Hello and welcome to Weekend Coffee Share #50! I’m glad you’re here. Please come on in, help yourself to a cup of coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate at my coffee station and let’s chat.
Weekend Coffee Share Holiday Schedule
As posted last week:
- December 24: No link-up
- December 31: No link-up
- January 7: Weekend Coffee Share resumes with link-up #51
Week 50/ 52 of 2021
1. Mild Weather
It’s been a good week with a few sunny days and above seasonal temperatures every day. Last Saturday and this Thursday the daytime high temperatures reached 16C (61F). I enjoyed cycling and walking, including one walk with my neighbour.
The sun sets around 4:40 p.m. here at this time of the year. The mild and sunny weather also brought fiery sunsets when I took my evening walks.
2. Good Books
I enjoyed reading six fiction books this past month. I use the Toronto Public Library 2021 Reading Challenge categories to read widely and discover new books, authors, and genres. You can see the full list of books I’ve read and the categories I’ve met so far this year on my Books in 2021 page at the top of my blog.
My recent reads by author’s last name include:
- Gone by Midnight – Candice Fox
- Hostage – Clare Mackintosh
- The Road Trip – Beth O’Leary
- Address Unknown – Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
- The Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams
- Much Ado About You – Samantha Young
Four of the above six authors were new to me: Mackintosh, Taylor, Williams and Young. While I enjoyed reading all six novels, my admiration goes to Address Unknown. The book, written in the form of a series of letters (known as epistolary style), is impactful and thought-provoking.
So far this year, Address Unknown (64 pages) is the shortest book and Barack Obama’s memoir A Promised Land (751 pages) is the longest book that I’ve read. They’re both illuminating reads.
3. Dazzling Lights
After sunset, elaborate light displays and beautiful holiday decorations in downtown Toronto make December feel festive and different from all other months in the year. I have zero holiday shopping to do so my evening walks are pure leisure.
Happy Holidays
I’d like to thank the Weekend Coffee Share blogging community for your active participation. Whether you posted once, or every week, I appreciate your effort. Together we’ve made the weekly link-up a success. Total 50 link-ups in 2021.
I’d also like to thank my regular blog readers and fellow bloggers for your ongoing support. Your comments enrich my day and make my blogging journey fun. I greatly appreciate our blogging connections.
I look forward to enjoying the holidays and ringing in 2022 with gratitude and optimism.
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy holiday season!
Linked up with #LifeThisWeek, #PPAC27, #SundayStills, #WhatsOnYourBookshelf.
Copyright © 2023 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
Such amazing Christmas decorations, beautiful captures 😀
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Thank you Alison. The lights are beautiful in the city centre. Happy holidays to you!
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Hi Natalie – Merry Christmas! And thanks for the weekly link ups (yours and Denyse’s are the only two I connect with these days). I loved all your Christmas light pictures – there’s just something magical about lots of little lights and Christmas brings out the best of them. Enjoy your break from this for a couple of weeks – and I’ll see you back next year for more sharing and interaction. 🙂
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Hi Leanne, Merry Christmas to you and your family! The lights are very pretty at night here. Thank you for linking up with Weekend Coffee Share. I greatly appreciate our blogging connections. I’ll see you in the New Year.
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Wow! Those lights are amazing. Thank you for this festive post, Natalie. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a safe and peaceful new year!
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Thank you Jill for your ongoing support. I’m glad you liked my post and photos. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
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Love your pictures as usual! Thank you for hosting the Weekend Coffee Share! I’m so glad I found your blog and this group.
I know the coffee share is going on hiatus for the holidays, but if anyone’s interested, I’d be happy to host a holiday share for the next 2 weeks.
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Thank you Janet for linking up with Weekend Coffee Share. I’m also glad you found my blog and my blogging community. I appreciate your coffee shares and humour. Happy holidays to you and your family!
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Thanks! Happy holidays to you and yours too!
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I think winter sunsets might be the best, especially over water. The bare trees let so much light and color through. And, speaking of light, WOW! those are amazing photos.
I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday season, Natalie. It has been fun following your coffee share. Maybe next year, I’ll find time to join you.
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Thank you Dan for your comments. I’m glad you liked my photos. Over here, today was another clear blue sky and fiery sunset kind of day.
You’re welcome to join my Weekend Coffee Share any week when you have time. Happy holidays to you and your family!
