May You Have a Merry Christmas!

All Best Wishes for a Wonderful Christmas Season,

Be Sure to Make Memories With Your Family!



Merry Christmas to All!

Wishing you and yours...

Image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

The Stockings are Hung by the Chimney...

Christmas Eve has arrived!  If I'm not ready now, I never will be.  Which means some people will be getting Happy New Year gifts, because even though I acted beforehand, the deliveryman didn't come through in time.  Not to worry, everyone always likes a gift, that's my theory.  I can tell you hubby is a little worried, though.  He's not sure if his gifts have arrived.  He gets a little child-like, in an endearing sort of way, at this time of year.  Nevertheless, our stockings are hanging by the chimney with care, as is the cat's stocking, and several other stockings, just for good measure.  There is even a little tiny stocking for my bear-shaped coffee table, who is named Owen!  Odd, I know, but that's one of our Christmas traditions.



The largest stocking is for the cat,
and the smallest is for Owen...




















Meet Owen,
the hardest-working member of the family,
balancing books, drinks, and more on his feet
all day long!
















More stockings, just in case!



Silver wreath decorated with angels and signs of
Friends, Wish, Peace, Sharing, Joy, Believe.
By Baltimore potter and artist Sandra Magsamen.

Close-ups of some of the angels...

With their ballgowns and bee-hive hairdos,
these gals are not your grandmother's angels!

Stuffed snowman wreath hangs inside the front door,
so we can enjoy him.
Both wreaths came from Festival of Trees.

Merry Christmas to All!

Favorite Christmas Card...

We received lots of beautiful Christmas cards this year.  However, I notice that the window garland of cards is not doubled this year, as in years past.  This year we have received just enough cards to cover the garland that runs the length of our picture window.  I realize people are cutting back, considering the environment, and also saving money on stamps and cards.  It's kind of sad.  I so enjoy receiving cards and letters, and seeing photos of my cousins' families and how they have grown over the year. 

But of all the cards we have received--colorful, artistic, religious, cards with cats (always a favorite), or cards with family photos, this is my favorite.  It's about 5 x 7, a pop-up card, complete with gold cord as the reins on Santa's sleigh!  It's beautiful yet simple, with a lovely sentiment as well...

Merry Christmas to All!

The reindeer are preparing to circle the globe...

And to All a Good Night!

Santa in a star-filled sky,
gliding over the rooftops of a snow-laden village...

A wreath-shaped ornament hangs from the tree.
Its story is below.

St. Nicholas went through a sweeping transformation in 1823,

with the publication of Clement C. Moore's poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas. 

Its depiction of Santa Claus having red cheeks, a white beard and a round belly,

appearing with his miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,

left an indelible impression in the American public's imagination.

Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat!

I don't have to really tell anyone that Christmas will be here in a few days.  In addition to being busy with Christmas preparations, the number of blog posts appearing on my Reader has decreased a bit in the past few days, so I'm getting caught up!

Hubby gets into the Christmas spirit, as do I, when we spend the day at Festival of Trees every year.  But he doesn't start getting really excited about the holiday until about December 23rd.  So, maybe at breakfast this morning, or later today, or in a day or two, I can expect him to begin singing this nursery rhyme from his childhood...

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat,

Please put a penny in the old man's hat.

If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do

If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!

Image Courtesy of
http://thedoodleplace.wordpress.com/

Joyeux Noel!

Joyeux Noel!

Still no snow to speak of here in Baltimore.

That's OK, I'll take this kind of snow...just as lovely and no need to shovel!

Festival of Trees, Part Seven - my absolute favorite!

This probably says a lot about me...

a totally non-traditional tree. 

Big stuffed flapper-style tree,

ruby red lips,

long, fluttery, come-hither eyelashes, 

a bow in her hair,

and strands of pearls,

not to mention elbow-length gloves! 

She probably has patent leather spike heels 

on under that red table skirt! 

How cute is she? 

This is my idea of a great tree. 

I would have taken her home with me,

but someome got to her first.

The Muppet Tree

Festival of Trees, Part Six

Here'e the Recycle / Reuse Tree.  It's just a big stack of Coke and Sprite cans,

with lights strung around. 

To describe it, it doesn't sound like much.
But it's oh, so lovely! 

Another view, you can see the lights much better here.
And the Big Red Tree behind it is pretty nice, too!

The tree to the left here is meant to be seen through the window,
with the little snow-covered garden and snowman "outside." 
Too big to have in the living room, but a fun concept!

Festival of Trees, Part Five

More from Festival of Trees...

Every year there is a Cat in the Hat Tree,

a Ravens (NFL team) tree,

a snowman tree,

 a CD tree, and many others. 

Although some themes recur, they are always unique and beautiful. 

However, these two trees...! 

I have been going to Festival of Trees for more than 20 years

and have never seen trees with these two themes.

I love them!



Brown bears loving the honey!
(Oh, I just realized you can see The Cat in the Hat's
red and white striped hat in the background!)



Sock Monkey Tree!

Festival of Trees, Part Four

Here are some of the colorful decorations at the

2011 Festival of Trees!

The Festival is such a fun place to visit.  I love watching parents line their children up in front of the really unique trees and decorations for a photo. 

This year I saw a mom who came prepared...she was taking pictures for the annual Christmas card.  She had three little boys all in red corduroy shirts and navy blue pants...adorable!  Of course, the boys looked like they would rather be anywhere else on Earth than posing for photos!





Festival of Trees, Part Three - Wedding Wednesday

It being Wedding Wednesday,

I just have to share this beautiful bride from the 2011

Festival of Trees. 

Festival of Trees - Part Two

More from this year's beautiful
Festival of Trees...

Mother Goose gingerbread "garden."



The Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe,
with Humpty Dumpty on the wall.





 

 



Rapunzel in the gingerbread tower.



The train garden,
above and left. 

 


 



 

Everywhere you turn,

there are groves and groves

of sparkling trees
like the ones below.  

 

Festival of Trees - Part One

I haven't gotten it together quite enough to participate in the Geneabloggers I Remember Christmas! Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.  That's OK, my holiday gift to myself is to forgive myself for this blunder and move forward.



Taj Mahal: the real thing.
Photo: Wikipedia.



Instead, over the next weeks, I'll share my photos of this year's local Festival of Trees.  The Festival lasts for three days, the weekend after Thanksgiving.  There are hundreds of trees:  traditional, artistic, funky, tall, short.  There are also wreaths and gingerbread houses.  The sponsor is a local children's hospital; they plan the event all year long.  I'm told that people come from all over the Eastern Seaboard to attend!  I didn't take photos of everything, just my favorites.   These are definitely my favorites in this category...certainly not your grandma's gingerbread house!

 

Taj Mahal gingerbread palace.








Chinese Pagoda.




The whole scene:
Chinese Pagoda, bridge and
gumdrop sea dragon.

 All photos are mine except where noted.