A treasured cross-stitch picture
by my daughter
by my daughter
given to me one Christmas past.
While unpacking these decorations, I made the decision to eliminate many items that I've not used in years and/or ones that don't have any sentimental value. That felt really good. (Hey, I'm getting good at this de-cluttering thing.)
A 32" x 32" applique piece
I did a a couple of years ago.
(It stays.)
Now it's time for me to bake a big bunch of sugar cookies for my daughter. No, it's not that she allows herself to indulge in copious amounts of the cookies, but rather gathers together her little group of six happy urchins (children of her dear friends) and has her annual, huge Christmas cookie decorating party with them. Thus far, the boys are still eager to enter into the spirit of the season (and frosting and assorted toppings) and dive into the project with as much enthusiasm and gusto as the girls.
I love this large jingle bell wreath
given to me by a friend
a few years back.
And then there are my own Christmas goodies to start making and baking. Each year I waver between getting them done early (and often having too many disappear too soon) or waiting until right before the 25th and feeling we don't have adequate time to enjoy and share them. Also, I kinda like to have them ready to make plates of assortments to give before the (sometimes glut of) sugar-laden goodies appear in everyone else's homes. Such a dilemma, eh?
The little Santas on the right are
from Iceland and were
a gift to me from my daughter
when she visited there
about 15 years ago.
At any rate, I'm definitely experiencing that getting-close-to-the-holidays feeling now and plan to relax and enjoy the season to the utmost.
Bring on the aroma of cookies baking in the oven and Christmas music on the player.
Tra-la-la-la-laaahhh!
17 comments:
Looks like fun at your house, MamaP! I had a hard time getting going this year, too-maybe because we are in a rental after selling our house and not finding anything yet.
Love your jingle bell wreath. I had one and now wonder whatever happened to it. Merry Christmas countdown- Hugs- Diana
Wheeeeeee! You are into it and done! With the decorations, that is. And lovely they are.
So proud of you, getting rid of those, which have become "just stuff." Yessss!!!! -giggles-
What a sweet Holiday Tradition, your Dear Daughter does! How very caring of her. And what lovely memories are made. For them, and for her too.
Here, I don't really bake. A Mincemeat Pie for my husband... An Apple Pie is really due. But cookies were never my forte. Daughter in law next door, and kids, make Christmas cookies. -smile-
And son and kids, make Peanut Butter Fudge, as a tradition.
I'm sure your home looks very festive. And I actually got a teeeny, tiny, little peek at your home, in the mirror. Ahem, you are very, very stingy with your photos of inside your home!!! Grumble-grumble-grumble... -pout- Just had to say this, as it seems a good time, to do so.
Ducking, running and hiding!!!!!!!! >,-)
🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
You do look very festive. Have you got most of your knitting and present making done? Like your quilted wall hanging.It's so nice you make the cookies for your daughter,so the little ones can have fun decorating them. What memories they will have. My daughter likes to make all the cookies now. She's a great cook. So I'm very lucky on that part. Keep on enjoying yourself! xo
NanaDiana - I would find it extremely hard to decorate for the holidays while in a rental house. :o( Do you even have your holiday things readily available or are they in storage somewhere? Here's hoping the hunt for your new house brings you exactly what you want soon into the New Year!
wisps of words - I took a medium sized box of Christmas ornaments I had made years ago to one of our resale shops in town. I hope someone will need and want them. The gal who runs the shop seemed impressed with them and they have one whole room set up with only Christmas items so maybe they will find a new home.
I think all of us are curious as to just what other blogger's homes look like, don't you? Oh, if we could only walk through those homes and satisfy our curiosity! ;o}
Lynne - I have one more Christmas gift to finish . . . but can't say too much about it here. Shhhhh! I should start wrapping the presents that are accumulating in the bottom of my clothes closet rather than leaving them all until the last minute. Yep, that would be a smart thing to do!
