just checking in to see how everyone is doing!

hellooooo lovelies!

i finally found some intermittent moments to catch up

with all of you. you are all looking beautiful! 

i love the traditions, and the new. i have become quite attached

to your homes and their various architectural features,

so many amazing fireplaces, front porches, entries, 

staircases,  doors and windows. 

 your trees...so beautifully decorated with love.

...and oh those goodies! YUM!

***

thank you for all of your lovely comments about little Holland.

we are pretty much decorated and where we should be at this time.

we visited the Christmas tree farm on Saturday.

the tree is waiting in the wings, as the furniture will

be delivered tomorrow morning.  

this morning i made some pine cone topiaries, using 

my favorite small vintage flowerpots,(found in New York's 

Hudson Valley), from stylist and

 photographer Megan Camp, and some Noel ribbon that i purchased

from Cat at Sunday Brocantes.  

 the nice thing about the topiaries is that once

Christmas has passed, the ribbon will slip off

and they can stay up through the winter.

(i have some cute ribbon with X's and O's for Valentine's Day.)

above our kitchen sink this morning stand three new nutcrackers.

(tiny souvenirs from Friday's performance.)

they look sweet with our Swedish electric candlestick.

Chrislyn called me on Saturday and said, " Mom, you blogged 

about The Nutcracker before i could send a picture of you..."

over the weekend she forwarded a picture of all of us in

front of the "star", himself.  

i took it to PicMonkey for a little fun!

***

i wish you all good health as you prepare for next week.

'tis a season of many emotions.

 memories may bring some tears.

when the tears appear, seek the Joy!

Joy through tears is my favorite emotion!

...withLove!