    I was just watching Alice in Wonderland this very evening and when I saw your photographs, that's just what I said.... "Alice!"

    A most Merry Christmas to you!!

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  17. Hi Jackie...Your photos are magnificent. I feel like I've had a wonderful walk in the snow. Lovely!!

    H.H.

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  18. Hello sweatast!!!
    I love love your photos!
    have a nice day!
    Kathrine

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  19. Oh my friend..please...pretty please send some my way.

    Our sweet Molly is in the UK for Christmas enjoying the magic.

    Sending you blessing of JOY...LOVE and PEACE sweet one for a Magical Christmas. xoxoxo

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  20. It is so beautiful! I can see that you enjoyed your walk. Walking on a snowy day is the best!
    You are lucky to have a white Christmas!! Enjoy!!
    ~michelle~

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  21. Sooooo BEEE.U.TI.FUL.... but only because I'm looking at it in pictures. :-) I really dislike being stranded in bad weather. We had a party on Sunday and one of the girls just got home from the UK.... had a terrible time navigating in the snow....the plane left late, but finally is home safely.

    Have a wonderful and joyous Christmas...

    Spencer

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  22. Hi dear Jackie,
    ohhh this are sooo gorgeous pictures... so romantic... sadly behind the white wonder, I imagine it's so terrible that people have to stay on airports and stations, ... Wishing the most wonderful white christmas days with your familiy...
    Big hugs, Bine

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  23. Gorgeous gorgeous pics! If only it snowed here, but all we have here in So Cal is rain rain rain. Hope you enjoy the snow Jackie & have a happy happy holidays!

    xo Mary Jo

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  24. Dearest Jackie ~
    I'm sending lots of Christmas wishes and blissful New Year endeavors...
    Enjoy this White Christmas and all the beauty it offers...
    Bisous,
    Melissa

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  25. Dear Jackie, what beautiful pictures! Nowhere is there more beautiful buildings than in England! An enchanted atmosphere!

    I hope I can soon travel to England!

    I wish you and your family a merry christmas!

    Big Hugs,
    Yvonne

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  26. Dear Jackie, I am glad that it never snows in Uruguay. But your pictures are a dream. Even I like snow. And the 3. Picture is fantastic: Winterwonderland!

    Thank you so much for sharing!!!

    I wish you the best wednesday of this week and send you warm hugs

    Tine

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  27. Hi Jackie here also lots of snow in Holland...i must work till christmas now....so bad !.....tomorrow i must do the christmas shopping.....almost their.......happy merry merry christmas time for you and your familly my friend.......love love love .....Ria....xxx....xxx...

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  28. Hello! It's so pretty isn't it? You do live in a very picturesque part of the country! The snow down South has melted now - such a shame as despite the travel chaos I did love it! Instead I'm taking the kids to the beach hut today to see just how cold the sea is! Lou xx

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  29. love your pics.. you live in a gorgeous place!!
    i do think snow makes everything look so pretty and magical.. aslong as you are snuggled up inside looking out of the window!!!

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  30. Bonjour,
    Thanks for sharing of so beautiful pictures. It's really magical! You live in a beautiful place...love the georgian architecture and in combination with snow-white looks absolutely gorgeous.

    I wish you and your family merry christmas & happy new year 2011!

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  31. Hi Jackie, Your photos look picture postcard chocolate box perfect! And I think the Royal Mail could pay you for that postbox image. How beautiful! Hope you're keeping warm.
    Merry merry Christmas. Amanda xx

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  32. Fab pictures! I love the pathway with the snow covered trees. It's looking pretty much like that here- as we're only up the road! I am enjoying how pretty it looks, but I really need it to clear up by the 28th as I'm off to Dubai for a week!
    Merry Christmas to you and yours. B xxxx

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  33. I adore your posts, but this one is my favorite. This is SO magical, I wish I could transport myself over there..NOW!

    You live in the most gorgeous place and the snow just makes it more so. Thank you so much for thinking of us and sharing your photo's. I would have been happy looking at heaps more!

    love Deej

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  34. Your beautiful images made me think of the beautiful last paragraph of James Joyce's 'The Dead':

    "It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."

    Merry Christmas

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  35. Beautiful!!!!
    Happy Christmas dear!

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  36. England under the snow is the most perfect thing I can imagine....and your pics shome me it is!! Happy holidays, Jackie
    xoxo

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  37. This is wonderful- it some of these photos it looks like we have walked into the world of Narnia.
    Thank you for sharing these - how special.
    x

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  38. You guys got a crazy amount of snow! My brother in law polices at the palace and they actually let him go home early! That is a lot of snow! Enjoy, your pictures are gorgeous!

