~Rudolph Candy Cane Antlers from Sam~
~Beaded Candy Cane from Sam~
~Gorgeous Red Cardinal from Keanne~
My niece was home from New York City and the family was able to gather the day after Christmas for supper and no gifts. So much for that part because somehow this red cardinal was given and I love him! He is very elegant.
~Cinnamon Teddy Bear from Mom~
A few days before Christmas as I was busily scraping together some last-minute gifts, I was desperate for some festive-looking fabric. I couldn't hope for Christmas fabric, but something red or green or Christmasy. I opened a box in my sewing room tucked high on a shelf and found a Christmas gift that I had forgotten all about. It was filled to the brim with Christmas fabrics, leftovers from my mother's sewing room, and a number of sweet cinnamon teddy bears. I almost sat down on the floor and cried and then thought why not laugh with the joy of it instead? So I did. And every time I see them, I smile all over again.
Supper preps...
We had a very pleasant Christmas with two of John's daughters planning to visit. One was unable to come after breaking her leg; the other was able to visit with us Christmas Eve.
We spent Christmas afternoon with my son and his family and had a very nice time watching the boys open gifts and play with them. We played a game John and I got for the family called "Say Anything." We were asked the question: What is the worst pet that one could bring home? What might you say? I said, "an alligator." My son said, "A beagle." And that with the family beagle snoring on the sofa right beside me! We got a good laugh out of that and then Jake (the youngest grandson) came and kneeled over his dear pet and whispered, "Don't you listen to Daddy. You are a very good dog."
I have a "Gathering the Year" post for the 31st. I know that they are not everyone's cup of tea, but I am growing olden and wish to keep an easy record. On New Year's Day, I am wishing you a Happy and Prosperous 2015 and taking another little break of a week or so. (I don't wish to offend with my ongoing Christmas celebrations.☺)
Later...
Well..I can tell you...for the first time in a long time I wanted to take things down, but hubby put a kibbash on that! ANYWAYS--Nice to see you and I always enjoy your posts. Blessings to you. Hope John's daughter will heal up sooner than later.
ReplyDeleteVery sweet ornaments! Thoughtful givers. Especially the boys. :-) Wrapping it all so well and all. I suggested taking down Christmas after youngest son texted me a pic of their sans Christmas tidy family room … but hubby says no. I'm not arguing since I'm down with a virus. Love your new header. I'm picturing that in my mind as your little cottage.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about kids and tape!
ReplyDeleteI'm still enjoying my decor. In fact I keep moving it around and improving it. Christmas doesn't come in a box." it came without packages, boxes, or bags!" Grinch. But when we are finished celebrating we may store our decor there. You seem to have fared very well in the decor area. Such nice gifts.
It's nice to find something we've put away and forgotten. Unless it's potatos. Now what on earth would make me think of potatos.
I am keeping Christmas, too! We will be storing it away differently this year. I had the brilliant idea of using the LAWN house (former playhouse and now used to store lawn equipment) instead of climbing up into the storage building attic. This will make it MUCH easier for me to get it in and out from now on. HOWEVER! We need to clean that area out first and relocate it all - which will take time and good weather. So.....I'm in no hurry! By the way, I always enjoy how attractive your blog is. You keep it so pretty and welcoming!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year. Vee!!!!
Your Christmas sounds very nice...even with fabric that brought back memories. My hubby asked me to leave things out for awhile longer. The house looks so nice right now....we'll keep enjoying it. Sweet hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteNo decorations coming down here, yet. In fact, I can't imagine having the "ummmphhh" to take them down. ,-) But to each her own, of course.
ReplyDeleteYour "Specials Ornaments" are _very_ special :::: Your Christmas seems to have flowed, after all :::: Mmm, "offend" with your ongoing Christmas celebrations? ??? :::: It's our blog. :::: We post what we choose. :::: But you knew that. :-))))) :::: I like the "softening sides" effect, with photos. :::: It looks quite ethereal...
