In the Village of Delight

 Day light

Evening light

There once was a village tucked away in the snow.

It sparkled with candle light too.
 Smiles on each one living there were a delight.

No one knew of their existence in that far away place.

The mice scampered there and the kittens

 were snug by the fire, each were accepted and loved.

In the forest there was plenty to eat

and gardens were grown in the sunlight.

When the nights became dark in mid winter

the quilts were tossed about for warmth

and the plum puddings were lite to celebrate the season.

Quietly I tiptoed to the edge of the village

and just out of sight I watched as the people of the

village danced and sang.

You might think their song was the wind, but listen closely.
Do you hear it as the stars twinkle above?
Do you dream of a little village to tuck in the quilts
or dance under the moonlight?
The celebration goes on whether you can hear it or not.
Let your imagination fly away,
close your eyes, listen and sing. 

My little village on the mantle delights me
and on cold winter nights I dream of the little people that
live there. Yes, I know they are there because I hear
their song in the wind.

In a hole under the big tree Mr. and Mrs. Seth Mouse 
are having tea.

They whispered in my ear and said to wish you 
all a very special Winter Solstice.

For now my whimsy is running away and 
it is time for my winter's nap.

Hope your week is most delightful.

Sending love to each of you.

We had a Plan!

 My one and only grand child and I made a plan to celebrate Christmas.

Oh what fun we had.

The Portland Speedway has a light show so Saturday night we headed there.

We didn't know we would have to wait 2 hours to get in.

What a line!

 Finally we arrived!

What fun we had singing in the car.

A partridge and a pear tree were sung with gusto!

 A little know fact about me is that I never can remember

the words to songs; so I like to make them up.

Well by the end of singing this crazy song we were in full laughter.

 As we exited the light show we were definitely in the Christmas spirit.

 We hurried home and headed for bedtime with a story to read along the way to sleepy time.

Sunday morning and it was time to make the gingerbread house.

I cheated a bit this year and bought a kit at Costco.

It was definitely worth it.

I will say the icing was a bit drippy, but what counted was that

we had fun!

Here is the final product.

I know it was messy, but again it was all about

having fun and creating with laughter.

 The best things about the holiday spirit are JOY and LAUGHTER.

I am so thrilled to have this one little guy in my life.

He brings JOY to my heart all year long,

but with Christmas my heart just expands more and more.

I hope you are finding time to play this holiday season!

Make a plan to play!

Monday's Tea Quote

The Prayer in a Teacup

I stand at my window and watch
One by one the stars all leave me
I am having tea with the dawn
The first ray of sun descending
     Into my teacup
     Into my heart
The steam of my tea ascending
     To the heavens
     Into God’s heart
The yearning in my heart streaming
     To the heavens
     Into God’s heart
And God, standing in the heavens
     Watching the sun rise in my heart
     Leans down to breathe in
     The first rays of my yearning
     And names it morning prayer.

                          ~Macrina Wiederkehr OSB,
                            Seasons of Your Heart (c).

Often when I sip my morning tea, I pray!

It is my time of quietness before the day has started.

Do you find time to be quiet during these busy times of December?

Savor the early morning hour with tea and a prayer.

Whiskers on Noses

 Whiskers on nose is one of my favorite things.

Christmas too brings joy to my heart.

All the twinkling lights and glitter just make me smile.

So one more peak in my living room at the imperfectly perfect tree all lite up.

We await the bewitching hour.

The hour when magic happens.

Where music bursts forth with Joy to the World

and then quiets in the late night darkness with Silent Night.

Are you preparing?

Are you delighting in those whiskers and twinkles?

Enjoy the weekend, dear friends!

And I must say Joey isn't thrilled when the camera comes out.

Now why don't those whiskers just pose for me for the moment of the click!!

Around the House

 After receiving the perfectly imperfect live tree I decided to pop over to IKEA

and see what they had in faux trees.

I love the little tree I found there;

so it was set up in the dining room.

There were a few candles, tea themed ornaments and golden baubles

placed on this little tree.

 Then my white themed cast of characters joined two festive teapots

on the cabinet.

Since taking this picture I have added a few votive candles.

Don't you just love candles at Christmas?

The more light the better sprinkled all around the house.

 Here is the tree all lite up and ready to sparkle.

 A view of the china cupboard from the opposite side of the room.

I love the reflection in the glass of the tree.

And then just outside the window I can sit at the table sipping my tea and watch the

hummingbirds come to the feeder wrapped in old Christmas lights.

The new lights don't get warm enough to keep their water from freezing;

so every winter we leave these lights on the feeder until Spring.

No freezing and I love seeing our delightful little ones flutter around.

They are my best winter decoration.

Are you enjoying the lights of the holiday season?

Delighting in the day?

Traditions

Each December my half-sister and I meet for tea or lunch,

just a small Christmas celebration for the two of us.

This year we met in Salem and enjoyed a walk on the grounds of

Deepwood Estates.

There was a holiday bazaar which we browsed,

but what we really enjoyed were just enjoying the sights around the grounds.

Looking back at my pictures I realized how much of the grounds is set for a party.

Each area had it's center focus.

And we found flowers still in bloom too.

It doesn't really show on this winter camellia,

but there was a lovely soft blush of pink on it.

Stepping into the greenhouse always feels like steeping into

a quiet, safe, warm womb. 

And again there were flowers in bloom.

I was delighted to find some whimsy in the greenhouse pond too.

Do  you see it?

Poinsettias always say Christmas.

And again two different places in the garden,

perfect for a quiet cup of tea or a special event like a wedding.

Next time I think I will take my cup of tea and sit awhile

in the gazebo and sip.

I love holiday traditions, especially when it includes special, dear ones.

Hoping you find time to include a dear friend or family member

in a time just to be together, walk, talk, sip some tea, and just enjoy the day.

Monday's Tea Quote

"Another novelty is the tea-party,

an extraordinary meal in that,

being offered to persons that have

already dined well, it supposes

neither appetite nor thirst, and

has no object but distraction,

no basis but delicate enjoyment."

~ Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. The Physiology of Taste.

May you have moments of "delicate enjoyment" with

a cup of tea and a sweet this holiday season. 

What would be in your cup?

And on your plate?