pre-christmas activity

While the rest of you shop, cook, bake, decorate and wrap, 

you might be interested to know what I'm doing! 
~ Click HERE to find out ~

more is more

 I traveled with my father to his home town for a routine doctor visit.

 I asked him to drop me off at the local library to wait while he had his appointment 

 and ran another errand or two.

 The library is a lovely one with a comfortable seating area

 and many fine decorating magazines.

 I was not bored OR disappointed as I perused the current House Beautiful magazine.

Can you tell I agree with Dolly Parton who is said to have said:

"Some people say that less is more. But I think more is more."

another day; another puzzle

Another day; another puzzle.

We finished this one - which was NOT easy -

since the cars were not arranged like the photo on the box!

After taking it apart this afternoon,

we started another.

We find puzzles to be a simple and satisfying way

to spend cold, winter days!

(Frequently our puzzling is accompanied by a mug 

of hot chocolate or eggnog with a bit of nutmeg sprinkled on it

and some instrumental Christmas music playing in the background...)

cutouts

 These sweet cutouts

 from a magazine insert years ago

 found a place among the few other ornaments on our little white tree.

Loving them!

sheep may safely graze

 My motley flock of sheep

 graze safely on the mantel in our dining area.

Gathered randomly throughout the years,

they assemble here at Christmastime.

"Sheep may safely graze and pasture
Where a shepherd guards them well.
So the nation ruled in wisdom
Knows and shares the many blessings
Which both peace and plenty bring."

(Bach)

a little here and a little there

I'm a bit random with my Christmas decorating.

Starts and stops and no clear plan.

Candles and traditional Christmas music contribute much to the general atmosphere.

These are a few of the most recent (and random) pieces I've added...

And my husband created a new base for a damaged nativity stable

I must not have been able to pass up last year.

It houses unrelated figures and suits me just fine!

A simple tree made of weathered wood

sits atop one of our wardrobes among red trees.

And so it goes.

A little here and a little there...