The Wish...

Make a wish...

When you are a five year old boy,

what do you wish for?

Oh how I wonder...

But one must not tell,

because it will not come true...so they say...

Not only is Christmas time near,

but oh to have a December birthday...

How much excitement can one child stand...

Happy fifth birthday to our baby boy 

with the golden curls.

We love him so.

Blessings,

Yaya

Tradition...

"The Night Before Christmas"...

We have a beautiful old book that is read many times before Christmas...

"The moon on the breast

of the new-fallen snow,

gave a luster of midday

to objects below".

"The children were nestled

all snug in their beds,

while visions of sugarplums

danced in their heads."

Creating memories never to be forgotten...

Blessings,

Yaya

A Wedding and a Birthday Party...

Everywhere you go,

the halls are decked...

The trees are up...

And Christmas is here in all of its glory...

And what could be better than a Christmas wedding?!

Being a flower girl...

Oh not one, but two...

Two little flower girls dropping petals everywhere they go...

Oh so fun...

Oh so beautiful...

Oh so magical...

But back at the country house,

the party is over...

The wedding is over,

and she danced her shoes off...

Oh so tired, and ready for bed.

Up the back stairs she goes...

It's time for flannel pajamas...

It's time for slumber...

A little princess...

Beautiful flowers,

and a treasure chest of Christmas ornaments yet to be hung...

"Smell, Yaya...the flower is sweet and soft."

Capturing moments in time to never be again...

The magic of the season is upon us...

Grab it...

Hold on to every moment,

for this is all we have.

Right here...Right now...

Love...

Laugh...

Be kind...

Give...

And remember the reason for the season...

Blessings,

Yaya

That Magical Time of Year.

Ohhh it felt like magic...

The excitement was wonderful...

The long drive north to the countryside from Mobile...

Arriving at the country house...

A Christmas wedding to attend...

A rehearsal dinner in a grand old home in town...

A birthday party at the grand hotel on the river...

And Christmas just around the corner...

Oh yes, it feels so magical...

Come sit with me in the parlor, said Yaya...

Tell me all about it...

Cookies and milk by the fire...

A picture or two...

And stories...beautiful stories...

And party dresses...

And smiles...

And so much more...

It's that magical time of the year when excitement is in the air...

It shows in the smiles...

And the twinkle in the eyes...

What better place to savor the children's giggles

than the old family country house

dressed in the warm golden glow and magic of Christmas...

Blessings,

Yaya

The Parlor Fireplace Aglow

Are you decorating for Christmas on this cold moonlit night?

I am having so much fun with the old parlor fireplace...

Everything is a golden glow...

It is not finished, and another photo will come when it is completed,

but somehow the golden glow seemed so perfect on this cold night,

and I just wanted to share the unfinished project anyway...

I love the remoteness of our country house,

far from the chaos of the city...

I went outside today and cut a basket full of cedar, holly, magnolia leaves...

It is truly glorious to smell...

This mantel will have cedar and magnolia added to it...

And sparkling twinkle lights...

There is a drop-leaf dining table near this fireplace,

and it is the perfect place for morning coffee...

As dusk deepens into darkness,

and shadows melt into night,

lights go on one by one...

Twinkling...

Noel...Noel...Noel...

Bowls of nuts and fruits...

Pine cones sprayed gold, and golden glitter candles...

Our beloved country house is the place we want to be at Christmas time...

Blessings and good cheer,

Yaya

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, 

but deep in the heart of Dixie,

a white Christmas is not expected...

However,

one can dream...

As a child growing up in the south,

there wasn't anything more exciting than the anticipation of snow.

It was truly magical...

A beautiful winter wonderland.

We come home to the old country house during the holidays...

I love using fresh cedar, holly and other cuttings from the yard...

Oh the smell...

It smells like Christmas with all the cedar in the house...

Ushering in a season of splendor...

Vintage Christmas...

Visions of Santa Claus...

Velvet dresses...

Decorating the huge cedar tree...Papa and the children...

Holiday dinner...

Gift wrapping...

Open houses...

Hot mulled wine by the fire...

Friends dropping by...

The front door constantly in motion...

Family filling the old country house...

Red corduroy dresses...

Cinnamon scents the air...

The house is beginning to shine with Christmas cheer...

Goodwill...Peace and love...

Blessings,

Yaya