Happy coming 2015,
Tessa~
Such sweet ornaments, love the cardinal. My Catholic faith lets me enjoy the tree and everything else til the Epiphany, as it has since I was a child. I see no reason to put up Christmas decor in November to take it down on the 26th of December. I think it should stay up at least til January 1st. To each his own.
ReplyDeleteI have to laugh, as bloggers we gush over our decorations like they were the greatest thing since sliced bread...and then we tear them down the minute the gifts are opened. Mine are still up at least until New Years weekend. I like a fresh start after that, but I also love the lights on these cold, dark nights. Is there anything more precious than ornaments made by the children we love? I think not. Happy New Year Vee!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you finding that box of fabric and cinnamon ornaments was a sweet blessing. It made me smile :>)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this. Tears popped into my eyes at the cinnamon ornament find. Of course you wanted to just sit down and miss your mother. Glad the joy came too.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about the broken leg. Hope all is well soon for her.
Love the handmade goodies from the young ones. They are learning early how precious it is to give.
Keep the Season going. I'm still enjoying our tree.
Love those hand made ornaments you received. I'm glad you were able to laugh with joy over those dear fabrics tucked up and away. I'm all for hanging on except for my poor tree was so so dry it had to get taken out before it burned our house down. I'll leave the other decor up for a while longer. Sounds like you had some wonderful celebrations, Vee.
ReplyDeleteThe "gift from your mom" was so sweet. It would make me cry to find something like that.
ReplyDeleteHey each to his own I say ! If we had some snow like usual yes the tree would still be up and in it's box . I gave up on real trees years ago after finding the pine needles the next year trapped in carpets and furniture even after cleaning OUCH lol Very pretty Glad you all had a good Christmas as well ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day and a Happy New Year !
ReplyDeleteOh, Vee, you are not "olden". Your heart is young. You are wise for one so young!
ReplyDeleteLove Sam's ornaments! Aren't grandchildren wonderful........(rhetorical question, obviously!)
Oh, and I don't put away my Christmas decorations until the Wise Men arrive.......
ReplyDeleteYou have some lovely ornaments.
ReplyDeleteKen painted our red ball this year again. "Thank God for MLIBC" (Our Church)
I usually take the tree down a few days after Christmas but try really hard to keep it up till New Years Day. This year it will stay up because we are having an open house New Years Day.
It's nice to see that others like to keep Christmas just a bit longer than King's Day ... I have been known to have the tree up until very late in January ... then we give it good shake, sweep up the needles and cut the tree into kindling for the woodstove ... by then, it's pretty dry! Beats hauling needles all the way through the house to get to the back door! Your ornaments are, indeed, special! Don't you just love the crafts that children come up with ? Made with love and excitement!
ReplyDeleteBusy happenings over Christmas and sweet gifts received. Our grandson Sam loves to wrap things to give too and you never know what you're going to get!
ReplyDeleteI aim for the Epiphany on January 6 to take down the Christmas decor, no hurry here either.
Have a Happy New Year Vee.
Keep the Christmas coming, Veer! We didn't get the tree up til about a week before Christmas this year, so personally, I am in NO hurry to take it down!
ReplyDeleteI love Sam's gifts! How adorable they are. You had me in tears with the finding of your mom's cinnamon teddy bear ornaments - how sweet! Sounds like you had fun gatherings with family. I'm in no hurry to toss the tree (or should I say tuck it away) either. Cheers for the coming New Year my dear friend! 2015 is going to mean lots of changes for me - hoping they are all good ones!
ReplyDeleteYou received some extra special ornaments this year. Sam did a very nice job with his and I know they will always be treasures to you. So sweet! Your niece's cardinal is so pretty and thoughtful. The story behind the cinnamon bear really tugged at my heart strings. I like how you chose to find the joy in the situation.
ReplyDeleteWith all of the beauty and lovely memories on your tree, I don't blame you a bit for wanting to continue to enjoy it.
