IT IS BEGINNING TO LOOK...

 

FYI:

 In an earlier post I showed you

 some beautiful berries 

I had picked from the garden 

and included in an arrangement in the entry. 

 While preparing this post

 I found out from

 "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" (picture above)

 that they are from the Privet plant

 and are toxic to animals and humans.

 Just a reminder that 

even the beautiful things in life are sometimes suspect 

and not always as perfect as they may seem.

 

Even though 

it is still 24 hours away from 

the first of December...

...let me introduce you to

 the most wonderful time of the year. 

 I hope you all celebrated 

the most wonderful Thanksgiving 

and are beginning to feel 

the spirit of Christmas.

 It isn't exactly

 beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here 

but it is beginning to look a little like it.

I wanted to thank you all

 for your nice words about 

my Christmas Pasts.

The years are going by so quickly 

that some of it seemed like it happened yesterday.  

Surely, that jolly little man 

just slid down 

the chimney last week.

I am happy to report

 that it is still happening, 

thank you very much,

 but apparently at a much slower pace!

Believe it or not, 

I haven't gotten the boxes 

out of storage yet. 

 I am just playing around here

 with things on hand 

that either didn't get put away last year

 or are some new purchases.

There is still garlands and greens

 to drag out 

and, evidently, I always start with 

those things first

 because it is really hard for me to think of how I want things without them...

Right now, 

the only access to real greens

 is a beautiful little cedar tree, 

growing up between the rosemary, 

that I have been babying all year long.

 There has been many a close call 

with Captain ScissorHands 

but so far it has survived. 

 I will be poking some of it

 into small nooks and crannies 

but don't want to pick it too early.

  I am debating if I want to spend $25 

for a small tree from a lot

 to cut up for greens.

That is why 

you are only seeing 

a few snippets this time. 

 Wouldn't want to spoil the full on effect!

This is a little bisque house

 that Tami gave me many years ago. 

 The roof comes off and it will hold 

a tiny candle or some special keepsake.

  I have always displayed it in the guest room

 but this year I decided 

to make it over into...

,,,a tiny and cozy little gingerbread cottage, 

comforting with warm light 

spilling out of its little windows 

and snow on its roof top.

This birdhouse has been sitting

 in the Secret Garden awhile 

and I decided that the time had come

 for a renovation 

and I almost forgot to take a picture before I started painting it..

...now some birdies can live there 

if they want to 

but it might have a Hansel and Gretel vibe, 

so they might want to

 rethink their decision 

and find another home. 

 For now, 

a little vintage candle choir,

 led by Santa, 

is singing its praises.

It is the most wonderful time of the year 

and a bite of apple pie

 might be in the cards 

for all the good little boys and girls.

You could make a game out of all this 

and try to guess 

what the big picture will look like...

...but even I don't know at this point, 

so guess I better get 

to unpacking some boxes...

...because

 there are still a lot of loose ends

 and bows to tie up.

I wish you all 

days of comfort and joy 

as you prepare for this holiday season.

Until next week...

...Judy...

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Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda