“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Christmas Fairies

Well here we are! It's December and the holiday rush accelerates! Oh I do wish I had a few extra Christmas Fairies running about that would help me with the decorating and preparations for the Christmas festivities! Instead I have an inquisitive helper who would rather play with the garland than help hang it (Guy)!

I love the vintage image of the fairy below, whipping up some beautiful holly out of her magic Christmas kettle.  I do not know who the illustrator is but I find it quite adorable!  The equally lovely poem below is by author Lewis Carroll.





Christmas Greetings from a Fairy to a Child

Lady, dear, if Fairies may
For a moment lay aside
Cunning tricks and elfish play,
'Tis at happy Christmas-tide.

We have heard the children say -
Gentle children, whom we love -
Long ago on Christmas Day,
Came a message from above,

Still, as Christmas-tide comes round,
They remember it again -
Echo still the joyful sound
"Peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Yet the hearts must childlike be
Where such heavenly guests abide;
Unto children, in their glee,
All the year is Christmas-tide!

Thus, forgetting tricks and play
For a moment, Lady dear,
We would wish you, if we may,
Merry Christmas, Glad New Year!

Christmas 1887 ~ Lewis Carroll


Thank you all for visiting! 
I'm looking forward to checking in on all of your lovely 
blogs to see what you've been up to! 

Happy Holidays ~~ Diane 


 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Thank You


Thank You... Two small words that can mean so much. My mother taught me to use those words ... often.  Always when receiving a gift or a compliment and in response to some sort of kindness showed to me.

Except that I'm far from perfect and so I'm sure I have forgotten to say or write it sometimes. I apologize for that, if I have ever forgotten to say thank you I am saying it now. Thank You, I'm sending it out to the universe and beyond to those that are still waiting.












It's one of my pet peeves, people that don't say thank you. I have a whole bunch of relatives that never learned to say thank you. You handed them a Christmas present and nothing. Birthday gifts and cards, graduation gifts... nada ... zip ... nothing. Years later you send them a wedding gift and nothing and then a gift for a baby and still a big old goose egg. I don't send gifts anymore to this bunch of relatives, I send my money to charities. I actually get a thank you from them.

It wasn't their fault really, they were never taught. Their mother never required them to say the phrase, because she never said it herself. I bet her mother never taught her either.






There is an old Danish Proverb that says,
"He who gives to me, teaches me to give."



I have a new proverb and it goes like this,
"She who teaches me to say Thank You, enables me to Be Thankful."






So you're thinking, "Geez, what an old grump.", contrare! It has brought me to one thing I am thankful for. I am thankful that I had a mother that cared enough to force me to do things that might have seemed uncomfortable or of little consequence at the time, but that I now know in my elderish years are vitally important.

My mother has been gone now for almost twenty years and I miss her terribly at the holidays, she truly loved this time of year and showed her love in many ways, but I especially remember the food. As a farm wife she was most skilled as a home cook and baker and her meals were legendary in their small farming community.

The last holiday meal that she prepared was Thanksgiving and I can still travel back there in my mind and see the table set with the fancy china and sterling silver.  We had all the standard foods like turkey, dressing, two kinds of potatoes, green beans, cranberry salad and scalloped oysters too. Of course the dessert  was homemade pumpkin pie! What a feast it was!

I am still Thankful even after all these years. I am Thankful for all of the wonderful memories that I have of my mother and father and my siblings when we were all together.  I celebrate now with my husbands family and it is still wonderful even though it's not the same. However I still am thankful for every moment of joy that life brings.

I hope that wherever you are this year that you are able to enjoy some bit of the holiday whether with a group or on your own, there is always something to be thankful for.

Oh, and dear readers, I want to say "Thank You" for sticking with me all these years and reading all my ramblings. You have always been kind and I really appreciate that. So "Cheers, here's to you!" And Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends here in the good old USA!








               Thankful, Joyful, Peaceful



image source

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Craving Warm



You know that I crave cute stuff, but after this week, I'm craving warm more than anything else. I'm not alone, most of the country is in the deep freeze and it's only November! Why are we having January weather so soon? Oh that's right, it's climate change. We never really thought it would happen, but voila, here it is. We're not debating that here today though, we're just here to warm our frozen fingers and toes.

Gather near my virtual fire and gaze upon these warm and cuddly images.....











Lovely!!




M O S E S - хозяин








Cozy Christmas Pictures - Cozy Decorating Ideas - Country Living











The essence of coziness...yessss!!!





Fall table decor













Cozy Christmas Pictures - Cozy Decorating Ideas - Country Living







Fall Candles





#3 How an autumn day makes me feel - ready to cozy up with a book by the fire..
#winter rachelhannah92: Happy vibes & love ✯☽ | Endless Winter 01





Fall table








November is the month of Thankfulness, and I am truly thankful for my warm friends, family, home and kitties. Thank you all for visiting me today. I hope wherever you are, you're staying warm and cozy!
~~~~ Diane ~~~~







Friday, November 7, 2014

November Is

November is our cloudiest month here in Minnesota, the weather man told us that the other day. And as if on cue the sun has departed and a veil of clouds has been hanging over us all week.

So what is one to do? Well, one starts to go through their checklist of things that should be done before the winter sets in.

Bring in plants, clean up yard and garden, take cats to vet, take self for dental appointment, get flu shot, etc. All of these things are now done before the Polar Vortex descends upon us once again. Oh yes it will be here sometime this weekend.

I decided to get my flu shot today so that I can curl up with my blanket and cats for a day until I feel better again. For some reason the shot always makes me feel a bit off for a day or two.  What better time to lay low while the Polar Vortex whirls in. I don't know about you, but I am really not ready for cold weather again so soon. Actually we have been pretty lucky, our October was very nice.

My office has been getting another going over since I am busy here working in my Etsy shop, listing more items. My goal was at least one item a day! Haha! Well we try!  I came across a book entitled "Music Through the Year", it is a teacher's edition published in 1959. The music itself is nothing outstanding, but I love the illustrations and find them quite charming.  I hope you enjoy some of the excerpts from the book below.




When the Robin's gone to Sleep
When the Moon is Bright
Then a Lovely Bird I Hear
Singing in the Night



Is the Nightingale a Bird
Far away from Sight
Or a Lovely Angel-Dream
Singing in the night?















Have a wonderful weekend and I'll be visiting you all soon!
~~ Diane ~~