HAPPY HOLIDAYS from THE INTREPID TOURIST

Holidays are a time for get-togethers with family and friends and for passing on family traditions. Every year when we get out the decorations for our tree we are reminded of the time that each one was added to the collection. The glass ornament above hung on Art's family tree when he was growing up and has now been passed on to our daughter Jennifer and her family. It is still being enjoyed three generations later!

With best wishes for a

 Happy Holiday

 from The Intrepid Tourist!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS 2022: Favorite Danish Christmas Plates

Danish Christmas Plate by Bing and Grondahl, 1967

My husband Art’s aunt, Carolyn T. Arnold, was a world traveler and brought home many souvenirs from her trips, both for herself and gifts for her family. She loved going to Denmark and was especially fond of the Danish porcelain Christmas plates, developing a large collection. In her house they decorated the walls of her living room, lined up in chronological order.

1967, Child With Bird Feeder; 1970, Pheasants in the Snow at Christmas; 1972, Christmas in Greenland

We were the recipients of three Danish plates from Aunt Carolyn: 1967, commemorating our wedding year; 1970 and 1972, for the births of our children. The three plates now hang in our kitchen where I can see them every day of the year.

At the Royal Copenhagen Store, Copenhagen

On our recent trip to Copenhagen, we were delighted to find our plates displayed in the Royal Copenhagen shop along with the more than 100 porcelain Christmas plates designed by Bing and Grondahl. (In 1987, Bing and Grondahl merged with the Royal Porcelain Factory to become Royal Copenhagen.)

In her retirement Aunt Carolyn wrote of her travel adventures in her memoir. Many excerpts from her memoir have appeared at The Intrepid Tourist. As we celebrate this holiday season we remember Aunt Carolyn and the joy of traveling and learning about the world. I send best wishes to all of you for a very

HAPPY HOLIDAY

and

JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

 

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Beautiful Christmas Plates from Germany

When my husband Art was in high school he was an exchange student, living for a year with a family in Berlin, Germany. It was the beginning of a life-long friendship. After Art and I were married, his German family sent us annual gifts of beautiful Christmas plates from the KPM porcelain factory in Berlin, each year with a different design. (Weihnachten is the German word for Christmas or Christmas Eve.) We get the plates out each year during the holidays and are reminded of all the wonderful times spent together both in Germany and here in the United States.
The holidays are a time to connect with family and friends near and far. As I celebrate with my friends and family this year in California, I send you my best wishes for

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
and a
JOYOUS NEW YEAR! 

 

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Caroline Arnold at The Intrepid Tourist

Christmas window display at Alpine Village, Torrance, CA

 

On this shortest day of the year, I send you best wishes for a

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Every year at holiday time I get out our collection of creches, or nativity scenes, that we have accumulated over the years.  They come from all over the world and often have memories of travels associated with them. This year we have two new nativities to add to our collection, both from Italy. The first is a set of charming tiny (less than 2 inches tall) ceramic figures made by Thun, in Borzano, Italy. It was brought to us by an Italian friend and brings back memories of two special trips we made to Italy in the past year. The second, a teeny tiny one, we bought in Erice, Sicily, a hill town that features Nativity displays of all sizes at Christmas.

I am looking forward to celebrating the holidays with family and friends. With very best wishes to you for a

HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I have a new ornament on my tree this year, a charming miniature library made for me by my friend and fellow children's book writer Caroline Hatton in a repurposed mint container just two inches square. The tiny books inside include my book Hatching Chicks in Room 6, Caroline Hatton's book Surprise Moon, and Ann Whitford Paul's book When Animals Say I Love You. It is reminder of the importance and joy of books and reading during the holidays and all the year through. As we celebrate this holiday season with its message of joy, hope, peace and goodwill, I send best wishes to all of you for a very

HAPPY HOLIDAY

and

JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Nativities from around the world displayed in the Connecting Cultures Mobile Museum remind me of our own collection, gathered over the years, often as we have traveled around the world. As we celebrate this holiday season with its message of joy, hope, peace and goodwill, we send best wishes to all of you for a very

HAPPY HOLIDAY

and

JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

As we decorate our tree with family treasures and mementos from our travels through the years, we send best wishes to all of you for a very

HAPPY HOLIDAY

and

JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

With best wishes for a

HAPPY HOLIDAY

and

PEACEFUL NEW YEAR!

Our beautiful ceramic Christmas ball made in Deruta, Italy, is a souvenir that reminds us of our travel in this past year and will decorate our Christmas tree for years to come. I hope that your holiday will provide you with many happy memories as well.

HOLIDAY GREETINGS!

Amaryllis.  Native to South Africa, they are now cultivated all over the world.

Every year at holiday time I like to buy amaryllis bulbs.  There is something magical about the way the bulb suddenly springs to life, producing a green shoot that grows almost visibly day by day and then blossoms into gigantic flowers.  Last year one of my plants timed its flowering perfectly for Christmas, with blooms so heavy it had to be supported so it didn’t topple over. When it finished blooming, the leaves continued to grow, renewing the bulb for another season.
Christmas is a time of renewed hope and celebration. I am looking forward to celebrating with family and friends and I send you

best wishes for a very 

Happy Holiday Season

and Joyous New Year!