Keep the Christmas coming, dear Vee. Sometimes I think we get in too big of a hurry to take the decorations down. Mine are still up and will likely be up for a while longer - I, too, am in no hurry :)
ReplyDeleteYour ornaments are beautiful and the red Cardinal brought a smile to my face. My precious Grandma Betty loved Cardinals so I think of her when I see one. Happy New Year to you!
Your header is gorgeous, Vee! I'm happy to still have my Christmas decorations up. I am enjoying the beauty. Love the ornaments from Sam and Keanne. Very nice, and good memories for the future!
ReplyDeleteHave a happy and healthy new year, Vee!
There is nothing sweeter than a gift lovingly given by a child. So precious that Sam was pleased with his gift! Oh, but the gift from your mother...that is equally sweet, for it was given twice. I am happy that it brought you joy.
ReplyDeleteSounds like some lovely Christmas gatherings in your corner! To quote a dear friend, "Merry on!"
I'm happy you had a nice Christmas, Vee, and you got some special new additions for your pretty tree! My tree will stay up at least until the weekend. I love the Christmas decor and am in no hurry to put it away.
ReplyDeleteBtw, if you are olden then what am I? Okay, don't answer that...lol!
Wishing you and John a Happy New Year!
It all sounds lovely Vee. I am thrilled you had a happy Christmas. It is music to my ears that you too, are not in a big rush to take down the tree and pack away the decorations. Why not enjoy them throughout the week as we head into another year. Hugs and blessings for a very Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI almost missed this! Soo glad I didn't. Soo, it sounds like you had a nice Christmas and I am glad. There is nothing quite as special as a gift made and wrapped by a grandchild. But that one from your mom would have had me blubbering and smiling all over the place. What a find. I have known many over the years who punt the tree to the curb the next morning (or even Christmas night I kid you not!) and soo quickly move on. Never been us. We took the tree down Sun and that was a first for us to do it before New years. We like to do things in little spurts these days. Plus I just wasn't ready for ALL of it to come down. So enjoy it over there as long as you can.
ReplyDeleteVee, I love it that you are keeping your Christmas up a while longer...nothing wrong with that at all! It sounds like you had (and are still having) a wonderful Christmas! The ornaments are so adorable and what a sweet blessing to have found the fabric from your mother too! Looking forward to Sunday night when Downton finally starts back too! Happy New year, friend :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post. Guess I'm getting sentimental (more so than before), too. Those handmade gifts from Sam are very special treasures that will make you smile for years to come. The cardinal is beautiful. Jake's sweet words of comfort to his dog are very heartwarming. Finding the box of Christmas fabrics and the cinnamon Teddy Bears was another Christmas gift from your mom. Her thoughtfulness continues.
ReplyDeleteVee, I really enjoyed this post. Sadly we had to kick our tree to the curb on Christmas Eve as you know, but still put another one up! Your new ornaments are charming. What a lovely surprise to find the box from your Mother.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Well, I think your Mom gave you a special Christmas visit. First through the wonderful box of memories you found on a shelf and then in the cardinal. I think I mentioned to you previously that I have always heard (and I believe) that when a cardinal visits us it is a lost one returning to comfort us and spend some time with us. I talk to the cardinals in our yard all the time. (guess that makes me the crazy Cardinal Lady.... but, oh well. At age 65 I no longer apologize for things like that). Have a great day!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're keeping your tree and decor up for a while yet. Last year, for the first time, I kept our tree up until the 6th. I'm not sure that it will stay that long this year but I'm not in a hurry. The little tree in the dining room will have snowflakes on it soon and will stay for another while. It sounds like you had a nice Christmas with family. What a lovely 'gift' from your mother. I'm so glad that you found it. I wish you a new year filled with God's goodness and blessings. xx Pam
ReplyDeleteVee, you just go ahead and share whatever you want, whenever you want. You do such a good job of it and I don't mind what you do. I just love it all.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the worst pet to bring home --- we have an alligator tree ornament that I really dislike. Even though it was artfully made and has it's own kind of beauty, whenever I open it up each year, I just roll it back up in it's tissue and ignore it for another Christmas!
