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{March is well under way}

February days are now gone and March has officially kicked in.   I finally purchased a new monthly focus board.  We ventured out for a day date which included a movie. I love our day dates. I will give my honest review about the movie for those interested. I wanted to see this movie as it was based on a true story. I did enjoy the movie but oh my, it was a tear jerker from the get go! It ended good but mercy! Let's just say that I am thankful that no one was sitting close enough to see my tear stained face. I am glad that I saw it but I am good for a while on sad movies, even if they do end good!   My oldest daughter, her husband and their son participated in the Spartan race which is a series of obstacle courses that challenge. They done so well. As you can see from the pictures it gets pretty muddy!  My three daughters participate each year in the Gate River Run. I love it that they do this together. They have so much support & encouragement from all the onlookers. I am just

{It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year}

Thanksgiving has come and gone and now it's time to crank up the Christmas festivities! 


I know that our Lord did not ask me for my opinion about the holidays but I really wish we had a little more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It just seems that gobble, gobble, gobble turns into ho, ho, ho too quick. 

Speaking of Thanksgiving I do hope that you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our family surely did. We had lots of people, lots of food and lots of laughter.

And just so you know....our babies are never too old to sit in your lap!  

Despite the busyness of the holidays I did manage to stop at a yard sale and so glad that I did....

As soon as I spotted this plate I knew I needed wanted it. 

She had four of these darling Johnson Brothers plates and a bowl.


And I grabbed the 4 plates with matching bowl for $10. If you are familiar with Johnson Brothers then you know I got a deal. 

Grabbed this cutie too. She meshes in quite well with my blue and white dishes on my baker's rack.


But now it's onto Christmas.  

I love hearing how others celebrate holidays and all the other good stuff that goes along with the Christmas season.

Share me with if you would....

1: Live or artificial Christmas tree for you?
2: Traditional Christmas colors or more modern?
3: What is one thing that you truly enjoy doing for yourself over the holiday season?

Well the one thing I enjoyed just yesterday was enjoying a cuppa tea in my beautiful tea cup from Celestina on a beautiful tray gifted by a friend with a few peanut butter cookies!

Matter of fact I wish I had a cookie now! 

For years we would take our girls to the Christmas Tree Farm and cut down a live tree. We would ride in the back of of trailer sipping on hot chocolate while other years we just simply walked around the farm trying to pick out that perfect tree. But with my girls being grown and gone (well they are right down the road from me....) we no longer do a live tree and haven't in years. 

Answer to my 2nd question...I am your traditional Christmas decor girl. Nothing against modern at all but for me...I love the red, greens, golds and silver. I actually have a friend that decorates with pink and silver and I am here to tell you that it's simply beautiful! I may need to do a pink and silver little tiny tree....shh...don't tell my husband though! LOL! 

And the one thing that I love doing (besides watching Hallmark movies) is sitting in my living room with a cup of coffee, all of my Christmas decor burning brightly, in total quietness. No music, no television, just lights and coffee. That may sound boring to some...for me...REFLECTION
 
With the Christmas season approaching us may we remember to 
"Not get so caught up in all the 'hoopdala' that we forget the reason we celebrate".

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Hugs and blessings, Cindy

 

Comments

  1. I love your new dishes! That's so great that you found them! I also love that quiet Christmas reflection...once all the kids go to bed, I love to sit in the dark with the Christmas lights on and just "be". It's so peaceful! So I totally understand what you're saying!

    I typically have traditional decorations, too, but this year I got myself a little, pink, glittery church. And then...I got another as a gift! So now I have 2 pink churches that I LOVE! :) I'm going to leave them out all year long, though. hee, hee...

    We have a fake tree now because the last year we had a real one, it died mid-December and we had to undecorate it, take it out, cut a new one, redecorate it....

    Enjoy your moments of reflection! Happy Holiday Season!

