Tuesday, November 30, 2021

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...






Sharing today with:

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda



26 comments:

  1. Hi Judy,
    Everything looks so pretty. I love that you made the gingerbread house out of the little house you got from Tami. How cute that turned out. Now we are on the downhill slide into Christmas. Enjoy every minute. xoxo

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    1. Thanks so much, Kris. It is a beginning, slowly but surely, and even if I don't finish I am enjoying every minute of it..Happy Tuesday..xxoJudy

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  2. It's the beginning of "lovely" around your cottage! I love it all! Your little gingerbread cottage is adorable.... love the snow on the roof and snow on the ground and little trees.... and your birdhouse turned into Hansel and Gretel cottage is darling. You gave me the idea to get out my ceramic houses that I've had for at least 30 years and paint some more. Only a few are painted and the rest are still the white fired bisque. I used to collect them and my son and I would paint one or two each year. I haven't taken them out for many years but I feel inspired to get to painting them! I also love the look of the faux snow so have to get me some of that! Your little candle choir reminds me of my mom as she had a set similar to that.. a few choir girls and I think a Santa and snowman. I may actually have them wrapped somewhere in my box of special ornaments that I haven't looked at for years and years. I never have burned any of them as they are so vintage and precious. You really inspire me to do some decorating! hugss.... Marilyn

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    1. Thanks so much, Marilyn. I hope that you will enjoy doing Christmas. I know it will be a hard time for you and you are in my thoughts. I used to have so many of those little houses and used them at Christmas for many years. One day I just got rid of them all and now I could kick myself. I love the gingerbread crafts but have never wanted to make the gingerbread my self, so this was a way of having my cake and eating it too! I have picked up those little choir pieces at different thrift shops. Some had been burned a little and some not. I would never burn them, they are so cute. Dig out your little houses and paint them. You would do a great job at it..Happy Tuesday..xxoJudy

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  3. Loving all of your Christmas cheer! Especially that lit cottage! I plan on finishing my decorating Thursday and Friday. Janice

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    1. Thanks so much, Janice. I love those little gingerbread houses. They are fun to paint. My plan is to finish my decorating sometime this year!..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  4. It's amazing how you've decorated so beautifully with so little! I'm not surprised actually, you have such a talent for decorating and making your home inviting.
    Once you get all of your Christmas totes out, and decorate with things the way that you want to, I imagine that your home will be even more 'wow' worthy!!
    I get a sense that you are leaning towards decorating in a 'gingerbread' theme this year?
    Looking forward to seeing everything done up the way that you want it.

    Warm wishes...
    ~K.

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    1. Thanks so much, Kerin. Actually, I didn't even think of a gingerbread theme, I just have a thing for those little houses. I suppose I should try making one from scratch, but I never have yet. I am getting close to the end, believe it or not. I am getting tired!..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  5. Judy,
    Everything looks delightful!! And I love that you totally made over that little birdhouse!! Just darling!! Looking forward to seeing more!! I am relaxing and taking it easy as we all got sick....Thanksgiving was not what I had planed but at least Joe was negative for Co Vid...Life sure can be interesting!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

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    1. Thanks so much, Debbie. I'm so sorry that you all got sick and so glad to hear Joe is negative tested. Hope you are feeling better now. I am moving along, almost to the end now, so can rest and enjoy for a little while at least. Glad you are at that point..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  6. Oh, golly. We didn't have Christmas full on here since 2018, 2019 I had knee surgery---we put minimal out in 2020 with no company---and somewhere along the way, everything is scrambled. So I totally understand working a bit here and there---with nothing really done. So we can share in two weeks lol, hugs, and have a cup of cocoa and put your feet up and watch a Christmas movie. Getting older gives us license, I think! Hugs, Sandi

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    1. Thanks so much, Sandi. I think we are right on track and I am so looking forward to the enjoyment part. Having fun is a lot of work!! I have been od-ing on hot cider and still have a ways to go..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  7. I love the little houses -- gingerbread cottage and bisque house -- and your GLORIOUS Santa you painted! Love it to the max. I am delighted by all the little snippets and can't wait to see it come together (but even if it didn't, I'd still be enchanted!)

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    1. Thanks so much, Jeanie. I have not been good about keeping up with things but am on the home stretch. I will be glad to be done even though it is a labor of love..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  8. Such a cheery collection! You are certainly in the spirit of things. I am really enjoying seeing everyone's decorating this year. Happy December!

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    1. Thanks so much, Jacqueline. I am taking the time to look at others decorations too. Such beauty of all kinds. I am almost finished and now comes the time to enjoy..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  9. Judy, that gingerbread house makeover is stunning. OMGoodness...I absolutely adore it! You have such a gift.

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    1. Thanks so much, Kim. Sometimes I get on the track of something and I become obsessed. That is gingerbread houses for me now. I have a couple more coming up. Of course, I never know how they will turn out until I'm done with one but that seems to be the fun part..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  10. Love the little glimpses, Judy - so many sweet things. Your little house makeovers are so charming and so creative! I love pulling out all the holiday decorations and deciding where they will go. Can't wait to see what you do with them this year! Have fun! Hugs xo K

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    1. Thanks so much, Karen. No matter how many times I open those Christmas boxes, which now is about 60 years, the decorations always seem brand new. It is amazing what I forget that I have. I am just about finished and then the time for rest and enjoyment begins in earnest..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  11. Wow! Decorations are so beautiful! I love Christmas :)

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    1. Thank you so much. I love Christmas too..Happy Monday..xxoJudy

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  12. Lovely decorations and love reading what you write about all of them. It took me 12 days this time. My sister was here at Thanksgiving and stayed 9 days and then I slept two after they left. lot of running around it seems. I better get shopping now. Can't wait to see more of your goodies for Christmas. Hugs, betsy

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    1. Thanks so much, Betsy. I hope you have rested up now. This time of the year is fun but hectic..Hope you are having a wonderful weekend..Merry Christmas..xxoJudy

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  13. What a fun idea to add that little cottage under the cloche on a vintage cake plate. I may need to steal that idea. :-) Beautiful colors of Christmas and your home is so inviting! Janice

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    1. Thanks so much, Janice. Feel free, I probably stole it from someone else too! Time is getting short but I am finally done so now we are just enjoying all of it..Merry Christmas, my friend..xxoJudy

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Your comments are so special to me...Judy