My Favorite Things...

I love wrapping Christmas packages and these are a few of my favorite package designs.

The Post Office...

The post office in our town was very crowded this morning. There had to be about fifty people in line when I got there. I myself had about 15 packages to post and a lot of other people had large numbers of things to mail. I planned to be there for awhile. People were pleasant, but they were looking rather gloomy. There was a pregnant woman with a child in a car seat on her arm and a toddler by her side. The woman in front of me was telling me that this was the first Christmas she was going to spend without her husband who had passed last Father's Day. Then in came this woman I know with a little red basket full of Hershey's Kisses and a handfull of dollar bills. She went through the line wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and giving them a dollar to help with their postage. Every single person left with a smile. I don't really know how to describe what happened, but what a gift to give at Christmas. I see two gifts actually. One, the gift of a happy moment and two, the gift of a good example. Amazing. Best Wishes... Tiffany

Arlington...

Thanks to Uncle Paul for sending me the story about the wreaths at Arlington this morning. If anyone would like me to forward it to them, let me know. My intention in writing this blog was just to write about things that are pretty and things that are fun, a kind of cheery hello to friends. However, every once in awhile I must say something serious. I am so grateful to live in this free land. I am grateful for the soldiers whose remains lay beneath these stones and for all of the other soldiers who have laid down their lives for their friends. I am also grateful for many families that I know who have done without a family member for long stretches of time even during Christmas, so that a soldier might serve their country. God bless our brave Soldiers and their brave famililes this Christmastime.

This will be in someones stocking...

Still no sign of a coat. I would rather keep the old one through another season with the sleeves a tad short than purchase one neither of us will like, but I was happy to find this cute sweater. :)

Great Quote...

Celebrate people who are in your life-- past and present, close by as well as far away. Thank eveyone who contributes to your sense of well-being and joy, whether you know them personally or not. Every day, think of all the people who help make your life so rich and rewarding.

Alexandra Stoddard from Things I Want My Daughters to Know (One of my favorite books...)

Pretty in Pink...

This is also a beautiful and really fun room from Domino as well. It sort of reminds me of this sweet woman who lived in our town before she died. She was so nice to let me photograph her home and art collection. She was a tiny little person and she had a tiny little kitchen like this one. Her cottage was a little doll house and whenever I pass her home, I'm sad that she's gone and no longer there. I think that she would be happy that the new owners are looking after her roses and making everything even more beautiful.

Look at this beautiful room...

See it on Domino.com Love the colors!

Favorite Granny Chics...

Granny Chics can be found at the great yard sale on the World Wide Web, Ebay. I like to type in vintage anything and I often come up with something fun. Look at this cute fabric which I found by searching vintage +bluebird... one of my favorite searches.

A Jacket for Charity...

I love this style of jacket, and we've had it several times. I like the pink one that Lands End had the best (sold out) and I like the price better than this one (J Crew Kids). Has anyone seen another pink quilted jacket, it's a long shot but... I'd really like it a bit brighter and a bit cheaper.

OH Chwistmas Twees Oh Chwismas Twees....

This is the tree of this cute girl I know. She put it up herself. :)

Don't miss Alicia's review of The House of Seven Gables...

See it on the Pineapple Snow Blog.

The Box I Finished today...

Says inside...

We shall find peace. We shall hear angels. We shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.

Anton Chekhov

Available for $25. Let me know if you're interested. :)

Christmas House Pictures...

Just a few of the favorite Christmas things at our house. Did I say that I love Mexican Paper Flowers?

Great Quote...

How full of the creative genius is the air in which these are generated! I should hardly admire more if real stars fell and lodged on my coat. Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity: so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.

Henry David Thoreau

Happy Snow Day!!!

Fun Book....

Listen to these tapes while you wrap your gifts. This is a really fun little Christmas book.

Love this little book...

See it here.

New Love Boxes I Finished Yesterday...

Granny Chic Book of the Week...

I love this old book. It's a little old fashioned (in the weird way) in places, but mostly it's old fashioned in the good way. The book gives advice like: don't wear tight shoes, you can't be charming if your feet hurt. Hilarious, but still true.

Charm is a word that has some negative connotations now, but in this book it means sincerity, kindness, generosity and ettiquette. It was originaly published in 1938, but no culture has needed it's advice more than our current one.

