Christmas Is...

 

Christmas is a warm thing

by Shirley Powell McPhillips

 

Christmas is a warm thing, wrinkled or new;

A softness and bright lights all red, green, and blue;

A tingle, a tiptoe, a fire aglow;

All crispy and nippy-a snowflake and snow.

 

Christmas is tinsel, a present, a tree;

A crying and laughter, a giggle of glee;

Or quiet, a candle, a flicker of flame;

A whisper, a touch-the soft falling rain.

 

Christmas is good folks, old, young, the same;

Visitors and carols again and again;

A pudding, a plum, a goose full of fat;

A smelling, a stuffing of this, those, and that.

 

Christmas is a shepherd, a journey, a stall;

A mother's wee baby-a gift to us all-

A reverence, a service, a towering spire;

A feeling, a surging, a triumphant choir.

 

Christmas is everything, poorest or bare;

Richly ornated, embraced with care;

A vision for all or one hope, set apart;

A tree thing, a real thing that lives in my heart.





Annual Parade of Ornaments

Merry Christmas to all who stop by Bits and Pieces. Some of you I know well...others I have never met. However, we are connected through our shared interests and feelings.

In love and friendship,

Sandy

Memories

Wishing you sweet memories...either from the past or the present. I find myself experiencing both.

Fun decorations were added                      This little tree was
to this pencil sketch of Grams                    presented to my
and Grandad. Our oldest                              mother last year.
son Jo did the drawing of us                     It now sits on my
years ago.                                                            closet work table
                                                                                 as a keepsake  
                                                                                 from 2011. 
                                                                                

In November my mom turned ninety.

 

I love this happy photo of her and my husband Corkey.

Hopefully we can make her smile during our Christmas visits. 

 

 Our tree of memories 

 

In 1990 I found these kids' ornaments to represent our five.

The year and their names are written on the backs. It's hard to believe that was twenty-two years ago.

 

Have a MERRY weekend making memories!  

Word Tags

 

 

 

Simple tags

Soothing words

Tie on a package.

Hang on the tree.

Tuck inside a book.

Keep or give away.

 

 

Making tags remains a favorite form of relaxation for me.

Sending these off in a mailer tomorrow. 

 

Hesitant

I was hesitant about writing in the wake of the tragedy and grief concerning Newtown, Connecticut. There are no words for such a shocking attack. But feel we must for these families who have lost precious ones at a time when joyful anticipation has been replaced by heartbreaking sadness. Feel and pray.

 

 

Tonight I'm continuing to share pictures of Christmas decorating. Maybe in some way they will offer a little bit of peace.

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

Decorating Pleasures

Last  year this toy cabinet was on the mantel. This year it's  resting on a small desk in the guest bedroom. I tend to use special pieces from year to year but in different locations.

The cloche is filled with green, blue, and gold ornaments. These are colors in the guest bedroom.


On a side table is the Skating Santa, sleigh, and collection of trees.

This treasured nativity is on the seat of the hall tree. The star I found this year.

This hutch in the hallway always get decorated with Christmasy items. Filling bowls with ornaments is almost as much fun as hanging them on the tree.     

Winter Wonderland

I like looking through magazines for decorating ideas. For weeks I've enjoyed this one, and one page kept drawing my attention. Having a cake plate, trees, and a snowman...
  

 

I put together this grouping on the dining room table.

 

 

This centerpiece goes with my corner cabinet decorations.

 

            

These miniature trees are my newest addiction. Vintage ones are hard to find, so I've grown attached to these current ones on the market. 

 

Have you finished your decorating? I was telling a friend that I love to decorate, but there's some sadness with it, too. Loved ones who won't be at the dining table...hanging ornaments from friends who have gone before us...treasures and trinkets that stir memories of past times. But hopefully there will be other happy surprises and new memories to make. Take care. 

From my house to yours

Since Christmas is fast approaching, I wanted to share a few decorative touches around my house. So this post is Merry Christmas from my house to yours.

 

Hello

Sorry I've been away for awhile. I had to acquire some extra storage space in order to post photos, and you know how I love to share pics. I have been Christmas decorating almost every room in the house with sentimental treasures. Sometimes I leave them in place, but other times I move them around until I am pleased with the look.

  

 

I am glad to be back, and I hope you are enjoying this first week of December.