Christmastime...

We are not one of those families who put Christmas up Thanksgiving night and take it down at Epiphany.  Nothing wrong with that.. just not our way.  When I was growing up, the tree went up the first day I was out of school for Christmas Break and it went down the last day I was home before returning to school.  My husband's family did much the same except the tree went down on New Year's Eve.  So we have a tradition here of putting it up around the 15th of December and taking it down New Year's Eve.  

This year it went up a bit early... first weekend in December. And it came down early... earlier than I wanted.. Dec. 27.  The boys were ready to have it gone! I got shots of the interior decorations, but not the exterior (which we awesome as usual).  No one forewarned me of the de-Christmassing of the house.  I went to work one morning with twinkle lights all around and came home to boxes ready to be stored away.  

Here is how the inside looked....

A small sampling of the nutcrackers my husband has collected over the years. Our kids gave him Sherlock a year ago with the new SH movie (a fave here) and the mouse king is one of him most special nutcrackers.. a gift from our daughter when she was a preteen. 

I love anything to do with snowmen or snow, so I love this nutcracker. Bought the Believe sign last year after Christmas on sale!  Had forgotten about it, so it was a new treat when we opened the decoration boxes this year.

A couple of shots of our kitchen table decked out for the season. 

One more... shows the view out the bay window... our lovely big ole Magnolia tree.

I also love love love sleigh bells!  Hubby found these last year and bought a ton (OK not a ton, but a whole lot!)  I love how they look in the trifle bowl.

And here is a close up of the plate settings. We were given these plates last year.. hand-me-downs.  Aren't they cute!  I used them for a Ladies Event at church this year.  Very cute!

The dining room table... which is normally sewing central for me.  It gets to dress up and show out during the holidays!

Hubby collects vintage ornaments. Many in the center bowl came from his mom and dad... memories of the Christmas trees of his youth.  The long tear shaped ones are from my great aunt.  

Dining room place setting. Our folks gave us Christmas china for several years when we were first married until we had a complete set including plates and cups for wee ones.  The glass plates on top came from my in-laws. I love the swirled edging on them.. it mirrors the Christmas china.  And the stem ware is nothing fancy... Oneida Chantilly Rose from the 50s. It was my folks "good silver".  I remember pulling out the brown wooden case and setting the table with it when we had special company or a holiday. We have that case now and use it fairly often.  Memories and family are a big deals here!

Piano in dining room.. yep, piano in dining room. We have 3 in the house, so we put them where ever we can find a spot!  This one was my grandmother's.. the first piano I ever played.  

Nativity... same set up as always... cannot imagine it in any other spot in the house.  Sometimes I see newer nicer ones and think how they would look here, but then I think Nope... we have a great one. We bought this one with Christmas money from our in-laws the year I was pregnant with younger child.  Our older one was 3.  So neither one remembers a Christmas without this nativity.  And yes, I know the wisemen were not there that night. I feel certain God is ok with them being with our nativity. Oh.. and the angel always goes on the shelf above.  :-)

Last but not least, the tree. (Notice another piano.. this one was my mom-in-laws pride and joy).  Our tree is not fancy.. not all coordinated and planned. There is an ornament for each of our 2 kids for every Christmas they have been alive.  Those are my absolute favorite ornaments!  Years ago when we had 10 or so, I would say "One day these will fill the tree!"  Well the kids are now 20 and 24... that's a lot of ornaments and they pretty much do fill the tree!  And again.. I LOVE IT!  Every ornament on that tree has a story or memory behind it.  Even the topper, which was a gift from my husband last year. (Isn't it great!)  This tree represents our family... our friends... our lives... Love... Grace... Joy...and that, to me, is what Christmas is all about!

Anticipation Grows....

Our Amaryllis continue to grow.. one is an overachiever and determined to our do the other!  LOL!

Snowman Dishes!

I have a lovely set of Christmas Dishes that hubby and I were give by our parents over the first few years of our marriage... we love using them from Black Friday through New Year's.  This year we have a new to us set to use also.  My son's girlfriend's aunt (got that) had some dishes stored in her attic that she wanted to give away. Girlfriend, knowing I love anything to do with snowmen, snowflakes, etc.  snagged them for me! :-)  Here is a plate..

There are cups, bowls, saucers and serving pieces.  It is a haul!  A huge blessing!  And fun!

Christmas is bursting out all over...

Ok.. I know the song is Spring is bursting out all over, but it's not Spring here and I needed a cute blog title... so allow me a bit of poetic license.

