And to all a goodnight!

After weeks of shopping, wrapping, baking and cooking as I cleaned the last of the dishes, put things away I felt a sense of peace. We had a wonderful Christmas, family, friends and food. The Grands are spending the night and laughter rings through the house. My wish is that everyone feels the same sense of contentment. Life is good!

~And so to all a goodnight~

Santa Claus has ARRIVED!

 The day before Christmas and look who arrived!!! He had been hiding out down the street! Now can you believe a neighbor, one I had not talked to, had him? Delivered to the wrong house, after the UPS driver, who I even know, assured me he remembered leaving him at my door! Now can you believe the neighbor had this large box and did not even call to let me know it was there? My hubs ran into her hubs at the end of the street, rolled down his window to wish him a Merry Christmas and the neighbor said, we have a package for you. His wife told him she tried to call, ( I checked my caller ID, she fibbed). Now my sweetie said to the neighbor, Donna called the police and filed a report and UPS and the store. It had been at their house since Wednesday. See I am not losing my mind, I saw the truck go by my house and not stop. This stay at home Mom, does nothing, not a lick in her yard and the house could use some paint, but not her. My goodness I wonder what she does do. My husband was so happy to come in and surprise me with the box. He said wow their house felt kinda sad, no Christmas caroles playing, no baking in the oven, not wreath on the door, like our home when he entered with a big smile and my package. The neighbor has a good job so it is not because they can't. I guess everyone does not celebrate the season like so many of us in blog land! :)

I would have had a great Christmas any way, but this makes it way better. My baking is done, deliveries are made, now to relax this evening with friends and enjoy our family on Christmas Day. So my fondest wish for you all is for you to have a............

Merry Christmas!!

To the grinch who stole my Christmas!

I have been delivering gifts and baking away along with working too. Well. anyway back around the beginning of Dec. I saw this wonderful Santa on another blog. It was love at first sight and I knew right where he would go. He is an Arnetts Santa and they make different ones each year so if you love it you had better get it. Will it seemed like he was taking his sweet time getting here or maybe I was just so excited...it seemed like forever. I finally got notice he was due to arrive yesterday!! Wahoo I planned my day so I would be home when UPS came and I was. I kept checking my door, but no Santa did appear....I went online to see if the status had changed :( Oh no it said it was left at my door at 5:26!!! How could that be? He was not here!

So I called the Country store....they have no more, mine was his last. I could cry.

I talked to the UPS man and he said yes he put it on my step last night, not in my porch, on my step. Now you can't see the step from the street....how could this be? It was not there.

SO to you the nasy grinch who stole my Christmas...THANKS a bunch! Bet you were disappointed it was nothing electronic! Bet you don't even appreciate what it is.

Sorry for the rant, but I am so sad.....

You asked for it!

A bit more of Christmas~

A few of my readers have asked for some outside pictures of my home at Christmas, so here goes. I decorate simply on the outside greens and ribbons with my white candle lights and a couple of spotlights with a lower watt spot light. I love the soft glow with out the bright white light, sigh.

                                                         Look at the moon over the house.

                                                       Most people enter through our porch.

                                           A bit of daytime~

                                      We have three onion lights along the drive and they each look like  this.  I need to put a little wreath around my crow's neck, one with a red bow.

Christmas is coming~

Come on in, the fire is lit, the candles are scenting the air, Christmas caroles are playing and gingerbread men are in the oven. I would love to sit and visit.

 The grands love to find candy and cookies in the jars. 

Thanks for coming by, I would love to stay and chat longer, but cookies need to be baked, presents bought and wrapped and I still don't have my big tree up.....it is my last room to finish up.

So how is your shopping and decorating coming along?

A little bit of Christmas

~Joy to the world, it is almost Christmas~

This is what greets you when you come into my kitchen....I love this snowman and would like a whole bunch of them. Some for my doorstep, some in my garden and more for the house. Ok so a girl can dream, right?

This little shelf is in the hall when you come down the stairs. I should prim it up, but years ago after a visit to Texas, my sister sent this for my birthday. I always think of her as I look at it and decorate it.

    A little old book I thought you could read when you come to stay in my guest room. Befitting the season, don't you think?

Oops, I need to get rid of the straw hat, maybe a knit cap?

I got a new Santa the other day can you tell which one?

It was night by the time I took some pictures and there were too many shadows. I will take some more on Monday. So for now to all a good night!

A wonderful surprise

Today when I got home from work, there was a package on my door step. I looked down to see the return address of a sweet lady who reads my blog. We have emailed back and forth a few times. She sent me some great recipes and pictures and then told me my front door was her wallpaper.....flattered I was for sure. I have admired her beautiful needlework.
So I opened the pretty card, frame worthy, for sure!

and then............in this pretty bag, LOOK!! Isn't this beautiful? It has 2011 stitched on the back too. I was just so touched, there are no words to describe how her kindness has touched me.

So a big Thank You Carole!  Merry Christmas to you my friend.

Busy, busy.....

Lots of yard cleanup was done here this weekend, pumpkins added to the compost bins, and fake pumpkins and gourds were stored. I know I have way too many decorations and need to release some to a better home. I have been dragging out Christmas and know I need to purge here too.

I have a twig tree that goes in the dining room and I used to have lights that were green and red. I found them years ago in a shop that is no longer in business. The green and red looked so nice in my white light world. It was just the right touch. I have looked everywhere and even online...to no avail. Well, today I was in the attic and I found a basket of things I brought home from my Mom's home eight yrs ago. I had bought her the same tree and lights and she had switched to the white. The tree was sent off to her sister after Mom left us. I had not given it much thought.....until I found one single set of red and green lights,  just what I need<3  Thank you Mom! I do know you are my angel and always with me. I think I will pack up some of her things and send them to my son, her first grandchild.

So my little twig tree is not quite done, but I will post it later this week.

 While turkey soup simmers on the stove and the fresh bread cools I will continue to decorate. Hubby is watching the Patriots and by the sound of it, life is good.