Well, hell...

My husband, going through the mail one day last week...


DH: Hahahahahahaha!


Me: What?


DH: Bwaahahahahaha!


Me: WHAT?



DH: (Hysterical laughter) This is addressed to you.









(Loooooong pause...)




Me: Very funny.








(Just in case you don't know, AARP stands for the American Association of Retired Persons -- senior citizens!)

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Please be sure to stop by tomorrow, when I'll be participating in Karla's Holiday Party: "What Do You Love About Your Holiday Home." Bring your sister, bring your mom, bring your friends -- the more, the merrier!

I can't wait till tomorrow, so here are a few photos:

Greetings from the Little Red House

Every Christmas season, I try to get the outdoor decorations finished before it gets too cold, but try as I might, I always seem to leave it too long. We've got freezing temperatures here, and I am loathe to stay outside long enough to do much more than hang a wreath.

We have a tiny porch next to our garage, with a bench and some baskets of greenery. There is a bird's nest in the ivy next to the door, and we are host to a family of robins each spring. This year, I bought a tiny live tree at Home Depot, which has found a home on the porch, along with my old Flexible Flyer and my husband's old ice skates. I need to add a bow to make the whole thing a bit more cheerful.

It's amazing, though, what a little dusting of snow can do to make things seem more festive. Here is the Little Red House after a few flurries.

The picture below is my neighbor, Heidi's, house. Isn't it beautiful? I can see Heidi's house as I stand at my kitchen sink.

The other day I saw her landscapers' truck pull up. They blew the leaves from her lawn, cleaned out the shrub and flower beds, and put up all the window and door trimmings. How great is that? I could definitely use some "instant outdoor decorating!" Couldn't you?

Have a wonderful week!

Character

Do you have some Christmas decorations that are a bit tattered?  Maybe they are cherished pieces that your children made, or were handed down by your parents or grandparents.  They may not be in such great shape, but they are lovingly brought out each year. 

Some might say these trees have seen better days; I prefer to think of them as having acquired character over the years. :) Both trees grace our tiny den, but I have photographed them in the dining room, where the light is better.

I made the one on the right years ago, with moss from our back yard. The moss has turned a lovely shade of brownish green, perfect for the colors of the den. My dear friend, Toni Ann made the taller one. Those are bay leaves, each individually pinned on. A star anise and some cloves crown the top, and a skirt of small rosebuds encirces the base. Have you ever seen such a tall, skinny tree form? I love it.

I'll post more Christmas pictures in the days to come; some more cherished ornaments from my parents, and my kids.   I've been enjoying all your special decorations. I love learning about you and seeing your homes all dressed for the holidays. And I can visit you while sitting down with a cup of tea, wearing my pajamas. Isn't blogging great?

Little Things

Sometimes, the stupidest little things make me happy. Like these two tiny birds I got at Michael's last week. The yellow one came with some greenery and a pinecone -- I placed him on the shelf, above. The red one nestled into our little kitchen tree, pictured below. They join the decorations on my bird wall in the kitchen, and they make me smile everytime I walk past. :O)

I'm also cheered by some red transferware in this plate rack, also in the kitchen, and the swag of red berries on top. Don't red berries just make you smile?

Or do I need to tweak my meds?

Happy decorating, dear bloggers!

Christmas Books

When my kids were little, my husband and I always gave them a Christmas book each year. We usually presented it to them a few nights before Christmas Eve, so they could enjoy reading about the upcoming holiday.














Holidays were always hectic at the time, but I do miss those nights with a warm, wiggly child in my lap, taking a few minutes to escape to another time or another world. I always loved the illustrations, and the easy cadence of the words, spinning a sleepy and hypnotic tale. I miss the warm feel of kids in feetie pajamas and the slightly curdled smell of a child's milky breath. And I do love seeing the holiday through the eyes of a child -- magical.

We have quite a few classics now, and my kids still enjoy sitting in front of the tree and rereading them with a cup of hot cocoa.










May your own Christmas stories be magical.

Silver or Gold?

I've been playing with dishes again. Instead of doing...oh, a hundred and one other things that need doing in this crazy season.

Yes, sad to say, it takes me several tries of different settings to decide what I will do for Christmas dinner. It's a pain in the neck, but hey, someone's gotta do it! :)

Hence, the question: silver or gold? What do you think?

Glory

I showed you some sunset pictures a while back; here are some more, taken earlier this week. I understand the scientific explanation for the colors, but I cannot help thinking that they are a gift from God, or a manifestation of His glory. Then I start wondering -- what makes color so beautiful to us? Is there a scientific explanation for that? I guess I'll have to do a little research.