Joyeux Noel...

Light a candle for each and every person, those who you've forgotten, for those you've lost, for family moving beyond you, for those full of anger, and those shackled by war, for those on the street, for those looking towards home, light a candle for each and every person; and the light of every candle will shine throughout heaven...
Merry Christmas to all my  friends, with love, joy, peace and gratitude

Holly days...

...woo-hoo, I finally had a chance to get out after my clinic appointment last week.  Hubs took me for a nice car ride, lunch out, and a trip to one of my favourite places during Spring and Winter...Watson's Nursery.  They have the best nursery stock there but it's so much more, with antiques, café, and any garden décor you could ever imagine.

it was a nice but exhausting day, being tethered will have that effect on you!

We finally put up a little tree last weekend, as in yesterday, we don't know where our Christmas decorations are stored and the children don't remember unloading it.  You know as soon as we go out and buy something that we will find those boxes so I'm holding off.  It's just the two of us the year so we'll get by.  Darn, I should have never taught my children to share...then I could hog all the holidays!

Hope your week is good.  Don't get that flu...it's miserable.  Be safe and merry.  Shine.

p.s.  there was a terrible Amtrak accident today just mere miles from where we live.  The aftermath will be heartbreaking for so many people...if you have any extra prayers they would be appreciated.

this Christmas...

God descends to re-ascend. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity… down to the very roots and sea-bed of the Nature He has created. But He goes down to come up again and bring the ruined world up with Him. One has the picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden. He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders.  c.s.lewis

As we pause to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us lift up our eyes and ponder anew the miracle of Christmas.   May you be blessed with all the joyous gifts your heart can hold and may you hold those you love near to you and remember those who can't be with us, those who need us to reach out to them, and shine your heart light.  Merry Christmas.

old dog, new tricks...

...what is that old saying?  You can't teach an old dog new tricks.  Well this old dog is tricked to her limit and despising every moment of tryig to learn Widows 10, where my archived photos are hiding and the new blogger dashboard.  What the hell blogger?

I've been trying to get into the Christmas spirit, slowly but surely.  another old saying.  Finally got hubby to get down the Christmas decorations and now boxes and crates litter the dining room.  It will probably take me two weeks to go through them and then end up putting out only a few things.  Seems every year we decorate less and less, must be how it is when your children are grown and leave home and think they can have lives of their own and make their own decisions....run on sentence a little?

every year I plant paperwhite bulbs in early December and by Christmas day they are usually a foot tall and blooming.  So yesterday I got out all the necessary items and got ready to plant, a little late this year.

a few pretty bowls that I use as planters and some pretty rocks my son collected on his trips, also a few marbles to throw in the mix.  I set the bulbs in a small amount of soil and then fill with the rocks etc. and water.

as I was cleaning out last years planter I found this rubber marble.  I guess I really do have the whole world in my hand.  Not.

I cut some pretty ribbon I found at the store over the weekend and adorned my various bunnies since I never put them away after Easter.  Looks festive, maybe I'll just tie ribbon around everything and call it a day.

I even got a little poinsettia.  I love the variegated leaves on this one.  Almost pulled off the yellow one thinking it was dead and then realized it was multi-colored.  We haven't been to the Poinsettia festival yet but will probably go this weekend.  It's always such a beautiful sight, held at a local nursery with little things to nibble on while browsing antique Christmas décor, accompanied by lovely carols on a grand piano, smells of cinnamon and fresh balsam.  Love it.

Be well dear friends, be safe out there, enjoy the season of joy and light.

the santa story...

...yes, I realize that Christmas has come and gone again, already.  But I haven't been able to upload any pictures until this past weekend and there are some things that just need to be shared.  Like this wonderful albeit fuzzy picture of my darling grandgirl Maude holding a Santa.  And this Santa is the one who gets to have his story told. 