As you read, you may have to edit for content. For example:"There is scarcely an hour that passes in which someone doesn't do something for you. It may be the grocery boy . It may be the mailman. Most of all it will be the people with whom you work and live. Do you stop to realize the humanity of these givers of good things that make your life comfortable? Your telephone operator, your stenographer, your maid, your laundress, the man who tends your garden (I wish....), the chauffer who taxis you? What is your attitude toward them? Are they mere scenery, something you paid for and so needn't be aware of? You can't afford to think so. Your attitude toward those who serve you reflects your attitude toward everyone else. Charm springs from warmth, not etiquette."

I don't have gardener, (dang) or a chauffer (no biggy, I love driving) but I have a hundred people who help me accomplish the things I want to do. How would you like to be the kid at the UPS store that does my laminating? Poor guy. I should tip him, but I hope that I thanked him very kindly anyway. I sure appreciate that he made my Christmas card so shiny. I love shiny. I need to do this better. I get so distracted thinking about other things, I often don't even look the cashier at the grocery store in the eye and say, "Hello". Bad manners. I am going to do better.

Anyway, (rambling, sorry) this book is just silly in places (the parts about bathing), but it has some great points. Enjoy!

Great Quote...

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship, it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him, and is willing to trust him.
Emerson

Crossing Delancy...

I love this old Romantic Comedy with Amy Irving. Hurray! It comes to DVD in Feb. See it here.

Love this little dress...

See it here.

Dorothy Draper...

CBS Sunday Morning featured a story about Dorothy Draper a few weeks ago and now I am seeing her everywhere.

In an introduction to her most famous book, Entertaining is Fun, Carleton Varney writes, "It was not uncommon to see a Dorothy Draper-decorated room with aqua-and-white striped walls, vibrant "lipstick red" carpeting, and curtains made of a flowery chintz; pink, violet, and red roses entwined with vibrant green leaves and aqua blue ribbons on a sparkling crisp white background." She is known as the first proponent of what we now call "eclectic." She believed that is was fine to "mix periods" and she certainly did that. She was one of the first people to make decorating a profession. She was the Martha Stewart of her time; she was extremely talented at creating a recognizable brand and selling it.

After seeing, the story on Sunday Morning, I was interested to learn more about her style. However, this is glamour dressed up, not the comfortable "Granny Chic" that I love, but it is a lot of fun.
See part of the CBS Sunday Morning story here.

I'd love to have you leave a comment...

And, what I understand is: you don't have to have a blog to comment, just click other or anonymous in the choose an identity area and you don't have to enter a web page, even though it asks for one.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas...

I love the tradition of Santa Claus. I always have. But, even more than the myth, I love the real story. Nicholas was born in the third century in the village a Patara located on the southern coast of Turkey. He was raised by wealthy parents who were devout Christian and who died leaving him a wealthy orphan. He was made a Bishop of Myra while a young man. To follow the example of Jesus, he used his entire fortune to bless the needy. He was known for his generosity to children and his love for them.

In 2006, we have added some glitz, a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer to the mix. But, the idea that someone could do some small kindness for children and then have so many millions of people try to commit similar small acts of kindness1800 years later in an attempt to do likewise is a miracle that cannot be surpassed by Santas that come down the chimney and fly all over the world in one night. That is the kind of Santa it is so important to believe in, just a normal person who wanted to do some good and who made the lives of the people around him a little better.
In our current culture where the idea of personal responsibility seems to take a daily beating in the media, the concept that one regular person can make a real difference seems less and less popular. And yet, one person makes a real difference all the time.
In order to become a Catholic Saint you have to have so many recorded miracles to your name. I don't know about those or what they are. What I do know is that he did perform one miracle of which I am sure. He was a good example.
I believe in Santa Claus and in the idea that anything or anyone that can inspire us to reach beyond ourselves to do a bit more for someone who needs us is something to believe in at Christmas time and all the other times of the year.
And, I believe that the real story of Santa is better than the myth, as it often is.

Merry Christmas...

Yesterday, I ate cake...

I ate some chocolate cake that was amazingly tall and very delicious and it had a green mint frosting with chocolate ganache. It was very good! And I ate some other cake that looked kind of like this. It was chocolate cake with chocolate bits inside and it had whipped cream topping with crushed candy cane on top. Amber, please send the recipe?

Matryoshka Dolls...

