"Father Christmas"

Many of our Christmas decorations have sentimental value to us. Our Father Christmas is new this year. We bought him to put outside on our top porch beside the Christmas tree we put up. He didn't show up very well so we brought him inside. I'm so glad we did for I love looking at him! He has such a kind, gentle face.

We really enjoy the musical "Scrooge" and love the song, "Father Christmas".
And two of my favorite Christmas books are Finding Father Christmas and Engaging Father Christmas, both by Robin Jones Gunn. Great reads for the season!
I read them every year!
So you see "Father Christmas" is special.

Day 5 of Christmas decorating

I'm in the homestretch! Woo hoo! Here is a glimpse of Christmas around our house.
Meet Father Christmas! He's staying with us this year!

A "Charlotte" Christmas!

Isn't she just the cutest thing you ever saw? She is quite the charmer, looking up at you with those sweet brown eyes and that adorable face. And inspite of all that, she has made Christmas decorating a challenge! Yes I am crating her and putting her in the side room where she can play and run around without getting hurt BUT Charlotte is a people dog and she wants to be with us so when she isn't with us, she is crying but now I do believe she has fallen asleep in her bed of all places. Usually it's on one of us!

I've actually been a bit STRESSED OUT these past few days. I'm on a tight shedule this week and not a whole lot has gone according to plan. Bless Mike, he's put up with me, helping all he can.
Started out this morning calmly even after getting up at 5:30 to take Charlotte out and start breakfast.
Everything going smoothly until I knocked a glass bowl off the counter. Charlotte wasn't near it but I grabbed her up and put her in the side room to protect her and then she started her crying and barking.
I swept so carefully and then even vaccumed and by the time I was finished, she was asleep and quiet!
Wow! I do believe we've turned a corner!

On to attack the day and accomplish great decorating feats and hopefully to finish. This is day 4 of Christmas decorating...surely I can finish by tonight!

Twas...

the day after Thanksgiving and all through our house
were too many Christmas containers scattered about!

We worked on the outside hanging garland and lights,
making bows, donning doors with wreaths-quite a sight!

We worked in the sunlight. We worked in the dark.
Are we done? Did we finish? No we aren't!

Garland was missing, and colored lights too
so we are heading out tomorrow and planning to choose...

a fresh tree for our den, a Fraiser fir perhaps
and get all the stuff ...then  probably a nap.

Hopefully by next week all the trees will be up and each room
decorated- Christmas spruced-up!

Then onto some parties that we will be hosting come Friday
and Saturday... good apple cider toasting.

Then comes Nutcracker week and the fun never ends.
It's more Christmas ventures and I can't pretend

that we won't be tired, desiring some rest
but enjoying Christmas is something we do best! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms has blest us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given;
the Son and Him Who reigns
with them in highest heaven;
the One eternal God,
Whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore."


This is part of an old hymn I grew up singing. As Thanksgiving...a day set aside to give thanks to our Father God, approaches...I've had this song on my heart.

Tomorrow is a day set aside to count our blessings, show our gratitude to the One Who loves us best
and gives the most. But in truth, every day should be a day of "thanksgiving"!
We have so much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Indian Summer Thanksgiving

Charlotte's newest photo

She ran straight under here when I gave her a treat!