Waaay back when my parents were first married (1945) they were young and eager and excited to be starting their new life together.  After much confusion with my father's passport and whether or not he could come into the country to wed (he was French-Canadian) they finally had their special day.  A very small affair one afternoon in church with only their witnesses there to take part.  A few months passed and the holiday season was coming near, like all young couples they struggled to make ends meet and had few luxuries.  My father worked three part-time jobs and my mother worked full-time so they could save money to buy a house, yet things were still difficult.  I can only assume they had a "Charlie Brown " Christmas tree and a few decorations, that I still have, but were still full of the Christmas spirit.  Living in New York...what could be more festive at Christmas?

As I said, my father worked three part-time jobs one of them being a banquet houseman at a uppity up hotel in the city.  Banquet housemen set up banquets, set the tables, acted as servers and then cleared up afterwards.  Oddly enough when I first met my husband to be he was working as a banquet houseman in a fancy schmancy hotel in our big city!  Anyway, after this particular Christmas party was cleaned up these Santa Claus were sitting on the tables.  They had been part of the centerpieces along with flowers, candy canes, and small toys.  The man in charged told my dad that if he wanted to take one he could, otherwise they would be thrown out.  (!)  And so we had a Santa, my parents first real decoration who was carried to dozens of different houses and set up every single Christmas.  He is made of wood, meticulously carved with wonderful facial features.  A small turned up nose, rose cheeks and of course sparkling eyes.  He has a 'real' beard which has turned it's own special colour over the years, a big round belly, black boots and the red outfit.  He really is a treasure and everyone of us kids loved him.

We used to joke with our parents that they needed to put visitation directions into their will because non of us would ever want to share him.  And true to form we tried to act like grown ups and decided he would rotate around to each of our houses alternating every year.  As you can see I have him, he lives with me...not for the reasons that seem obvious though.  That's another story.

This picture means more to me than any words I could say.  My parents didn't live to see their grandchildren grow up and have their own families.  Maude would be their great-grandchild, or as she says, 'gamma-gamma.'  My lovely son's girl holding the Santa that brought so much joy to our family...my parents would be over the moon.  As for the grandboy?  He ran screaming from the room and wouldn't come open presents until Santa went into the closet for the afternoon.  Maybe next year.

and let it begin with me...

The older we get and the more life trials we experience
the more we realize the boxes under the tree 
don't mean as much  as what the God who made the tree
can give us.  Down deep in all of us we desire loving, healthy
relationships with those we love the most AND,
JOY and PEACE and LOVE the whole year through.

wish you all the joy of the birth of our Saviour, May you and yours be Blessed with all things wonderful this season.  Let's all remember to be kind to one another and maybe, just maybe, there can be Peace on Earth.  It begins with me....

and so it came to pass...

Blogger is not playing nice.  I can't seem to comment on any other blogs and can't sign in/out of my own.  Don't know what is going on but it certainly takes some of the joy out of blogging when I can't communicate with all my friends.  Please know I am reading your blogs, thinking of you, and hoping that all is well in your world.  I will try to be back before the New Year breaks but if not I would like you all to know what a pleasure it is and has been for me to be part of your lives and for you to take such care of me and my little world.  May you be blessed with the spirit of joy and thanksgiving this Christmas and find peace and love in each and every day.  Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah, love j.

simply stated...

...and that is what it is all about.



'And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.'


Wishing you all a peaceful holiday, joy-filled, candy wrapped, Glory.  See you soon my friends.   Be well, be safe, be blessed...;j

have you seen me???

...we missed the annual parade of Poinsettias at our local nursery this year.  Usually held early in December it's purpose to show-off all the lovely Christmas trees and decorations and spotlight the Poinsettia. There is live music, carolers and little goodies.   We went yesterday to see what was left. For years and years the only colour I ever saw was red, not my favourite.  But in recent years there has been an explosion of different colours besides the usual red, white and pink.  Now they are striped, and dotted, and maybe next year plaid!   This was a new one for this year...called a Rose Poinsettia.  On first glance it looks much like a red geranium, also not one of my favourites.

 upon closer inspection it reminded me of a Camilla, which I happen to love.

 I really don't see the 'rose' but the blooms are rather ruffled as would an open rose be.