Looks great! Putting our winter goodies today, Christmas next weekend
And, just like that it's beginning to look like Christmas. How nice it is to have the decorating finished, and be looking forward to all the hustle and bustle that will fill the remaining days until Christmas.
Without my kids and grandkids around, we don't bother with decorating for Christmas. It was a multi generation collection dating back to our great-grandparents. It's just another thing to do to put up and take down.
All my Christmas cherished items were dispersed between my girls when I divested myself of all but essentials when I moved to NE GA. But Mel carries some 10 totes of Christmas decoration with her. So if we wanted to, we could.
Mama Pea, your decorations are so pretty! Just yesterday Dan asked if we were going to decorate for Christmas. I put up my needlepoint Christmas village for the grandkids on Thanksgiving, but other than that, I can relate to not having the enthusiasm for it anymore. Like Jo says, it's more fun with children and grandchildren around (ours go to the other grandparents in PA for Christmas), but also, it's such a chore, especially putting it all away. I see less decorating this year than I ever remember. Political correctness has pretty much killed the holiday, it seems. Except that we're all supposed to go into debt to make the merchants rich. There's nothing to celebrate in that.
I love that cross stitch of the Santas! I understand what you mean about timing your Christmas baking! Last year, we hosted Christmas, so I made a ton of things, but kept them in the freezer. If we wanted a few, it was easy enough to just take some out of the freezer, but there were still lots for the actual day. I'm slow on getting the decorating done here. -Jenn
Wow, it all looks great! My goal is to get the tree up today. We'll see if it happens.
Hi...I followed your link at wisp of words blog (your comment) and thought I'd pay you a visit. Love all your holiday decor (that jingle bell wreath is truly a work of art).
Nice to meet you.
Nancy - Just read you latest blog entry and really enjoyed (as usual) seeing all you've been up to!
Hill Top Post - And we're even getting snow today! Somewere around 4", I think, with a bit of blowing. Hubby has been shoveling it up around the house for insulation (temp dropped to 9° overnight) and it's starting to feel warmer in here already. (Could be my imagination.)
Cockeyed Jo - It should be strictly your own decision whether to put up holiday decorations. It is a lot of work, but at this point in time I still think the enjoyment we get from the lights and color is worth it. Not to say your decision not to do it is wrong. As they say, whatever works best for you! ;o)
Leigh - You make such good points. In our community, the school can no longer have their annual "Christmas Concert." Now it is called a "Winter Concert" and outside of one musical number (jingle bell something or other), no Christmas music was heard. This upsets me.
Jenn - I wish I had been able to get a better picture of that X-stitch piece my daughter did. It really is an heirloom as far as I'm concerned. I probably need to make ahead and freeze (deep, deep in the freezer where the Cookie Monster who lives here can't find them) the Christmas cookies that freeze well. Good idea.
Kristina - Got that tree up yet?? ;o)
Hootin' Anni - Hey, thanks for stopping by! The individual bells in the wreath are a good 3" or 3-1/2" across. I'd never seen jingle bells that large!
You are a better woman than I! I have much to do still....it happens every year...why can't I be ready? There's exactly a year between each one. Oh well, I 'll get 'er done one way or another but I too would like to have time to enjoy the music and baking and watching Christmas movies...but there's still time if I get my act together! LOL!
I love your decorations and your tree...all so pretty and festive!
Enjoy!
Re: your comment on my today-post....
How super wonderful, to have had such lovely news, on a Fri. the 13th!!!!!!
"Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even."
♬ 🎶 ♫
Sam I Am - You are ahead of me in the package wrapping department. I haven't wrapped a single one yet and I really need to get going because I dislike having to do a whole bunch under pressure! I think today (Friday) is going to be a baking day as I've not gotten any Christmas goodies made yet. The decorating is about all I'm feeling on top of!
wisps of words - :o) :o) :o)
Dec. 15th
Nooooo! My husband didn't bake the Mincemeat Pie. I did. For him.
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