One of Life's Greatest Gifts

Peace.

The feeling of peace, deep within the soul, is one of the best gifts we can give to ourselves at any time of the year.

It’s nothing we can find in the stores during sales. It cannot be ordered online or at warehouse businesses. Its price, however, is worth more than millions.

When people try to pull us onto their side of an argument, into simmering conflict, vie for peace. Stay out of the fray. Avoid the firing lines and walk away. Let the squabblers squabble all they want but avoid arguing, in the name of peace.

As the years pass, peace has become more and more important. It’s imperative not to let anything disturb peace for very long.

We have no control over certain situations in our lives. We have no control over people, places, or things happening in our lives or in anyone else’s life. We do, however, have control over one person....ourselves.

While we cannot possibly control what is happening to us, we can control how we respond. Our actions, decisions, and thoughts remain in our personal control.

No one can take away our serenity or our peace unless we let them.

Peace can be ours even if the world around us is spinning out of control. It is precious. It must be guarded and treasured for the priceless gift that it is.

Seek peace.

Would You Like A Spot of Tea?

Tea has never been my drink of choice but I love tea CUPS.

Guess I could never be a proper Englishwoman since I find most teas rather wishy washy, (kind of like dishwater?) There have been a few that tasted pretty good, such as raspberry and peach but the majority have not been anything I'd write home about. A lot of people who are die hard connoisseurs of tea would probably beg to differ with me about tea.


Tea cups, on the other hand, fascinate me, especially if they are covered with roses or rimmed with gold. The prettier they are, the more I am willing to drink tea.

When we lived in Tucson, Arizona, I remember hearing about a new tea place that was getting ready to open. It was called the Chantilly Tea Room The first time I went there, I fell madly in love with the enchanting decor, the Victorian looking tablecloths, the stop-your-heart gift shop filled with so many gorgeous things it made your eyeballs spin, and the tea cups! Customers were led to a rack of teacups and told to pick one out. The server would pour the hot tea of choice into the cup selected.

The teacup racks held many different cups of all styles and designs, and on the spot, the desire for a teacup collection was born. From that point on, whenever I'd zip into a thrift shop or go to an estate or yard sale, I'd be on the prowl for fancy tea cups that appealed to me.

Then came a cross country move back to the east. One day at a yard sale, there it was----a lovely wall-mounted teacup rack. I bit my lip, squinted, and looked at the price tag....$8. Perfect price! Into the car it went and, as the old cliche goes, the rest is history.

People gave me tea cups as gifts and, little by little, the rack began to fill. It's now filled to capacity so HALT to the teacup collection. It's a colorful and beautiful assortment of teacups. I love offering guests tea to be served in the lovely cups. Occasionally, I even drink tea, myself, just to use them!

So, tea anyone?

Pass The Platter, Please....

Do you have one set of dishes or many?

Some people fall into the "one set only" category. When I serve meals, having a variety of dishes to choose from is preferable. Like some people love shoes or purses, I enjoy collecting plates. The only problem is running out of room in the pantry to store them.

One set of dishes with light purple flowers against gray have stamps on the backs that read, "Made in Occupied Japan." Found them in a Goodwill Store. Another set has cascades of roses around their edges. Once a wedding gift in the 1920s, they belonged to the grandmother of the person we bought them from. The cups are so thin they are almost transparent when held up to the light. Quite delicate, they came with large platters, too.

Since we recently remodeled our kitchen in yellow and blue, a couple of matching sets of dishes in those colors have been added. Talk about variety!




Then, on a "treasure hunt" in Savers, one of my favorite "thriftie" stores, a bright blue and yellow pitcher and covered casserole both caught my eye. The latter is from Portugal. They really look cheerful and appealing!


Even though they don't "match" perfectly, they are extremely attractive and look great in our recently remodeled kitchen!



For very special occasions, we use Old Country Roses dishes. These have been loved forever. But how they came to our house is a story for another blog!

Miracles Do Happen!