Header picture was taken of another row.  I did end up buying the 'rose' as it was unique and I DO like that!

and the church bells rang, and the children sang...

We had a wonderful Christmas with our little Miss M and our soon to be born Master H.  They brought their parents, who happen to be our children, with them and craziness ensued and fun was had by all.  This year the holidays really sneaked up on me and there was so much that I didn't get done.  I didn't have a chance to have my annual cookie decorating party, nor did we get the tree up until Christmas Eve.  My little elf had been sick so we waited for her to come over and decorate it for us and she did a fabulous job of it!  I didn't get a chance to show you my Crate and Barrel knock-off of NOEL but it you are really interested in it I can do it in a later post.  We only had sandwiches and snacks for our Eve dinner then desert at the in-laws.  Really though when it all comes down to it, the only thing that mattered is that we were all here, together...family.  The best.
I hope your holiday was joyful, there is a new year right around the corner and lots of hope and promise as we make another run around the sun.  Be well and I will see you all soon.

p.s.  I took 94 photos on Christmas Eve and most of them were too dark or fuzzy...these are the best of the worst.  I really need to figure out what my camera problem is!

Merry be your

Christmas,

Peaceful

be your home,

Joyful

be your family,

Blessed

be your hearts.

Merry Christmas friends.

source: graphics fairy

Keeping up with the Jones'...

...I love giving gifts.  It makes me happy and I search all year long for that one thing that is special and reminds me of the recipient.  So of course, when Christmas comes I am all aflutter as to where I am going to find this special something.  Usually of course, I find it when I'm not looking.  

Last Christmas I was perusing the interwebs, searching, when I came across a Groupon for Jones soda.  (do you  know Groupon? you should check them out) and Jones soda?  they are the ones with the wacky flavours like Turkey and Gravy, they also have great standards like Root Beer and Creme) but I digress.  I saw a Groupon for Jones soda and the deal was that you could design your own private label and order a few cases of your favourite flavour.  Talk about a light bulb moment! 

Not only could I create something special for my family, I could also commemorate the addition to our little group with a label of Maude!! Not only could you upload a picture for the label but you could write a description of the "brand."   Here's our sweet girl;

 and the description:   

Maude's Holiday Elixir

a sweet blend of sunshine and innocence

guaranteed

to cure all your ills

and

put a smile on your heart.



I had so much fun trying out different labels and putting the whole thing together, and mom and dad could not have been more surprised.  And although I chose a flavour that everyone would enjoy no one has yet opened the bottle! 

Always looking for a sweet surprise!  Be kind, choose life, you enough.


This is NOT a sponsored post for Groupon nor Jones Soda.  Neither of these companies know me from Adam and Eve, or Adam and Steve or Steve and Edie...no one.  BUT if they happen to come across this post and want to send some goodies my way I would be happy to write a review!

A minima Chrsitmas...

a few years ago when I decided to start a blog

(what was I thinking?)

one of the decisions that had to be made was the blog layout.

At that time there were few choices so I went with

stretch minima.

No particular reason except I like the sound of it

s-t-r-e-t-c-h- minima.

Did you know that minima is the pleural of

minimum?

An abundance of minimum all stretched out.

That really does seem to fit me don't you think?  There really is no point to all of this except that I wanted to use minima in a blog post and this surely seems

like a minima kind of Christmas.

from my lone wreath in the foyer (above)

and my barely dressed mantle

we are celebrating in a

minimal sort of way.

Our tree is up yet unadorned,

we call this

Maude decorating.

I have a lone Poinsettia sitting on the hearth

soaking in the late winter sunshine.

(and apparently a camera that can tell the future!)

and a few baubles on the window pane.

This is as ready as we are going to be this time around.  Not that we aren't counting out Blessings but more of a

stop

look around

feel it in your heart.

The things that spend all year in a tote in the attic

are not what makes our Christmas.

It's the love and joy we carry for those who touch our lives all year long.

We just added a little sparkle and glitter here

and there

this year but

Jesus is always our reason.

Wishing you Joy and Peace during this Christmas season.

