A Haven for Vee

Friday, December 16, 2016

I Need a Silent Night


A few random photos (and not necessarily wonderful ones) of my wee haven. The driveway is my responsibility again. And, yes, I cleared all seven inches of snow by myself. No plow, no snowblower, just a scoop and girl  old lady power.








That deck table needed something. I worked with what I had. The best that can be said is that it is colorful. (Your eyes are not deceiving you, it's a sifter secured with a birch stick.) Ha!




The grands like the wee village and the giant carolers. We are not fussy about scale here.



The wee village lives next door to the Poinsettia Jungle.




↑And just before the lobster tree...


  

It is so cold here (there, too?) that I ran the fake fire on full blast all day.




My vantage point...




My one attempt at wrapping...




Christmas boys: father and son (my son and grandson)


*Aromatherapy*


Love this song by Amy Grant and I'm sure that I have shared it before. Inevitably, I arrive at this place in the Christmas season...in need of a Silent Night. How are you doing?



39 comments:

  1. Your little haven looks so warm and cozy and I love your village. It's nice the boys love it too. Lots of good memories for them at Grandma's house.

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  2. I am getting there, needing a Silent Night I mean. It seems that every year I realize the only way to not feel under pressure for Christmas is to get the decorating and shopping done BEFORE December. Of course I always realize that around December 15 with everyone spouting how many days before Christmas. Must write reminders on my November calendar next year to remind myself. Maybe even on my October calendar! Seeing your little village makes me wish mine was set us, maybe next year. I do love the glow though. I used to laugh about the idea of the Christmas fire on tv. I tried it last year and loved it! Lol, stay warm my friend :)

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  3. Your little haven Vee looks delightful. I loved your little village and the carollers. Thinking of you and hoping you manage to get some joy from the season. Take care.

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  4. The village looks so pretty in your windowsill with the snow out the window. And I love that warm fire going...all day long! I'll enjoy the week to come...it will indeed be quiet. Holiday hugs, Diane

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  5. Everything looks so wonderful over there Vee! Yep, I could use a Silent Night too but it will have to wait till Monday - eek! Slowly but surely getting things done.

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  6. your vantage point is lovely .. ALL your vantage points are lovely! from the creative touch using a sifter in a greens arrangement, to your fake fire (i'm sure it helped to keep you toasty comfy..wink), snowy village with large carolers, and aromatherapy. and i have to say i'm rather wowed by you taking that snow to task. not an easy job by any stretch! ..... i'm done with baking and now am getting rid of the sweet stuff as fast as i possibly can!

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  7. how pretty everything looks...i love all your decorations...i guess we can all use a Silent Night about this time every year. a tradition since our grands were born is to gather at Memaw's (that would be me) to make Christmas cookies..well, now that they are grown, the twins are off with friends for a ski trip all this coming week so they won't be coming....boo hoo...Deeds and her sis, Bryn, and maybe Lacey can come...not sure of their plans as yet. There comes a time when you have to make changes (who knows that better than you, dear heart) and I'm not good at that. Bless your heart on the hard work cleaning the drive...good job, tho. xoxo

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  8. I am SO impressed Vee. Snow shoveling the driveway is HARD! Bravo! I adore your little Christmas village...absolutely charming in the window at night! You are in the Christmas spirit....love it!

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  9. Hi Vee~

    Can I just tell you that you are my hero! Shoveling an entire driveway is not for the weak, of body or mind! Please be careful... :0)

    Your Christmas home looks beautiful, as always, and I love the photo of your son and your grand...they look alike, so cute.

    Loved the song, it's one I don't hear very often, and it's beautiful! What a good message for this busy season, with never-ending business and stress. On Monday, I was diagnosed with pneumonia, so my plans have all been put on hold for a week or two. It will not stop, Christmas from coming, and might even make me slow down enough to have a, silent night.

    Thank you for sharing, I always feel toasty and warm after visiting you.

    Hugs,
    Barb

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  10. I need a silent night too, Vee! I had never heard that song before (that I know of; sometimes I listen to "all-Christmas" radio seasonally and might hear a snatch of something but not the whole song). But I like it a lot.

    All of your pictures are gorgeous. When I spoke with my daughter in Nevada yesterday she asked me enthusiastically if the house was all decorated. I had to admit we do not even have the tree in yet. Our village is not up either. You have done so well decorating all of the nooks and crannies so beautifully.