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    1. Thanks so much! Nothing wrong with leaving your sweet pink churches out all year long. One year I had a small Christmas party for some ladies and I bought these cute trinket boxes. Each one of put our prayer request for the new year in the trinket box and we each just casually picked one of the boxes. I left out that cute trinket box all year as a reminder to pray for the person's request that laid inside that box. Your pink churches might just simply be a reminder to you all year that God loves it when His children gather together in the house of the Lord to fellowship together. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  2. Cindy...love the picture of you and your kiddos! Isn't it funny how we still look at them as our babies even when they grow up? The Johnson Brothers dishes are great...keeping my eyes open for some but no luck yet. I always decorate with traditional colors too but like you it's fun to look at and admire non-traditional as well. Looking forward to seeing more of your Christmas decor :)

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    1. Karen, I love Johnson Brothers but every time I have seen a piece I liked my pocket book would GROWL! So happy I found these!

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  3. Answering:
    1. artificial tree
    2. colors... purple and lime green (modern?)
    3. I like to walk around a mall or downtown street, to just window shop and watch people
    You have some really nice traditions for yourself, too.
    Blessings!

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    1. Christine, My man says the ONLY thing he has ever liked about Christmas shopping was people watching! LOL!

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  4. Cindy, your Christmas decorations are fabulous! The gift from Celestina Marie is precious. Love seeing your babies...LOL They are never too old as you say to sit on your lap. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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    1. Thanks Linda. Oh yes...I have used my sweet teacup whom I named Celestina! Every time I drink tea from it I say a little prayer for her.

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  5. Cindy, I wish I had one of those cookies too! My favorite is peanut butter. I am ready to see your decor as I know you have started on that tablescape!!! We always had a live tree until about 5 years and I switched to artificial. I don't like it as much as I did the live tree but I LOVE the simplicity of an artificial tree. Traditional colors here for my tree. My me time during the holidays is going out to eat with a close and dear friend and shopping. We make a full day of it and this will be our 15th year doing this together. BTW, your babies are all adorable!
    Connie Royals

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    1. Connie, don't faint...but I have not done a tablescape for Christmas yet! No time!!! But I plan too about this weekend. What sweet memories you and your friend makes yearly.

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  6. I have to take a couple days and just REST between T'giving and Dec. 1st...then, I hit the floor running...i have my dining room finished..very simple this year...and I love it. Tonight we are going to watch one of our grandgirls in marching band do a march at half time during the Tech basketball game...when we come home, I hope to put up our little 4 ft. faux tree....
    will try to get mantel decorations finished in the morning and put out all our stockings...party on Fri night, Sat and on the 7th so we are busy.....

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    1. Ooh that will be fun watching that grandgirl BJ. It is surely a busy time of the year isn't it?

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  7. What a perfect holiday post. I love the family photo of your gorgeous girls and you guys! Those plates are a great find as is that cutie tea pot. We get a real tree and go to the tree farm. This year the girls couldn't go so we went on a little adventure to a new farm and found our tree. I hope they'll be able to join us next year!! We have 8 trees but only one real one and it's a HUGE one this year!! I am a traditional decorating kind of girl but I love it all. I also like to sit with the lights on and my coffee (or wine) and just soak it up!

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    1. Thanks Heather. Oh I do hope you show all 8 trees girl! WOW! I remember one year, right after we built our house, I put up a lot of trees...maybe 6...best I can remember. A few in bedrooms, on the front porch and kitchen and etc. I've been putting up 3 trees for a while...one in kitchen, living room and a tiny one. But...this year I only have the one in living room. Loaned my youngest daughter my ornaments from my kitchen tree for her 2nd tree! What we do for the kiddos! LOL!

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  8. Hi Dear Cindy,
    Love the photo of your family and your daughter sitting on your lap. They are always our babies right? Love the redware plate you found in a set with the bowl too. Yes you did get a great deal. I have two of those plates and wish I had more. They are so pretty at Christmas and I added mine in the decor this year.
    For you questions, We now use a faux tree and have for many years. It just works better for us and I don't have needles to clean up.
    I usually decorate in traditional colors of reds, white, silver, gold and then add a pop of another color like this year I added aqua. I also decorate with whites, silver and gold. I have used pink in one room from time to time and love that too. Being a decorator, I love it all.
    What I do for myself is very similar to your idea. I relax with my Christmas decor all aglow, tea or coffee in hand and Christmas music playing in the background. I love to look around the room along with browsing holiday decor books and magazines. A rare treat to relax like that and when I can do it, it's a blessing.
    Thank you for sharing this fun post. Have fun decorating and so glad you are enjoying your cup.
    Hugs and Blessings xo

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    1. Thanks sweet friend for stopping by. Yes these rare treats are precious for us aren't they ?

