THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS - PART TWO - A CHRISTMAS COTTAGE TOUR - 2019

Do you remember
 back in summer time 
I fixed you up a Cottage stew 
where blue and white 
were the meat and potatoes and 
I told you that
 Christmas was going to be dessert?
  Well, I still have a lot to show you
 so I thought we'd eat dessert first -
 and the parlor seems to be
 the logical room where 
it all comes together - and where...

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I have had this 
sweet little Nativity set 
since the kids were little. 
 After they grew up,
 I put it away and 
this is the first time 
I've brought it out. 
It is probably close to 54 years old.
 I bought it at a craft fair
 all those years ago.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Everywhere you go

Take a look at the five and ten, it's glistening once again

With candy canes and silver lanes that glow

I'm sure there are some of you out there 
that remember Woolworth's
five and dime store.

In Santa Cruz 
we had one on the main street of downtown. 
It was actually a 
Christmas experience 
every time I was able to go there.

One of my fondest memories 
when I was very young 
was going with 
my grandmother and my cousin and 
having lunch
 at the lunch counter 
of Woolworth's.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Toys in every store

But the prettiest sight to see
 is the holly that will be

On your own front door

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Everywhere you go

There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well

It's the sturdy kind 
that doesn't mind the snow

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Soon the bells will start

And the thing 
that will make 'em ring 
is the carol that you sing

Right within your heart."

Meredith Wilson - 1951

Our beautiful little 
Christmas blue bird angel 
is the right one to sing 
the carol that is within 
everyone's heart 
at this time of year.

Please return next time and 
celebrate in our sitting room
 where the rumor is that 
Santa Claus is coming to town 
very soon.

...Judy...

Sharing today with:

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda

and

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS - PART ONE...A CHRISTMAS COTTAGE TOUR - 2019

Carolers and choirs

 spread good cheer 

throughout the holiday season. 

 St. Francis of Assisi,

 the 13th century patron saint of nature, 

in seeking a way to tell

 the Christmas story,

 was believed to be the first

 to celebrate this custom, 

but it was the Victorians 

who made it truly popular. 

 Many of today's 

most beloved carols 

were written during this era.

This Christmas,

 we at the Cottage,

 are hoping you will join us 

for a holiday tour 

that will highlight some of the 

sounds of the season and

 the spirit that they bring 

to each and every room.

 As you open the front door, 

we invite you to...

STEP INTO CHRISTMAS

"Welcome to my Christmas song

I'd like to thank you

 for the year

So I'm sending you 

this Christmas card

To say it's nice 

to have you here...

The angels are stepping out 

with their sparkly deer and 

their golden hearts

 to spread the 

magic of Christmas. 

They remind me of 

classy ladies of New York 

walking their large poodles 

down 5th Avenue.

Our little greeter 
carries a large stocking
 filled with all kinds of goodies
 for whomever comes through the door.
  I purchased the stocking 
from Mary at Sew Simple Sew Pretty,
 her Etsy shop.  
Kris of Junk Chic Cottage
 mentioned her in a post and 
I wanted to support her 
small business as well. 
 It is very well made and
 I am so happy with it.


I'd like to sing 
about all the things
Your eyes and mind can see
So hop aboard the turntable
And step into Christmas with me.

Our first tree 
is set up in the guest room. 
 I made it about 40 years ago 
for our bedroom and 
it has been appearing
 in a bedroom 
ever since.

For being dragged around 
for 40 years, 
the little beauty still 
looks pretty good...

...and a gift of angels 
from the kids 
stay close by 
every Christmas.

Another little group 
of choir candles 
keep things merry
 in the guestroom.

A little dose of humor
 always makes 
everything more merry.

A few 
simple amenities for
 the lucky guests.

If we can help to entertain you
Oh, we will find the ways
So Merry Christmas one and all
There's no place 
I'd rather be
Than asking you if you'd oblige
Stepping into Christmas
 with me."

Elton John


This song was released in 1973 and
 reached #1 on the 
Billboard Christmas Singles chart.