    Most of my wrapping is done, however. I have several more packages to send to Nevada, which I hope to accomplish this weekend. And most, if not all, of our festive December events were early in the month, so, just possibly, I am looking at a silent day tomorrow. Especially if we get the weather that's predicted! An afternoon of trimming the tree while sipping hot tea sounds just right to me, and it could happen if there's a snowstorm.

    Cold here? Oh my, yes. Ten below zero this morning, with pretty serious wind chill factor.

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  11. You are lucky to have a wide sill to display your village and it looks very nice all spread out. I seem to put ours out every second year in the basement but few see it except us.
    I cleaned our back deck for the dog yesterday with 'old lady power' and it darn near killed me. lol A reprieve today after snowing for two days but another storm coming tomorrow night with lots more snow.
    I hope there is a young person who can help you with your driveway Vee, you should be inside in front of your faux fire sipping tea and nibbling biscuits.
    Stay warm!

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  12. Love looking st your pictures . Especially father and son . You are the woman Vee with all that snow . I'd still be whining for someone to help this old woman . I love to listen to Amy grant . Hugs and blessings , Cindy

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  13. Oh Vee, that is a LOT of snow to get up by girlpower alone. Wow. It's bitterly cold here today (and yesterday) but no snow in the forecast. You know I love your home; it's full of coziness and charm. I need that toasty fire in our den. :) I love your wee village; it reminds me of one that my mom made many years ago in ceramics. For some reason, it seems that children are always drawn to those sweet villages. I also love the pictures of your son and grandson.

    Thanks for sharing the Amy Grant song; I must return and listen to it later. Duncan is barking and Hal has Christmas music playing on the CD player, so I wouldn't be able to focus on Amy's song right now. I really like her Christmas music.

    Have a good weekend, my dear friend.

    Hugs,

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  14. I laughed so hard at your comment "We are not fussy about scale here" that I nearly spilled my hot cuppa. Dee, you are so funny!

    Your Christmas beauty is warm and inviting and fun and quirky and nostaligic and special - just as you are....all that and more.

    Hugs. ♥

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  15. Snow!! I miss it a Christmas time. Your village and poinsettias are lovely all aglow. Does that fire make crackling sounds? Shoveling all that snow will wear a person out! Be careful. Thank you for the little mention!

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    1. Yes, it makes rip~roaring crackling sounds. You are welcome...sometimes little = mysterious. 😉

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  16. Vee, I'm dazzled. And I love your humor (not worried about scale!). But I'm just plain old envious that you have the energy to clear all that snow by yourself!

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  17. You know, girl, you just make me smile. Yes, friend, cold here 14*, snow and calling for more snow. I am so jealous you have cleared that snow by yourself...what, no neighbor boys? (giggling)--on a bright note, great cardio excerise and great way to let off steam, just saying...been there, doing that.

    We have to take turns here and it often turns into a argument (more giggles).

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  18. You are a trooper Vee! Doing all the snow clearing yourself. Do be careful. I love your cozy viewpoint with the lit tree and 'fireplace'. :) Have a cozy weekend there. Warm hugs. Pam

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  19. Well let me say I am totally impressed with you clearing that whole driveway! WOW!! Good work. And then, I love your village scene and truthfully I really had to look and think ARE the carolers too big? lol I'd have never noticed that. Everything about your home is warm and cozy and inviting. And yes, a silent night sure sounds good about now. Enjoy your week-end Vee!

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  20. Oh yes, it is cold here too! I feel for you with the driveway. My hubby has been trying to keep up with the JD loader tractor...and it just drifts in right behind him. I have been working at the sidewalk to the front door, 75 feet long and 5 feet wide. It is still just as long...but only a narrow pathway now! We have a howling north wind out here in the country.

    It all looks warm and cozy inside your haven...and smells mighty fine too! Enjoy this 4th advent weekend...and stay warm.

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  21. I have to admit I kept looking for that lobster tree, then finally looked out the window! I'm slow like that... I love your sons Dutch boy haircut,my boys wore their hair the same way. And your porch arrangement looks so pretty with the red against the beautiful snow. Speaking of snow-you go girl, just don't hurt your back with that shoveling! I'll stop by before Christmas and I hope that you are behaving Vee.

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  22. Vee, you are amazing. Shoveling snow is hard work. I think the sifter and branch are the perfect creative touch. Christmas villages are ever so pretty. What is a lobster tree?

    I'm sitting here on the couch, slowly melting into a puddle of lazy woman because school is out for the Christmas break. It ended at noon. Oh frabjous delight! I'll gird up my loins later. For now, I'm just giving in.

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    1. Yes, now I see the lobster tree. And I didn't have to squint too much!

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  23. Go you!

