Decking the Halls at the Cabin

 Hello Everyone,

After creating a huge mess, it all comes together in the end.

The boxes and bins and vacuum cleaner are put away and everything is in its place.

We shared a nice meal with our delightful neighbors last night.  We are so lucky to have such great people living on our street who have become good friends.

I made the little stockings eons ago and enjoy bringing them out every Christmas.

This Nativity set was given to us in 1977. I love to put it out every year and I think of the woman fondly who gave it to us.  Bringing out these treasured gifts every year makes for pleasant memories.

My friend Candace gave us the counted cross-stitch and the little table topper a few years ago. Such a thoughtful gift.

The ice skates belonged to my mother, and they stay out on display throughout the entire year.  She brought them with her when she moved from New York to California in 1942.  I'm not sure if she ever used them in California.

 

Today I have to prepare for my last lecture of the year at the quilt guild in Pine Grove.  I'm scheduled to be the lunchtime floor show at their annual Christmas guild meeting on Tuesday.  This has been scheduled for almost a year now, and I can't believe how quickly the year flew by.

Enjoy your day while preparing for Christmas or just sit back and enjoy the coziness you've created.

Soon,

Lynn

Unplugged and Reflecting

Hello Everyone,

I've unplugged from the outside world for the last few days and focused on enjoying my own home and decorating for Christmas right after the company left from Thanksgiving.  There are seven windows in our dining room, and at night it looks as though there are seven Christmas trees.

 

We had friends over for dinner last night which made me accelerate the decorating process.  The fire was going, and the Christmas music was playing which was a great way to start the Christmas season with some good friends.

I have boxes of cabin-themed ornaments which I didn't use this year.  I think I have enough ornaments to decorate those seven trees reflected in the windows.  This year I seemed to be very nostalgic and used ornaments I haven't placed on the tree in years past.

My mother made these little 'Santa's Slippers' probably forty years ago.

She also made these ornaments called Christmas Capsules.....again over forty years ago.

I remember placing this ornament on my grandmother's tree over 65 years ago.

My mother made these little ornaments out of old-fashioned clothes pins.  She hand painted the little faces on each and every clothespin.

My parents gave me this ornament the year our daughter was born.  Our daughter is now 44.

As I placed each ornament on the tree, my thoughts traveled back to helping my grandmother decorate her tiny, artificial tree.  She made the best molasses cookies which was always a wonderful and much anticipated treat for us.  

I know my mother and grandmother would be thrilled to know their ornaments are still in use so many decades later.  Traditions are what Christmas is all about.  Traditions and giving of yourself to others.  So, fix a nice meal and invite friends over. Make something special for that special someone.  Reflect back on past holidays and bring the spirit alive again in your heart. I'm remembering the aroma of the molasses cookies baking which transport me back to my grandmother's kitchen. Heavenly.

Soon,

Lynn

P.S. This is the last day of my 20% off sale in my Etsy shop.  Click HERE to visit my shop.