December 23rd!

I hope everyone is ready for Christmas! Any last minute shoppers out there!

I think I'm done shopping but haven't even started wrapping yet. But first I thought I would share a little more of my Christmas decorations this year.

I don't have a lot of Santa's but my good friend Patsy was selling these at our church rummage sale and this one just had to come home with me!

He is watching over my 'Night Before Christmas in Paris' book!

We don't do Elf on a Shelf but I found this one at a thrift shop and he is happy to live with me and watch over the bills instead of naughty or nice children!

Here is the kitchen tree hung with all sorts of cookies and baking goodies!

Do you see the fortune cookie?

I do love my Maileg pixies!

This year my Mom and I are giving each other Ancestry DNA kits.  It will be fun to see what they show.  I've been feeling my roots lately.

So Norwegian Helga has been reading to the brother & sister mice a nice French Christmas book!(it will be fun to see how much Norwegian and French blood I do have) 

Christmas pillows on the couch!

The Christmas tree is hard to photograph but it's been so much fun this year.  Vintage, new, handmade, bought, memory and souvenir ornaments adorn it!

I'm so blessed that my wonderful friend Donna@ Distressed Donna Down Home dyes the most amazing little trees each year.  This year some of them came out Flamingo Pink and she gifted me some in various sizes!  I just love them!!

Annie is enjoying all the ornaments but is careful with them.

But one of my favorite decorations is

Scout in her pink Santa hat with a big bow!!  She is so excited this year about Christmas! 

December 23rd is a special day.

11 years ago my daughter married the love of her life Blake!

I love them both so much!

Two years ago on Dec 23rd my brother reached the end of his life.  

I miss him and my Dad so much!

I'll be spending Christmas morning with Sara, Blake, Tiger and Scout!  Mom will join us for dinner along with Ashleigh!  She is flying in very late Christmas Eve and I can't wait to hug my girl.  Sara and Ashleigh's Dad will also be joining us Christmas night as he travels from Minn. with stories of snow for the Grands!  It promises to be a loud love filled day! 

Merry Christmas and as always...

I wish you JOY!

Linda

When Things Run Their Course

run its course means "to continue (naturally) until finished".

To progress along something's 

natural course and conclude at its 

normal pace.

Don't panic...I'm not talking about my blog!

Let's back up a bit!

Texas trip was a success but not without it's problems.  Mostly that Mom got sick on Thanksgiving with a nasty cold and is still not feeling well. Still we got to visit family and enjoyed lots of talk, laughter, jokes, memories and sweet hugs and kisses! 

The view from our beach front condo on Padre Island.  

The view of the condo from the beach.

Not bad at all!

It was pretty warm but lots of wind.

Cloudy mornings with mostly afternoon sunshine.  I took a couple of walks on the beach, collected seashells for me and the Grands and relaxed!

Next to us was a public beach.  You can drive your car onto the beach and set up camp.  Fishing, grilling and fun!

They had the Berkeland spelled wrong but the thought was nice.  

We had 62 for Thanksgiving Dinner! 

There was a group photo taken on the beach but I don't have a copy of it yet.  I'm looking forward to getting that memory.  

Before leaving Houston we were able to visit with my niece Amanda and her son Ethan.  Mom enjoyed seeing her Granddaughter and Great Grandson!

I miss them so much!

Beach feet!  I've been taking a photo like this for years! 

The travel home was hard since Mom didn't feel well.  Thank goodness for wheelchair assistance, portable oxygen and helpful flight attendants! 

Picking up the kitties and getting home felt so good! 

I missed Annie so much.  She forgave me rather quickly although she is not sure about this 'tree' in front of her window.  I love this photo of her.  Napping under the Christmas tree was always a favorite place of Charlie's and it warms my heart to see Annie there! 

Getting home on Nov 28th put me behind in my Christmas decorating!

So I hauled out the tree and got it up right away.  It took a few days to get out the ornaments but they are mostly on the tree now. 

I started working on the cubbies filling them with vintage Christmas.  Then I sat down and realized it looked cluttered to me.  So I decided to edit my vintage to the items I really love. 

The top cubbies are good! 

My collection of nativities is too crowded so I'll rearrange that soon.

I love everything in this cubbie!

It feels good to let go.  Some things I'm sending to my friend Donna and others I'm donating back into the wild. 

So here is where the phrase 'when things run their course' comes in...

I realized it was truly time to downsize my Christmas.  This isn't the first time I've done this, but this time it was 'use it or lose it' time. 

This tote of ornaments and decorations most of which hasn't been used in years is going to my church.

This box of ornaments and various decorations is going to the thrift shop

This box of ornaments is going to my daughter's house.  Some for her if she wants them, some for the Grands (they each have their own tiny tree they decorate) and what they don't want...donated!

