This and That

 

This photo is from about four years ago. It came up in my FB memories. I liked the wildness of it on our deck. It was positioned so we saw it through our sliding french doors. So pretty.

I wanted to share a lovely comment I received yesterday. Lisa said, "Although we have political beliefs that are 180% apart, I enjoy reading your blog due to the sense of hospitality, warmth and beauty that it conveys. I want you to know that I tried your turkey roasting method for Thanksgiving, and it was received with rave reviews! I will definitely make this a tradition. Thank you!"

I was very happy to receive this comment. I think it shows maturity and that even though we may differ on something, we have common ground and that is what Lisa has chosen to focus on. She has never commented a negative thing to me. 

This is how we can use our time online. Finding beauty and a good recipe for cooking turkey, and leaving the rest behind. I have a dear, precious friend who has a difference of opinion than me on a big topic. She still comes to my blog and comments on posts that aren't about the thing we differ on. You know what? It's okay that she has a different opinion than me. She is a sister of my heart and we have much common ground!

If everyone could be like Lisa, and my dear friend, the online world would be a happier place for everyone! Thank you Lisa!

I made a video of my living room this morning and I forgot to turn the lamps on! This is what the room looks like with just the Christmas lights on.

And here it is with the lamps on

Last year I shared this aerial tour of Christmas lights from the 717 Drone Guys and I want to share it again this year. It's beautiful!

I also wanted to say that I changed my comment settings from just those with google accounts, and have happily seen an increase in comments, which have all been very pleasant and encouraging! Thank you all for keeping my blog a place of  Hospitality, Friendship, and Encouragement!

Ps- The orange slices were dried in a dehydrator and that is why they have such lovely color!

Weekend

 
Friday night I hosted our co-op mom's Christmas Party. We had a smallish group this year, due to busyness of the season and there are nasty colds going around.

I moved my couch from its normal spot, and it opened the rooms up to each other!

I had a lot of fun imagining this space if we move the kitchen to a new location with the addition.

Here are the dehydrated oranges. I put the cranberries in for looks. We had beads and bells to use to make our ornaments. There were so many oranges that several ladies made garlands. They looked so great!

Here is my simple ornament.

The cookie decorating station was fun, too.

Tim took a photo of us all with the tree! I love these women.

Saturday afternoon we went to see I Heard The Bells. It is a beautiful movie. Heartbreaking and triumphant. This is one I want to own. I'm hoping it'll be available for streaming, soon. It opened in 1600 theaters and the one we went to has extended its run by two weeks!

Go see it if you can!

After the movie, we went to dinner then we dropped by my brother in law's home. They are home through the holidays and we hadn't seen them for months! They had their living room and kitchen opened up, as both spaces were small, and it is wonderful!

I spent part of the evening wrapping gifts.

I'm still doing my plaid and craft paper wrapping. This year I found a craft paper roll at Hobby Lobby that had a white plaid pattern on it. The gift tags are from Hobby Lobby, too!

I hope your weekend was a good one. I love celebrating the season with special outtings or gatherings.

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I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
    And wild and sweet
    The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
    Had rolled along
    The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
    A voice, a chime,
    A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
    And with the sound
    The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
    And made forlorn
    The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
    "For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - 1807-1882

Information Friday

 I have a busy day, so I'm going to get right to the information.

This week we saw that people are starting to awaken to child s*x trafficking. 

The American people have been being Gaslighted for years!

The administration does it every day. Here is an example. Inflation is your fault!

This administration has some of the most unqualified people working in important jobs. This guy is in charge of nuclear waste. He stole a woman's suitcase, wore the clothes, got caught, lied, then tried to say he mistook the bag for his own. He had not checked a bag.  Oops!

White people are supposed to use their privilege to pay for minority abortions. Isn't that racism?

Something is terribly wrong in Arizona.

Watch this video. We've too long bought into the idea that we need experts to tell us how to live etc...

Have a great weekend!

My Favorite Wreath

 

I don't know if I can say it's my favorite, as I really like all the wreaths I make. It's like your children - you love them all, but each one is unique.

I used this wreath last year in the same place but I changed out the silver bell, for this set of four brass bells.

Have you begun to decorate for Christmas? I've seen some amazing home tours, but as the years go by, I've come to the simple style I love. Garland and lights, ribbon, greens tucked here and there. 

We had to move a chair out of the living room to put the tree in, so we played a bit of musical chairs. We moved the old chair out of our room and into the basement, and put the wingback from the living room into our bedroom. I like the way the wingback looks in my bedroom, but it will need to move back into the living room at the end of the season. 

It's going to be a quiet home day today. Tim and my dad have colds, the little girls have colds and are staying home. It's rainy, too. 

I'm going to use the day to dehydrate orange slices for the co-op Christmas party on Friday, and tomorrow I'm helping decorate at church. Saturday we are going to see 'I Heard The Bells' Sight and Sound's first motion picture! It's playing in theaters starting this weekend. You can find out more {here}. We know several people who were involved in this film, some in the acting, some in the production end.

If you get the opportunity, it would be worth seeing.

Tea on Tuesday

 I hosted a tea yesterday afternoon, for my mom, my friend Jennifer, and her mil and my friend Ruth.

I didn't get a photo of the table before we started but I made mini quiche, and homemade scones. We had shortbread cookies, and I made cream for the scones, and I used the lemon curd I purchased at Trader Joe's.

It was lovely.

As you can see, Jennifer's son and Kyle were playing Mario Kart in the living room. They did well to not be loud! LOL!

I used four small tea pots so we each had our own, and I also used some Johnson Brothers Old English Castles dishes. 

I played instrumental Christmas music in the background. After tea we sat in the living room (the boys went outside), and we visited. Our friend Denny, who knows our friends as well, arrived and we all had a good visit.

I've been wanting to do a Christmas tea for a few years and yesterday I finally did it!

I'm grateful for Kyle's help with finishing the Christmas decor, and taking the leaves out of the table, etc. He's a great young man.

Today, I'm going to hang the stockings, do school with the kids, and work on dehydrating orange slices.