Christmas Cottage Welcome

My dear little mother lives in a darling little cottage home that my dad built for us many years ago when I was in high school. She is a very special lady and always has a knack for decorating her home just right. The holidays are no exception. Her door is always open to welcome you into her heart and her home. Once you visit you will want to return - she is gifted in the art of hospitality. Join me as we stop by to visit. You're in for a treat!Before you get to the front door you can't help but feel welcome here. The porch is always filled with things to see. Sometime each Christmas season a special wreath 'appears' on the wall of the porch. It is a gift from a dear friend and former neighbor of many years. Handmade especially for my dear little mother - a labor of love. Something to look forward to each year.Nearby you will see a wooden Christmas stocking that greets you with Christmas wishes. . .Birds of a feather, flocking together. . . An old wooden milk delivery box and a basket of fresh greens. . .A happy little snowman on his sled. . .An old, pot-bellied stove. . .

Where a welcome awaits.

An antique coal scuttle filled with evergreen boughs sits near a little cast iron dutch oven my father bought for his mother when he was a boy. In the summertime it hangs on the porch, filled with pretty flowers.On the door another wreath brings anticipation of the warm welcome that awaits when you step inside.Don't hesitate to knock or press the doorbell. You won't be sorry - you will be glad you stopped by to visit my dear little mother in her Christmas Cottage home.

Christmas Gifts

God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is love; the radiance of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ.

Wilda English

Art: "Silent Night, Gentle Light"

Artist: Dona Gelsinger

Seasonal Thoughts

Thank you for your kind comments and emails of encouragement. I am slowly unpacking some of my Christmas decorations. Yesterday, one of my sweet teenage piano students admired my village on the entertainment center near the piano. Only the snowy 'ground' and buildings were there - no trees, people, accessories yet. When I told her there was a box of village accessories that had not been found yet she immediately responded, "It's a ghost town!" Cute idea. Not everyone in my town has a Christmas ghost town. Until the box is located I will just enjoy the lights in the little town without people.Angels have appeared on my mantle to add to the festive atmosphere of the season. Pictures will be shared soon.

A few evenings ago my sweetheart and I took a supper of soup and salad to my dear little mother's house. The soup was Kelli's White Chili. You really must try it! We loved it. Afterwards my sweetheart put up my dear mother's tree and lights. While he did that I took lots of pictures of the wonderful decorations she has in her darling little cottage home. When we left that evening my camera stayed behind - forgotten. Today I will spend time with her and when I come home at the end of the day my camera will be with me. I know you will enjoy what she has done in her home at this holiday season. (The ornaments shown here are from my tree - more from Christmases past.) Several have asked about my knee. At first there was progress but that soon slowed and I am left with pain and limitations. As a result, my knee, leg and low back have issues that affect everything I do. This morning I begin physical therapy in hopes of helping the healing process along.In the middle of the busyness of the season I am taking time to breathe deeply, read a bit and - most of all - reflect on the reason we celebrate. Jesus is the Reason for the season!

Christmas Past

I had great plans - I really did! This year I was going to be READY for the holiday season. Gifts purchased in advance. Decorations planned and up early. Schedule a little more relaxed than in some years. But that didn't happen. Because of the events of the last few months in our family and all that is involved with being executor of an estate, plus falling on my knee in the driveway last month, has changed everything. The decorations just came down from the attic last evening. Today is the day I teach piano lessons so there isn't much time to get anything else accomplished. Just be ready to smile, listen and love being with the kids - each one - as they arrive and we work together to make beautiful music and have fun with it. That's enough, it's OK, it's what I love. In the meantime there are no pictures to show you my decorations. It will come, I promise. So - for now - a couple of pictures from Christmases past to enjoy. (It won't be exactly the same this year. That much I know for sure.)

Ocean Tides

There will be low ebbs as well as the high tides. But when there is faithfulness, more sure than the tides of the ocean are the unending tides of His love and grace.

Unknown

"Grandma, Why. . .

is that little boy. . .

throwing snowballs at that little girl?"

"Well, Mr. G., he's not really throwing them at her. Do you know who that little boy and girl are?" "No, Grandma." "That little boy is Grandpa and the little girl is me. We were about two years old. We didn't even know each other then because we lived a long ways from each other. My mommy and daddy took the picture of me playing in the snow and Grandpa's mommy and daddy took the picture of him. We really weren't throwing snowballs at each other - it just looks like we were."

Mr. G. looked a bit puzzled as he moved to on other things.

These sweet little pictures from the past are in a double frame on my little lamp table in the living room each winter. They usually lead to an interesting discussion whenever someone visits for the first time. But no conversation about the pictures of my sweetheart and I are as special as the one not long ago with our dear grandson, Mr. G.

Fireplace Facelift

Last year between Thanksgiving and Christmas my sweetheart and I gave our living room fireplace a complete facelift. We had planned this for a long time, saved pictures from magazines, catalogs and brochures and dreamed of the day our old, out-dated fireplace would be transformed. The change was incredible and we love it! No regrets.

This is what the fireplace looked like before the re-do. The mantel was very narrow and hard to decorate. See the one nearly white brick? That was my trial-run with Kilz. My sweetheart couldn't believe I did that before we started the project! Just checking. This was the 'old' built-in bookcase beside the fireplace.During the process it looked like this.And then this.Finally, after many long hours of cutting, nailing, sanding, priming and painting there was no way to miss the beauty of the finished project.Over the top - better than we dreamed possible. . .Every detail just right. . .Every little piece a labor of love - a team project with the goal in mind. . .In time to decorate for the holidays.We didn't tell our kids what we were doing. They only knew that we were working on a project in the house. Imagine their amazement when they arrived Christmas morning.

I love the fireplace, the mantel and the bookcase now and I don't want to hide any part of it. Last year I kept the decorations very simple so I could enjoy every little detail. This year I will make a few changes and add something new (perhaps) but I won't do anything to hide the charm we worked so hard to accomplish.