I am looking at two empty totes and more space in my ornament boxes! 

As I've gotten older it has been harder and harder to haul out those totes, decorate, put the totes away and then clean up after Christmas.  I still love to decorate but I decided I can't keep things I no longer use.

**The ONLY exception is shiny brites some from my childhood that I don't display around the Grands or the Cat**

I will still hunt for vintage Christmas. This sleigh and Santa are both 2017 thrift store finds and keepers!

But I no longer will buy everything I think is 'cute' or 'old' or 'tiny' or ...

I just can't!

I thrifted all of these items this year and some are staying, some are gifts and some I'm returning to the thrift shop...sigh!  

I'm not done going through all the Christmas yet, but I've made a great start.  Sometimes things just run their course!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

I Made It!

I made it through Christmas Day! 

This head cold has now settled in my throat and as of this morning, no voice!

But yesterday, what a fun time we had!
It started like this!

And ended like this!

The in between was chaotic but fun!

So many gifts!

Scout got blankets and a 'cell phone' that is in her hand (it's blue).  She would put it down to open another gift then go find it!

Her Minnie Mouse Sofa
(and Cheetos, this girl loves them)

A new purse with hair brush and other fun things.  Dolls, books and so many fun things I can't remember them all!

Last year she was such a baby but this year she got right into it!

Tiger was so excited!  He loves 'Thunderbirds' a British TV series from the 60's that he and his Dad watch on Netflix or Amazon.  It is about the Tracy family and the International Rescue's they do. They live on Tracy Island and this toy on Amazon was selling for as high as $200 but my smart Son In Law watched it and this past summer scored it for $30. (I just checked Amazon and today it's selling for $130). It was the highlight of Tiger's Christmas.

 He already had many of the space ships, characters and other things so this was just the best gift.  He also got PJ's, video episodes of the series and more space ships!

I got him a globe and a beginners Atlas that he will enjoy.  He is very curious about the world and always wanting to know where something is.  He also got clothes, hiking boots, a hiking stick, books and a marble maze.

I know we gave them a lot this year but my soul cried out for big Christmas
 and so it was! 

We had a breakfast of pigs in a blanket

That was enjoyed by all!
After Breakfast I went home to rest!
The Grands played with toys and then Scout took a nap.

Sara prepared the best meal and my Mom and I returned to enjoy it with them.

As hard as this Christmas was in many ways, it was also filled with Joy, Love and Laughter.  I am so blessed with this amazing family.

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Merry Christmas Eve!!

This has been a crazy December for me!

Busy with church activities and babysitting the Grands.  Helping my friend Carter move and trying to clean and rearrange my home.

All came to a halt when the dreaded Christmas Cold hit me.  Runny nose, sore throat and aches.  I'm a bit better but since Christmas waits for no man (or woman) I've been trying to power through.  I've not been able to get as much done as I had hoped but Christmas will arrive tomorrow and it will be perfectly imperfect!

My tree this year.  Set up on the dining room table and so far Miss Annie has not touched it.  I may try moving it back in front of a window next year but we will see.  I've enjoyed the bubble lights this year. 

A shopping mouse with an Eiffel Tower bottle of yummy cocoa sits under the tree also.

My newest Nativity is itty bitty but so cute!  

(I see the sheep fell over) 

Only filled one cubby this year with vintage Christmas but my Angels and Elfs are happy to be out and celebrating!

The Christmas birds joined by an Angel and a new Elf planter.  What a mish mash this year!

On the same shelf is a canvas the church choir director gave us with 'Then Sings My Soul' on it from the Christmas Music Program we presented.  NO I didn't sing, I narrated! 

(Believe me that's a good thing)

A little vignette to remember my brother this year.  I've kept the candle lit since Dec 23rd his flying away day.

This is the ornament I bought last year to add to my tree this year in remembrance of my brother Richard.

More little vignettes and I found my first hairpin flower frog at a thrift shop!

More things added to the new shelf!

Santa is holding my new Maileg Brother and Sister Mice...guess who they are?

Tiger & Scout of course!

Annie Belle got a new stocking for her first Christmas here.  It has toys in it already and her first 'nip'!

I found this cute little cat ornament at a thrift shop and it's perfect for Annie!

She is such a pretty girl.  I'm so glad she is here and living in her fur-ever home!

The Tabb Family 

Santa came by our Christmas lunch and visited the children!  We had such a great time with our church family.

Wishing you all a

 Very Merry Christmas!

I'll be going over in the morning to watch the Grands open presents.  Then return with my Mom later for a large family dinner.  Tonight is Christmas Eve candlelight service.  I am so blessed.

Thank you for being my readers and my friends.

Wishing you JOY

Linda