  This is not your 
usual Victorian Christmas carol,
 for sure, 
but I had never heard it and
 if you haven't either, 
I strongly suggest that you google 
the song title and
 watch the YouTube video.
 (You might catch a glimpse of 
the pink boa 
I made my wreath out of) I wish!

 It is Elton John at his finest
 and if you enjoy him,
 you will be tapping your foot and
 oozing Christmas spirit.

 No one could 
better describe
 the moment.

Please return next time
 when we step into the parlor
 and the music continues
 in harmony with 
The Christmas spirit.


...Judy...

Sharing today with:

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda

and

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

READY...SET...

I have been busy 

making a few Christmas crafts and 

perfecting my game plan 

for the coming days

 up to Christmas.

The pictures shown in this post

 are all from previous years. 

 Things may or may not be 

the same come this Christmas. 

 We are in the midst of 

preparing for Thanksgiving now and

 it will be a few more days before

 the Christmas magic begins.

I have a plan in mind 

that I think will convey

 all the happy spirit of Christmas and 

will leave you with 

a song in your heart.

As Thanksgiving is later than usual this year, 

it seems that only a short amount of time

 is allotted for planning

 so,  for that reason, 

I will probably be putting out more than

 just one post per week.  

I'm not sure

 how it will play out so,
 if interested, 
sign up to receive my blog posts by e-mail 
if you haven't already and 

 keep your eyes turned 

to your inboxes 

in the coming weeks.

There is a story to be told and 

 you all know that,

 in my opinion, more is more, 

especially at Christmastime.

 The whole month

 of December is

 a GO!

 for Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

...Judy...

This is the table setting 

I have come up with for our Thanksgiving dinner.  

I am so thankful and grateful 

that all the kids and the grand fur babies 

will be here to

 celebrate with us.

Sharing today at:

Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda

and

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles

RANDOM RAMBLINGS...

I want to thank 
each and everyone of you 
who sent me birthday greetings - 
and I did not get one condolence,
 so I really appreciate that! 

As I mentioned to some of you,
 a philosophy that I have taken on 
is that all birthdays,
 no matter what the number, 
are to be celebrated.
  
There are a lot 
that weren't lucky enough 
to reach this number 
as I can attest to from 
our high school graduating class.
  So, I thank you all,
 for making me feel like
 a Spring Chicken!

I read a blog post recently 
that says these ceramic Christmas trees 
are making a come back and 
fetching pretty high prices on EBay 
for the vintage ones. 
 I just so happen 
to have one that the Captain bought
 from a lady he worked with 
back in the 70's.
Truth be told, 
I really never thought 
it was my most favorite decoration 
but I appreciated his thoughtfulness.  
After using it a couple of times,
 I put it away and kind of forgot about it.
  For some reason though, 
I hung on to it and found it again, 
back in a dark corner,
 where I had left it. 
 This particular one
 looks just like one on EBay 
for around $200. 
 He can't remember what he paid for it 
but it wasn't nearly that price.
  Mine wouldn't bring that price, however, 
as it is missing the star on top
 and two of the colored bulbs. 
 I know I've seem that star 
laying around somewhere 
so hope I can find it. 
 I will display it again this year
 whether I find 
the missing pieces or not. 
 It is just kind of fun
 to have something that is
 making a come back 
(and you find that you were 
smart enough to keep it).

I found this 
pretty little frosted wreath
 at Hobby Lobby 
and am trying to remember
 what two other small ones
 that I got last year 
looked like so I can tweak it to match. 
 They are still packed 
so I will go through my photos.

Two more santas 
and 
that's all!

When I was downtown today, 
I picked up these sweet little deer.
 They come on a stick of three and 
look just like a cute gingerbread 
at a distance.
 They were only $6 for the stick.
  When you pull them apart 
they look just like 
they are prancing
 through the air.

I am still in the planning stages 
for Thanksgiving and 
one plan is to clean house
 so I best get to it.

 Word has it 
that our power is
 going to be shut off again 
tomorrow 
so fingers crossed 
that the generator
 does its job.


See you next week!


...Judy...

A naughty and noisy 
red head 
hanging out
 by the Cottage.



Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda

and

Keep In Touch at Let's Add Sprinkles