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  39. Your photos are so beautiful!
    merry Christmas
    Mari

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  40. i too
    would be right there with you,
    walking in the snow,
    taking pics.
    i am fascinated by snow.

    beautiful images!!!
    xxx
    merry merry

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  41. Wow! Keep hearing about it, but to see it is really breathtaking!
    I love the pictures......hope relief will come to those traveling soon.
    Happy Holidays.
    L.
    La Maison Fou

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  42. Great pics! Can't wait till we get our first biggie of the season, maybe this weekend...... I hope!!

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  43. Oooh Jackie, it's a perfect and magical white Christmas!!!!
    I wish you a merry merry Christmas to you and your family!!!!
    Big and warm hugs.

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  44. YOur photos are incredible you look like your live in the move The HOliday.. So dreamy. Carla

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  45. Wonderful photos. I particularly liked no.6 and the way you've framed the church with the tree. Cemeteries are beautiful in the snow.

    Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year. xx

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  46. What amazing photographs it almost looks like someone has sprinkled icing sugar over everything because you forget that snow is actually cold!!! i have never experienced a white christmas as here in new zealand it is our summer and hot....but it certainly looks magical and must really make christmas special......thank you for sharing these photos with us....

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  47. Freshly fallen snow is so pretty. I just love getting up early after it has snowed. All sparkly and new. Love all the pics that you took. I think it would look magical even without the snow!

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  48. Your photos are glorious! And your neighborhood is breathtaking. I grew up in New England and always say I don't miss the snow...except at Christmas. One of the things I always loved about snow is how quiet the earth becomes when it is falling. The hush is amazing. And your pictures express that beautiful, quiet, peaceful hush. Exquisite!!!

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  49. Simply Stunning! I am speechless after this post! Perfection and complete bliss~~
    Happy Christmas Dear Jackie~
    xxx

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  50. Hi dear Jackie!!! it really seams a winter wonderland!!! it will be a white and perfect Christmas!!!! Best best wishes for happy holidays!!!
    Hugs!
    Mara

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  51. Jackie -- If that Winter Wonterland you've just treated us to is the place you call home, then you're one lucky girl. Fantastic! You get the prize, hands-down, for Best Winter Post in 2010! The British Tourist Authority should PAY you for all this good PR; you're showing Britian at its best here!
    Here's wishing you a very, very Merry Christmas, and all the best for the coming year. Keep those fantastic posts coming!
    XOXO
    Michael

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  52. Lovely photos ... so very beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Happy Christmas to you and yours!

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  53. Dear Jackie,

    I wish I could have joined you on your walk. It all looks so beautiful and typically English; the church, the gravestones, the houses. I love it! Holland looks the same as the UK at the moment. Everything is still white and more snow is expected. My parents planned to go to the south of our country, but because of the bad weather conditions and problems with the trains and on the roads, they decided to stay at home.

    I wish you, your husband and the rest of your family a Merry Christmas! Have a great time!!

    Veel lieve groetjes,

    Madelief

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  54. Oh your photos are so lovely...
    coming from a country with no snow,
    I love looking at those kinds of photos:)

    Merry Christmas...
    and I'm a new follower:)

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  55. Oh Jackie you know how I love when you share pictures from around your neighborhood.....and these didn't disappoint. The details of these buildings seems to show off even more in the snow. What I wouldn't give for some those gates on our property....very grand look.
    You know I'm a cemetary girl but there are no topiaries in any around here. I never got around to showing the photos I took this summer in our oldest one in town. Maybe after a snow storm I'll have to truck over and have a little photo shoot.

    Merry Christmas!!!!!

    xx
    Carole

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  56. Jackie your photos are absolutely beautiful - every one of your gorgeous images is breathtaking! High on my list of things to do is a white Christmas in the UK - after seeing your photos I think it will need to go to the top of the list. Merry Christmas! Leigh

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  57. Hi Dear Jackie
    Merry Christmas and a very good 2011.
    I have just as much of your blog can enjoy as last year.
    Not that every time I write a text to your post, but I enjoy it very much.
    Greetings Hetty

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  58. The only thing more beautiful than your country...is your country all covered in snow! You know I have an 'England' crush. Now I want to see all seasons there in person.
    Thank you Jackie for sharing these amazing photos. It was such a pleasure to walk with you and Mr. Home.
    Sending you my love this Christmas!