I know several people who love these dolls and this ebay store has a great selection at very reasonable prices..

See them here.

A Star for Christmas...

As I have written before, I love the work of Art Glass Artist Robert Held. Amazing! Look, a STAR for Christmas! Beautiful! See his site here.

Eddie Walker...

I love Santa. What a great guy! And, I have a small collection of Eddie Walker Santas, but as I was telling Michelle yesterday, you just don't see them around much. Duh? Ebay. There were quite a few listed including this cute guy. Speedy Delivery.

Gift of Organization...

These might be cute for just the right person on your list. See them here.

Great Quote...

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

Fun Granny Chic Website...

See it here. Sorry they won't let you copy pics out. Still fun though.

Granny Chic Tub...

Isn't this darling. I love this tub. See it here.

Great Quote...

Love your friends. Give them dignity and richness, and help make their time alive abundant.

Alexandra Stoddard in Time Alive

Granny Chic Cute of the Week...

Anything quilted counts in this category. I adore these shams. They even come in Euro Squares. Does everyone love Euro Squares? I really do. Find them here.

Granny Chic item of the week...

I think these old-fashioned refrigerator dishes are very cool. And, look at this:

Holds 2 cups
Microwave, freezer, oven and dishwasher safe
Will not stain
Glass
Dishwasher safe

There are several sizes available. I think it would be darling wrapped up with some homeade treats and a red bow.

See it here.

Has anyone heard this album?

It seems like the perfect thing for the Rock-n-roller on your list. These guys were great at the 2002 Winter Games in SLC. I really hate to buy crappy Christmas cds don't you and it's all about having the tunes going during the holidays. :)

Love this Armoire...

It seems to belong with Alice in Wonderland. See it here.

Great Quote...

In the pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
Albert Einstein

Visible Storage...

I have to decorate my home out of Pottery Barn Kids and Teen because they have my colors throughout the year, not just in the spring. Aren't these great? Cds, dvds, mags... the possibilities are endless... See them here.

Mom, this Marimekko bag would be cute?

Very cute, and very red! :)

Beth's Market Bags...

Beth has darling new bags... see them here.

My Nutcracker and My Nutcracker Poem...

Our Nutcracker's fixed with a perilous gaze
He's grumpy, he's worred, he's stressed
you could say

He's shopping & wrapping & baking & spending
& running & raving & driving & grazing...

Too much!!!

He wants each of his friends to know that he cares
So he comes and he goes and he stands and he stares
At this one and that one and that one and this one
The blue one, the pink on, the red one, the right one

And he goes back and forth on this maddening track
until he drives himself nuts and he cracks

But don't you be like that...

Christmas is JOY it is Happiness & Love
IT is Peace that alights in the heart like a dove

Besides...

Your commotion is good it sends grace and a tear
Just to think there is someone who cares around here.

Know that your motions means a lots to a many
Your trinckets and troubles go far. They do. Really!
They remind us of one who was born without cradle
Long ago, far away in a poor little stable.

So think of poor Nutcracker, but
Don't be like him
Ring bells, sing and shout!

Good Tidings and Cheer
are what Christmas' about!

copyright 2005

Alicia's Pretty Red Snowflake Box...

I painted this box for Alicia's friends this year, and now I am looking for traditional cherry, Christmas red everywhere. I love it! Great idea Boo! :)

5 More Favorite Christmas Albums and The Great Velvet Fog...

One of the most wonderful evenings of my life was spent in Abravanel Hall at Christmas. If I remember correctly Craig and I were able to obtain tickets to see Mel Torme in December of 1995. We were young and broke and the tickets were kind of expensive for us, but it was worth every penny. The hall was packed with fans of every age all there to see a legend perform. His performance was electric and his voice was crystal clear and better than ever that night. His drum solo was amazing.

During the evening, he made the comment that real music appeals to everyone and lives forever. It is interesting now to see artists like Rod Stewart and others making albums that rely on the appeal of old standards.

On August 8, of 1996, just about 8 and a half months later, the great Velvet Fog suffered a stroke that ended his career. Now, I would pay 20 times the amount of the first ticket to see him in concert again. There are so many things that I have put off doing until I could more easily afford them, and I believe there is great wisdom in that, but just that one time I'm so glad I didn't wait. What a night, what a sound... Mel, we're still listening.