Christmastime . . . . . .

Almost here. . . . . . .

I didn't. . . . and it's too late now!

......it definitely won't this week!

Perhaps January will bring snow, at least a little.

.....the true meaning -

. . . . . .sing with joy!

Enjoy Christmas at home.

Greetings from our home to yours - may your holidays be

safe, beautiful, merry and bright.

A different tree - and off to a party!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree. . . . . . .how lovely 

are thy branches. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . such a beautiful carol, and many versions are often played over

 the radio these close to Christmas days. 

On this warm, wet foggy morning pianist Tim Janis is playing this lovely

 melody in the background on my laptop. I'm burning the Tree Farm 

fragranced candle and the world is calm......at least here.

Christmas trees seem to be the most conspicuous decorative item for

 our most important, much-loved Christian celebration, and they come in

 many shapes and forms.

Some of you have asked about my 'music paper' trees. 

They are very easy to make.

These are several years old. I carefully pack them away

 in tissue after the holiday season and they have held up quite well.

Don't have any real directions - a chunk of styrofoam stuffed firmly 

in a terra cotta flower pot, a wood dowel and pieces of printed 

music sheets, the thicker the paper the better - I picked up several

 vintage books of music at SuzAnna's Antiques. I cut the sheets

 using deckle edge scissors, gradually sizing them from large to

small with a small hole in the center, and glueing glitter on

some of the edges. Cut a paper star for the top. No rules really,

just use your creativity - they do look pretty and if you love things

made from old bits of paper you will enjoy these.

Any questions?  Be sure to ask.

Speaking of glitter. . . . . . . we're off to a Christmas Open House out

 in the country this evening.

I will wear black velvet but need something to give a little shine to my

very blah black mask!

I've decided best I can do is 'decorate' it like this . . . . . . . just 

using my dear late mother's marcasite clip! I also have small

marcasite earrings to match.

Do you think this works?

Closing here with a collage I made of the Christmassy corners around the cottage.

Enjoy your Sunday before Christmas. . . . . and the busy week ahead!

Looking back over life this week . . . . . .

 

 It's been a mixed week of trying to get niggling chores done in order to

 move along with Christmas preparations.

For instance, in the garden, cutting down the delightful dahlias now in their

 death throes. This one still beautiful. Hoping they will return next year.

Raking the never ending falling leaves - thank goodness Bob can still 

do this job - but next year we will most likely hire younger able-bodied 

yard workers - it's really too much for us now!

Putting away the daily decor and making room for Christmas - 

although this year I will keep it simple.

Last thing to decorate is the dining room table - my favorite space after the mantel.

It will also be the last . . . . .after I've completed writing the Christmas cards over

the weekend. . . . . they are scattered everywhere across the smooth, gleaming

 pine table, along with sheets of pretty postage stamps, address labels, lists,

pens etc. 

Stopped at a garden center in town yesterday to pick up some cut greens

and was surprised at the prices this year - so much higher than I recall.

This now seems to apply to everything we are purchasing though, 

especially food!

My choice of greenery for the mantel - $15 for these few pieces tied in a bunch!

Fresh wreaths such as at the top of this photo were lovely but priced so high,

some close to $100!

I'll scrounge around in the back garden and see if I can find more

evergreens and red berries later.

We decorated outside this week, fewer strands of lights due to

 my physical issues. Currently Bob does everything requiring bending

 and lifting! I went to PT twice this week and am now taking a

break until I see the neurosurgeon just prior to Christmas.

Hung wreaths - our very nice faux ones - with new red and black check

 ribbon bows, many candles in lanterns, and set some floodlights across 

the lawn. The cottage looks pretty once dusk fades and the inky darkness

 of these December nights blots the sky. The moon hangs low, a perfect

 clear crescent, stars are glittering, and the nostalgic fragrance of 

burning firewood creeps into the nostrils when I step outside. 

Although still warm, we did light a fire on Thursday night when

granddaughter Jasmin came for supper.

The coming of Christmas is a lovely time. Just need to stop, breathe, and

take in the simple things nature provides - they are the most important.

Hoping your weekend will be filled with treasures of the holiday season.

A Change is Due -

While digging out the Christmas decorations I came across my favorite

 holiday season mug.  I used it as my breakfast bowl today - oatmeal with nuts, 

dried cranberries, chia, turmeric, a sprinkle of Demerara sugar and a splash

 of heavy cream.

Delicious - hopefully healthy!

Yes, the holiday season is in full swing now, and I'm just beginning 

to get going.  Late for me, but Christmas preparations are different this

year.  In all honesty, circumstances for completing just about

anything have been trying due to unexpected niggling problems.

Anyway enough of that. . . . . .I'm breathing and managing best I can,

especially when it comes to decorating the cottage. Perhaps not as over 

the top as in previous years, but making things attractive enough with

lights and a few vignettes of old and loved Christmas ornaments.

This week I will continue to add a few more, such as the dining room table 

centerpiece which will be comprised of mostly natural materials. Right now the 

table is awash in cards awaiting writing and addressing, lists of things to

do/buy/cook and bake - such as another swing by World Market to find more 

British treats - and a garden center stop for some cut greenery for the 

mantel etc.

I've hung the 'kissing ball' and Bob and I tried it out.  It worked!!!

The tree is up in the gazebo, fewer lights and ornaments but still pretty,

lit up as dusk arrives and until we turn them off at bedtime.

Photo below is from another year - it still looks much the same.

We've been so spoiled with such a beautiful spell of gorgeous weather

 since returning from Arizona - today will be the last though for the remainder

 of this week by looks of it. Rain coming in tonight and temperatures dropping.

Later today we will hang outdoor wreaths, add a couple of spotlights, 

and a few white lights on the porch. Good old Bob is out there raking/blowing

 more fallen leaves from yesterday's blustery wind.

December moves along so quickly and keeps us on our toes. . . . . .