“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas.” ~ Charles Dickens
Fa la la and doodleedoodleedoo.
Throw in a few jingle bells and merry merrys.
Was just re-digging A Hole is to Dig. Good things to remember no matter how tired, busy, grumpy, bumpy or wrinkly you get:
Dogs are for kissing people.
Hats are to wear on trains.
Mashed potatoes are to give everybody enough.
Tap into your essential child and you will always find the truth.

Hoo boy, ’tis the season yet again. Do you still believe, and have you been naughty or nice?
Had our first snowfall last week, a messy business with ice and sleet and brrrrrrr winds. This type of thing does not sit well with this Hawai’i girl, but Mr. Cornelius has been having the time of his life —
eating apple tart,
sledding in a soup bowl,
eating a bunny bun,
riding around with the Snowman,
impersonating holiday food,
decorating front doors,
buttering up Santa Bear:

playing with Christmas trees,
and sipping Mexican hot chocolate (thanks, Mara!).
Since Mr. Cornelius has entered his own la-la land and can’t concentrate on writing any more blog posts this year, I think it’s time for a little holiday hiatus.
We shall return in early January to celebrate a brand new year, talk Downton Abbey and new books, sip sip some tea, bake some goodies, interview more good looking and talented people, and of course, serve up a good share of feisty folderol.
Should the holiday madness get to you, just remember:
A dream is to look up at the night and see things
The world is so you have something to stand on
The sun is to tell you when it’s every day
And most important:
A tablespoon is to eat a table with
Thanks for hanging with us at Alphabet Soup this year. We like you because you ate just enough and used your napkin.
Happy Happy Holidays to you and we wish you every good thing for 2014!
See you in a bit . . .
* * *
“Ah friends, dear friends, as years go on and heads get gray, how fast the guests do go! Touch hands, touch hands, with those that stay. Strong hands to weak, old hands to young, around the Christmas board touch hands.” ~ Wm. H.H. Murray
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Copyright © 2013 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Happy holidays to you and Mr. Cornelius, Jama! Lovely to be reminded of those lines from A Hole Is to Dig – and to see that sweet photo of tiny you.
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Will you be having a Dickens Christmas this year? The best of holidays to you and your family, Amy!
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Cute post, Jama! Have a wonderful holiday :0)
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You, too Catherine!
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Have a warm and merry holiday, Jama, (and Mr. Cornelius) and thanks for your lovely blog that never fails to bring a smile to me!
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So glad our virtual paths crossed this year, Sharon! It’s been a joy to discover your poetry and photography. Merriest of holidays to you, with lots of good food (especially cookies)!
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Oh, oh, oh, that picture of you!!!!! What a cutie! Happy holidays to you and yours!
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And to you, Madelyn. Can’t resist asking, since you did include three oh’s in your comment. Who says “Oh, oh, oh”?
(Santa walking backwards) 😀
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Have a very Merry Christmas. I look forward to seeing more of your posts in 2014.
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Merry Christmas to you and yours, Lois! Thanks for reading. Extra cookies for you. 🙂
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The photos of Mr. Cornelius are enchantingly charming, but the one of little you is ADORABLE!! Wishing you a delicious Christmas.
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Thanks, Cathryn. I was glad to find this one photo; there’s another with me and my brother with Santa which I’ve somehow lost. Ack! Hope it turns up; it was my favorite.
Meanwhile, have a wonderful holiday. Winter is Rainbow Stew time!
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Happy Holidays! 😀 I hope Mr. Cornelius comes back soon! 😉
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Only Mr. Cornelius? What about Ms. Eat-again?
Have a wonderful holiday, Erik. Save some cookies for Josie. 🙂
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Well, you didn’t say you were leaving, plus I read his note “Off to see friends. Don’t expect me for dinner. ~C” 😉
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Thank you for so so much to make me smile here — the truth in children, the tablespoon for tables, you in your dear little girl incarnation, and Cornelius’s frolicking. Joy, joy, joy. Hope you have some lovely moments!
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Wishing the same for you! I read on FB that you’re expecting a jolly four-year-old for Christmas this year. It should be a lot of fun. 🙂
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Love seeing tiny you, Jama, & all your wise words, plus Mr. Cornelius, especially out with that snowman! Happy holidays to you, and enjoy the tea and whatever delightful ‘crumpets’ you love!
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Thanks, Linda. Have a nice Christmas with your family. Hope you bake some cookies with your grandchildren and read some good stories together. Stay warm!
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Have a great holiday, Jama! I had to laugh when I saw your baby pic. Not at you, at the patterned rug. How many of us are left who remember such rug designs (and curtain fabrics)?
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LOL. You’re right about the rug. Don’t see many of those anymore. It wasn’t foremost on my mind, though. The fact that cameras were invented when I was that age is a little miraculous. 😀
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Enjoy your holidays and the time off from your blog to focus on family, fun, and tasty treats from your kitchen! I so enjoyed meeting little mini-Jama in this post and seeing what Mr. Cornelius has been up to as well. Might I add, Mr. C did SUCH a good job of impersonating food, I think that alone should be enough to warrant a selection of fine mustaches for Christmas. See you next year. 🙂
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You’ve made Mr. Cornelius ecstatic with your comment, Michelle. I have no idea why he would ask for mustaches. I fear he’s up to something again. Will have to wait till January to see what happens.
Happy Holidays to you and your family! And good luck in SLH’s Holiday Story Contest!
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Love and smiles coming your way. Can you feel them? Enjoy the holidays and continue to feed us all with your creativity.
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Thanks so much, Gail — I can feel your good vibes across the miles. Hope you had a nice Hanukkah, and have a happy, healthy, poetry filled New Year!
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Happy Holidays, Jama! Your blog posts have been a gift all year. And Mr. Cornelius could not be cuter, especially sledding in a soup bowl! You are so creative. I look forward to 2014’s posts. =)
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Hi Bridget! Thanks for noshing with us; you’ll always have a place at our table. I hope it doesn’t snow too much this winter, since we need that bowl to eat our soup!
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Happy holidays, Jama! You were a little cutie in that pic. See you in 2014!
Q: What does Santa do in his garden?
A: Hoe, hoe, hoe.
*****
Q: What do you call Santa’s helpers?
A: Subordinate Clauses.
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HAH! Love those subordinate clauses. 😀 Owl be looking forward to catching up with you in 2014.
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Wishing you the very happiest of holidays, Jama. I hope to be around more next year.
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Happy Holidays to you, too, Susan!
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Warmest of holiday wishes to you and your family, my friend! I love the photo of you, and all of Cornelius’s adventures. Hmm . . . The Adventures of Cornelius has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Or how about Cooking with Cornelius? Do I see books in his future?
Enjoy your holiday, and your hiatus. I look forward to more in the new year!
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Thanks, Linda. Hope you have a beautiful holiday with your family. Cornelius wouldn’t mind writing a book — I think he’s looking for someone who takes dictation (he finds it hard to write or type with paws). 🙂
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A very huggable post, Jama – Happy Holidays to you too!
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Sending big ((BEAR HUGS)) you way, Julie. Hope you have a very Downton holiday!
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Hahaha – I will be ready for the start of a new season, that’s for sure!
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Hope you and Mr. C have warm, snug holidays. Thanks for the beary wonderful photos!
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Thanks, Buffy! Mr. Cornelius wants to know if you have a teddy bear of your own. 🙂
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Thanks for a year full of delicious dishes — from peanut butter treats to apple tarts and honey bunny buns!
Love your first pic!!!
Love YOU!
Charles and Debra
Father Goose
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Hope Santa brings you a giant jar of Peter Pan peanut butter. Best holiday wishes to you and Debra!!
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Merry Christmas, Jama! And what an adorable picture of you under the tree.
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Hope you and Steve have a fabulous Christmas in Gourmandistan!
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Happy Holidays to you and yours, Jama! I love the picture of you when you were little! Looking forward to seeing you in the new year!
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Thanks, Iza! Hope you have a wonderful holiday too!
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Merry Christmas, Jama! I love Cornelius impersonating holiday food! And that picture of you is just adorable!
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He looks just like plum pudding, doesn’t he? 🙂 Hope you have a delicious Christmas, Penny!
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You make me smile, Jama! Love the photo of you. Have a merry Christmas with lots of goodies 🙂
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Hope you had a good holiday, Jill! Looking forward to more of your wonderful posts this year. 🙂
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Merry, merry! Have a wonderful and tasty holiday! :0) xo
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Thanks, Robyn. Happy New Year!
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Hi Jama! Thanks for clearing up what tablespoons are for. I’ve been using them all wrong 🙂
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Don’t worry, I’d been using them wrong too. 🙂 Hope you had a nice holiday season with your family, T!
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I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2014! 🙂
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Thank you!
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Happy Holidays to you, Jama!
I love the picture! we could be related – -I have similar ones of me as a kid. 🙂
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Hope you had a great holiday season, Melissa. I’m craving a bowl of ramen after reading your post this morning. 🙂
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