~Hark the herald angels sing~

On the 12th..I was opening a gift package..:)

Jacques and I don't exchange gifts..

So indulge me please:)

Touched to receive a watercolor of our she shed with little elves frolicking about:)
Mice decos..napkins ..tea towel..an angel to watch over us..and a baker's amazing spoon..all you cooks/bakers..need this:)
It keeps your bench clean..scrapes and measures..
The kicker every yr is seeing Susan's beautiful family on her yearly Christmas cards.
Merci Pea:)


Our Mouse fam is growing..and I love them all..

all the felt..all the time:)

Cozy..cuddly..unbreakable..and personality plus..

A little Texas mouse arrived too:)Merci Sarah:)

On the home front..

in other areas..
The tourtières are made..Jacques and I do these well together!
He LOVES these.

He learned by assisting Caroline and I for a few years:)

Those are my old hands.

They are older now and one more ring is on my hand:)

I tried painting cookies again..like I always do..and my icing didn't set..so let's revisit:)

I don't mind because my previous pics are lost in space right?

My magic bars turned out far better:) Quintessential Christmas fare..an Eagle Brand classic~

Our stockings are heavy..not ours lol they are empty..but the family's stockings are heavy and I always lay them on the floor..now they have a support..:)

The mannequin was found on Varage Sale for about $10.00 if I remember correctly..and I festived her up.

I have some Christmas things to share..little ideas but I am saving them until my daughters receive them..in case they pop by my blog..saving 2 small surprises.
You may want to make one or two:)

I have such a sweet little story for you..

Our postmistress was off for a while and a replacement came..someone I knew  through her older sister..and her dear family..
We talked of many things while I was posting Christmas..etc..

When I dropped off my cards..I smiled and said..I know..there's a few:)  She had to calculate postage for everywhere etc..

I told her I still believed in cards..
she confided in me that she did too..and that at her regular post office..the one where she is the full time postmistress..every yr..she sent a card to all her clients.
EVERY BOX.
Who else does that?

And guess what?
I received a card from her with very special words in it.
What a gift.
A little Christmas story♥

I wrote all of the above about 1 week ago or more preparing for a pre -Christmas post..this one..

But reading parts now just seems..off for some reason.

I know people who are suffering so much right now..it makes Christmas SO HARD.

I saw this on IG this week..

"All I want for Christmas is to have my husband back"

I followed this girl on her blog for a few yrs then found her on IG..

Puts so much into perspective..


Jacques and I were talking early one morning..

About Christmas and how things and times have changed..

Never would my mom have thought of a Christmas stocking holder..or matching gift values and more and more and more.

Granted at the end there was just me..I actually only remember being me ..only apart from a photo or two.

And I know she saved and saved so that I would have that one special gift and a stocking.

A gift she would never spend that much on herself..just for me.

But we were never over the top..

Jacques and I find everything over the top now.
IG actually turned me off these past weeks with swipe up buy this buy that.

If I could I would rewind time.
Far less material.
Far far far less.
More kindness..more words..more letters more thoughtful attentions..
Less buy buy buy.

Tell someone you appreciate them.Tell them why.
Show some compassion.
Thank people for what they do for you.
Be respectful.
Surprise someone with an attention.
Show appreciation.
Listen.
Try and make someone smile or laugh.
Speak from your heart if you can.
If you are a professional caregiver don't treat patients like a number.
be a CARE giver.
Put yourself in someone elses' shoes.
Know someone who has very little?Give there maybe.
If you're buying a gift because you have to..maybe you should reconsider:)
I know I stopped a few obligations in gift giving because they became a weight..not bought in joy.
Don't ask.."are we exchanging gifts this year"? If you are asking the question your answer is there.
Why must it be an exchange?
Give when the spirit hits you..skip a yr if no inspiration..no obligations:)
Stop the cards you don't feel like writing..write the cards that make you happy.I know that sounds selfish but giving is a bit selfish no?
We feel so good!


I just go on and on don't I?

Jacques' mentioned that before;)

All of the above written by me..who does shop too much for her family..who did make a stocking holder..who bakes and faffs.

I should practice what I preach right?
:)

The cards we get with family photos get nestled in the tree♥

Have yourself a sweet Christmas.♥
Very grateful for you all.
Thinking of everyone I know who needs a hug right now.