Wishing you all good things in the new year – thank you for stopping by.
Tag: Christmas Joy
The Christmas House
If you’ve been visiting my blog for a while, you know about Stella – our little cottage on the cove. We learned about that vintage coastal community through a dear friend who lives just down the road from us here at This Old House. She and her husband raised their kids during summer months in their cottage near Stella – It maintains the same rustic 1930’s seasonal cottage charm as ours, partly because of her loving touches just about everywhere, and her husband’s beautiful artwork to compliment it. So, we are neighbors both here and down at the shore.
I need to tell you just a little about “Mrs. F” without giving away her personal information. She is a real dynamo! Having already lived most of her 90th decade, she continues to maintain two households with a little help from her children and grands, still volunteers for several organizations, still creates, gardens and bakes for family, friends, and the causes she supports. I have several perennial plants in my cottage gardens now that come from her garden, they will always remind me of her, and my gratitude to her for having helped us find a cottage of our own.
I stopped in a few days ago to see the bird carvings her son had created, and was just blown away by the Christmas decor she had absolutely everywhere in her charming home. An observation I’ve made regarding “Mrs. F” and a few other people I’ve been lucky to know who have lived well into their 90’s… despite heartbreaking events like illness or the passing of a spouse, they all share something vital – and that is to live fully with purpose, intention, keeping up with family and friends, nurturing their creativity and being active in causes they believe in throughout all of their days.
Browsing all the decorations and artwork and treasures around her home, the warmth of the place and the person and the people she holds dear surrounds you. I told “Mrs. F” her home reminded me of a Christmas House… and she said that is exactly what her grandchildren call it.
The ornaments on her tree are vintage, some she made out of copper, some given to her by students during her teaching career.
New Yorker Magazine Covers… I absolutely love it.
So many treasures of the heart in this old farm house down the lane… Thank you, my dear friend “Mrs. F” , for sharing it with us here on my blog.
There’s one more thing I’d like to share – Mrs. F’s recipe for Swedish cookies. I was gifted with a lovely box full of cookies she made for the holidays, and these particular cookies are absolutely divine buttery sugary perfection.
ThanksChristmas!
My Aunt Virginia made this tree in ceramics class many moons ago – It’s my favorite decoration. Several of my friends have them as well, very popular back in the 70’s-80’s. I bet a few of you have one, too..
For the love of the Tree
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And on my dining room table… these paper trees I found a lovely local shop, The Rustic Barn.
Family and Food
T’is the Season through your eyes…
Quiet Reflections of the season ~ There’s a bit of melancholy in the holiday season for me, but it’s also filled with bursts of joy, and the quiet contentment I find in simple things that gladden my heart. Candlelight is one of the things that warms my heart.
Kate Young ~ chronicles of a country girl
Kim ~ http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
Christmas Magic
Sue at Beach Bungalow http://sue-beachbungalow.blogspot.com/
I am actually holding a doll that belonged to my older brother, Wesley. It’s name is Patti, and that is what they named me. Mother still has this doll, however my brother is no longer with us.
Patti – Osage Bluff Quilter
I choose this picture because these two silly little ornaments mean so much to me. The angel was made for us over 30 years ago by our niece. We didn’t have children but my sister selflessly shared hers with us, this little angel is on my tree every year. The trailer park ornament was given to me by my dear friend of 27 years who passed away this summer. We travel and live in our motor coach most of the time, so we jokingly call ourselves trailer trash. I must have cried buckets today as I put all the ornaments she has sent to us over the years, on the tree. To me this is what Christmas is, family and friends.
Joyce Ann – http://joyceagray.blogspot.com/
“And the stockings were hung…” I don’t know how I found the time to stitch four such intricate stockings… one for each son. The smaller ones behind the stitched ones are for the boys respective pets. And the blue store bought one is for the new daughter-in-law….it’s too bad for her that my stitching days are over!! 🙂 Grace ~ http://www.newsfromthehill.com/
Lynn ~ I love to decorate my house with both real and artifical greenery –
First white Christmas in 60 years!
Andy ~ thelittewhitehouse-andy.blogspot.com