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It’s lovely to walk around the lights, Natalie, especially if you have no shopping that needs doing. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and that 2022 brings joy and peace for you and yours.
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Thank you Jo for your warm wishes. It’s wonderful to stroll and enjoy the lights with no shopping stress and no bags to carry. Stay safe and well. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!
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🤗🎅🎄💕
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This is such a wonderfully festive post — with very beautiful light captures.
Thank you for your leadership and hard work in keeping Weekend Coffee Share a continued success. Thank you also for joining us at What’s On Your Bookshelf. I keep hearing great things about Dictionary of Lost Words. I will keep an eye out for that book.
Wishing you and your family a warm and merry Christmas and a very happy New Year.
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Thank you Donna for your ongoing encouragement and support. I enjoyed reading The Dictionary of Lost Words very much. I think you’ll love it. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you and your family!
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Toronto is always lovely if viewed through your lens Natalie. Thanks for a great year of coffee shares.
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Thank you Gary for your kind comments and regular participation in the weekly Weekend Coffee Share link up. Happy holidays to you and your family!
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Interesting book titles as well Amazing decorative lights.
Merry Christmas & Happy holidays
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Thank you for your visit and comment. I’m glad you liked the decorative lights. I hope to see you again in the new year. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
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Thank you
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Such beautiful holiday lights! I don’t Christmas gift shop either and it makes for a more enjoyable holiday season/ It looks like you’ve had some lovely weather! Merry Christmas, Natalie!
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Hi Janis, It’s so relaxing to take a stroll and enjoy the beautiful lights with free hands. Today was another sunny day. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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As Gary says above, seeing Toronto through your eyes is such a treat. So much to see in your city. I’ve seen The Dictionary of Lost Words in the bookshop and love the title – should probably give it a go!
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I’m glad you liked the holiday lights. I enjoyed The Dictionary of Lost Words very much. I think you’ll love it. Perhaps put it on your Christmas list? Happy holidays to you and yours!
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So much sparkle! I love it. Your photos are great. I’ve not heard of any the books you read, but Address Unknown sounds intriguing. Happy Holidays, Natalie.
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Ally, I’m glad you liked those lights and my photos. I think Address Unknown is brilliant. Happy holidays to you and yours!
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Oh what beautiful lights for this week 😀
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Thank you, Cee. Happy holidays 🙂
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Hello Natalie, the festive lights are beautiful and I love the reindeer. I am currently reading The Dictionary of Lost Words and it may be my favourite book for 2021. Thank you for the Weekend Coffee Share link up. I’m hoping to link up to every one in 2022. We have started the What’s On Your Bookshelf Link Party which is still open if you would like to link up what you have been reading. Sending love and best wishes to you and your family for the Festive Season and a very happy 2022. See you in January. xx
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Hi Natalie, popping back to say thank you for linking up with us at our first What’s On Your Bookshelf? Link Party. xx
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Thank you Sue for hosting WOYBS link party. I enjoy reading what books bloggers have been reading or listening to.
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Hi Sue, I’m glad you love the reindeer and The Dictionary of Lost Words. I love them, too. You’re welcome to join Weekend Coffee Share in any and every week in 2022. Wishing you and your family a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
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I can’t beleive you read Address Unknown. No one I know has heard of it until I make them read my copy. It’s brilliant, isn’t ir?
Have a fantastic christmas and see you sometime in Jan. Thanks for hosting.
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Address Unknown is brilliant, and I was impressed how the writer made such an impact in 64 pages. Thank you Lydia for linking up with me this year. Wishing you and your family a merry Christmas! See you again in the new year.
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Beautiful photographs. Enjoyed the tree lights a lot. I miss that sort of thing. (the large and the small moose are cute!) That must be awesome in person!
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Lizl, I’m glad you enjoyed my photos. The lights are beautifully arranged in the city centre. There are many more for me to see so I hope to do another walk next week. Happy holidays to you and your family!
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Thanks! Best wishes to you and your family, also, for a joyous and meaningful celebration..
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Loving the lights! The Dictionary of Lost Words was one of my fave reads of last year – it was also the first book my 23 year old daughter (who has always been a non reader in that she’s never enjoyed it) and I were able to discuss together. Thanks for hosting the link up each week and happy Christmas.
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Jo, The Dictionary of Lost Words is a fab book for discussions. I’m glad you and Sarah could do it together. Thank you for linking up with me this year in spite of your busy schedule. Happy Christmas to you and your family!