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  59. How beautiful Jacqueline..
    I know you say it's cold .. but I'm sure it must be worth it to experience a white christmas and all this natural beauty just outside your door.. although perhaps you should have closed the door in the first shot.. haha

    Wish you and yours a wonderful christmas filled with love and happiness!!! xxxx Julie

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  60. Hi Jackie
    Hasn't all this snow been beautiful ... its a shame its all but gone in my neck of the woods.
    It's been a pleasure reading all your wonderful posts this year ... and cant wait for more next year!
    Wishing you all the happiness this Christmas... enjoy it with your family!
    xx

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  61. So beautiful!... :)
    Here, in Portugal, the sun is shining... :(

    Happy Christmas and enjoy this snow

    Marina

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  62. I can not remember any moments from when I was little that we were not able to get home or so.. It seems part of the new snowy winters now.. I was waiting 5 hours for a cab last week, when picking up my sun from the hospital after a broken leg operation.. Whish you a happy snowy white and happy Christmas evening.
    desiree

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  63. May God bless you and your family this Christmas and throughout the comeing year. This has been a delightful walk in the snow. Beautiful!
    Marcie

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  64. Dear Jackie, how lovely the snow has come to you. Here is the white several feet in the air:) I wish you a Merry Christmas with all my love and soon see you here again. Hugs kisses o / Ingela.

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  65. Magic magic magic...Wish I was there...
    Have a wonderful holidays!
    Be loved and hugged with joy and laughter!
    Love
    M.

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  66. Jackie, how beautiful. Snow makes Christmas feel like Christmas! We have snow here too in Georgia, USA!
    Blessings and enjoy every last snowflake!
    xx

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  67. Just magical! Talk about a winter wonderland. You live in such a beautiful town!

    Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

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  68. Hi sweet Jackie!!!
    I hope you had the most wonderful Christmas holiday, filled with love, joy and happiness!!!

    Wish you a sweet day!!!
    Hugs/
    Luiza

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  69. Looks divine Jackie! Enjoy your winter wonderland. Lise xx

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  70. Gorgeous pics,
    Wishing you and your family all the best Jackie, Happy Holidays x

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  71. Oh my. Just found your blog and have to thank you for the gorgeous treat of photos I just enjoyed. Looking forward to putting on a pot of coffee and going back through many posts. Thanks again for the mini vacation :) Tricia

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  72. Oh England! My Lionheart! Jackie such a beautiful village you live in. Picture Perfect ...I love cemetaries too. I find them romantic especially English ones. Hope you had a beautiful Christmas and looking forward to a delightful New Years Eve. Cynthia

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  73. Jackie, you've been holding out on us....you never told us you lived in Narnia! I truly expected Mr Tumnus to pop out from behind one of those trees. What a truly beautiful part of the world you live in. Merry Christmas! Meredy xo.

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  74. Merci de partager ces photos magiques avec nous !
    La neige a des effets féeriques sur le paysage .
    Passez de belles fétes !

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  75. i know this is the magical side of the snow... and as always you bring out the best... you will never know what your post a few months back did for me... i am positive and joyful and not letting the winter get me down... i am enjoying cozy evenings and grateful for our friendship....
    hope you had a lovely christmas and a very peaceful new year....
    xx

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  76. LOVE the look of snow... so glad I don't live in it... my feet would freeze in my flipflops!
    Hope your holiday season has been DIVINE and may the new year be FABuLOUS for YOU!!!
    ENJOY!
    Fifi

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  77. wow... gorgeous shots jackie!! it amazes me how it can look so pretty but be such a disruption to travel schedules. where i was in ontario for the holidays got 100 cm in 3 days and that was just the beginning. its crazy
    hope you are having a wonderful holiday
    ~laura xx

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  78. Hello Dear Jackie!

    I wish you Happy New Year with lots of love, great meetings, lovely people and pure beauty around you!

    Warm hug

    magdalena

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  79. Super lovely images. I always find it magical outside after a snowfall and it seems you do as well. Here's to many delightful finds in 2011!

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  80. Glorious, beautiful, fabulous, wonderful, fantasy images, Jackie. You live in a beautiful area. How we would love to have a white Christmas in Houston! The snow melts as soon as it hits the ground. I'm living this with you via your photos. Happy New Year precious woman!!
    M

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  81. Hi Jackie,
    Your pictures are so pretty! You are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place and town. I hope you had a lovely Christmas with your family and that all your New Year wishes come true this year! Bonnie

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  82. Loved seeing all these photos Jackie, just beautiful!

    Jeanne xxx

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  83. amazing photos! All places with snow are magic! ;)

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  84. Only just catching up...wonderfully snowy gorgeous photographs!!

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  85. Hallo Jackie,
    i find your blog today and i must say
    wonderful
    this photos are like walking in a Winter Wonderland.
    beautiful
    greetings from bavaria

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  86. Those photos are magical! Worthy of a binding...I'd love that on my coffee table in August when it's hot and humid. Wishing you a glorious new year!

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  87. Dear Jackie,

    I just have to ask, which church is it in the first pictures? I'd love to go there to see it my self but since I live in Sweden it's necessary to find out where to go :)

    Love some of your other photos as well. It gave me new inspiration for my shabby chic sewing.

    Take care and God bless

    Mae

    ps. You do not look 60, you are beautiful.

    www.countrydesignsweden.blogspot.com

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