Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Holiday Message
On the Eve of a brand new year.......may our holiday season be blessed with peaceful hearts, loving gestures and renewed hope in our ability to take joy in our daily lives.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Magical Christmas Moment
It's the Christmas holiday season once again. Here in lovely southern Wisconsin, we have been blasted with a lot of snow and very cold temperatures. This will ensure that we have the traditional "White Christmas
", but it wreaks havoc on the daily coming and goings of life, not to mention all the special errands and gatherings that happen this time of year.
Saturday night, we were driving home after an evening of Christmas shopping. It had been snowing the entire time, so the roads were quite slippery. We live in a subdivision outside our city, so we have about a five mile stretch of "countryside" to travel through before reaching home. My husband was driving, so I had a chance to absorb all the beauty of the snowy landscape. It's quite mesmerizing when you are moving through a snowstorm, the millions of flakes swirling hypnotically against the glass and headlights. I was admiring the holiday lights on the house we were passing, when I spotted a large stautue in the front yard display. I hadn't noticed that statue before, on our way to town. Suddenly, the statue came to life, turned it's head and looked right at me! It was a very large, male, white tail deer with a headfull of antlers. He calmly watched us go by, all while leisurely munching on some tidbit he had found in the snow. He was so regal and beautiful, standing in the silent snowfall, at peace with himself and his surroundings, Christmas lights illuminating the whole magical scene. I felt like it was my own private Christmas card, embodying what, for me, is the true essence of the season.....Peace in my heart, the uparalleled beauty of nature, and the magic in these unexpected moments of life.
", but it wreaks havoc on the daily coming and goings of life, not to mention all the special errands and gatherings that happen this time of year.Saturday night, we were driving home after an evening of Christmas shopping. It had been snowing the entire time, so the roads were quite slippery. We live in a subdivision outside our city, so we have about a five mile stretch of "countryside" to travel through before reaching home. My husband was driving, so I had a chance to absorb all the beauty of the snowy landscape. It's quite mesmerizing when you are moving through a snowstorm, the millions of flakes swirling hypnotically against the glass and headlights. I was admiring the holiday lights on the house we were passing, when I spotted a large stautue in the front yard display. I hadn't noticed that statue before, on our way to town. Suddenly, the statue came to life, turned it's head and looked right at me! It was a very large, male, white tail deer with a headfull of antlers. He calmly watched us go by, all while leisurely munching on some tidbit he had found in the snow. He was so regal and beautiful, standing in the silent snowfall, at peace with himself and his surroundings, Christmas lights illuminating the whole magical scene. I felt like it was my own private Christmas card, embodying what, for me, is the true essence of the season.....Peace in my heart, the uparalleled beauty of nature, and the magic in these unexpected moments of life.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Traditions
My newest Thanksgiving tradition is to serve my turkey feast on "His Majesty" china, by Johnson Brothers of England
. Taking it out of the box every November is like revisiting an old friend. Details are very important in my style of holiday decorating and entertaining, and I love acquiring and using different dish styles and patterns in my tablesettings.
"His Majesty", is a brown transfer ware with a turkey image in the middle and gentle tints of burgundy and aqua blue decorating the scene around him. This year, I set my tables with crystal glasses, amber hurricane candles and white and ecru lace tablecloths. Truly a treat for the eyes before the feasting begins.
. Taking it out of the box every November is like revisiting an old friend. Details are very important in my style of holiday decorating and entertaining, and I love acquiring and using different dish styles and patterns in my tablesettings. "His Majesty", is a brown transfer ware with a turkey image in the middle and gentle tints of burgundy and aqua blue decorating the scene around him. This year, I set my tables with crystal glasses, amber hurricane candles and white and ecru lace tablecloths. Truly a treat for the eyes before the feasting begins.
A Blessed Thanksgiving
I am truly grateful for all the blessings I have in my life and my world, and find it wonderful that there is a holiday dedicated to giving thanks. My family and some new friends were invited to gather with us and share the traditional turkey feast that I had prepared. This marks the 17th year that I have hosted Thanksgiving in my wee crofter's cottage. It's a tight squeeze, but, there is always room at my table for one more person.
We all shared a day full of good food, conversation and hopefully, creating new memories and traditions-especially for the littlest ones. I have so many reasons to give thanks and genuinely hope I inspire gratitude in others. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
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