A Wee Holiday Touch At 24

It's not much, but it's a beginning. The 'conservatory' at least has a bit of holiday festivity adorning her...the rest of 24C, not very much at the moment...but we're working on it!

I do hope they straighten up...they're a bit wonky at the moment, but wonky Paperwhites are better than no Paperwhites at all.

Taking deep pre-holiday breaths...♥

An Abundant & Special Christmas Post

Over the past two weeks, I had visions of posting several wonderfully festive posts...and had been a very good girl, taking pictures, tweaking, editing, tweaking some more...but all was for naught...my poor posts kept being told, not now, no time, later...soon, I promise, I pinky swear promise...but there they sat, as I was continually surrounded by a swirly-twirly mingling of Christmas Joy & Christmas Hullabaloo (i.e. mayhem)!

So, I've made the decision to combine them all here...I promise it's not too long as I'm sure you're probably in your own sparkling world of swirly-twirly, pre-Christmas Hullabaloo & Joy as well!

Well for the second year in a row now, our indoor Christmas park is with us once again. Who knows what next Christmas will be like...we might be in the midst of our snafu remodel, although I sincerely hope it will be all done by then...we'll just have to wait and see.

We played around quite a bit with the garden bench placement this year...our tree ended up being so teeny (looked much bigger on the lot!)..so I tried to cozy it up a bit. Not so easy a task in such a large room...trust me! I spy with my little eye sitting on the bench...

A very, very special copy of Country Living. Seeing Trina & Mike's beautiful home gracing the cover has brought non-stop smiling and it has become a treasured Christmas keepsake...I couldn't be more happy for them, they deserved this more that anyone I know!

This arrangement really didn't speak to me...

But this one did. The bench has been scootched closer to the tree which 'cozied' it up a tad more.

I'd really love to get this pillow from P.B. for the bench, I saw it in the store. The linen is a bit darker in real life...very pretty. It's a perfect reminder that spring isn't too far off!

Our little tree, with it's two presents under it looks a bit lonely...Santa can't come too soon!

Only two more sleeps little tree!!

I've always loved German glass ornaments...particularly little houses and pine cones, I just can't get enough of them...I wonder if it's because I'm German?!

And speaking of stockings...

This little felt one was made by my German Oma for me when I was a little girl. There are a few moth holes...but I don't care, it's one of my most beloved Christmas treasures.

I hope you all know the secret to staying strong, healthy, happy, and motivated during the pre-holiday, swirly-twirly hullabaloo, *and* during all the fun & wonderful Christmas festivities! The secret beans were spilled by a certain Elf...it's why they have so much stamina and can work on Christmas all year long...and trust me, it works! All you need is a steady diet of the four main Christmas food groups, and they must be kept close at hand at all times!

CANDY...

(Christmas Mint M&M's...my addiction, I keep them very handy)

CANDY CANES....

CANDY CORNS....


(Yes! Christmas candy corns do exist! But they are very rare...so Cedric, Harville, and Wentworth have been taking their guarding duties very seriously...even I must ask permission before taking one!)

AND SYRUP!

I believe it's what Santa adds to his cocoa, which he drinks day and night while preparing for Christmas! So now you know the special secret to staying on top of all the Christmassy madness, mayhem, and fun....SUGAR!

And speaking of sugar...the sweetest, most beautiful blessing of a day occurred last week, that was so surreal, so dreamlike, and so magical...that I was catapulted in the most gentlest of fashions directly into the Christmas spirit, and have been floating around enchantedly ever since. It was meeting the two ladies above, plus an enchanting shop called Red Ticking, that caused all of this wondrous euphoria.

The brilliantly savvy and adorable Deb of Dumbwit Tellher, has *just* moved to Scotland, but she happened to be here in Washington, her home state, to visit family and friends for the holidays, and to celebrate a very special occasion with her dear father, which she has so graciously shared with us all on her blog recently. We had been hoping to meet forever, so this was perfect timing...and the sweet angel disguised as a shop-keep, Pam, who is the heart behind Red Ticking, both blog and shop, happened to have a window of perfect time open where she could meet with us...so we of course said YES...and the rest is now cherished history.

