On a cold December evening,
just before twilight,
there is a hopeful feeling in the air and
there is something magical
that happens to the human spirit
as well...
...the long wait is over,
the tasks of the day
have been given their due,
and a quietness blankets over all.
The kids have been put to bed
with visions of
Santa Claus and sugar plums
dancing in their heads...
...and a mug of hot cider
awaits by the fireside...
...this is no ordinary time.
This is
Christmastime.
What better time
to light a few candles and
welcome in some friends.
(there is a lot to see).
An Olde Homestead Christmas
by candlelight:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Warm Christmas Welcome
to one and all:
Sit deep and enjoy!
The Parlor..
The Dining Room..
The Kitchen..
something to be said for
the magic of a few candles,
lighting up the reality that
life is good and
we are fortunate if
we have survived it this far.
This is especially true
at Christmastime.
the twinkling lights and candles,
all over the world,
come forth
to shine a light on that
we are all together in this life and
should be proud of
our individual efforts to remain
true to that fact.
I would like to give
my thanks and love to all of you.
Thank you for listening to
the good and the bad
throughout the year and,
above all else,
for your
continuing friendship.
I would also like to thank Linda
for adding my last post
to her party
as one of the features.
I appreciate it so much.
A new year is on the way,
with many good things to come.
I wish us all
everything merry and bright,
because we certainly
deserve it.
Have a Happy and Healthy 2021.
I will be back
after the new year.
...Judy...
Stay Well
and
Wear the masks.
Some things won't change for awhile.
Light a few candles,
sit deep at home
so we can all be together
next year.
and to all
a good night.
Everything is going
to be
all right.
Sharing today with:
and
I love the little fur kids fast asleep on the couch. Too cute. Your beautiful home is so cozy and inviting for Christmas. May you and the Captain have a peaceful Christmas. xoxo Kris
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kris. We do enjoy our home and we love our little pride and joys, asleep or awake. I hope you and Terry have a wonderful and cheery Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year, my friend..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteJudy, I adore the coziness of your sweet cottage. I am wishing you all the Christmas your home can hold. Yes we will need to stay aware of this virus and it's mutations. I used to think this was the smartest nation ever...I see so differently now. It's not the nation...it's the people. Will they not understand what pandemic means? They need to look to their own families and think...where will they be next year if I do not wear my mask, wash my hands and keep my distance. Sorry, I am just shaking my head so much lately. I will agree about wearing my mask. Blessings to you and the Captain. xoxo, Susie
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Susie. We love our little Cottage and enjoy spending time there and this year, that is a good thing! I have to shake my head too, Susie, at some of the things that I see and hear. So many not believing that this is real. How sad that they haven't enough respect for themselves, let alone everyone else. I feel so sorry for our new president. There are so many horrible things that he will have to fix. I have no doubt that he will certainly try. Hopefully, it is not too far gone for a lot of improvement. I certainly wish you and Ted all that is good in the new year and hope you have a very Merry Christmas, my friend..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteJust beautiful! I know you are enjoying all of the warmth and coziness the Christmas lights give you at night. Makes you want to just sit and enjoy while listening to Christmas music. Janice
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Janice. We are enjoying it all. Without (sadly) having to make specific plans, there does seem to be more time available. Not the exact way we would like it, but taking it as it comes. I am afraid there is more time for watching Hallmark movies this year than there is for beautiful music..Have a wonderful Christmas and stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteWhat pretty pictures. Thank you so much for sharing. I especially love your pretty and cozy kitchen. You are right, everything is going to be all right, especially since Donald Trump is on his way out and Joe Biden is on his way in. Praise God! Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I always enjoy your visits. I love my kitchen too and it really is the most fun room to decorate. I know we will be all OK once January comes but there will be so much to clean up that I don't know how soon it will happen. It is a sad situation and an insane one all at once. Only a little bit different from the last 4 years except worse. What a joke this is turning out to be. Once sanity is returned there must be some rules set so that nothing like this can happen again. Happy Holidays to you and a healthy New Year..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteI just made a long comment Judy but it didn't go through! As I said... you did yourself proud this year! I can almost see the candles flickering.. your kitchen is especially wonderful and magical! Love it all. What work you must have had to do to get everything set up for this wonderful "photo shoot"!!! Your photos are beautiful too.. love it all! Have a very Merry and Happy Christmas! xoxoxo Marilyn
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Marilyn X2!.. I hate when that happens and it does happen to me alot. I never can remember what I wrote the first time and it was so good!! I just took my time this year and did a little each day. I just planned my time for each room to last from post to post. I didn't feel stressful like I might have in the past. Even though I don't like how it has to be this year, there is something a little relaxing about not having to do anything special. I'm glad you like the photos. It was hard filming for candlelight because it is so low light and I tried not to have many lamps on at times, but I am happy with the way they turned out. Outside of my friendships, I think the photography is the most fun about blogging. Have a wonderful Christmas, my friend, and a healthy new year..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteI love such Christmas photos 😊
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Martyna. I love Christmas and could celebrate it all year long if I could..Happy Holidays and healthy New Year to you..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteDear, dear Judy ~ absolutely lovely, homey, comforting, inviting. Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful Christmas with your dear hubby.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
Thank you so much, Lorraine. I'm glad you liked it. It is my Christmas card to everyone..Merry Christmas and above all else be healthy in the New Year..Stay well, my good friend, xxoJudy
DeleteNice photos, I love your animals ❤
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kinga. I'm glad you like the photos and we think the kids are pretty sweet..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteAh everything looks so magical. Beautiful Christmas decor. Happy Christmas to you, Betsy
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Betsy. It doesn't seem possible that it is all over now. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteCozy, warm, magical, inviting, thank you for sharing, wishing you a very merry wet Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your kind words. Hope your Christmas was Merry as well and here's to a Happy Healthy New Year and some thanks for the rain..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteLiebe Judy,
ReplyDeleteich wünsche Ihnen und Ihrer Familie ein gesegnetes Weihnachtsfest und ein gesundes neues Jahr 2021!!!
Bleiben sie gesund.
Liebe Grüße
Brigitte schmidt/Deutschland
Thanks so much, Brigitte. I wish the same for you and your family..Hope for a Happy Healthy New Year..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteIt was lovely to read through, darling 🎄 💝
ReplyDeleteI follow you, would you like to become blogger friends, and follow me back so we can support each other? 👯♀✨
Merry Christmas 🎄 💝
Shades of Silvie
Thanks so much, Silvie. I would certainly like to become blogger friends and will stop by for a visit. Hope you Christmas was Merry and now on to a Happy Healthy New Year..Stay well..xxoJudy. Thanks also for following.
DeleteI so enjoyed the candlelight tour of the homestead. I would love to cuddle with the fur babies and visit a while. Your home is so inviting and warm.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Thanks so much, Carla. It is all over now and I dread taking anything down. We are putting so much faith in the new year and hope taking it down doesn't jinx it all. I will be making it a slow process..Stay well and Happy Healthy New Year..xxoJudy
DeleteHappy 2021 ❤
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kinga. I wish the same to you..Stay well..xxoJudy
DeleteA wonderful post, lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a happy and healthy 2021.
All the best Jan
Thanks so much, Jan. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and I wish you all the same for the New Year..Stay Well..xxoJudy
DeleteJudy,
ReplyDeleteLove, love love!!! Enchanting! I will be back tomorrow to finsish the rest of the posts that I missed or did not comment on, I amtired and going to bed...See you tomorrow!!
Hugs,
Debbie