Saturday, December 19, 2020

It's Beginning to Look...

 

Snowman Wreath

Festive!  Yesterday, I put up the wreaths, including this snowman wreath.  My mother saw one in a sewing patterns catalog and admired it.  So, when we found these felt snowmen ornaments at Woolworths (they were still open, back then, early 1990s) and on sale for $0.50 each, I bought some and made the wreath.  It remained my mother's favorite wreath for as long as she lived.

My nativity set has been set up, too:

Nativity Set

The doily is something my mother crocheted.

I've spent a couple of fairly quiet days, keeping myself busy with decorating for Christmas, watering the garden, and doing regular household tasks like laundry and cleaning.  The donations check to the Temple (in lieu of having the annual almsgiving) has been mailed and the holiday gift list has been prepared.

Yesterday, friend M came by to tend to the garden.  He brought me a big bag of soil amendment/fertilizer and two broccoli seedlings; he planted the seedlings in my tiny vegetable plot (where, so far, only the radishes and four pea seedlings are growing) and added the soil amendment/fertilizer.  He wouldn't accept any payment for the bag of soil amendment, saying, "Merry Christmas"!  LOL.  I gave him his Christmas gift from me before he left. 

My daughter's friend P has tested negative for Covid, so, they are planning to drive down together.  I am glad that she doesn't have to drive down alone.  I am hoping that they will have a safe drive.

Reindeer Bells

One year, my daughter wasn't very sure about the whole Santa Claus and reindeer story; she was about 6 years old then, and had heard a rumor that it wasn't real.  In her letter to Santa, that year, she asked for a bell from Santa's reindeer, as proof.  Santa's helper had to run all around town, that year, but, on Christmas morning, there was a strap of bells that Santa's reindeer had left for her!  Ever since then, these bells have hung from the front door, at Christmas time. 

I have a mile long list of things to do, today!  I want to finish decorating, tidy the place, and vacuum, in addition to more laundry, wrapping gifts, and cooking!  

Today, I am grateful for:

- P tested negative

- Daughter will probably get a ride home instead of driving by herself

- Friends and family calling to check on me

- Packages arriving in the mail

- Working appliances

How is your weekend coming along?

24 comments:

  1. I love all of your pretty decorations and the Reindeer bells story too. I'm so happy that your daughter will be able to be there for Christmas now. I can only imagine how happy you are! I hope your new little broccoli plants do well. Enjoy the rest of the weekend :)

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    1. Thank you, Martha. I am not allowing myself to be happy until she reaches home, safely! :)

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  2. So happy to hear that all looks well for your daughter's visit. You must be getting excited. We are hoping for an outdoor visit from DS and family tomorrow if all goes well, so we are excited, too.
    Saw such a lovely fat grouse in the back yard today in the snow. He looked like a big football with small head and tail. He looked almost big enough for a Christmas dinner but I hope no fox finds him or he will be a Christmas dinner!

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady. Oh, how lovely that your son and family will be visiting you. It's been a long time since you saw them, too, hasn't it? I don't think I've ever seen a grouse! I, too, hope it doesn't meet with a fox!

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  3. Those reindeer bells are lovely and I hope they helped reassure an uncertain little girl :)
    I have a long list as well, and I'm finally going to bake some mince pies. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules; yes, they did! :D Happy baking and please enjoy a mince pie for me! :)

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  4. That's fantastic news about your daughter and I hope nothing else happens to scupper her plans. Which day will she travel down?

    I do like your Christmas decorations. I think the story of the sleigh bells takes the prize though. What was her reaction on Christmas Day when she saw them?

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. She is traveling down, today! If all goes well, she should be home this evening!

      I remember that she was super excited when she saw the bells! For at least the next couple of years, she would tell people that she had the bells from one of Santa's reindeer to prove that he was real. :)

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  5. I'm with your mother. I really like your Santa wreath. I know you are afraid to get your hopes up for your daughter's visit, but she will be there safe and sound before you know it.

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    1. Thank you, June. Yes, she's actually on her way! I'm praying they have a safe drive down. If all goes well, she'll be here this evening! :)

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  6. I'm happy for you that your daughter will not be driving alone, and that you can have a nice time together! I sent out our checks to church and a favorite charity and I know it feels like a good deed done! Andrea

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    1. Thank you, Andrea. I, too, am glad that she doesn't have to drive alone. Yes, it feels good to be able to donate to charities and our churches or temples, especially at this time of the year and on this particular year, doesn't it?

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  7. I am so glad your daughter is coming home! And the story about the reindeer bells is just precious!

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    1. Thank you, Anne. I hope your Son3 and DIL3 arrived safely. :)

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  8. I love that story about the bells. The wreath is really pretty, too. It's been a lovely weekend. I just did yoga, and am sitting by the fire.

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    1. Thank you, Stephenie. I'm glad you had a good weekend. Relaxing by the fire sounds wonderful. :)

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  9. Looking festive around there - I like the white nativity - it exudes peace.

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    1. Thank you, Susanne. I chose the white nativity set for its simplicity. :)

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  10. The wreath is so jolly! I am so glad about your daughter's friend and the bell story is just lovely!

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  11. I love all of your decorations and always enjoy hearing the stories behind them.

    And you know me, I especially enjoy a frugal story so I appreciated you finding those snowmen so inexpensively to make that wreath for your mother. lol

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    1. Thank you, Debra. LOL, at that price, the snowmen were almost cheaper to buy than make! I have to take a picture of the decorative pot holders my mother made - I'm sure you'd be able to make them, too. :)

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  12. I love that snowman wreath! What a bargain to make and a lovely story behind it.

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. Those snowmen were a lucky find and my mother was so happy with the wreath. :)

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