Monday, December 31, 2012

Settling In For Winter


Winter Journal
"We have had a lovely day. 
All the trees were covered with ice,
and it shone like diamonds or
fairy palaces," wrote 
Louisa May Alcott in her 
girlhood diary.

A cup of tea, a warm woolen
throw and an arm full of
old Victoria magazines.....sigh...
settling in for a cold winter day.

Blessings....Dee Dee



Sunday, December 30, 2012

My New Year's Resolution And Why

I'll blame it on "Pinterest"....well,
my search there, got me started, anyway.
I wanted to make deserts for 
Christmas, that were scrumptious
and delicious.  I found recipes that were
tried and proven ..... "pecan balls" and "fudge."

Having bought a two pound bag of 
pecans from Sam's Club......I  
doubled  the amount of nuts
called for in each recipe.

Not only did they taste good, when
served, they made a mighty nice 
presentation.
Having said...... 
this sort of eating behavior, has to stop!!
The last of these goodies will be served
on the desert plates, at our traditional
New Year's dinner.  

Which brings me to the subject of
my New Year's resolution.

Can I just say DIET? and 
now you know WHY!!!

My New Years resolution is.....
"I will stay away from sugar, 
and carbohydrates, 
and eat lots of healthy foods.
My deserts will all be similar to this
crisp organic apple."


Sigh.......

Have a beautiful Lord's day, everyone.  Dee Dee

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Right On Schedule

It's as though they have a built
in time clock.  Each year, my
Camellia plant begins producing
buds toward the end of November.
One or two blooms appeared
earlier in December, then finally
during Christmas week, something
magical happened.

Enjoying this beautiful time of year, and
wishing sweet weekend blessings for all.....Dee Dee

Friday, December 28, 2012

A December Sunset


We put the new camera to the test late
this afternoon.  Hard to believe the sun sets
around 5:30 pm these days, ....but it does. 
Lots of folks parking along the causeway,
with us. A sign of the times, I suppose,
 as many were using their Smart phones to 
capture the sun's amazing images.

"Oh, what a beautiful thing just happened!"
Blessings..... Dee Dee
click on photo to enlarge

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Our New Camera

Images, found on my desk, and taken
with our new camera......

It arrived today. 
 Had we not been expecting a package,
all might have led to disaster. The Postman had placed
our Christmas gift to one another, outside the
cottage door, in a cold, winter, blowing rain. 
It was,  thankfully, seen and rescued by the Mister, 
just in a nick of time.
Nothing, however, 
could or would deter our joy at the
arrival of our new camera.  We opened
the box together, the Mister more anxious than me.
He had been, after all, the one to shop online
for a camera.....and he will be the one to
study and learn about all the 
"bells and whistles."

 Wishing you happiness!  Dee Dee 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Love And Joy Came To Us

Christmas night.....finds me relaxing at home with the Mister. 
We've been recalling all of today's magical moments.
May your days be merry and bright....Dee Dee

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Adoration Of The Magi

~Bassano Francesco

Have a blessed Christmas Day,
dear family and friends.....Dee Dee


Sunday, December 23, 2012

A Christmas Week Visitor


We've had the doors to the cottage
open today.  Although a bit chilly,
it was nice.  I love the cooler weather,
and besides, it feels more like Christmas.
Having said.....the doors open are allowing
outdoor sounds to be heard more clearly.
Such was the case for the Blue Jay
family making all sorts of commotion.
This fine fellow was looking at me
in a most perplexing sort of way. 
Perhaps he was born in the garden....
back in the spring.
I walked slowing and quietly beneath
the branches.....


hoping he might hop to another
branch, allowing for a nicer image.......

....but no such luck, our Christmas week
visitor was content to sit  in this location. 
Noticing the tiny berries
the tree is producing, revealed to me why
exactly we've  had so many wild birds to our garden lately.

Have a blessed Lord's day.  Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Christmas On Honeymoon Island

The weather has changed and
just in time for Christmas. We 
were blessed today with beautiful 
sunshine and cold winter breezes.
Having donned our jackets
 and scarves, the
Mister and I drove out to 
 Honeymoon Island.
I wanted to see how "Mother Nature" 
had decorated the island for Christmas.
Winter on the island is quite beautiful
in so many ways.  
I noticed the evergreen trees today,
more than ever before.
One hour before sunset, the lighting
made for some very pretty images.

Palm trees grow all over the 
 island. Fortunately for me, 
groupings of evergreens grow
there as well.
I love the combination 
pine and cedar trees.