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  9. I didn't know you guys over the pond liked Johnson Bros china, do you also like Spode Christmas dishes? Lots of people here like them for their kitsch appeal! Another great post, I just love coming to your blog for a dose of loving cheer :) xx

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    1. Josie, I like any kind of dish! LOL! I tell ladies all the time that my name is Cindy and I'm a dishaholic! I seriously need to work on this...(maybe after the first of the year) LOL!

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  10. Thanks for the many smiles (sure need them). I wanted to go with bright colors this year, like peacock decorations that Walmart had, but hubby put the nix on that...our little town is doing Whoville theme this year...and I wanted to go along those lines...nope...stuck with the traditional, lol.

    As always, I enjoyed your posts...smiles

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    1. Thanks Linda for stopping by. Awe...I bet the Whoville theme will be cute in your town though. Yep, I like the traditional colors too.

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  11. I have recently found a new love in red transferware! Love your dishes! What a sweet, sweet picture of you all on the swing. I have grown girls too and we are closer than ever now that they are adults. We get a live tree but cheat by going to a high end tree farm and picking a pre-cut one! This may be the last year for that though because it is getting pricey. We went to artificial for a few years and it is still sitting in the attic but I want to know, what are you supposed to do when you have prestrung lights on your fake tree and then they burn out!!?? I still love the traditional colors for Christmas and every room has some red in it. I too love to just sit in my house at night when it is all decorated with lights on and just sigh :-)

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    1. So funny because I just had this conversation with one of my daughter's this morning about trees. I personally (UNLESS I got a deal of a deal) will never purchase a prelite tree again. The one I have now I have had for years and it was one of those high end artificial trees that I was lucky enough to catch on sale one year after Christmas. I love the shape, the size and well...it has served me well. I say every year I am going to get a new one but don't. The lights lasted way longer than I ever expected to be honest. Over the years I have actually cut out those bad lights that burned out and replaced with string lights. And I have camouflaged the bad lights with ornaments. Speaking of pricey for live trees...I just talked to a friend that lives in a city nearby and she said they paid $100 for a live tree this year and she doubted it would last till Christmas. YIKES! Have a great day sweet lady.

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  12. Love, love the picture of y'all in the swing! Very special.

    You did get a deal with the set of four plates and bowls. My, my! Yes, I understand the difference between need and want!

    I like sitting in the dark with my coffee and reflect also. I can do that for a long time. Now, if I would get finished with my tree I could enjoy the twinkly lights too.

    I decorate with the traditional red and green with a lot of gold. We have had an artificial tree for many years but my husband thinks he would like a real one. He has a short memory of all the issues associated with live trees.

    One thing I enjoy doing for myself is going on Holiday Tours. They are always enjoyable.

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    1. Thanks Bonnie. I would like to do a Christmas Home Tour this year. Finding the time is the issue! Have a great day.

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  13. Hi Cindy! I have four of those same JB plates. Aren't they pretty? As for the questions:
    1. I have an artificial tree.
    2. I like the traditional colors
    3. I love watching the Hallmark movies (don't they always make you smile?), watching all the twinkling lights around my home, and listening to Christmas music.
    Happy December to you, sweet friend! Enjoy those cookies with your tea in your new teacup.

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    1. Yes, those plates are so pretty! I need 4 more though!!!!

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  14. First of all....I'm so sorry I didn't comment earlier. I just can't seem to 'get with it' lately. I'm blaming it on all the snot in my head....and old age....LOL! As for real or artificial....I would love a real tree, but I have allergies (man, I'm a complainer, huh????), so we have an artificial one. Modern or traditional.....I like rustic....burlap and plaid and rust!!! And, I'm right there with you....I love being the only one up early in the morning (or late at night), with just the lights on the tree glowing in the living room. It's so peaceful and gives me time to reflect and pray. I do believe we're Kindred Spirits, my Friend. HOPE you and your family have an awesome CHRISTmas time!

