Quiet Moments

Give yourself permission to slow down,

if only for an afternoon.

After the hectic rush of the holiday season,

we should all pamper ourselves.....

Slow down...stop moving...

Take a scented bath by candle light,

put on those new flannels

and that, oh so soft, old cashmere sweater.

Put your new fuzzy socks on those well-pampered,

soaked,scrubbed, rubbed and lotioned feet...

Curl them up under you,

as you sip your spiced tea

while reading your new books that were Christmas gifts.

Snuggle deep into your favorite chair

with a soft throw.

We have a stack of new books

and I cannot wait to read them all.

"Seaside Style"

"The Last Godfather"

"Now You're Cookin' Tuscany"

"The Sharper Your Knife,The Less You Cry"...a cooking book in Paris!

and,

"Mrs. Wolf amd the Servants"....life with the Bloomsbury Bohemian Artsy folks.

Happy Pampering!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

I Want To See Christmas Through Your Eyes...

There is nothing like the magic of Christmas!

On Christmas Eve,

the old country house is full of laughter, excitement...

delicious food, wine...

family...

and story telling.

The boys get snug into bed

and

'Twas The Night Before Christmas"

is always read.

And, every year,

we actually hear the sleigh bells!!!

Oh we do!

It's true!!!

And then in the blink of an eye,

we awake

and,

GASP!!!

LOOK!!!

Santa came!!!

WOW!

AWESOME!

Merry Christmas to all!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Papa's Tradition

Papa is always in some far away land,

but he always makes it to the country house

in time to go to the woods and

find the perfect Christmas tree.

A cedar was the tradition when I was a little girl...

the scent is wonderful.

Today they set off into the woods

and returned with the

perfect cedar tree.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the waaay...

Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh....

Hey!

Yaya, here's the christmas tree!

Yaya, I have a reindeer on my sweater....look, Yaya....

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...

Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh...

Hey!

Okay, let's take it in and stand it up...


Y'all did GOOD!!!
Thank you, Papa, Mose, Beck and Tom...
Once they stood it up and strung the lights,
we all decorated the big Christmas tree.
Santa is loading the sleigh and about to head this way...
Now he will have a beautiful tree to place the gifts under
and I know two little boys that have been very good this year.....



Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Natural Christmas Decor

There is so much beauty in nature....

Red berries, cedar, blue spruce, pine and pine cones

all tied together with left-over red ribbon from last Christmas.....

Cost?

$0.00

Perfect!

Are you ready for Christmas?!?!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Oh the weather outside is frightful

but the fire is so delightful.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.....

Here in the deep South it is heavy rain.

I love hearing the rain pour down on the metal roof

of the old country house.

I wanted to stay in my flannel pajamas

and snuggle deep into our wonderful featherbed

and pull the down-filled blanket up to my head.

The delicious smell of coffee coming from the kitchen

and the alarm clock that sounds like churchbell and chimes

told me it was time to get up and get busy.

Christmas is almost here

and there is much to do.

Pies, cookies and cakes to bake,

and yeast bread too.

Casseroles to mix

and gifts to wrap....

and company is on their way!

Have a great weekend, y'all.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

The Magic of Santa Claus

Santa and his reindeer are getting ready

for their magical journey on Christmas Eve.....

Oh to see Christmas through the eyes of a child.

It truly is magical.

The reindeer take flight

with lightening-fast speed.

They must have wings!

It won't be long

and on the roof they will land,

then down the chimney

Santa descends,

filling stockings with toys and joy.....

Santa must work with his elves every day.

These good-hearted helpers

know just what to do.

They make trains, skates and dolls,

balls, toy soldiers and books...

The workshop is a miraculous place.

Horses that gallop and dollies that walk,

And teddy-bears ready to cuddle and rock.

Who Santa Claus is,
there's no need to tell.
Children around the world know him so well.....
Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
Lean your ear this way!
Christmas Eve is coming soon!






'Giving' is the secret of Christmas cheer.
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Winter Time In The Country

Looking at the beautiful Currier & Ives

"Winter In The Country",

causes one to reflect on yesteryear.....

Another era, another time...

A time when life seemed much slower.

We have come a long way

and gained so much,

and yet, it seems to me

that

we have lost something along the way.

Do you miss those olden days

when everyone gathered at Grandmother's house?

Of course.....

But,

I am now Grandmother...Yaya...