As I have probably mentioned here before, my hubby is very artistic and creative and loves to decorate for the holidays... here is a bit of his Christmas magic that has popped up around our house...

Front Door

Close up of wreath hubby made

Dining room

Nativity (there is an angel on the shelf above.. left him out of the picture!)

Fireplace

Tree.. this is my contribution to the decorating

New to us vintage topper hubby found at a local resale store

Breakfast room table.. I LOVE the jingle bells!

on kitchen counter

den door

utility room door

BELIEVE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!!!!!

Anticipation

Years ago when my husband and I were young-marrieds, he brought home a box... in it was a pot with dirt and this odd looking bulb. It was an amaryllis. We did everything it said to do and were rewarded with a lovely red and white bloom around Christmas.  We have grown a few more over the years, but not in a while.

This year we are "amaryllising" again.. 2!

Here they are a week ago teasing us...

I cannot wait to see them full grown and in full bloom.

Ahhh the anticipation...

Tis the Season.... a very different season....

In September my sweet Momma celebrated her 80th birthday. We had a party. Lots of folks came. It was a blast!  In October she got sick... pneumonia.. 2nd year in a row and when it gets hold it hangs on!  Just as she was getting over it.. still weak, but on the uphill swing, she fell.  Falling is never good when you are 80.  She had just finished talking to me and praise the Lord had placed her phone in the pocket of her robe. So she called me back. I was within a mile of her house and able to get there quickly. For that I am thankful!  I hate the thought of anyone alone and in need of help.  911 was called... they were wonderful... off we went to the hospital.  Bump on the head, but no concussion or brain bleed (another praise).  Broken shoulder, but the bone did not separate, so no surgery. (Praise again!) .. her left arm, not right (Praise!)... but there was a problem.  Mother has a pace maker and is on a blood thinner because of it.  The meds for her pneumonia had messed with the other meds. We knew that was going to happen.. the doctor told us ahead of time... we didn't, of course, anticipate a fall.  Her blood was dangerously thin, so no way could she go home.  She stayed in the hospital getting treated for the blood issue 4 days and finally we came home.  Things seemed ok, but not for long. There was pain... great pain... and not in her arm, but her back and side.  After 2 weeks we finally got to the orthopedic surgeon (who is a bit too cocky and rude for my taste).  Shoulder looks good.. will continue in the immobilizer 3 more weeks (not fun)... x-ray showed no broken ribs as we thought their might be, but there is something on the back.. not sure what.. but he wants a better look. So next Monday we go for a CT scan.. yes Monday. I have NO idea why we cannot go sooner... it is a battle that was waged and lost.. so we wait. I do believe the Lord is once again teaching me patience.

My daughter, soon to be 24, has moved in with my mom. She and I are sharing care-giving duties. This would be much more difficult without her.  The grands call my mother, Mamaw, and when my sweet girl was younger we called her Little Mamaw. She looks like her and has a great deal of her personality. And she is a caregiver by nature.. just like my Mom who has taken care of so many folks in her life.  This makes it very difficult for Mother to be cared for.  I have been amused at how it bothers Mother that I have to help her do things, but she is not phased when it is her granddaughter helping. I believe Mom prefers her in fact!  Again.. they are 2 peas (stubborn peas) in a pod!  who have a very strong bond.

Our Thanksgivings are always fairly laid back, but still we have traditions.  My husband loves to decorate tables and such. Our table on Thanksgiving day will be fulled decked with pine cones and walnuts... persimmons... dried hydrangeas... and other goodies from outside.. as well as various things we have around the house and candles.  It is always lovely and a real treat for us and our guests. Usually we have a small bit of family.. my husband and myself.. my mom.. our 2 kids... after that it is a mish-mash. We invite anyone who has no where to go. We have had elderly friends of my mothers... exchange students from other countries... neighbors... you name it!  None of that happened this year. I cooked Wednesday night and Thursday morning... we trucked the food over to my mom's ... ate there and were thankful not only for the food, but for her being ok... even though in pain. In an odd way, I don't feel we had Thanksgiving this year.

