The beauty and hope of Christmas

Hello, all... It's almost winter! According to official sources, winter begins Friday, December 21st at  5:23 PM Eastern time... Do you have snow in your part of the world? It's not looking like we'll have a white Christmas here in western Pennsylvania (in fact, it's pouring rain as I write this!), but that's okay. I'm just happy because I'll have all of my kids home for the holidays--the very best present a mother could ask for, don't you think? My oldest son and daughter-in-law are up visiting my mom for the weekend after flying in from San Diego this evening. Then they'll drive down to be with us (for a whole week!) on Sunday. Can't wait to see them as it's been 3 months. My youngest arrives tomorrow (I don't envy him that drive from up from Washington, DC in holiday traffic!) and my middle lives nearby so we'll be all set!

Of course, with everyone coming, I've spent a bit more time trying to make the house extra festive. Do you do that, too? I truly enjoy puttering around my home and prettying up spaces with lots of lights and Christmas colors. My tree is up and I love the soft light it casts on our sunroom at night. This is the same tree I've shown on my blog for almost ten years--it just keeps getting more ornaments piled on! To tell you the truth, it was a bit difficult to find room for my newest twelve. You see, this isn't just a stitching tree--I have an eclectic group of ornaments on it. From little things the boys created in school, to some vintage ornaments from my mother-in-law, to the Hallmark ornaments I gave the boys each year as they were growing up--they are all included. It also has ornaments from the various places we've traveled to over the years--I try to pick up an ornament at each destination. So, here are some Christmas tree photos--both from a distance and close-up, day and night...

2018 Christmas Tree

The Prairie Schooler Santas seem to be having a meeting! I wonder what they are planning?

Lots of chubby white snowmen!

Bows, cording, and ribbons really add to the finishes

I put the smaller ornaments at the very top of the tree

Some of my very favorites!

At night it is still lovely, although the ornaments don't show up as well (the ones stitched on black look a bit like "black holes" from a distance, don't they?)...

The tree at night with the "black-hole" ornaments :)

But, up close they are so very pretty!

So many Santas and snowmen with a little sheep in the mix!

One final look at my tree for this year...

A new addition to my Christmas decor is this sweet tartan plaid village that I fell in love with at Hallmark...

I display them on the sideboard in our kitchen eating area.

I've had the best time gathering small accessories like the little red truck, the plaid packages, and a tiny snowman.

Here is the lovely church sitting behind a "pond" my husband cut from an old mirror. I drew the kidney bean shape on it and he cut it out with his special glass cutters!

Here is the charming cottage with its crooked chimney! It wasn't supposed to be like that, but rather than return it, I kept it as it is so whimsical.

The houses light up as do the little white trees that I bought at Target and decorated them with red plaid bows and glass ornaments. My son says I need more "snow" scattered about--he's right! I'm just afraid what might happen if someone sneezes!

I think the church is my favorite... I can almost hear the carols drifting out from the candlelight service!

And just look at these cuties that I found while cleaning out the Christmas bins in the attic! I had forgotten all about the pixie elves and carolers that my mother-in-law gave me in a bag of vintage ornaments when we were first married. At the time we had no display space in our small apartment, so I put them in the bottom of the Christmas storage box where they remained for the next 41 years! I was so excited to find them as I now have the perfect place to display them--right on the middle shelf of my kitchen corner cupboard!  I've included another vintage favorite in my collage--the Rushton Santa from the fifties that was a childhood toy. His clothing has disappeared except for his red longjohns--and in spite of the creepy look on his plastic face, I adore this guy!

The little figurines have such perfect complexions due to being hidden in the attic for 40+ years! I guarantee if they had been on display when my sons were growing up, they would be nursing a broken leg or arm!

My Nativity set was given to me by my dear mother during my early years of marriage. It is a simple wood-carved set handcrafted in the mountains of Italy. I so treasure it and it wouldn't be Christmas without it on display.

My treasured Nativity set from my dear mother

A wish for you... When I was driving home from getting my hair cut last month on a hilly, winding road, something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I slowed down and gasped out loud when I realized it was an albino deer standing quietly in the snow at the side of the road. Totally white with small antlers sprouting from his head, he was almost mythical looking. How I wish I could have stopped to take a photo, but, as I mentioned, I was on a steep hill during a snow storm--not ideal conditions for stopping my car. I slowly drove on and watched from my rear view mirror as the buck carefully crossed the road and I said a silent prayer for his safety. Although there is no photo, I know I will forever remember that moment--it was that special... May your Christmas be filled with equally special moments and memories, my friends--the kind you will never forget. Thank you for visiting with me today--I'm so glad you stopped by. Bye for now...

Enjoy the magic that is Christmas!