Strong winds blowing......made
for rattling palm fronds and
bushy pine needles swaying 
back and forth in perfect unison.

I wonder how long this cedar
tree has withstood the hot
Florida sun, the salt water 
breezes and hurricanes. It is
a grand ole' survivor, indeed.

"Oh Christmas tree,
how lovely are your branches."


I brought home a few stems
of cedar....placed them in a glass jar
tied about with a rag bow. The fragrance is
delightful and I'm quite pleased.
Mother Nature, it seems, is
quite remarkable!  

Warm Winter Blessings.....Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge

Friday, December 21, 2012

Christmas Candy Making And Baking Ritual


Pretzels covered in white chocolate
and dipped in crushed peppermint....


Yes, the preparations had gone according to my plans.
Now, the candy lay conspicuously and deliciously 
on the kitchen counter, for all to see.
The moment of truth arrived as the Mister
 obliged in a taste test.  Oh joy!
What cook has not delighted in that  look of 
appreciation and approval on the face of her beloved?

They were already bagged and readied to hand out,
when we had the sweetest of visitors. 
 Wee new grandchild Violet,
cooed and smiled as her mother sampled
the Christmas confections.
There was more approval and appreciation
and I delighted once again as they left
with containers of candies.
Yes, today was the beginning of my
traditional candy making and baking ritual. 
I'll be making deliveries to our church on
Christmas Eve.... to several of our friends 
that will be alone during the holidays. 

Christmas is a time of family, a time of giving....
a time of hope and a time of joy.

Joyous blessings.....Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Porcelain Doll Repaired

Young granddaughter was showing me
her room.  Her bookshelf is filled with
 favorite books for her, all having stories 
that generate conversation between us.
 I'm impressed with the American Girl series,
being read by her generation 
of young ladies. 

Broken, porcelain, Victorian doll was
lying on her bookshelf  and I noticed.
I posted on her a while back. It was 
then you could see that her leg was broken completely 
off, and a tear releasing stuffing, was on her arm. 
 "Oh my, would you like
me to repair your doll?" She was
so sweetly in agreement, and I promised
to do so.  
Repaired, porcelain
Victorian doll 
will be at the top of her
stocking on Christmas morning.
I've made her a pretty red dress
with tiny blue flowers.  The pattern
came from a five year old child's mind.
I was that five year old, and I designed
this simple styled dress for my dolls, every so
long ago.
To complete her outfit, she has
"tiny scrap rag bows" around her
tiny ankles.
She is quite lovely lying among
piles of Christmas ribbons....there
to stay until Christmas eve.
 I'm thinking she will have a special
place of honor in young 
granddaughter's bedroom and a newly
acquired place in her little girl heart.

Have a blessed day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Christmas Camellia

I've been keeping my eye on
our Camellia plant, hoping for 
blooms during the Christmas season.  
I could see hundreds of small buds,
and finally today, I found one
single bloom.  It was on the 
bottom side of the plant.

 I brought it inside....

.....and placed it by the Nativity.

"And Heaven and nature sing, 
and Heaven and nature sing........"

Have a beautiful day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Favorite Old Christmas Movie

The House Without A Christmas Tree
is one of my favorite Christmas holiday
movies.  I began watching this with my
children, on television, in l972. 
 The story is about Addie, a young 
girl living in Nebraska, l946, who wants
nothing more than a Christmas tree. Her
mother, having died when she was born,
 lives with her father and
grandmother. Her father, played 
by Jason Robards, is a 
bitter man refusing her to have a tree.

There is one scene in which Addie uses
a "not so nice word" but otherwise the
movie is suitable for family with pre-teen
and older children.

In the scene shown here, Addie is baking
Christmas cookies with her grandmother.
The cookies are delivered by the father
to poor families in the neighborhood.
This is a lovely and heart warming 
little movie and I highly recommend it.
It can be purchased on Amazon or
viewed on Youtube.

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Christmas Tree Ornament


Choose
wisely then,
each ornament
And frosted
tinsel skein
For branches
that have
worn jewels
Of gleaming
mountain rain.
Elizabeth-Ellan Long

Have a blessed day, everyone! Dee Dee
 click on image to enlarge

Sunday, December 16, 2012

We Had A Visitor

He had beady eyes....

but he was kinda cute 
wearing that brown plaid 
Santa Claus outfit.......

He came bearing gifts......

So....we let him stay......

At least through the Christmas 
holidays.....