As for Beagles, we had one years ago. She was the most frustrating thing; but I have since then come to the conclusion that she may have been the exception to the rule. Happy New Year!
I'm in no hurry to take down the tree this year either. It's been such a gloomy month the lights help make it a little cheery at night. What sweet ornaments :)
ReplyDeleteWhat sweet, precious ornaments you received, Vee, and I loved the one that you found in a box from your Mom. I still have my decorations up, too, and love the cheer that the lights bring. Happy New Year blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this Vee and seeing the handmade ornaments your grandson made. Those are the most precious, made and given with love. Funny story about the new game in the grands household. My tree is still up and will be for awhile. Love the Christmas decorations. So happy you found a surprise box in your sewing room. ~ Abby
ReplyDeleteHi Vee, Happy celebratin' for as long as you like. My home is still decorated till after New Years. I did spead ahead though on my blog by taking down the decorations and putting up a new theme and look for January. I know there are some years when I want Christmas to linger and others when I'm ready for the next thing.
ReplyDeleteSo enjoy your time away too. Wishing you and John a very Happy and 'near to Him' New Year.
Hugs,
Brenda
xox
Well, I am glad to hear that someone else is going to hang on to Christmas a bit longer too. Sweet ornaments! I received a few new ones too, already in the blog post queue. We too had so much fun with the game, Say Anything! So glad Laura Ingraham didn't let me down on that one. :-) Hope you have a good New Year's break, Vee.
ReplyDeleteit sounds as though you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas, Vee! Many in my husband's and my families keep Christmas going until Epiphany.....the 12th Day of Christmas, when the Wise Men reached the Baby Jesus.
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law has the wise men moving all through the season, and when we were there celebrating Christmas with my hub's side of the family this past Sunday the 3 Wise Men had finally arrived in the same room as the Nativity. : - ) It's her family tradition and she tried hard to keep the truth in her actions, I think it is precious.
I wish you, John and the rest of your loved ones a very happy and healthy coming New Year! Hugs! ♥
Jan. 6th is Epiphany this year. Forgot that part.
DeleteDear Vee,
ReplyDeleteI love the handmade ornaments. What could be better? And I love the Christmas gift that you found from your Mother. That is a joy.
I always smile when I read your posts. Your posts are getting very artsy. So lovely they shame me!
Sending wishes for health, peace, joy, (that's not wishing too much, is it?
Sharon
I'm not tired of Christmas, not nearly. We enjoyed our sibling/parent dinner this evening and I'm checking a few blogs before retiring for the night. We'll be heading home tomorrow to a fully decorated house that I plan to enjoy for a wee bit longer.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet are Sam's ornament gifts to you. The story of finding your mother's box of odds and ends is a sweet one, too, full of poignancy and joy.
Enjoy these days between the years. See you in 2015.
Wow, the pictures you took just look so Christmassy. I really enjoyed reading this and I'm glad you had a great Christmas!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a wonderful Christmas was had by all at your house, Vee! Your grandson's ornaments are so cute! I also received a few fhandmade ornaments from my oldest grandson.
ReplyDeleteAfter a late celebration due to the flu, I am still enjoying my Christmas tree for another week, and I look forward to ringing in New Year Day with my family. Wishing you and John a very Happy and Healthy New Year!
I am very glad to have met you, passed by chance. still read your writing. Many congratulations for the wonderful blog. Happy new year joy happiness, so soft snow and candida ... toenerò yet!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful Christmas! I love how you thought you should "laugh with the Joy of it" and so you did! What a special gift to find!
ReplyDeleteI love all the visiting and celebrating that you did. We will enjoy this season for a bit yet too. Enjoying Tim's Momma being with us! We are dragging her everywhere with us and she's loving it!
Deanna