My Christmas Home

"Christmas is not an external event, 

it is a piece of one's home 

that one carries in their heart." Freya Stark

Hello, friends. Happy holidays! It will be a quiet holiday again this year, but joy and celebration are happily tucked into the corners of my little cottage.  My world's tiniest but much loved tree begins our house tour.

The big bowl with the snowball candle is evolving. I added pinecones Mo and I gathered in the Fall. 

I soaked them in bleach to lighten them.

Today my fresh holly is added.

The snowball will be lit and welcoming as family and friends gather on Christmas Eve. A small gathering of loved ones, so dear to me.

No paper products in the stores? Luckily I had stashed these interesting napkins, plus a refilled keepsake matchbox from a bar in NYC.

Looking for my cooky plates I found this sweet unmarked winter scene small plate. I think...I imagine--- the horse drawn sledge is filled with Christmas trees on their way to the village market.

It is unmarked, a cup plate, but nicely hand tinted.  Tag says one dollar from  a long forgotten thrifting adventure.  Holds a cinnamon apple candle on my table this month.

Another little Christmas plate, this one from the Cape Cod Dump's Swap Shop. It looks very mid-century American to me but is English bone china. I love random holiday dinnerware like this. 

The red and white quilts and pillows on my white sofas.

My amaryllis, age 5. Still dormant, def won't bloom for Christmas, lol.

Bride's bench and pink ornaments wreath. Swannie is relocated, given a wreath; he guards the biggest gifts.

A tiny seaglass Tree and other treasures.

A small selection of my many bottle brush trees and a snowman I made a few years ago. I love his tiny cuteness.

And a bottle brush Pug for Mo.

I'm using the pine chest of drawers like a mantle this year, keeping it very simple. Angels from Cape Cod.

Dries on the corner cabinet at the moment but they'll go back onto the jelly cupboard soon.

Tealights in old star shaped Jello tins.

Little porcelain cottage. It has a candle but it needs a brighter one so that its windows glow. All the small extra ornaments surround it.

Old Santas from another big collection. I rewrapped the intact Santas and stored them in a beautiful box for my son, for someday. These few are broken or even scorched! No hanger loops. I still find them beautiful and treasure them. [Could not bring myself to throw them out.]

My bedroom has a simple red and white quilt and white flannel sheets, that cold wind is howling.  The red pillow cases and red and green Shirley's Christmas Quilt will be added tomorrow. 

Yesterday I baked Snowball cookies. 

The oven warmed the house nicely, then for dinner I made big baked potatoes with cheddar cheese and crispy roasted brussel sprouts. Mmmm. That potato warmed my tummy nicely, such a simple thing to enjoy on a very dark gale wind night.

My party ''outfit": candy cane apron from my dad, Christmas Tree pin, 60s? from my mom. Blue striped book is my family cookbook, begun by my mom when I left home for college, age 18.

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The other night I had quite a scare, Mo suddenly became ill around 10 PM. He had had all his regular foods and a nice walk, but at bedtime he was quivering in pain.  He huddled in the corner, crying. Pugs rarely sit up straight like this.

He sat up all night with me beside him, would not eat or drink or potty--or walk! A friend came home immediately from the city and carried Mo to the vet--who somewhat uselessly and expensively diagnosed a tummy ache! The good news is Mo seems better, if not 100%. I was so frightened. And it's been years since I sat up all night with a sick ''baby''.  Now Mo is quite miffed by his bland diet, witness his patented Pug Glare. [TQC Twelve Days of Christmas mini quilt behind his head.]

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Wishing everyone a joyous holiday week. I hope it can be a special time of enjoying  traditions and family. 

Merry Christmas!

love

lizzy

gone to the Beach..

Christmas lights on the grey beach fences. Another special tradition, as the lights fill the dark early evenings for me and Mo.

Mo is still looking for our friends who moved away. Usually I now avoid this stretch, makes us so sad. But the lights were so welcoming despite being put there by strangers.

Peeking! "Where is Santa, mommy?"