A Slow And Lovely December

Ho-Ho-Ho friends and Merry Christmas!

I hope you're all having a wonder filled December and are ready for the festivities.

We're just a few days away now and I'm getting really excited.


To be honest, it's been a very different kind of December around here.

I guess the best way to describe it, is to say it's been a slow month.

Oh don't get me wrong, the days have been whizzing by, but I suppose I mean that I've been moving slower.

Enjoying the small things.

Taking time to do what I really want and not falling victim to all the holiday shoulds and coulds now the kids are grown.

And you know what, it's been lovely.

A Beautiful Gift From A Dear Friend

I've literally been taking time to watch the flowers grow. 

Decorating my house over a few weeks, rather than rushing through the process to get it done.


Putting out only the special things that make me smile. 

Including - for the first time in a decade - a string of colored lights for my family room tree! Can you believe it?


I just craved a little extra Christmas color this year to blunt all that white, white snow. 

Overall though, I leaned into a lot of the same decor I used last year, because I'm still loving those paper trees.


I spent some time in thrift and vintage shops, for a little thrifting and gifting of my own. Spreading joy around the country.

I've watched old black and white holiday movies, my favorite kind, with Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Robert Mitchum, Natalie Wood, Bing Crosby, Gene Lockhart, Jimmy Stewart and more. Hallmark is great, but for me, the oldies are the best.

Except for The Holiday - mainly for that house - and this one, that's become a silly classic for our family.  

I also made time to bake cookies with a little one, have dinner with friends and a few very brisk walks through my darling Christmas village.
I even caught a glimpse of one of Santa's reindeer yesterday afternoon. Training for the big day. 

So it's been a magical month.

Funny thing though, the one activity I haven't had a lot of time for is crafting...which is highly unusual.

December is traditionally one of my most creative months.

//TRASH TO TREASURE CHRISTMAS CRAFTS//

Normally, I'd sit by the fireplace, listening to carols, glancing at my memory filled Christmas tree to paint, glue and stitch.

But for some reason, this year, all I managed to do was learn the basics of crochet, make a few watercolor cards and build a lampshade Christmas tree.

Granted the crocheting and watercolor painting took up a lot of my time, they are not quick DIYs.


Oh, and I've been cooking up a storm, trying new recipes and loving the process. Another shocker!

Don't get me wrong, I definitely miss all those those fabulous Christmas crafts. I hear their siren song every single day, so I plan to dig into that pile soon.

It just might take me the next 12 months to get them all done!

But for the rest of the month, I'll just be sitting by fire, listening to carols, caught up in the magic of the season.

Hoping that you will be, too.

🎄

Oh and if you want to know what those holiday movies were, here's the list:

• Christmas In Connecticut
• The Man Who Came To Dinner
• The Bishop's Wife
• Holiday Affair
• Miracle On 34th Street
• White Christmas
• A Christmas Carol (1938 is the best)
• It's A Wonderful Life

Merry, Merry Christmas!!