The First Noel

Well hello friends.

Only 2 more days left until Christmas.

This will be my last post for the year.

As we approach the final days

before Christmas, we all must remember

the reason for this season.

 

Therefore it is only fitting to feature

the nativity and all of the angels

I decided to have all of these pics shown at night.

I remember always going to Midnight mass

once I was a teen with my family.

Whether we attended our own church at home,

or the one my grandparents attended.

Both maternal and paternal grandparents attended

the same church.

It was where my parents met.

{or I should say they met at the old church}

The churches were always decorated so festive.

With trees and candles lit.

Poinsettias everywhere.

The choir singing the old carols 

and the ringing of the bells were my favorite.

It was even more magical if it was snowing outside

when mass was over. 

The stained glass windows at my

grandparents church were amazing.

When the lights shone on them,

they sparkled even more.

The original church 

where my parents met and married in

was built on a hill.

Unfortunately it burned down the year I was born.

My mom always told me it was a little white church,

which this particular ornament reminded me of.

It was surrounded by pine trees and also

the cemetery was next to it.

My paternal great grandparents,

paternal grandparents,

great aunts and uncles.

My dad and his brother (my uncle and aunt)

all are buried here in the family plot.

I would also like to be buried there one day.

I remember visiting the cemetery before

my grandparents farm was destroyed by an arson.

In the cemetery looking South, you could 

see their barns, and farmhouse way in the back.

The farm had been sold long before this

horrific act happened.

It is hard to put into words the feeling I have

while on that hill.

The pine trees have been there since the beginning.

Tall and massive.

Where the church was, now a statue stands

in the one section.

I have seen pictures of the old church.

It reminds me of the old New England churches.

White clapboard.

Small but mighty. 

I always wondered what it would have looked

 like inside during Christmas.

No electricity; only candles.

With the aroma of festive greens on the altar

and live wreaths on the wall with their satin ribbon bows.

Oh how I wish I could have been there for at least

one Christmas mass. 

The cemetery is about 5 miles West

 of the town my mom lives in.

When you are at the road,

and look towards the East, you can see 

Lake Huron.

One of our mighty great blue lakes.

Only farmland surrounds the area.

Who knows if progress will change 

the landscape in another 100 years,

but for now, it is a perfect resting spot. 

Although I currently live a little over an hour 

to the South in the next county,

when driving to my mom's

I always feel like I am going home as soon

as I see that sign...

entering Sanilac County.

This time of year is always a bit hard on me.

We buried my dad on Christmas Eve morn.

It's been 28 years now, but still hurts. 

As I stated earlier, this is my last post of the year.

Am taking some time off, both at work,

and from blogging.

I need to re-charge. LOL

I will be back in a few weeks.

I hope all of my friends enjoy your holidays!

Will try and visit my blog friends

and comment when I can.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Let's hope 2022 goes much better.

We thought 2021 would be.

The First Noel Blessings To All!

Janice

I'll Be Home For Christmas

4 days until Christmas.

WOW where has the month gone?

 

Today post features what little I did in our kitchen.

Growing up, the kitchen in my family

was the heart of the home.

So when I thought of the Christmas song

for this post, I naturally thought of

I'll Be Home For Christmas.

This is my cocoa bar.

Hot cocoa mix, marshmallows, 

mini candy canes and sprinkles.

I opted for a simple look for the tobacco stick rack.

These red mittens were the last my aunt made

before her passing.

Just a lil pop of red.

I still have no clue what to place

on top of this cabinet.

For now Santa and Comet reside there 

with a faux tree.

Just a lil bit of Christmas.

For my shelves just a few more items.

A Sant pillow, small tree and towel.

A Belsnickle Santa underneath a cloche.

Another displayon the left of the sink.

Faux peppermint candies I sold in the store.

Placed in a wood bowl with a bit of greens

makes for a festive setting.

The Santa in the back was one I made years

ago and sold. All were filled with sawdust.

The pine cupboard with stockings hung.

This antique Santa underneath another cloche.

This was the remaining pieces to the fence.

I know now that there were pieces missing,

because there was only one corner piece.

Should have been four.

Going back to my red cabinet,

I made this part of the fence fit.

The good thing my cabinet was the right size

for this.

I did try a few others....which did not quite fit.

Close up of the stockings.

Another stocking.

I opted for a red and white quilt on my bench.

My porch post.

Next my tablecloth set for Christmas dinner.

I have had this tablecloth for years.

My mom came with 10 dozen cookies on Friday.

This is all that was left on Sunday morning.

I gave my daughter and niece two dozen each.

So where did the other 8 go.....

Bob won't tell, but I think he ate the majority. 

He will tell you I did. LOL

This 50's casserole dish was my mom's.

It is now been handed down to me.

It's the dish where we make a double batch

of our Cheesy Broccoli and rice casserole.

It only comes out once a year.

Hopefully it will last another

60 years and be passed on to my daughter. 

The table was set.

With my Winterberry china from Fhaltzgraff.

Every year out come my Arby snow glasses.

How fun it was to collect Arby glasses in the day.

This last picture is Tundra 

being caught in the cookie jar.

He likes eating the kitties food when he thinks

 no one is watching him.

He turned to look at me when

 I had my camera out and said

What are you doing Tundra?

UH OH

mom caught me. 

Since I am almost done with songs,

what is your favorite one?

There are so many out there.

My fav is White Christmas.

 

My last song name will be The First Noel,

the true meaning of Christmas...

so you know what it will be.

Christmas Is Coming Blessings To All!

Janice

Blue Christmas

Happy Sunday my friends!

Only 6 more days until Christmas.

Hope this day finds you safe and well.

Ace wanted to invite you to tour

our den (family room) today.

He was also a rescue kitty.

Plus the teddies will not be mad at me this year.

Remember last year I did not include

them in any Christmas display.

For those new to my blog,

this was a tribute rug to our kitty Peepers.

To the left of this stepback cabinet

is my work desk.

Not sure if I am allowed to show work stuff,

so best just to omit it.

To the right is our side outside door.

I wanted this room to be a blue and gold theme,

with a hint of red. 

These shelves Bob made behind our couch.

Our couch is a square sectional.

Another egg carton Santa in his sleigh.

Plus another vintage elf for the grans to find.

Wide view looking from our kitchen,

The other side looking from my desk.

Since I spend 8 hours a day in this room,

I like looking at the Christmas tree.

The only problem is I ran out of time

to actually decorate it.

Oh well, it still looks pretty.

Not Christmas colors though.

White, blue and orange lights.

I thought the orange lights were gold.

Then realized I had taken the gold ones

to the store. UGH

My one horse on top by the tree.

More blue and gold with a hint of red.

Dappled glider horse on the floor.

The other day I was wondering what 

little boy or girl rode this as their toy.

This one is in perfect condition.

Blue velvet saddle.

Reins and stirrups still intact.

Another view looking at the other corner.

Well this dark pic is the wagon

Bob bought for me as a birthday present

years ago.

Currently holds my faux white poinsettias.

Yesterday we hosted my family over.

We had ham and lots of veggies.

My mom's homemade rolls.

A cannoli pie for dessert.

Today we host Bob's family.

I will be making lasagna, salad, green beans

and antipasto skewers.

{salami, mozzarella balls, cheese tortellini,

and cherry tomatoes marinated in 

Italian dressing}

Chocolate bumpy cake or apple pie for dessert.

Hope your weekend is good for you.

Stay nice so Santa will visit you.

Blue Christmas Blessings To All!

Janice