Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays

 Hello, Dear Friends!  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 

xx

I've been trying to focus on enjoying every moment 

of this special time of year. 

 

I woke up this morning to a beautiful sunrise. 

Right before I woke up, I had this amazing dream. 

It was really just an image. 

A traffic stoplight, 

decorated around the edges with holly and 

evergreens, with a voice saying, "Stop 

and enjoy every moment." 

It woke me right up.  I went downstairs to 

find this amazing sunrise. 

Have you ever had a message come through in your dreams? 

It brings new meaning to the phrase, 'Believe in the power 

of your dreams'. 

xx

You all know that I love to decorate for holidays, especially 

Christmas. 

I am not hosting this year, but I still wanted to make things 

festive for the Mr. and I, and for anyone who happens 

to stop by. 

I always start with my kitchen. 

With red floors and a green door, 

it's easy to decorate for the season. 

I used a large, batik tablecloth that I found at a flea-market to cover the seat,

and tea-towels to make pillow covers. 

Pretty cookie tins. 

The square one was my dear Mom-in-law's sewing kit. 

xx

One of my favorite Christmas signs. 

A gift from a dear sis-in-law years ago.

We've exchanged gifts across the miles for many years, 

(we grew up in New England and have family still there), 

but the postal rates are so expensive these days,

so, we agreed to stop. 

I would also send out dozens of Christmas cards, 

too, but now only to a select few. 

 Everything is digital these days. 

Times change and some traditions get cast aside, 

but I still have a certain nostalgia

for days gone by.  

xx

 

The paper x-mas tree banner was one of the 

sweet gifts from my son, Dustin and daughter-in-law, Jen

when we went to the plant nursery shop in my last post. 

I added some simple touches to the Kitchen Queen cupboard. 

Striped curtains, a jar full of vintage cookie cutters and 

a Merry Christmas sign I found at the flea market. 

I found the poinsettia drink glasses at the flea market, too. 

There were only 3, but that's how collections start...

xx

Gingham Christmas aprons. 

My collection of vintage pot-holders. 

xx

Daughter, Jennie gave me the tropical Christmas tea

towel from a Hawaiian vacation. 

 I love my snowman in a jar. 

My little kitchen. 

I traded the pottery I had on the shelves all summer 

 for my white dishes, 

and hung a red gingham curtain. 

My white coffee-maker stopped working

and I've been looking for another one, 

but everything is stainless steel or black these days :(

I always hang my sweet bird feeder ornament here. 

The canisters for coffee and tea

(and there's one for sugar)

were a gift from son, Gabe and Daughter in law, 

Erica. 

Our dear friends took an epic trip to Europe this 

past summer and brought back a

charming little ink and watercolor painting 

from Italy for us. 

xx

Red and green tea towels. 

My kitchen window. 

The Mr. hung the lighted garland on the fence. 

The candles were gifts. 

They illuminate forest scenes when lit

and the scent is 'Frazier Fir'. 

I made the Father Christmas out of batting years ago. 

His face is a sticker. 

I made the Santa years ago, too. 

I actually made 10 of them and gave them as gifts! 

It took me months. 

My two sons still have theirs. 

I made angels for my daughters. 

He's making a list and checking it twice! 

The rocking horse toy was an ornament from when I was a child. 

My son, Dustin and wife, Jen gave me the sleigh and reindeer. 

The pretty throw from my trip to the garden shop. 

'It's a Wonderful Life'

My favorite Christmas movie. 

My Christmas angel from the first year we were married. 

xx

I just bought the woodland lamp. 

I lived in a log cabin when I was a child. 

Ramblin' Man brought back the log cabins 

from Alaska when he traveled for business. 

My son-in-law, Eric made the wooden trees. 

xx

This reminds me of the church we were married in. 

xx

We have snowberries growing wild here. 

A favorite photo of my parents when they were dating. 

A bark 'vase' with winter greens. 

A lighted garland on the deck. 

Ricky likes to lie here right outside the pet door so 

he can keep vigil outside while watching me putter in the kitchen. 

Sunlight illuminates the angel's lanterns. 

We've had a very mild winter so far this year. 

Yesterday it was close to 60 degrees. 

A December rose and pansies reflect the mild weather. 

Pale winter sunset at 4:30 p.m. 

The shortest day of the year. 

xx

I've been very busy these last few weeks. 

We had a wonderful day with my son, Gabe, wife and little grandson,

visiting a charming little Christmas shop, 

going to dinner, then watching a Christmas parade 

in the city all lit up for the season. 

We've had visits from my daughter, Jennie and youngest grandson, Jack, 

then had my daughter, Heather's 3 little boys over for cookie and tree decorating. 

It's so sweet to share these moments with all the little ones, still 

young enough to believe in Santa and so excited about 

all the lights and decorations. 

Some of my precious loved ones are experiencing some 

challenging health issues that have just come to light, 

but with faith and hope, things will turn out well. 

It reinforces the message of my dream, to stop 

and enjoy every moment of this precious life. 

xx 

"Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things

in the world are the things we can't see."

- The Conductor, The Polar Express -

xx

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in 

a conspiracy of love."

- Hamilton Wright Mable -

xx

" It's not how much we give but how much love 

we put into giving."

- Mother Theresa -

Merry Christmas, Dear Friends! 

xx