Fragrance of Christmas!

With Christmas preparations in full steam ahead mode, one really needs 

to stop and smell the pine and fir trees now and then.  My dining room

 table vignette was casually gathered together yesterday. It includes fresh

 fir branches. I also recycled a few of my autumn pumpkins stored in 

the potting shed after Halloween . . . . . my favorite grey green one, 

and two golden beauties which I've spray painted nickel silver for the

 holiday season.

Yesterday my special friend Jeannette and I managed to meet for a pot of

 calming hot tea at a favorite coffee shop - and shared a delicious Asiago

 cheese scone while catching up on news.  We exchanged Christmas

 gifts and one of my pretties is a candle with the fragrance named

 'Tree Farm'.  

Awaking to a heavy fog early this morning, I stumbled into a still dark

 kitchen and lit the candle (Jeannette thoughtfully added a cute box of

 old fashioned matches) on the island. In minutes I was transported

 to the the winter woods of my childhood.  It was lovely.

Do special scents at Christmastime bring back childhood memories for you?

"Get a move on Mary"

Hello everyone.

Tuesday we arrived home so late from Arizona after flight delays on both

 segments - the new norm - and fell into bed around 2:00 am Wednesday! 

 It was however a lovely trip, and seeing many family members was so

 enjoyable after such a long time apart.

Since then, not the best of weeks, but I've worked my way through it

 managing to get back to physiotherapy, restocking the fridge with essentials,

 and cooking - always so good after so many restaurant meals when

on the road. 

I'm now trying to get into the spirit of Christmas as it's coming

 fast and furious here in my neighborhood. Colored lights, white lights, 

blow-up Santas, faux reindeer wearing red bows, wreaths on front doors etc.

I've done nothing yet, other than place this cute yarn tree with a wooden

 star on the mantel. Found at SuzAnna's Antiques 'Holiday Open House' a

 couple of weeks back, it caught my eye. I have a load of leftover knitting yarns

and thought I might copy the idea later. Meanwhile it stands there to remind

 me to get a move on with Christmas decorating!

Bob will definitely be helping me a lot this year as my movements such as

bending, reaching, even standing for long periods, are compromised by my

back issue. I came home to not great results from the recent MRI and now

 have an appointment set up for later this month with a neurologist. 

Today, I'm sitting at the dining room table with my lumbar pillow tucked behind

 me - the most comfortable position currently - and writing Christmas cards.  

Later Bob will spend time raking/blowing the thousands of leaves 

accumulated whilst we were gone, making a pathway to the potting shed to 

bring out the faux Christmas tree which always goes in the gazebo

 to light the dark winter nights - I will decorate it best I can.

Over this coming week the Christmas boxes will come down from the attic 

storage area and I'll decorate a bit at a time, but perhaps not as much as

 I usually do. 

Fortunately the weather here has been close to perfect all week and will

continue over this weekend - we are counting our blessings.

Cherubs are waiting somewhere in a box!

Week of preparations -

SuzAnna's Antiques - Rolesville, North Carolina - November 2021

It has been a busy week.  Two PT appointments, a doctor visit, and an MRI.  Cooking up the big pumpkin for eating (soup and a gratin) and tucking some away in the freezer.  Pulling out a suitcase - yes I'll be traveling very soon - watch this space!  Starting on the Christmas cards which need to travel much farther than I can these days. Thursday evening we managed to drive a little north through horrendous rush hour traffic to SuzAnna's Antiques for the Holiday Open House. Many of you will recall my long, lovely history with the shop, the booth I had for a while with a best friend Vanessa, and my granddaughter Jasmin working there for several years.  Since they moved out of Raleigh it's a long way to go but always worthwhile. . . . . . especially to see the delightful Susie, Jenny, Bruce (playing a handsome Santa again!) and others of their family.  The crowd was big, the holiday offerings awesome - impossible to leave there empty-handed - and when Jasmin arrived it was just like the old days. . . . . .except we were all masked of course!

This evening we'll pop over to see the Christmas tree lighting at the midtown shopping center - then it will really feel festive, and it will be cold!

Happy weekend everyone - hoping you have good weather to enjoy any holiday preparations you are working on.