Times have changed

but not the tradition.

I can't wait for our children and grandangels to arrive!!!

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night.

Christmastime blessings

*****Yaya*****

Winter Wonderland

I wanted to share another

Currier & Ives

placemat from my mother's collection.

It sets such a mood.....

Oh to dream in winter white.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Currier & Ives

To gaze upon certain things of beauty

can speak to one's soul.

The prints of Currier & Ives

have always filled me with a sense of 'home'.

Somehow, they seem comforting.

As I rambled through storage boxes this past week,

I came across an antique set of six

Currier & Ives place mats.

They belong to my mother

and I recall her using them in my childhood.

I haven't seen them in years

but what a treasure.

They now have a place on the dining room table

and I can't stop looking at them.

I wish for you,

comforts of home and family...

Christmas Blessings

*****Yaya*****

O Christmas Tree

A little Christmas tree

just for the dining room...

All dressed up in shimmering gold,

snowwhites and crystal.....

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree,

your leaves are so unchanging.

Not only green in summer's glow,

But in the winter sleet and snow.

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree

I always want an angel atop the Christmas tree...

From angels bending near the earth,

to touch their harps of gold:

Peace on earth, goodwill to men,

From heaven's all gracious King.

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.....

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

All Through The House

The word Christmas calls up cherished memories.

Oh the happy anticipation...

I always experience the happy anticipation,

the memories and that wonderful longing for the magic of it all.

Christmas always has to do with the getting ready for,

as much as the day itself.

Preparations for the great day start way in advance.

It's a ritual here at the old country house.

Nothing is thrown together quickly.

I take my time and play with everything...

ribbons, pine garlands and cones, crystal and china.

Polishing until everything is all a glow.

I love the decorating...decking the halls.

By the time Christmas Eve arrives,

all will be ready for the arrival of Christmas magic!

The kids and grandangels arrive with their gorgeously wrapped boxes

and the little wee ones listen for sleighbells.

Oh the excitement!!

I just love an old fashioned country Christmas.

It's Christmastime, y'all!!!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Christmas Is...

Magic...

Sweet-smelling cedar...

A dusting of fresh snow...

Pinecones...

Candles so bright...

Ribbons that shimmer...

Silver bells...

Giggles of little elves and children...

Bundles of cinnamon sticks wrapped in red plaid ribbon...

Apples and oranges and fruitcake...

Pretty pine garlands...

Rock candy...

Mama Peggy's peanut brittle...

Gingerbread...

Silvery tinsel...

Walnuts...

Ruby red ornaments, shiny and bright...

A crackling fire and the smell of woodsmoke in the air...

Reindeer in flight...

Presents under the tree...

A star for the Christ Child...

Angels...

Sweet gifts of love...

A glass of wine and a long winter's nap.

May Christmas be a time of great blessings for all.....

Yaya

Boughs of Holly

Wrapped in the soft warmth

of a golden glow,

and the quiet of a cold December night,

we are snug unto ourselves.

The world is put on hold for an evening.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Time To Deck The Halls

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas".....

With Christmas music playing,

I am beginning to decorate the old country house.

When I finish,

everything will be all dressed up

with ribbons, magnolia leaves, cedar, pine garlands and more.

Inside, all is abustle

with Christmas boxes scattered all about.

So much to do

and so little time.

Trees to put up and decorate...

Tables to be dressed in their Christmas best...

Stockings to hang...

Christmas china to wash...

Silver to polish...

Gifts to wrap...

Baking ...

and baking...

Lights to string...

More Christmas shopping...

Eggnog to drink!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Sweet Little Companion

For every day you've made more special

and every time I forgot to let you know.....

I Love You,

my little sugar bear.

The presence of our beloved pets

can be as warm and comforting as a hug.

You will never be alone

with a journal in your pocket

and a dog by your side.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

A Grand Serenade

Oh, to be inspired.....

If one can only give a child

the atmosphere

in which they can find out who they are

and

what they really ought to become.

The memory of a smile.....

Music reveals your hidden soul.

Music can touch one deeply

and

transport them into another world.....

The music paints pictures,

and

I lose myself in them.....

Nobody ever got anywhere

without dreaming it would happen to them.....

In order to get anywhere,

you always need to know where you want to go.....

When you wish for your children,

wish only for health and happiness.

After all,

that's all they'll really need.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****