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I am always amazed how you fit everything into your days, Natalie! Reading 6 books in one month–I read about half that! Then you are biking, hiking, and strolling! Love the downtown Toronto Light Displays–my fave is the two moose! I’m including “light” links in my Sunday post since I’m taking a break, so thanks for posting today. Have a fabulous holiday, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! And enjoy a well-deserved blog break!
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Hi Terri, I think I get my health and leisure routine down to a science 🙂 There are a few giant moose on display in downtown Toronto. I’m glad you like them. Thank you for including my link in your Sunday post. I’ll do pingback after your post goes live. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you and your family!
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The good weather is nice but so odd for Christmas. I really like those pictures from Canada
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Snow is expected here tomorrow so it will be a winter wonderland.
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Stunning pictures of festive lights. I don’t really go out at night so haven’t seen many in my small hometown but did see quite a few decorated houses as I drove home from babysitting my godson the other night.
Of your books I’ve read the first three on your list and I’m glad you enjoyed Candice Fox’s as she’s a favourite author of mine.
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Yay, we like the same author. I enjoyed all three of Candice Fox’s books.
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Your Christmas light photos definitely are beautiful. I loved the Midnight Library and Gone by Midnight. Thanks for providing this link up Natalie. I hope to participate more often in 2022. Sending my wishes for Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family.
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Thank you Jennifer for linking up with me this year. I enjoyed the same two books that you mentioned. I look forward to your blog links in 2022. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
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50 is an amazing achievement! Thank you so much for hosting and keeping this community going.
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Thank you Alex for your kind comment and participation in Weekend Coffee Share. I hope our blogging connections continue in the new year.
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Those lights displays are beautiful Natalie! Thanks for joining us for our What;’s on Your Bookshelf challenge, I always enjoy seeing what others are reading and you seem to have eclectic taste which introduces me to new authors. Thanks too for the weekend coffee share linkup, it’s great to be able to join in. Best wishes for the holidays and enjoy the break.
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Thank you Debbie for hosting WOYBS and linking up with Weekend Coffee Share. We have read a few authors in common. I look forward to more book shares and coffee shares with you in the new year. Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas!
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Thank you for being such a wonderful, engaging host for the coffee share. I have enjoyed your photos of Toronto a lot this year. It seems like a great city to live in, with many beautiful green areas in close proximity to the city.
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Thank you Maria for your weekend coffee shares this year. I got to see a part of Sweden through your posts and photos. Toronto has many parks all over the city and we’re blessed with Lake Ontario. I look forward to continuing our blogging connections in the new year. Wishing you and your family a merry Christmas and a happy 2022!
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I love your dazzling lights and blue skies, Natalie. And so nice that you can keep up your reading schedule, although I have no idea what “epistolary style” means and am too tired to look it up just now. Have a fabulous holiday season and enjoy your link-up break! 🙂
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Hi Liesbet, Epistolary style means the book was written in the form of a series of letters. I updated my post with the meaning. I look forward to reading your coffee share post. Happy Christmas and New Year to you, Mark and Maya!
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Your tours never disappoint. I have enjoyed this year of writing and sharing with you. Have a blessed Christmas. Savor your well deserved hiatus. I’m planning on an excellent 2022. How about you?
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Thank you Antoinette for your kind comments and ongoing support for Weekend Coffee Share link-up. Great minds think alike. I’m planning for an excellent 2022, too. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
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What a lovely post Natalie. Thank you for hosting! Happy holidays.
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Thank you Shari for stopping by. Happy holidays to you and your family!
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Looks like you had a great week. I’m glad you were able to get out into the (relatively) warm and beautiful weather. Hope your holidays go well! See you next year!
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Thank you Trent. I look forward to the blogging break as I’m running my Community Food Drive until New Year’s Eve. The food drive is going well. Happy Christmas and New Year to you and your family!
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I am so glad you enjoyed walking and cycling and taking photos of the sunset. Our sun sets at around 4:20PM here, but then again we’re at a higher latitude than Toronto, something that remains an amazing fact to me ever since I first read it.
I am definitely going to check out Address Unknown. It sounds like an intriguing read and at 64 pages, it’s short enough that I can read it and tick off another book for my reading challenge. Not that I’ll be anywhere close to my goal that I set at the beginning of the year, but well.