Have a blessed Lord's day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Our Cottage Poinsettias

While placing the Poinsettias around
the cottage, I signed a little, showing
symptoms of contentment and 
complete satisfaction.
The Mister and I had promised to
buy our Poinsettias each year from the
same old gentleman.  We found him in
the same location surrounded by
hundreds of his prized 
Poinsettias.  They seemed more
beautiful than ever.....he truly is
gifted as a "grower."

We strolled around in the 
"magical flower wonderland".....
eventually deciding on large pots
with a variety of colors.
The red and white, we selected
for our living room.  Shown here,
you can see it is quite exceptional.

The pink, red,
and white arrangement
was placed on a table in our
family room.

This  just about completes our
Christmas decorating.
Now....I've got some serious
gift wrapping to do!

I'm glad you stopped by.
Have a sweet ole' day.....Dee Dee

Friday, December 14, 2012

Christmas Traditions


The entrance to our
"humble abode" is now
adorned with the traditional
Christmas door wreath.
-
  December
month of holly,
pine, and balsam,
Of berries red,
of candles'
mellow light;
Of home and 
fireside, laughter,
happy faces,
Of peace that 
comes upon
the holy night.
From An Old Carol

Wishing you God's richest blessings today.....Dee Dee

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Our Cottage Christmas Tree

The Mister and I called today
a "free day." December's calendar
has  few vacant spaces, and 
finding one today, signaled us to put the
Christmas tree up and decorate 
the cottage. 

The month is moving
along at "break neck" speed. 
Our Christmas parties have taken 
place, and two performances by
our church choir are completed. All
has gone extremely well, leaving
me with heart felt satisfaction. Having
so many choir rehearsals I'm still hearing
the words to "2000 Decembers Ago" in my
head. Have you heard it?  The 
music is beautiful and I'm certain our
Lord enjoyed the performance by
our hard working choir. 
The Christmas tree was fun to do.
I have burlap beneath the
tree. The word "Believe" is
written in red all over the fabric.
I've used a red and cream gingham
like fabric to make a large 
raggedy bow for the top of the
tree. My colors are various shades of red, 
greens and browns. I've selected wrapping
paper to correspond. 
In more recent years, my trees have
been more formal, while using white,
gold and glittering ornaments.
This tree has taken us back in time,
just a little.....giving us that warm 
cozy feeling of days gone by.
I'm glad you stopped by......

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone! Dee Dee


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

A Wise Man....Illustration


A "Wise Man" had traveled far to bring
his gift to the Christ child.....Illustration by DD

The book of Matthew in the Holy Bible,
tells of  "wise men"......
And lo, the star, which they saw in the
east went before them, till it came and
stood over where the young child was.
And when they were come into the house, they
saw the young child with Mary his mother,
and fell down, and worshipped him;
They presented unto him gifts; gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh.

I love the Bible's stories, the 
Christmas story, one of my favorites.
God came in the flesh to mankind, 
so that we might know Him,
and so that we might be redeemed.

Have a beautiful day!  DeeDee

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Candy Making and Baking Time!

Let the candy making and baking begin!  
Yes, it taste as good as it looks, and I did
crunch a few pieces......the cooks 
prerogative.
I'm sure lovin' pretzels dipped in white
chocolate and crushed peppermint.
The long pretzels make a lovely
presentation and package up real nice.
My homemade Christmas goodies are mostly
made to give away to family, or.....
to share with friends, and 
anyone that provides a service to us
during the year.



I believe in the magic of Christmastime,
love the traditions and the wonder of it all.
Have a sweet ole' day...... Dee Dee

Monday, December 10, 2012

Fruit Cake

I brought out my Christmas mugs
 and desert plates last evening.
The Mister and I
  had eggnog and fruitcake. 
Although enjoyable, it was
 not the best fruitcake in the world.....
 decidedly, that would be
the "Jane Parker Fruitcake."

This delicious concoction is
a product of the
 Great Atlantic and Pacific
Tea Company,
The Jane Parker, A&P fruitcake
 is still around, believe it or not, 
 and can be
ordered via the Internet. 
If your from my generation, you'll
be pleased with this news, and if
not, your probably wondering what
the fuss is all about.
Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee
Images borrowed from Google Images

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

A Wee Ole Santa


I've so little time to decorate
for Christmas....but today
I at least  made a beginning.
Santa has his own little 
wonderland,  beneath
a glass dome on a living 
room table.

Far be it for me, that I would
simply place him there, without
capturing his image.

Loving how this
wee ole Santa has made
such a large impression on me.
Hmmm..."It's Christmastime in the city.....
....silver bells, silver bells.....

Have a blessed and happy day!  Dee Dee