No doubt our Christmas season will be different too.  I have spent a number of Christmases differently. When I was a senior in high school I spent Christmas Eve in the hospital as my grandmother lay dying. After being in ICU and coding, she recovered and lived to see 2 more Christmases.... so 2 years later we were there once again and she went home to the Lord in early January.  My other grandmother died a few days before Christmas after suffering a heart attack and stroke during the Thanksgiving weekend... her husband, my grandfather, died several years later at Christmas... and even my sweet Dad slipped into a coma on Dec 26 and died Jan 2, 1997. I have spent many Christmas seasons waiting on someone to die and attending funerals.  Needless to say it has changed my perspective. At one time this season depressed me.. I kept wondering who would die this year.  That last a few years and then God opened my eyes to see that this is a season of hope and strength and He had given both of those in all the difficult Christmases over the years. He is giving that this year.

My mother is doing better... she will recover. I don't think she will be her former self. She has always been very independent and active. I believe this will slow her down and even tether her a bit.  That saddens me.. and yet, I knew this day would come. I just didn't really want it to happen.  I am my Mother's only daughter... we are closer than most Moms and Daughters... I have the privilege of having that same relationship with my daughter.. I learned how to be a mom from the best one I know.

Our Christmas will be merry and bright.. different.. but good.  We will focus, as we always try to, on Jesus.  He has given us a reminder of who He is.. the Prince of Peace... our Savior... Redeemer... Emmanuel!

Traditions will move forward as always (pictures coming)... and some new things will happen (we are doing stockings only for the kids and each other this year)... it is going to be a wonderful season celebrating the birth of Christ and anticipating His return!

Winding Down 2010

One of my 2011 resolutions needs to be to do a better job at blogging. I think about it.. I even say "I need to put that on the blog."  But life has a way of happening and I get caught up in it and don't blog.

I didn't think I would ever get in the Christmas spirit this year. Not sure I ever really did.. at least not the way most folks do. God has a wonderful sense of humor. Christmas Eve night I slammed my foot.. little toe to be exact... into the leg of a chair and did a bit of damage... swelling and bruising commenced... I was certain it would be fine by Christmas morning. Nope!  Couldn't walk on it at all. So I spent Christmas and the day after sitting with my foot propped up ... being waited on others. I say often that I want a day like that... I lie! LOL!  I got tired of it quickly and then it hit me..... like so many things in my life, it is about control. I wasn't in control and it was driving me nuts. Could my husband and son really bake the brunch casserole (which I had made the night before) as well as I could? Would we have all the foods I planned? Would it be done "right" (which means done my way)? 

Guess what... we had plenty of food and it was great... it was a lovely day and whether it was done my way or not, it was right.  It ended up being one of the most relaxed days I have had in a very long time. That was the best Christmas present ever, just wish I could have gotten it without the pain in my foot! LOL!

As always, my husband decorated the house in and out... it was magical... here are a few pix....

Mia loves to chew on our coco mats!  We have tried so many things to stop her, but nothing has worked. See her handiwork on the bottom corner?

This next photo has nothing to do with Christmas. It is just so rare I get a good photo of Mia.  I think she is an Amish dog and fears taking her photograph steals her soul!  I caught this shot of her truly by accident. 

Mac stood at the front door while I took pictures. He couldn't understand why I was outside without him! LOL! Look at that sweet little face watching his Momma.

My husband will tell you he doesn't care for wiener dogs... he prefers big dogs and wants a chocolate lab. Ha!  I have evidence that he spoils them... he is giving them a sausage and cheese ball (actually a pinch off one not a whole one each!) They both adore they Daddy! 

On a different note... I do a word of the year each year... well, I have for the past 3 years. My 2010 word was Change and it has been perfect!  There have been a lot of changes in our lives... 1 child graduated from High School (I homeschooled him all the way.. no more homeschooling is a big change!)... and he started college... the other graduated college. She was headed to grad school in another city.. ended up staying home.. is working.. and seeking God on what she needs to do next. Lots of changes with my level of activity at church (all good!)...  changes in income as retirement deposits and insurance premiums have gone up.. but also changes on deeper levels... and with priorities.  So it seems fitting that here at the end of 2010 I would make a big change. When I was a little girl I had long blonde hair... then in junior and senior high I went short.. Dorothy Hammil Wedge!  In 1996 I mentioned I needed a hair cut. My husband said "Let it grow" so I did. Over the years I have had small trims and given hair to Locks of Love twice.. 10" once and 12" another time. On Dec. 16 I donated 14" to Locks of Love and then got about 2" more cut off to create the new do.

Here is a before and after of the back of my hair:

I am pretty sure the friend who cut my hair added all that gray in the process! I don't remember it being there! LOL!  Maybe that is another one of those 2010 changes!  Wonder if 2011 will bring more...

Happy New Year Y'all!