The Event of Christmas

 Even before I decorated our trees with ornaments I did the mantel. This year I made the focus on the nativity story and event.

January Vibes

 

I love these late afternoon sky colors viewed from my own backyard.

The cold weather makes me wistful for summer.

I've been trying to move things around inside the house. I guess it amounts to wanting to look at something different.

A couple of things on the mantel are new...sort of. I bought the old brick mold,

and the two other wooden pieces were gifts from my brother's friend Leslie. Her ex-husband has made many lovely wood objects.

  

Deciding to keep this simple nativity out year round, it ended up on the top of the piano.

The angel canvas came out of my bedroom closet. It was one of the first angels I ever painted and maybe my favorite.

These tiny red leather books were displayed at Christmastime, and I've decided to leave them out for a while. They came from my dad's parents' home. I had many more of the Little Blue Books from my grandmother Crum and regret selling groups of them at the booth, especially the poetry ones.

Oh well, I have too much stuff anyway. Two trunks finally went home with son Ryan this week. He will have the "fun" part of deciding what to discard and what to keep from all the toys, books, school papers, yearbooks, etc.

Now I need to keep working on reducing my own personal items.

Easier said than done!

Merry Christmas

 Happy wishes for a blessed Christmas. 

Thank you for visiting me on this blog. 

I wish you many joys as you celebrate 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.

Merry Christmas!

This may be my last post before Christmas. I hope you have the merriest of Christmases!

Decorating, shopping, school Christmas program, Christmas band concert,
and errands have kept us on the go.

But there's the real meaning of Christmas that gives us hope.

Shiny Brites are so special when you think about how old they are and the past individuals who once displayed them in their homes.

A Hobby Lobby plate that went so well with our placemats. It will be for cookie treats because I only bought one. This snowy wreath also came from HL.  A cutout from a Christmas card is in the middle.

  I gave this teapot to my mother one Christmas. 

 Each Christmas this dough bowl holds large silver ornaments.

Sentimental ornaments with each child's name on the back and the year 1990 

Have a merry and blessed Christmas.

Christmas Moods

Beauty of Christmas trees...real or artificial

Precious memories

Children's art  

Candlelight 

 Family time   

The Birth of Jesus

"As the wonder of Christmas 

surrounds us,

may your spirit be renewed

with special joy

at the miracle of His birth."

Merry Christmas

Christmas Comes But Once A Year...

I see the peppermint jar needs refilling.

Kitchen smells nice due to cinnamon ornaments. 

Candy canes are a must every Christmas. 

Little brown crock always gets these three.

simple toys under the tree

Our three cats like to cuddle on this Christmasy plaid blanket.

Lester and Pennee arrived late Friday night with their two little girls, Kiera(3) and Chloe(1). Saturday they played with their cousins, Nicolas(7) and Lucas(4).

The next arrivals will be Lauren and Ryan on Tuesday. On Christmas Eve we will have our large family gathering.

Thank you for your time and interest in my blog. I wish you merry times with your family and friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS