Tuesday, December 15, 2020

THE WHIMSY OF CHRISTMAS...



 








Only two weeks left before Christmas. 

 It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, and

 you are just about two minutes away

 from another Christmas song.

  Really?

  I'll try not to indulge!





I didn't say

 I wouldn't share a quote though:


"Christmas magic

is silent,

You don't hear it - 

You feel it.

You know it.

You believe it."


 Kevin Alan Milne






To be truthful 

our dining room is not overly used 

but, at Christmastime, 

mostly because of the red walls, 

it is a favorite decorating venue. 

 I suppose those red walls

 played right into my hands! 


 Starting with the table, 

which is a find from many years ago. 

 It started out life in a boardinghouse for miners.

  We bought it from a woman

 whose family had run

 that boardinghouse.




Santa and his Mrs.

 are in the process of loading up the sleigh 

for his midnight ride.  

There are a few festive boxes 

already packed and 

Mrs. Claus has an armload 

of gingerbread men to 

add to Santa's sack.






The little tree is

 without its usual flags this year. 

 Just to change up things a bit 

from previous years. 

 It feels a little less colorful

 but charming just the same and 

the Santa paintings still add

 a little patriotic spirit.




Bitty Morsel and Gertie

 are joined this year by

 Olde Scrooge and The Jolly Red Snowman. 

 As usual 

they have a wagon load of cheer

 for America and

 this time Bitty took her timepiece 

so they wouldn't be late.





The stoneware crocks 

have been moved elsewhere and

 replaced with pretty transferware china 

just for the Christmas season.





Our beautiful 

gifted sign from the kids 

still shines out its personal message 

over the settle bench.

 As true to us now

 as any other time 

of the year.





As we move on,

 our first peek of the little kitchen tree,

 bright and merry,

 in grand competition with

 the Ikea baking station.






Things aren't too much different 

in the kitchen this year.  

Partly due to not being able

 to go out shopping and

 partly due to the fact 

that I am always happy 

with the outcome

no matter what.












The mantel shelf 

is a perfect spot

 above the little red stove

 for the collection of Santas, 

mostly made by me 

throughout the years...






... the stove provides 

warmth for sharing a meal 

with a friend...





...and a little chair

 is perfect for 

sitting and dreaming.






Here is where I 

will introduce to you 

my newest paint by number painting 

that I finished just in time. 

 It is a new company I found and 

it has some cute folk art patterns.  

I have one on order

 that might have something to do with

 the crows, cherries and tiny red high heels! 

 This one depicts

 two crows sitting on a bowl of apples and

 it is from them 

that I took the direction of decorating 

for the kitchen table.





Place settings of Christmas cheer 

next to a centerpiece of a bowl of apples and

 a wooden pie that two different crows perch upon. 

 Greens and a sprinkling of Nandina berries

 from the garden 

complete the scene.







I hope you enjoyed

 your travels through 

a whimsical Christmas Cottage 

where...






...teddy bears ride

 wild ponies...






...where mischevious mice

 are being jolly

 in a tiny rocking chair...





...where a cast of odd characters 

from different holidays

 become one with 

the spirit of Christmas...





,,,where an autumn hued bouquet

 dares to infringe

upon  Christmas...





...where a little yellow bird, 

wearing a Santa cap and a holly-leaf tail, 

can perch beside 

pretty porcelain...





...and where you can partake

 of a piece of a 

chocolate cottage cake 

 on pretty holiday plates

 in the dining room...






...and still indulge in a slice of 

Black Birdy Pie

 in the kitchen.





May you always have 

hope and whimsy 

in your life...





..and may you always 

wish upon stars.


Stay Smart

Stay Well

and

Wear a Mask for all the Christmases to come.



...Judy...





Stay tuned next week

 for the special finale

 of Christmas.


Sharing today with:

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda



32 comments:

  1. Your red walls compliment your Christmas decor very nicely! Love your Mr and Mrs Santa and your red and white fabric garland is nice too! Very festive. Janice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Janice. I love those red walls but it does make taking good photos hard because it is so dark especially with the dull days we are having now. Hope everything is going well for you..Stay well..xxoJudy

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  2. Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Maristella. I'm glad you liked it. Stay well..xxoJudy

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  3. Judy, I adore your beautiful home. I like the dining room. But I am in love with the kitchen. I enjoyed seeing all your cute things and decorations Blessings to you and the Captain. We are always going to be wearing our masks. xoxo, Susie

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Susie, and I know you will. Thanks for your sweet words. I am having fun doing the decorations this year and now, am just sitting back and enjoying them..Stay well..xxoJudy

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  4. I love your beautiful Christmas Kitchen with all the decorations and food. A nice collection of memories you have.I especially love your red and white dishes.
    It's all so merry and bright
    Merry Christmas.
    Thelma.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Thelma. I love my kitchen too especially at Christmas. Not a whole lot of "work" gets done in my kitchen although I am better about it than I used to be. But, it is a fun place to be..Stay well..xxoJudy

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  5. Again, I love all the color and whimsy in your home, it just makes me smile. Hugs, and you certainly are Christmas Ready! Sandi

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Sandi. I'm glad you like it and we need a little whimsy in our lives now although things are becoming a little brighter..Stay well..xxoJudy