The initial plan was to meet at the Ticking so that Deb and I could take in all the holiday splendour, then the three of us would go have coffee & treats at a local bakery. But once inside the magical Ticking, Deb and I found ourselves unable to leave...we were spellbound, entranced...so we ended up staying there, with Pam, for the better part of the day...only leaving to move cars and *get* the coffee & treats...it was heaven!

We felt so cozily ensconced at the Ticking. Deb and I settled into two of Pam's gorgeous vintage chairs, and Pam joined us when she wasn't with customers, which there was a lovely, steady flow of...and we chatted as if we'd known each other all our lives...non-stop, about anything and everything...I didn't want it to end, I don't think any of us did...it was one of those rare occasions where you know something special is happening, and you had better just soak it all up for as long as you can...which I believe we did.

Meeting with these two kindred spirits wasn't the only gift that the day offered though...

Pam, with her boundless generosity, gifted us both with treasures from the Ticking, which she insisted we choose! We were flabbergasted, in the best sort of way, and after wandering about with stars in our eyes, we both chose ornaments. Pam had the most beautiful ornaments you could ever image and it was very difficult to choose....but in the end, I picked a sweet glass reindeer, who I though Mr. 24 would appreciate since I won't allow his humongous, trophy elk head (Limpy), to hang over our fireplace (or anywhere in the house for that matter - he's at the office now, where they can spend many wonderful hours together).

But! Since Pam insisted that I needed two glass Limpy's...we now have one for the tree...and one that now sits over our fireplace...Mr. 24 is very pleased! Their names are Red & Ticking, very fitting, don't you think?!

Deb spoiled both Pam and I with copious amounts of Tunnock's Tea Cakes & Caramel Wafer Biscuits...which are ever so Scottish, and beautifully packaged! I haven't even tasted them yet because I think they are so pretty and I want to look at them a while longer.

Can you blame me?! My heart glows just looking at them...and my two sweet deer heads! Christmas did indeed come early that day, I'm forever grateful!

Are you still awake...did you make it till the end? Thank you for spending a bit of your precious holiday time with me! Now I believe it's time for more CANDY & SYRUP...what do you say?!

MERRY CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO ALL!!!

A Blue Tape Christmas

Here I thought I was capturing a lovely, somewhat shabby-chic-ish Christmas image...and lo and behold, look who snuck into the picture...our old friend Sir Blue Tape. What's to be done about it though? He and a few of his friends still happen to be our guests and have continued to work tirelessly around the house since we moved in, assisting us in the opening of certain cupboards and drawers, and more importantly, providing pops of color where there are none.

So in the spirit of the season, I've decided to embrace their presence, and just might add a touch of Christmas sparkle to help them feel a bit more festive...I think they would appreciate such a gesture very, very much! Off to fetch the glitter...

Stockings Hung!

"Something to eat, Something to read, Something to play with, and Something they need."
Victorian Christmas Stocking Recipe~

Well, we did it! We made and hung our stockings with great care, decorated our mantels...and had a jolly good time doing so, if I do say so myself! Mr. 24 even joined us and played paper-scissor elf, which was an enormous help!

My students are absolute angels, and a few of them graciously allowed me to keep their festive fireplaces for one week so that I could deck the halls with them, and give the whole local world a chance to see their adorable stockings and enjoy the warmth of their pretty fires.

We have one more class together before Christmas break and I want their last picture of the year to be just as fun as this one was...I'm thinking polar bears & presents might do the trick...and maybe a touch of sparkle!

BTW...I had the most amazing day yesterday with two very special ladies whom you all know and love...it was like a dream...I hope to share it with you very soon!

Hanging Stockings With Care

Once again I've had to surround myself with copious amounts of colorful paper in the hopes of creating a wonderfully fun project for my students...it's the first bit of Christmas anything we've had in the house, and I finally feel the cheer of the season settling over me!

I thought my mantel was looking somewhat barren so I decided to make some stockings for it...sans sewing, which for the life of me I've never been able to master...not even a button!

Paper, scissors, and glue are more my style. I'm hoping the children enjoy making there own this way too...off we go!!