And So This Is Christmas

 

Over the weekend, I dragged the big bins of Christmas decorations down from the attic.

Nephew 1 was so excited. His eyes, how they twinkled, as he opened box after box of carefully wrapped vintage glass ornaments.

Mine were filled with panic: visions of the two little boys, already deep in the grips of Santa Fever, invading my tiny, glass and glitter-filled space multiple times weekly, danced through my head.

So, back up to the attic with two still half-filled bins of decorations I went.

But the glass balls stayed behind.

In bowls and in vases, and on roll-reducing crochet doilies. And on much, much higher shelves than in years past.

And it looks like they're there to stay, at least for the next couple of years.

For this summer, those two will become three, and a new little bundle of awesome will be invading this space this time next year.

What a lucky aunt I am.

xo

Sail On, Sailors

The week before Christmas was secretly spent toiling away with newspapers, paintbrushes, a needle and a thread, until the wee hours. Inspired by Ann Wood's beautiful paper mache and vintage textile boats (and following her detailed tutorial), I set about creating little ships for my nephews.

Two layers of high school and college sports scores from a shore-area newspaper (so as not to cover the boats with any bad news) were glued and smoothed down, and covered with paint. Green for Nephew One, blue for Nephew Two. It was, unbelievably, a first go at paper mache.

Masts and yards were fashioned out of bamboo skewers, soon to be joined by sails made from sewing basket scraps. My vintage button collection was pillaged for the rigging.

Through some great miracle, the S.S. Boys were ready to sail by Christmas morning.

Sail on, Sweet Boys.

xo

Holiday Hooch

Remember the 36 lemons I peeled and squeezed and fermented in the fall?

Well, I'm happy to report that the limoncello I gifted friends and loved ones with this Christmas was a hit.

A big hit.

My phone is filled with text message requests for refills.

Holiday Hooch.

A new holiday tradition my have just been born.

Salute.

xo

Clean Uppin'

{Ursus Wehrli}

Another merry holiday over and done.

Time to pack it all away.

Out with the old, and in with a shiny new year.

Welcome to it, Dear Readers.

xo

Mirrored Mirth

I am loving these mercury glass-esque Mirrored Mirth trees from Anthropologie.

Methinks they would fit in very nicely with all of my vintage glass Christmas balls.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

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It's that time of year...

A very Happy December to you, my Dear Readers! I love December. The air is filled with magic and the scent of pine. People are hustling and bustling and wishing you good cheer. It is really and truly the most wonderful time of the year!

This started out as a Happy Weekend post last Friday. But time gets weird in December, and it just never saw the light of day. Instead, the diminishing daylight hours were spent hustling and bustling and brimming with cheer. There were two visits with Santa, wreaths hung in windows, and an annual holiday tradition: Sledwreckers! Presents for dear ones sit waiting to be wrapped, and the teeniest, tiniest tree is ready for strings of lights. The parade of old Christmas movies has begun its march across my TV screen (I watched It's A Wonderful Life for my very first time ever. If I'm being honest, I found it to be a bit of a downer. Think I'll stick with this.).

All that's missing is a sprinkling of snow. After a cold early fall, it's been rather warm here. There are still a few leaves hanging on trees, and the grass is full and green. It may be the first time ever that I went to pick out a tree without the cumbersome burden of a thick and heavy coat. According to the weather man, that should soon change. And I for one have no problem dashing through the snow to get my cards in the mail. It's how it should be, and I look forward to it.

Hope your Holiday Season is shaping up to be a merry one!

xo