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    1. Awe Deb, I do hope you feel better soon! Yes mam we are indeed kindred spirits and there is no doubt about that!

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  15. The photo on the swing is priceless! So glad your celebration turned out well and now you are inspiring us for Christmas. I like artificial trees for my home, traditional colors as well and like you, I enjoy reflection and quiet sometimes. Love it when I can escape in a good Christmas story or movie too!

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  16. Your home sounds so cozy with the decorations and the quiet. I love to just sit in the evening in the quiet and see the lights. The dishes "Old British Castles" looks so familiar. I am positive that I had a butter dish and top of the very same pattern. I even recognized the markings on the bottom. I looked in my china cabinet and then remember that I gave it to my daughter in law. It was from my mother in law originally who lived in England for most of her life.

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    1. Melanie, I love this pattern of dishes. Hoping I find some more! Wow...call your daughtinlaw and tell her you want that dish back! LOL!

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  17. Love the family picture! One of my favorite family picture was taken in our backyard swing. Now, to answer your questions...#1 I prefer real trees, but at the time in our lives we have a little fiber optic tree. Just perfect for me and Mr D. #2 Always traditional red and green for me! #3, I love to drive around at night, with Mr D of course, and look at all the Christmas lights. We'll get a big mug of hot chocolate, ride around and enjoy the season.

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    1. Awe I love that you and mr. d rides around to look at Christmas lights . How sweet .

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  18. What a beautiful family, Cindy. We used to cut our tree at a farm, but I have asthma now, so it is artificial. But, I prefer the traditional colors for Christmas! Blessings

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  19. I agree, my friend, there is just not enough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. My dad and his family are Canadian and I love that they celebrate Thanksgiving in October.

    I thoroughly enjoyed your photos and the one of you with your family is just precious! Have a blessed Sunday. Hugs!

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  20. Good morning, Cindy! I love this time of year, too. We've had an artificial tree for years but J does enjoy putting up a freshly cut cedar on the back porch. I like traditional colors and decor for Christmas. This year, with the new house, I'm going more with red, white and black, but there is a lot of greenery, too! And one of my favorite ways to enjoy the season is to sit quietly and reflect on the awesome love of God to send us His Son to save us! I, too, do this better just sitting quietly.
    Enjoy this beautiful season, dear friend!

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    1. Oh I know that you will decorating a lot in that new home! Can't wait to see pictures.

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  21. I love Christmas too, the décor, the tree specially and yes, we had a fresh tree for many years, but for the last 12 years we have the fake, lol.. I want to change it next year, to old. Your house and beautiful family is really 'looking like C'mas' my friend.
    I prefer #2 always traditional, somehow I don't seem to get into the modern, different; plus I have allergies to some plants and even flowers.
    Whatever you choose it will be just the perfect thing.
    Hugs,
    FABBY

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    1. Thanks for stopping by . I appreciate your kind words . Yes I am allergic to several things as well and one being poinsettia's. If there's only a few around or even in a large well open area I'm good . But put me in a closed in area with them and it's not good .

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  22. Catching up a bit after some days away for oral surgery and recovery. You DID get a great deal on your Johnson Bros. dishes. I love anything they've done. I have a cup and saucer in the same red - made by Johnson Bros. It's a Currier and Ives pattern. I'd love to find more dishes and serving pieces. I'd love to replace my newer 'holly' china with that pattern. To answer your questions: We have an artificial tree. Had a live tree for years but this home has electric heat in the ceiling and it dries out our trees very fast. I've always used traditional Christmas colors but this year I've done more rustic (greens and cones and 'twiggy' kind of things with silver and white on the tree and touches of holly in the kitchen and dining room. Will be sharing it soon. What I enjoy the most during the holiday season is the music and lights of the tree and candles around our home. I love quiet early morning hours when the rest of the world is asleep and soft Christmas music plays while the tree lights shine and candles add a soft glow - and I love to add a good cup of tea and a good book!
    ~Adrienne~

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So glad you stopped by to visit.
Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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