Christmas Is Near

 The hours are passing, and thoughts bounce back and forth between sad and joyful. This Christmas will long be remembered for its solemn quiet in a world left crippled by a pandemic.

We shelter at home and are thankful to have a roof over our heads and food on the table. We are blessed.

Here's my last set of Christmas images for 2020.

 I'm tucking the six photo pictures resting on my desk into the tree and then hoping to do a video of the tree's ornaments.

Even the utility room got a tiny bit of Christmas decorating.

I came across this jar with a red lid in all my junk and decided to place tree, fawn, and snow sugar inside it.

One  of my favorite illustrations of dear old Santa Claus

The wooden bobbin and ribbon tree...gifts from thoughtful friends.

The bobbin recalls special past times from Dyersburg days, and the ribbon tree tells of a newer friendship. Old and new memories connect during the holidays.   

Sincerely, Sandy

Making Translucent Ornaments

THIS IS A CLIPPING I SAVED FOR THE DIRECTIONS ON MAKING THESE ORNAMENTS.

I only have these two, and considering how old they are, they have held up well.

I always wanted to try others, but never did. 

GOOD LUCK if you should try to make them.

Merry Little Christmas Decorations

 Love this time of year! 

The top of the refrigerator usually has bowls and jars of cookie cutters but a few extras were added for this time of the year. 

  This grouping is on the guest bedroom desk.

The wood house is my latest little "treasure" find at Abandoned Antiques. 

Sweet little houses are hard to resist. 

This one hangs on the tree.

my latest angel painting

It was inspired because of news about the December 21st Christmas Star.

This bucket stores old magazines near my comfortable chair.

December issues are kept for all their lovely ideas.

Vintage ornaments in antique dough bowl are found on the dining table.

one of three golden angel ornaments

This one made with gold cord, Elmer's glue, and food coloring is now several decades old. I think I had more crafting patience back then.

I like to look for unique ornaments year round.

And what fun to show them off at Christmas!

The Days Before Christmas

 This Christmas will be like no other. Decorating has helped, but there is a void  without family and friends celebrating together. However, there has been time to focus on that very first Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas.

This nativity was a wedding gift in 1971.

The angel did not come with it. It was an angel my mother had.

The mail brings one or two cards each day. I'm using two letter holders this year.

The larger one gets traditional Christmas cards.

The smaller one gets photo Christmas cards.

Each day I get to enjoy this collection of special cards. I placed them on the top of the washstand that's in the hall. My friend Mary has given me card treasures through the years.

I keep finding ways to add a few small decorative touches during these pre-Christmas days.

This kitchen window garland I made several years ago. 

The idea came from a 2003 Home Companion magazine.

How I miss that publication!

Thanks for coming by. 

Let's focus on Christmas joys each day.

Christmas Moods

 Sharing a few more Christmasy ideas...when I decorate early I tend to keep making changes.

hanging ornaments in the entryway

I had a box labeled Teacher Ornaments. I peeked inside and found this sleigh and reindeer decoration. Had forgotten it was in there. I took a few minutes to look at other sweet ornament gifts from students...some bought, some handmade. Good memories of Christmas class parties, exchanging gifts, and lively excitement about the holidays.

Willow tree figures of Mary and Joseph

salt dough snowflakes and silver ball ornaments 

This rustic handmade tree from our friend Cecil goes well with the owl.

To me this little tree is charming with very old ornaments.

This picture of Ryan and Lauren in their matching Christmas pajamas is precious to me. The late Miss Wanda Rice, a Dyersburg photographer and artist, painted it for me.

icy wreath on the hall tree

Spending lots of time at home, but that's okay due to this serious virus.

Have a lovely Saturday and Sunday.

Hope to see you next week on Bits and Pieces.

Parade of Ornaments

 I haven't done a parade of ornaments in several years. So here goes...

This year I didn't get to hang as many ornaments. It was hard to leave many in their boxes in storage. Of course, this makes me realize I have way too many ornaments. But fancy or plain they are so special, especially the ones given to me by important people in my life.