Ring Out The Old, Ring In The New

And so another year is coming to an end.
A year that will certainly go down in the history books, and one filled with madness and mayhem.
Not long into the start of 2020 our county was hit by a F-3 tornado destroying everything in it's path for an unprecedented 53 miles. Lives lost and even today, the rebuilding continues.

At the same time the COVID -19 virus appears, leaving it's mark across the world. One I fear will be an ongoing battle even with the hope of new vaccines available.

As if this wasn't enough, on Christmas morning a deranged madman decides to decimate an entire district of historic buildings in downtown Nashville, completely destroying businesses and homes many built before the Civil War, causing devastation and senseless disruption for thousands of people.

As the New Year makes it's presence, I am grateful for all the good things in life,  mindful to leave less of a footprint on this magnificent planet we all call home, and remember to offer a kinder word or action towards my fellow man.

 

I truly wish each and every one of you, a New Year filled with much love, peace, good health and happiness.

Your friendships have encouraged, enlightened, and have brightened my days throughout this past year.

Here's to a 2021 filled with the same !

Many Blessings, and A Happy New Year.

x

                                                        
A Happy New Year! Grant that I

May bring no tear to any eye

When this New Year in time shall end

Let it be said I've played the friend,

Have lived and loved and labored here,

And made of it a happy year.

~Edgar Guest
 

❤

Peace on Earth, Goodwill To All Men

I've so enjoyed our visits back and forth throughout the year, all the sweet comments wriitten  and well-wishes when a word of encouragement was needed.

We truly wish each and every one of you, friends and family, near and far, all the blessings of a Joyous and Merry Christmas.

 

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;

The spirit of Christmas which is peace;

The heart of Christmas which is love."

 

~Ada V. Hendicks

 

 

When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow,

We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago,

And etched on vacant places

Are half-forgotten faces

Of friends we used to cherish,

And loves we used to know.

 

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

The Longest NIght

                The longest night of the year, with the Bethlehem Star as it's companion.

Winter arrives.

 

" Lighting one candle

from another -

Winter night "

 

~ Buson

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

A cold and wet start to our day, the perfect opportunity to finish up the last of the decorating, and spend the day list-ticking.
The hearth is lit, the tree is twinkling, hot chocolate is simmering.
Stay warm and safe dear friends....

 

 

 

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat

Please put a penny in the old man's hat

If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do

If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!

~ Tradition English nursery rhyme

 

 

 

 

Time-Worn

The creaking silence of age.

I like Old.

Great Depression

worn-in (not worn-out)

favorite quilt

classic car.

I like the way Old feels.

Sheets washed a thousand times

frayed around the stitching

busting from stories.

I like the way Old sounds.

Creaky wooden floors

heaters that pop and snap

doors that slam like they really mean it!

I like the way Old looks.

chipped paint

worn corners

rust

not from neglect or carelessness, but from use.

I'd live in an Old house

with a big Old front porch.

One that heaves to tell me someone is home

and echos of little feet running across it.

I like Old.

~Holy Glasgow

List-Ticking

My Christmas list is slowly getting finished.
A few more gifts to seek out and wrap, and finishing up the candy treats .
Our Christmases are not nearly as busy as they once were when the grandchildren were small and the toys were endless, that's OK too, less is more.
I hope everyone is plodding along nicely.

 

 

Today, I'm taking a little time to relax.
With the winter moon high in the sky, and  the landscape covered in a rain-filled mist, I'm treating myself to an evening hearthside tonight.
Twinkling trees, candles glowing, a pot of tea and Christmas shortbread,  I'm settling in for a date with Dylan Thomas, the popular and much-loved Welsh poet.
A Child's Christmas in Wales film, a timeless tale, delivers with gentleness a glimpse of a child's Welsh Christmas and takes you on a journey back to the magic and marvel of boyhood " where no two moments were ever alike, and life was embraced with belief instead of doubt ."

Purely magical !
 

 

 

Christmas Magic

 One of my all-time favorite Christmas cards, from the American Humane Association.

It just melts my heart.

 ❤

'Til They're Clean And Sparkly

When Christmas holidays roll around, the copper pots get an extra cleaning.

I was raised in a generation, when kitchens proudly displayed their gleaming wares. 

My grandma had lots of copper, silver and brass, it was my job to keep them shiny and bright.

The unmistakable smell of Brasso lingered in the air on Friday evenings, after my weekly chore was done.

The manufacturers changed the formula of Brasso cleaning solution several years ago, the new and improved version is not so much. Thankfully I've found another product that works incredibly well, wipe on, rinse off with water, and voila !

I'm pretty sure the younger generation has no desire to polish these timeless treasures, myself, I'm happy to hold on to the memories. 

 

 

 

 

I've used the silver cleaner for years, with excellent results, but didn't know they made copper cleaner until I ran across this on Amazon.

Wipe it on with the little sponge included, and rinse off.
Magical.

 

Christmas Memories

 

 

Each year as I'm busying myself with the Christmas decorating, my thoughts turn to home.
The traditions at Christmas that have stood the test of time throughout many English households.

The partaking of mince pies, raspberry trifle, sausage rolls, steamed plum pudding, and Christmas cake laden with dried fruit , marzipan and Royal Icing...hard as a rock.
Gathering around the television or the radio and listening to the Queen's Speech.
Afterwards a tipple of traditional sherry, or port, toasting the season and good health to all !

The pulling of the Christmas crackers before eating turkey dinner, wearing the paper party hats, laughing at the silly paper jokes inside, and delighting in the small prizes, most often magic tricks, or plastic trinkets.

Happy times, that are gratefully forever etched in our memories .......... 

Christmas Scents

One of my favorite Christmas activities in early December, when the cold weather has set in and thoughts are turning to decorating, are to make dried orange slices for hanging on the tree.

The aroma is intoxicatingly festive, and fills the house with the fresh smell of oranges.

If you desire you can sprinkle a few with a light dusting of cinnamon, not too heavy an amount as this tends to make the oranges darker.

When they are hung from the branches and the twinkling fairy lights shine through they remind of Nature's stained-glass.

 

Two or three Navel oranges.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

Prepare your pan with nonstick spray or a baking mat. ...

Slice oranges into 1/4″ slices or thinner. ... 
Pat dry with a paper towel.

Place oranges in a single layer on the prepared pan, ensuring they do not touch.

Bake for up to 6 hours or until completely dry.
Hang from the tree with jute or ribbon.

                                                                              🎄

Woolly Socks And Flip-Flops

We've been spoiled up until this point, with warmer than usual days, many not requiring the wearing of a jacket.
The last few pleasant days of Autumn, with sunshine aplenty.

Last night, the  temperatures fell into the twenties, no more flip-flops, now the winter boots and woolly socks appear.

Mother Nature sprinkled the landscape with snow, just enough to decorate for the season.

The birds have taken to their nests, the turkeys lead their flocks to the nightly roost.

Winter days will soon be here,  but in just 109 short days, Spring will once again return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools.”

~ Henry Beston : Northern Farm