The Merriment Chain ~ Day 12: A Midnight Skate....

There is something about this time of year that makes me feel closer to "yesteryear" and simpler times than any other time.

To think one could bottle all the magic of those Christmases past....

On Day 12 of The Merriment Chain, I've decided to share with you one of my very favorite things....

Antique skaters' lanterns.

Be Merry!

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 11: Technical Difficulties....

Day 11 of The Merriment Chain graciously hostessed by Misi
and Robyn.  

I'm experiencing some "technical difficulties" with my display....

 

  

 So I gave up.

What I see is what you get.

(And, yes, that IS our dining room table they are on....)

:o)

Merry, Merry, Naughty Kitties!

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 10: My Window Seat

It's Day 10 of Misi and Robyn's

Merriment Chain...and I'm still here! (Bet you didn't think I'd make it this far....Yeah, me either.)

I gave up on finding the lights that went kerpluey on Day 4.  I did get some replacements, but they are not what I was looking for.  Oh well....I'm moving on.

The lights were for the little tree that sits in my window seat. 

 

 

This tree has some of my favorite ornaments....

And on top sits a very special bird.  She's a little tattered and missing a wing, but she belonged to my great aunt, Laura. We had very little passed down from my father's family.  His parents and only brother passed away before he was even married (both parents died when they were only 42 and his brother passed away at age 20).  But my father was close to Laura....and this treasure came to live with me when she passed.

 Carry on with your merry!

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 9: All Is Calm, All Is Bright

All is calm, all is bright....

 

....in my bedroom late at night....

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 8: Still Building Snowmen

Day 8 of Misi and Robyn's Merriment Chain finds me still building snowmen.....

 

 Merry Tuesday!

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 7: In The Meadow....

....We can build a snowman.....

 

(Well, maybe not today....it's pretty foggy in the meadows of Nod....Where is Rudolf when you need him?)

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 6: He Sees You When You're Sleeping...

Day 6 of Misi and Robyn's Merriment Chain.....

 

 He sees you when you're sleeping....

...but nobody said anything about when HE'S sleeping!

;o)

Get your merry on!

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 5: Gone Shopping

Day 5 of The Merriment Chain found me shopping....

for lights....(remember yesterday??)

Since the lights I need want are the grungified, wax-dipped, silicone kind, I headed to the only my favorite area prim store.

 

 The Farmer's Daughter

 

And I shopped.  After all, that whole shopping thing is a big part of the merriment of the season, no?

 

 

 

Started my letter to Santa....

 Oh and the lights? Nope, didn't find them.

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 4: Cr*p!

 Day 4 of The Merriment Chain hostessed by the charming Misi and equally charming Robyn....

And this crow isn't really feeling the "merry" right about now.

:o( 

This was SO not what I was intending to post (yes, sometimes (although not very often) I DO plan ahead).....

But, alas....I had a wee problem with some lights.....

So, you get THIS instead....

Not sure when (or IF) I'll get the lighting issue resolved....but trust me, you'll be the first to know.  ;o

Anywho....

Filling in for my intended post is a display I've posted before and I'm sure most of you have seen along the way.....My Putz sheep and bottle brush trees.

Nope, don't change it up much from year to year - cuz I LIKE it. Ok???

(Told ya I was cranky....)

Perhaps plus or minus a sheep or tree from other years' displays (as I add to it, then move a few to other displays)....but it's always one of the first to go up....Guess I figure I'll have a "tree up" just in case everything falls apart....

 

  

Stay calm and merry on!

 

The Merriment Chain ~ Day 3: Playing In The Snow

Day 3 of Miss Misi's and Miss Robyn's Merriment Chain....

Playing with a little snow....

 

(The display on top of the chicken cage in our entryway)

 

Merry, Merry!

The Merriment Chain: A Simple Start

Two very favorite bloggers of mine, Misi from 1890 Gable House Musings, and Robyn from Primlish, have teamed up and come up with a brilliantly merry idea: A Merriment Chain.....Rather than posting one hugely picture-laden post of their holiday decorating, wrapping, baking, crafting, and trimmings, participants in the chain will be posting one photo a day from November 27th through December 22nd.

What a merry ingenious idea, no?

We all know, however, that I am struggling to blog once a week month, let alone daily, so you needn't freak out and think I'll be showing up daily on your blog roll (and, true to form, I'm already a day behind)....but, I was told I could play along anyway.....(Did I mention I love these two gals??)

So....here goes....Day 2 of the Merriment Chain, a la Crow:

(Wreath on my "candle pantry" door.)

A simple start....(Think I'll manage to "keep it simple"??? Ha! Me either!!) ;o

Remember Me....

I debate, as I type, whether I should put a question mark behind those two words, or just a period.

I really don't know where to begin, or, exactly, where I left off.  Don't know if I'm "picking up where I left off," or just "leaving off."

Truth be told, I'm not entirely sure where I have even been....

Other than, looking for a soft place to fall.

Things in Nod have been a little kittywampus of late.

I can't, and won't, go into the particulars, as it is a hodgepodge of a mess.

Broken computers, broken wash machines, broken knees, broken well pumps, broken expectations, broken wings.  Empty wells.

But I am here.

A sweet friend recently reminded that faith and reason are necessary companions, and like two wings on an aircraft, both are necessary to maintain flight.  I just need now to nurture that particle of faith that is still within me, and let it - and the hope it produces - be an anchor....to my reason and my soul.*

I do apologize, though, for falling so abruptly into the abyss.  I cannot promise I will be anything more than "sporadic" in the days to come at least for some time, but I do hope some of you will "remember me."

In my absence, I neglected to thank Miss Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe for her generous gift of this sweet chart and beautiful hand-dyed floss.

Nancy has been a true inspiration to me.  Although she is carrying more crosses than many of us, she is consciously and joyfully intent on leaving an indelible legacy of generosity and kindness.  Thank you dear Nancy....(And, by the way - Nancy is hostessing one of the grandest giveaways ever starting December 1st....the link in on my sidebar....)

So, there you have it....the mystery of the disappearing crow demystified.  It probably wasn't what you were expecting but, then again, neither was I.

Wishing you all a Thanksgiving of peace and plenty!

*Paraphrased from a talk by Marcus Nash.

Ushering In A Month Of Thankfulness

....And I can't think of a better way to do it than by sending out a big THANK YOU to Sweet Terri from Dixie Samplar and celebrating being one of the winners in her 2012 "Spooktacular" Halloween Giveaway.

Terri sent me a whole package of wickedly stitchy fun:

Linen, Floss, Fabby, and Chocolatey Treats....
Oh My!

 (Yeah, it danged near did me in waiting to open that candy until AFTER photos were taken....)

And...charts....! Not one, but six!
Woo Hoo!

A little bit of Halloween, a little bit of Christmas, a lot of crow....

What's not to love?

 Thank you, Terri, so very much! You'll keep me in stitches for a good long while.  It truly touched me that you took the time and effort to choose things near and dear to my heart.

Wishing you all a November full of gratitude and blessings.