Stained glass pieces make my heart beat faster. Their beauty is unparalleled.

Once, I cut out a picture of a piece of pink stained glass from a mail order catalog. It had black piping. I pasted the picture in a journal for safekeeping.

Then, one day while driving down a main street, I passed a second hand shop. There in the window hung the exact piece of stained glass I had glued into the journal months before!

Call it fate, coincidence, or just plain good luck, that piece of stained glass was meant to be mine. Pulling the car around the back of the store, I went into the shop, bought the stained glass piece, and headed home.

It now hangs in our kitchen window. Hmmmmm. Wonder what other surprises mail order catalogs might hold.

Holiday Fatigue

It's two days after Christmas and all is well and I'm TIRED! Ha! The holidays and all the hoopla are finally getting to me.

Have one more major event to attend tonight and then, that's it. New Year's Eve, when everyone else is going out to parties, I'll be blessedly home in my red velvet bathrobe. Will probably light a fire in the fireplace, curl up in a corner of the couch, and sleep! Ha! Quite the party-goer, eh? Things change with the years.

Every year I write a list of goals I'd like to accomplish in the coming year. Only met about three out of 10 this year so I'd better get on the stick and do better in 2010.

My main goal is to continue to lose weight. It's been life-long but hope springs eternal. Will also pledge to keep exercising. This year I took up swimming several mornings a week and absolutely love it.

Also going to "electrify" a second dollhouse, as well as sing with my guitar and banjo in nursing homes. Would also love to join a choir but first have to find one to join.

Don't have my entire list written yet but I'm working on it. Right now, at this moment, I want to do one thing. Sleep!

Have a Blessed Christmas, One and All!

The birth of a baby boy, Jesus, who was actually a king, changed the course of history forever.

Can you imagine how scared and uncomfortable Mary, the mother of Jesus, must have been on that starry night so long ago? She, an innocent and obedient teenage girl, was in labor and there was no room at the inn. Imagine giving birth in a kind of barn, with cattle nearby. What a humble beginning for the Prince of Peace.

Because He came down to earth in the form of man, there is now hope for all mankind.

Today, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a joyous holiday, meant to fill all hearts with the wonder of childhood and deep happiness.


May each of you reading this blog be blessed this Christmas. It brings me great happiness to hear from each of you and read your blogs. Computer technology is such an awesome part of our world, isn't it? How marvelous we can invite each other into our homes, minds, and hearts, even when we don't know each other well and may live thousands of miles apart. Meeting people in blogland is like receiving fabulous Christmas presents, wrapped and topped with giant, shimmering bows!

Peace, peace I wish to you and as many blessings as the millions of stars that sparkle like diamonds in the night sky. The Messiah has come and we, His followers, can rest assured that we are heirs to a King! How awesome is that?






Merry, Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Eve!

It's almost Christmas and excitement fills the air.

The anticipation of family gatherings, opening gifts, and celebrating, once again, the birth of the Christ child, are all part of this magical, wondrous holiday.

There's so much to do to prepare for Christmas that it's easy to feel stressed-out by it all. Every day has been a frenzy of activity--- baking, buying, cleaning, cooking, socializing, wrapping, writing cards, and so on.

It's so calming to just sit for a moment and look, really look, at the Christmas tree in all its splendor. For me, a fire in our beautiful pink fireplace warms the body as well as the soul. The crackling sounds and flames calm a weary body. No carols are necessary for a few, still moments. It's a blessing to bask in the silence.

Pause to really look at the figures in the manger and recall that night, so long ago, when a baby born in humble surroundings brought hope for all mankind. What a priceless gift hope is, even today in our current circumstances.

In our home, as I write this post, a Yankee Candle is burning. The scent, appropriately named "Christmas Eve," is sweet and fills the living room. Honey Cat is sound asleep on the rug in front of the fire. Smart cat!

Immense gratitude fills my heart---for the gift of life; for my husband, son, and daughter and their life partners; for numerous non-biological teens in our lives; for our home; for family and friends and, oh, most precious gift of all, good health. I feel profound gratitude for every blessing, big and small.