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  6. Oh my goodness, this post leaves me sitting here with a huge smile on my face. We all need a bit of whimsy, and I love your home and your way of decorating. It's all wonderful! I baked a 'regal fruitcake' this afternoon. A recipe given to be by my late MIL. This has been enjoyed through the years by many. I miss having my dear husband here to enjoy it along with brown sugar crescents which are going to be baked next. Another of his family's favorites. I will be sharing with two other widows, and the gentleman who has been helping me here with projects. Looking forward to your next post. Have a nice evening dear Judy ~ FlowerLady

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Lorraine. I can hear how much you miss your dear husband over the holidays and I am so sorry that you are in this position. I'm glad that you have good friends and helpers to be around. The cake sounds delicious and the crescents. I'm glad my decorations made you smile. That is my aim!!. I am becoming more hopeful about 2021.. That is a good thing as Martha Stewart would say..Stay well my friend..xxoJudy

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  7. Your house is so beautiful and cozy for Christmas. Love all your prims for Christmas. So much character like your Santa and the Mrs! It is all so fun and pretty. I love the little Christmas card with the wagon and tree hmmm I wonder who sent that!!! Have a great rest of the week. xoxo Kris

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Kris. I love that little card, a very good friend sent it to me. I think I will frame it for next year. Gertie is the one who made me get Santa and Mrs. She is one good witch..Stay well my good friend..xxoJudy

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  8. Your home is gorgeous! We haven't decorated like usual this year but am looking forward to next year. This is my first visit here and love your blog!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Val. It seems like when things are the darkest, I just want to decorate more. I did that years ago after my Mom passed as she loved Christmas so much. We all need to look forward to next year. I am beginning to be hopeful. I am so glad you dropped by and hope you will come back often. I haven't checked if you have a blog yet, but if you do I am coming over for a visit..Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy 2021..Stay well..xxoJudy

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    2. Thank you so much for visiting my blog!!! And your sweet comment. I wish I knew how to reply to comments on my blog but
      haven't got that one figured out yet. And yes!! I will be back!

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  9. Your house is looking so warm, wonderful and welcoming.
    An uplifting post.

    My good wishes, enjoy the rest of the week.

    All the best Jan

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Jan. I can write an uplifting one once in awhile!!! I'm glad you liked it and the decorations. I love Christmas. That seems to be the simple fact of the matter. Thanks for the good wishes, right back to you. Things are looking up..Stay well..xxoJudy

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  10. What a magical whimsical home you have Judy! now and all times of the year, it's such a joy to take the tour and see every little thing. You are truly a master of decorating for the holidays! As I've told you before, you remind me so much of how my mom decorated for each and every holiday.. I think you even go above and beyond her! I love your little stories of each character in this Christmas drama! Take care and enjoy your wonderful, cozy sweet home! Love your new crow painting and all of your others too. Makes me want to do it.. but I have so many other pots cooking that I'd better stick to those for now! Hugs.. Marilyn

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Marilyn. I am so thankful for all your kind words. This is a magical time of the year and nothing really ever takes that away from me. In hard times, I just seem to try harder! We have so many things to be thankful for in the coming year..A new president, and seems like more vaccines then we know what to do with right now. Hope they will all work and work well. I am becoming a bit more hopeful finally..Thanks for your friendship and stay well..xxoJudy a bit more

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  11. Judy your home is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us.
    Your posts are always so peaceful and your words wise. I truly enjoy
    your blog.
    Very Merry Christmas. Looking forward to a Happy New Year.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Renate. That is so nice of you to say. I appreciate your visits always. Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. I hope it will be a good one. Stay well..xxoJudy

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  12. So glad I stopped by to see your beautiful decorations. Wish I could join you for a cup of coffee in the kitchen. I'll bring the treats. Take care and happy and healthy.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Buttercup. I would appreciate your treats and your visit. Thanks for your kind words also and have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy new year..Stay well..xxoJudy

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  13. This is the ultimate perfect Christmas house. It's so cozy and filled with delightful treats everywhere you look! I love the dining room and the wreaths over the chairs are a glorious tough. I love your Santas and all the little characters, and I think I could live in your kitchen. It's a good thing I live too far away to drop in for the holidays or I might never leave!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Jeanie. What can I say? I love Christmas. I would love it if you could live in my kitchen. Bring your cooking talents and maybe we can make a deal..Merry Christmas..xxoJudy

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  14. Judy, every inch of your home is amazing, I'm always in awe of your talent. I could look at the photos forever. So many charming and beautiful details. That dining room table is outstanding and the story behind it is crazy. How unique and what history. If tables could talk! Can't wait to see what you post next week!! Enjoy your pretty view in the meantime! xo

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Kim. You are so sweet and I appreciate all your kind words. I do love Christmas and am always so happy when someone else sees it. It is getting so close now, and hope you have a wonderful holiday. Nothing special going on here now. Just trying to stay warm and enjoying it all. When you can't do anything else it makes that part of it easy..Stay well and Merry Christmas, my friend..xxoJudy

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  15. Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Kinga. I do love my kitchen and I am glad you like it. Merry Christmas to you..Stay well..xxoJudy

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  16. Judy,
    I just love everything that you showcased today!! Your Kitchen is a true vision of a charming Christmas!!Love all of it as always!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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Your comments are so special to me...Judy