    I love your roaring fire! It looks awesome! Great atmosphere! I haven't put my village out for several years. I'll have to consider it again next year.

    Your greens and the sifter and the berries and branch look great!

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  24. I'm so impressed with the fact that you plowed the snow yourself. I'm patting myself on the back and having a martini since I just got back from delivering our cards to the USPS! I choose to celebrate my accomplishments.
    I love the look of your village scene. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  25. It all looks so warm and inviting! And, I can't imagine shoveling that much snow at this point in my life. !Christmas blessings!

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  26. Vee, I'm so impressed with the snow clearing. It's not easy and I'm sure you will sleep well. My daughter uses that same fireplace screen. When Samuel was up at Thanksgiving they put it on while decorating the tree. Your village looks so nice in your pretty window. I haven't put up ours for a while now. Enjoy your weekend and hopefully the snow will let up and allow you to enjoy other endeavors. ♥

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  27. Oh Vee, your home is truly a "Winter Wonder Land" Each picture is so inviting, cozy and warm...So Christmas...How nice to see when you will enjoy your "Silent Night."

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  28. That scene out the window behind the lovely village is amazing. Being from Florida it makes me a bit cold just thinking about it though. I love pictures of snow, but don't think I would like shoveling snow. Great job!
    Now, I would have had that fake fire going all day too, and a cozy blanket.

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  29. Well! You snuck a blog post in when I wasn't looking...lol! I almost missed it. Lovely decor inside and out! Be careful with all that shoveling.
    I headed out this morning without checking the weather as I usually do. Was going to the Amish country for some pies and candy, since I've become too lazy to make my own. :) Anyway, it started a light freezing drizzle about half way there, but I got there, scooped up some goodies and got out and went on to CoMo to return some things to the dreaded Menards home center. It was very slick when I left there, so I had to head back home. Minus Christmas gifts, minus the brisket I wanted to get at Sam's Club and minus all my good humor. ha! Anyway, creeping homeward took some time but I made it. Daughter is still holed up at her childcare center with 2 teachers. Numerous wrecks in the area. Needless to say, it's a bit of a wintry mess around here. All that said to say that your snow looks better than ice! But not to worry, we may get a little snow tomorrow...along with more freezing stuff. It's definitely winter!

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  30. Such a very warm and cozy home your have, truly a haven...I do not think I could shovel the snow that you did! You're one tough lady! I'm sure your family appreciates all the work you do to make your haven shine for this season of love.

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  31. I thought I knew every Christmas Carol that was out there, and I've never heard this one by Amy Grant! I love it, and I'm writing while listening.
    Wow, you're a Wonder Woman, Vee, in shoveling all that snow. Your wee village looks so pretty in the windowsill and the faux fire looks heartwarming and cozy. I laughed when you said that you turned it up "full blast"! Happy weekend to you!

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  32. Vee, your home looks very cosy, especially with the fire going. I've always wished we had a fireplace. Love the Amy Grant song. I saw a mug last week that said "all this Momma wants is a silent night." How true...

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  33. Good for you for getting that driveway shoveled. Great exercise too.
    Your home looks so cozy and warm.
    Yesterday it was 3 degrees, this afternoon it is 52!!

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  34. A lovely Christmasy atmosphere you've created! I feel your pain with the driveway shoveling. I've done it a time or two myself, and not fun. Be careful not to overdo it! You are making the best of this season, hard as I'm sure it is. Many hugs to you today dear friend!

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  35. Where did it go? I just wrote a comment and it's gone! Uh, what did I say? Okay...I was worrying about you shoveling snow. The pictures of your son and his son are precious. Homemade potpourri smells heavenly and your home is always so welcoming. Hugs are being sent your way and prayers for you are being said.

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  36. I love your posts, Vee. You make me smile. Your Hodge Podge answers really had me laughing!

    Your home looks so warm and cozy. I make a lot of fires, too, and I wish I had a gas fireplace. I'm constantly stoking it and then cleaning it out every few days. Can't complain, I'd be sad without it.

    I do the shoveling, too. I'm too inpatient with the snowblower and hubby rarely remembers to add gas or oil. Since he works until almost 7:30 at night, I feel like a slug if I don't do it. The most important part is our sidewalk and steps for the mail carrier and you have to do that with a shovel anyway. Good exercise---or at least I tell myself that!

    Jane x

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  37. I love this! I know I am late in arriving here! It is cold here in Texas as I write. Kailey is here spending the night and she and Louis Dean are both in bed fast asleep while I am still up baking Texas Trash. I am enjoying this Silent Night all to myself...

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