Thank you, Baby Jesus.

One Stroke Christmas Balls

One stroke is a painting technique that, when mastered, turns out very beautiful results.

Luckily, I have a sister who is skilled in this type of painting. She has attended many workshops, watches videos of other talented artist/instructors, and subscribes to artist magazines.

Her art work is all over her house and is drop dead gorgeous. She gifted me with many wonderful hand-painted items as well.

When I decided to add pink to our Christmas tree, she went to town doing one stroke pink roses on crystal balls. The resulting decorations are truly beautiful. The bulbs shown here are an example of her work. (The Christmas tree was actually twirling around when these photos were snapped so they might not be crystal clear. Why I didn't stop the tree to take them is anybody's guess.)

LIttle Books, Big Pleasure!

For many years now, any Christmas books spotted at yard or estate sales or in thrift stores, have ended up in our home library. It’s impossible to pass-up books on my absolutely favorite of all favorite holidays.

In addition to Christmas decorating and baking books, a whole section of one library shelf holds little (like three inches high or less) books. These are charmers that guests love leafing through. During the holidays, a small pink basket holds the wee books and sits on a counter in the downstairs “necessary” room.

One of the books in the little basket is “A Very Merry Christmas” by Robyn Officer. It has delightful drawings, recipies, (one for Angel Food cakes, of course), poems, songs, and so on.

It’s always good to be reminded that “A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance.” (Proverbs 15:13)

There’s also “The Little Book of Christmas Carols,” “Angels,” “Christmas Traditionas,” Mary Englebreit’s “Don’t Waste the Miracle” and so on, in the mini library.

Even such a small gesture such as having pint-sized books in a miniature basket can help add a touch of happiness to the holiday!

Decor in the Bath, Gives Guests a Laugh!

Every room in the house can benefit from holiday decorating and that includes the "necessary" room. After all, that room usually gets visited many times a day and night by family members, friends, and guests.



Contents of a three-shelf unit in our upstairs bathroom changes with the holidays. At this time of year, a whole variety of eclectic items line the shelves, bringing a bit of charm to visitors of the "necessary room."


A couple of ceramic bears, including one doing somersaults, are there, bringing a bit of laughter.





There's a cheerful Santa with a Christmas tree that's actually a candle top for a candle in a jar.





A two-inch teddy holds a Happy Holidays sign; and still another one, with white "fur," has a tiny horse in front of him. "Santa" bear wears a bright red and white hat from the North Pole. A sweet tin angel shares a shelf with a happy-faced snowman that has red velvet pants on his dangling legs.










A two-inch manger scene, made in Peru is there, too, and some happy wooden gingerbread kids.











The shelves are to the left of the old-fashioned bathroom window, hung with a string of bright, cheery poinsettias, and are proof positive that holiday decor can happen in every room of the house!

Weekend Before Christmas

The countdown to Christmas has begun! Can't believe it is less than one week away! It's an exciting time of year, that's for sure. This year it's even extra special as our son and his fiance are making a cross-country trip to visit us for three precious days! Their "presence" will be among our most wonderful Christmas "presents." Even though the visit will be short, it will be very, very sweet.

From a religious perspective, it's one week until the Little Baby Jesus comes, once again to give hope to all----to bring peace, kindness, compassion, and unparalleled joy to this planet earth!

All of my Christmas shopping is done. Only a few straggler gifties to wrap. Have already made several gingerbread houses that guests have decorated. The house is decorated to the hilt inside and out.

Giving, in many ways, to others always brings joy and there has been plenty of that this holiday season. Remembering children without family contact is important to us as well as making little ones smile and feel loved. Bringing a meal to a family that is passing hard times is a nice gesture, too.

Sending reams of Christmas cards with a family newsletter and a copy of the engagement announcement has been part of this year's celebration. Now, the mailman is bringing cards to us and that is always very, very joyful! I love mail anytime but especially at Christmas time.

