~Instead of Coal~

This Christmas morning, the Youngest observed, "We were naughty all year and STILL got presents!" 

And right there I knew that was the whole point of Christmas-
Jesus is The Gift- we were naughty, but got the present anyway.

The kids should have coal, but they got what they longed for instead. Why? Because they're loved; plain and simple.

I should have God's back turned to me, and instead His arms are wide open. Why? Because God so loved the world that he Gave . . . and I get what I long for instead of what I deserve. He loves me; plain and simple. He loves you; plain and simple.

Merry Christmas!

Cheers!

~Cousins 'n Cookies~

Lucky me!

My sweet niece and her mommy came to visit last weekend. It's been a whole eighteen months since I last saw her so having her here was like an early Christmas gift.

So what do you do with three cousins on a rainy, cold December afternoon?

Bake Christmas cookies, of course!

And decorate them carefully once they've cooled . . .

so after dinner we can eat them.

Topped off with a warm fire and some cozy Christmas story reading, the simplest visits are always the best.

Cheers!

~Little Christmas House~

 The lights have been hung 'round the eaves . . .

The wreath is on the door . . .

And there's a snowman 'round the corner of my little Christmas house.

Snow lays on the ground, on the trees and lumps into the window boxes while I peek out between the shutters to marvel at the 

all-white world around me.

When I climb up to the attic I can look out to see for miles. Far away, a bit to the west and down in the valley I can see another house.

My son's house.

He built it when he was just eight years old . . . and it's been proved well made over these years. It lies in a drift on the valley floor, snug and solid and I can just make out his blue lights on his tree out front.

Lovely to have him so close for visits hearth side.

 Tomorrow he can bring his mom some more logs for her fire if the day is fine. I'll be baking cookies in anticipation.

And now it's time to heat the milk, put out the cat, and brave the cold bed sheets. Night comes so early in December.

Goodnight, son.

Goodnight little Christmas house.

Cheers!

~You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry~

You better not pout, I'm telling you why . . .

Twisty-Claws is coming to town!!!

(and those claws are no joke!)

Cheers!

~ Ahhh, December ~

December around here is very slowly making itself known. My Christmas decorating can be likened to a home improvement project- 90% prep work, 10% finishing/fun and always more time needed to get it done then you would imagine. And money of course . . .

except for this year. At this point Husband has been unemployed for ten months so this is the year we aren't doing presents! Believe it or not, I am super relieved. Don't misunderstand- I LOVE giving gifts . . . really, really love it and I am already missing getting a stocking together for my mom and kids, etc . . . BUT, this year I have been given the gift of simplicity. All the time I usually spend making for loved ones, wrapping, planning- shopping- instead I get to do the projects for myself I never end up having time for . . . like a snowflake garland I've had on the brain for three Christmases now, and maybe this will be the year I actually finish the little vintage Christmas shadow box I started like 5 years ago. I always dream of cookie baking time with my kiddos and making my own tree garland. THIS will be the year!

And, obviously, there is no money for enhancing any Christmas decorating, so I will only be using whatever I have on hand- and again- not a problem! My mind has been spinning like a little top with all sorts of "I could use this for that" sort of thinking, and the only thing stopping me from full-on Christmas decorating insanity is... the prep work.

Yup- I am a pre-Christmas cleaner. Full on, baby. As you can see, I even get down to the chandelier 'crystals'. Not a decoration- not a thread of tinsel- comes up from the basement until the living/dining areas are gleaming.

Oh, and I have a little bit of sliver to polish, too.

So, the tree remains in the garage, the lights in their storage bin (half of which I'm sure won't even light up) and Windex and Wright's Silver Cream are my bff's- at least for the moment.

Come on- someone tell me I'm not the only one . . . please!

. . . Dust the halls with the Swiffer dust pad! fa la la la laaa la la la la

. . . Gleaming silver makes me feel glad! fa la la la laaa la la la la

. . . Donning now rubber gloves and comet! fa la la la la la la la la 

. . . Just in case the cats do vomit! fa la la la laaa la la la la

Cheers!

~Bits from the Weekend~

We had a relaxing, sun-filled weekend. Went for lots of walks- one of which ends with horse friends. Played lots of pinball on Husband's ipad. Just hung around, trying hard to recuperate after Thanksgiving. We had our friend from Belgium staying with us- it was his first Thanksgiving. It went well . . . he brought LOTS of chocolate. I personally think it should be a new tradition. ;)

Then, yesterday afternoon, my camera died- as in DEAD. I suppose seven-year old cameras do that. But thanks to the Thanksgiving sales and some money I'd earned, I was able to get a NEW ONE!!!!!!! I've been having a blast figuring it all out. Went from 5 megapixels to 16 . . . and the camera itself is so light!! Modern technology is amazing (says the girl who is forever behind) ;)

So the above pictures are from the old camera right before it was laid to rest . . .
And below is from the my new addition- this afternoon in the garden.

I still have a ton to figure out . . . but the practice is the fun part!
(Except for my family who now run when they see me coming with my new baby- I need to get sneakier!)

Cheers!

~All the Autumn's Joys~ Giving Thanks

For waking to rainbows instead of rain.

Amazed to be all together this year.

Joyful to set a table and share it with family and an old friend.

Grateful to smell what's cooking in the kitchen, to hear chattering and music,

to feel the heaviness of the family silver, to see the glimmering of glass 

and taste and sample what is to come . . .

Happy Thanks Giving- Giving thanks to God!

Cheers!