Chunks of Ice on Lake Superior

Hanging Out In A Snow Cave

Snow Covered Trail & Trees

Wintry Scene from Lake Superior

Light House Encased in Ice

Icy Cliffs

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BRANDYKEGS!

Edison, Venus, and Sinnamon, BRANDYKEGS' Saint Bernards.

BRANDYKEGS would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!
May your day be filled with happiness and laughter.
We wish all of you peace this holiday season.

Christmas Gift

Christmas Gift

Most of us love to give and get a Christmas gift.
What a wonderful way to give one’s spirits a lift.

It doesn’t matter if the package is large or small.
It can be something handmade, or purchased from the mall.

Underneath our Christmas tree
The Christmas gift so lovely.

Colorful papers and curly bows
What’s hidden inside the giver only knows.

Let’s all remember, the time someone spent on choosing it.
Make use of it; on a shelf don’t let it sit.

Mankind’s better side comes out at this time of year.
I wish we could always accept one another without fear.

Remember your excitement as a child
It will do you a world of good to go a little wild.

Tell your family and friends that you love them
Join together and sing a holiday hymn.

We look at this season
With many reasons.

May love and laughter fill your home
As your family and friends you welcome.

By

Kathy Jeffers

COUNTDOWN TO DECEMBER 25, 2009 - 1 DAY!

Colorful Christmas Ornaments

Can you locate six Saint Bernard ornaments on this tree?

COUNTDOWN TO DECEMBER 25, 2009 - 2 DAYS

Holiday Train

Hidden in the tree are seven Saint Bernard ornaments, can you find them?

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Holiday Wreath & Saint Bernard Welcome

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Ceramic Saint Bernards Displayed On Holiday Cloth

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Santa's Miniature Sleigh Beside a big St. Bernard

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COUNTDOWN TO DECEMBER 25, 2009 - 8 DAYS

Saint Bernard Checking Out Santa's Sleigh

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COUNTDOWN TO DECEMBER 25, 2009 - 9 DAYS

Christmas Bells - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Christmas Bells

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,With peace on earth, good-will to men."

COUNTDOWN TO DECEMBER 25, 2009 - 10 DAYS

A Visit from St. Nicholas

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COUNTDOWN TO DECEMBER 25, 2009 - 11 DAYS

A Visit from St. Nicholas

Attributed to Clement Clark Moore (1822)

More probably written by Major Henry Livingston, Jr. (1808)

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

Recipe for Christmas All Year Long - Joanna Fuchs

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COUNTDOWN TO DECEMBER 25, 2009 - 12 DAYS

Recipe for Christmas All Year Long

Take a heap of child-like wonder

That opens up our eyes

To the unexpected gifts in life—

Each day a sweet surprise.

Mix in fond appreciation

For the people whom we know;

Like festive Christmas candles,

Each one has a special glow.

Add some giggles and some laughter,

A dash of Christmas food,

(Amazing how a piece of pie

Improves our attitude!)

Stir it all with human kindness;

Wrap it up in love and peace,

Decorate with optimism, and

Our joy will never cease.

If we use this healthy recipe,

We know we will remember

To be in the Christmas spirit,

Even when it's not December.

By Joanna Fuchs

Smooth Saint Bernard With Stocking Cap

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COUNTDOWN TO DECEMBER 25, 2009 - 13 DAYS

Saint Bernard With Stocking Cap

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Smooth Male Saint Bernard By Christmas Tree

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Short Haired Saint Bernard By Christmas Tree

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Smooth Saint Bernard Puppy

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Saint Bernard With Brandy Keg In Snow

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Post Card With Saint Bernards

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Postage Stamp With Saint Bernard On It

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Picture of Historical Saint Bernard "Barry"

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Saint Bernard Holding Onto Boy On A Log

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St. Bernard Carrying Bag With a Little Girl

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Two Saints Bernards In The Snow

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