There are moments when fatigue threatens to take-over but then I try to lay down on a couch in the living room and enjoy the lovely tree in all its splendor. If there's a fire in the fireplace, even better. Then I can relax and just "be" instead of "do" which is always great.

It's very important to not get too stressed-out so just writing that is a good reminder to me because it's so easy to do.

So, deeeeeeeep breath and enjoy this last precious weekend before Christmas!

A Touch of Whimsy!

In addition to all the traditional decorations, church services, mangers, foods, and entertaining the holidays signify, it's good to add little fun touches to one's environment.

A couple of years ago, in a Family Dollar store, I saw a small lighted wreath that plugs into a car's cigarette lighter! What a novel use for the lighter, I thought, and bought the little wreath. It came with a round plastic suction cup to put on a car window.

As a matter of fact, I bought several wreaths and gave them as little gifties that year. My son and daughter, who both lived in Arizona at the time, got a real kick out of their car wreaths.

Let me tell you, the public response to the lighted car wreath has been noteworthy. As a matter of fact, it's been a real hoot. People wave when they are passing or smile in parking lots. Isn't that a lot better than scowls and holiday stress?

Snapped a picture of the wreath using my flash as well as tried a couple of non-flash photos, to give you an idea of what the little wreath looks like.



To date, I haven't been pulled over by police for having the wreath hanging in my window. Hope if I am, the Christmas spirit will save me from getting a ticket. The little decoration does not, in any way, obscure my vision of things behind me. I can see all traffic very clearly in the overhead mirror as well as in the car's side mirror.

One might wonder why anyone would put a small wreath inside a car, of all places. It might seem so ridiculous. Well, it's just that I believe in adding to life in whatever small way to bring a smile. This world in which we live can be so filled with sorrows and disappointments, worries and difficulties. Why not try, each and every day, to add a light touch to someone else's life? It makes the journey so much easier.

So, if you are driving by and see a little lighted wreath in a car next to you, give a honk. Merry Holidays to all!

Poinsettia Magic!

On a recent trip to the Christmas Tree Shops, a beautifully cutout tablecloth caught my attention. It was pure white with bright, red poinsettias cut into the cloth on the flat surface as well as along the corners.


Not wanting to spend the money on the tablecloth, I didn't buy it and felt very proud of my self-restraint. However, thoughts of how beautiful the tablecloth would look on the dining room table kept coming into my mind. The nearest Christmas Tree Shops is an hour away from our house. Luckily, I made a second trip there with a friend about a week later. The tablecloths with the poinsettias had been moved and I thought they were sold out but a salesperson found one for me. Merry Christmas to me.


It is simple but elegant and turned out to be a very nice Christmas gift to me, (from me! ha!)

Who's The Real Santa?

The faces and attire of Santa probably number in the millions. People from every culture put their special mark on this jolly old figure. Throughout the years, friends have added to the Santa collection in our house. This Christmas, a group of them grace the front hallway, ready to welcome all visitors. Here are some photographic glimpses of these beloved Santas.

Christmas Decor, Galore!

A small forest of holiday trees "grows" in one room of our home. More than 100 beautifully wrapped presents, tied with red, green, and gold bows, comprises one of the trees. (Can't help but wonder if workers in some factory in China hand-tied all those enchanting gifties.)






Another tree is a gold-colored spiral from which gold and green bells hang----pretty to look at as well as listen to!









Nearby is another gold, star-topped tree with silver sequins.



A green, sparkly tree has brightly colored tiny balls and a big star on top.






A ceramic "town hall," with six wreaths and red bows on each of the front windows, is actually a candleholder. Right now, there is a deliciously spicy "Harvest" Yankee candle burning in it.



A small bouquet of red poinsettias sits in a brass holder.
Christmas mouse is here, too, ringing his bell as he sings "We wish you a Merry Christmas" every time someone pushes his foot!












Every room in the house can be decorated for this very festive holiday!