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Astrid, I also find geography and latitudes interesting. I hope you share your thoughts on Address Unknown after you read it. Have a wonderful week and merry Christmas to you and your family!
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Looks like some good reading. Such beautiful lights. Thanks for always hosting. Hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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Thank you, Patrick, for your comment. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season!
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The lights sure are dazzling. Mornings here have been quite chilly but not too bad once it warms up. Unfortunately a bit too cold for sitting outside and definitely too cold, in the mornings, for coffee on the back deck🥶.
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Thank you Tena for your comment. I hope you have a happy Christmas and New Year!
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Great photo’s. I’ve just googled address unknown and added it to my reading wish list. Sounds great. Thank you for the recommendation. KL ❤
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Thank you KL for your visit and comment. I hope you like Address Unknown. Happy reading!
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Ooh another Clare Mackintosh book! I enjoyed “I Let You Go” — I read that few years back. Happy holidays!
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Thank you Julie for your book share and coffee share. Happy holidays to you and your family!
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Hi Natalie!
I meant to leave you a comment after I shared my coffee share and forgot and headed to the stables! You have been such a wonderful host and I’ve loved seeing Toronto through your eyes and lens! I can’t wait to see more and have loved getting to know you and all that you share. I just Love your beautiful Christmas photos you’ve shared here and all the books you’ve read. You live in a beautiful place, and I’ve met so many fun bloggers through weekend coffee share!! Sending warm hugs and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!! ❤️
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Hi Diana, Thank you so much for your kind words and for linking up with Weekend Coffee Share. I enjoy reading your blog, ‘meeting’ your family and friends, learning about horses and seeing your horses and cats from your photos and videos. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and I’ll see you again in the New Year. xoxo
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Happy Holidays, Natalie. Thanks for taking over hosting the Weekend Coffee Share. I love all your larger than life Christmas decorations in Toronto. I’ll be doing a drive by our Christmas lights soon and posting some pics. Nowhere near as impressive as yours, but these will be local homes. Christmas is quite up in the air here after a massive covid surge last week here in NSW. We’re getting our boosters on Wednesday so fingers crossed.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thank you Rowena for linking up with Weekend Coffee Share. Glad to hear you’re getting your boosters. I hope you have a wonderful time at Christmas with your family and I’ll see you again for a virtual coffee share in the New Year.
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What beautiful lights! We were really enjoying our unseasonably warm weather last week too and went hiking each day.
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Your hiking sounds great, Joanne. We had snow showers here on Saturday but the sun returned on Sunday with seasonal temperatures this week. Thank you for linking up with #Weekendcoffeeshare this year. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and I’ll see you again on the blog on January 7th.
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How pretty! And your book selection looks interesting to me – Happy Holidays, Natalie. 🙂
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Thank you Barbara for stopping by. So many good books, so little time. Happy holidays to you and your family!
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Congratulations Natalie on your Half Century of Link Ups in 2021.
I loved seeing the city lights! My daughter ventured into the city of Sydney last night with her 9 yo and it was lovely to see some of the brightness Sydney is showing, despite all the covid conditions hanging around.
What a great way to end the Monday Link Up Life This Week with your post! Thanks so much for joining in and I look forward to starting 2022 Life This Week on Monday 3 January 2022. Warm wishes and stay well! Denyse.
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Thank you Denyse for your warm wishes. Wishing you a wonderful holiday with your family and a happy New Year.
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Natalie, these are beautiful photos. The lights are amazing and you’ve captured them perfectly, which is hard to do. 🙂
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Thank you, Marsha. The darkness helped 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and Vince!
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Thank you, Natalie. Merry Christmas to you. Are you taking a blogging break?
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Thank you, Marsha. Yes, I’m taking a semi-blogging break until after New Year’s. I reply to incoming comments and I’m not posting any new blog. I’ll resume the Weekend Coffee Share link-up on January 7th. I’m running a community food drive until New Year’s Eve. It’s going well.
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I’m glad it is running so well. I would expect that from you, my friend. Talk to you after the first. I’ll be gone that week, but I’ll be back by the 14th.
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Talk to you soon, Marsha. Enjoy your break and happy New Year!
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You, too, Natalie. Have a wonderful 2022!
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Have a Merry Christmas (Happy holiday) and happy New Year!
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Thank you, Pam. Hope you’re having a great holiday.
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