May you find the blessings of your heart

and share them with each other.

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Holidays

Monday snap...

...I took part in the Secret Santa Soiree over at Colorado Lady's  place a few weeks ago and on Friday I got a package from my Secret Santa swap partner.  Oh yeah baby, Santa must have had a difficult time getting that sleigh to fly with this package of goodies on board.   Now please snuggle up and take a little tour with me as I show you all the little lovelies  I received.

This post deserves so much more than I can provide with my lonesome little photo, blogger doesn't seem to want to share tonight, so please click on the pic and have a look!

From candles and soap, paper plates, napkins and a journal, some home-made cards and an apron.
To little sheep (see them?) and dryer balls made from the wool from her very own sheep!
To vintage linens~~table cloth, ornaments and milk glass doves,
to my very own little forest of bottle brush trees.
This package was filled with all of my very favourite things.  Each one wrapped with ribbon and ornaments.  How did you know I would love each and every one of them!

Thank you to my Secret Santa.  You have made this 'swap' a very special one for me and your gift could not have arrived at a better time.  You have touched my heart and my home with your generous spirit.  May you be blessed with the same spirit and joy.

Those sneaky little elves...

...Oh, it started out innocently enough.

One morning I woke up and there were a few Christmas totes in the dining room.

A few days later there was a tote containing the Christmas tree.

All seemed well for a few days after that

but then;

it was as if Christmas had exploded

all over the dining room, with all kinds of toys and decorations filling

each and every empty space.

(why yes, that is hubbys arm)

Then it moved on into the kitchen and nothing was safe.

Not the counter tops

or the breakfast nook.  Not the desk or the chairs.

It .was.everywhere.

Then they left.

Not to be seen again.

It's been days and days and still my house looks like this.

I just may have to do something

about it myself

soon.

Are you ready?

With tidings of comfort and joy...

cookie decorating

son and dil

May your

hearts

and lives

be

filled with

joy

and

love

that can only

come

from the

babe

born on

Christmas Day.

Blessings to you and yours

with

gratitude and love.

xojj

The Santa Claus...

...I was three when we left Brooklyn and all of our extended families and moved across the country.  We had a car, our clothes and a small (tiny) u-haul trailer with our meager possessions.  In my arms was a girls best friend, her teddy bear, and in a box...Santa.

Poor Teddy was lost or left-behind in a hotel in El Paso, Que the quirky country song.  Something that broke my little three year old heart.  But, Santa survived.  He survived another eleven moves, and when my parents were still alive, he was the only thing us four children wanted in the will.  He has since spent the last ten years traveling from each of our houses to the next and spending the holidays with all of us.

 By the third Christmas that my parents had spent together, they were living in a new house with a brand new baby boy, born seven weeks premature.  There were mortgages to pay, hospitals to pay, and Christmas on it's way.  So my dad worked two part-time temporary jobs in addition to his regular job. 

 One of those jobs was at Milton-Bradley and, I was always sad when I heard that story because I thought if we had not moved from NY, I could have had every game and toy that they had ever made! 

The other job was at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.  He would set up and break down banquet rooms for company Christmas parties.  At one such party they had these Santa's as the table centerpiece.  After the party was over and the tables broken down to be readied for the next party my dad found this last and lonely Santa.  All the others had been taken home by party guests.   My dad's boss, knowing he had a baby at home, offered it to him.  At first pop refused but as he walked out to the car he had second thoughts and went back for him.  He has been a treasured part of our family ever since.

He's aged a little over the years but is really no worse for wear.  I'm afraid now that if I tried to clean his beard that it would just fall out, or shrink, so I just let it be.  He is carefully unpacked every year for a short few weeks and then lovingly repacked until the next year, or the next move.  He carries with him all the wonderful memories of our Christmas past and as we move forward to our Christmas future I know he will always be safe and carry our special childhood secrets.

Long ago and oh so far away...

Every picture tells a story...

...we lost power Tuesday night so I lit the candles and took some pics

of the kitchen shelf

all ready for the big day...

happy, happy..;j