"Truly Christmastime".......

Work is finished, I am completely caught up!.....I just sent out my last pillow order this afternoon. I love that it coincided with the busiest mailing day of the year?.....I was assured each package would arrive before Christmas....so both myself & my clients are happy.

With work behind me,.....it is now truly "Christmastime"!.....

The house is decorated, just like a cozy English cottage...very busy, with aqua mixed in with all the raspberry & soft green. Every surface boosts the most charming still-life arrangements & candy canes are within easy reach no matter what room you happen to be in.

Tomorrow cranberry breads will be competing with spritz for oven time,.... & wrapping paper & ribbon will be adorning all our presents.

It is the week before Christmas & happiness is all around us.
It is time to breathe in the moments that make these days so enchanting.... appreciate each & every one.

heidi
xo

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"Christmas in Old Poway".....

Just now my husband Ter & I returned from "Christmas in the Park".....which is a lovely celebration in Old Poway,... where we live in Southern California. Knowing that the tree lighting was scheduled for 5:20pm, we decided to walk over, just the two of us....to see what all the excitement was about?....
Well, we were incredibly impressed!!! Old Poway was utterly charming!...You would have thought we were on the set of the "Gilmore Girls"! Who knew!? All the turn-of-the-century buildings were dressed in little white lights,...with Mr. & Mrs. Claus arriving in the steam locomotive, which encircles the park!...
In the beautifully decorated gazebo, choirs of children sang carols, while people of all ages strolled around listening & sipping hot coffee!....
I am, so proud to be part of a community that takes such pride in it's history & the celebrations it hosts!
What a treat for us all!.....
Enjoy your weekend!
heidi
xo

* entry way- courtesy of Martha Stewart, "Turkey Hill".......I will always love that house! :)

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"In Search of Our Christmas Tree & Memories".....

So sorry to have been away from blogging for far too long! I have so missed chatting & sharing thoughts with all of you!....Here it is the most exciting time of year & I haven't been blogging at all?....Well, I am happy to say that I am back & so very ready to visit!
I am sure many of you have your "trees up & your cards sent", however here at our house that is not the case!....In fact, tonight we are going Christmas tree shopping!.....This year, we have had quite the debate....fresh tree or fake??....Growing up it was always a real tree. Going to tree lots & choosing a tree was one was one of the highlights of the holiday season!...
After marrying & moving to Southern California though, it seemed a fake tree was a smarter choice, so for years that's what we've done!....and happily!....there is something very nice about a pre-lit, tree with adjustable branches!
This year though, and maybe it has something to do with having a 6 year old grandson....Returning to the local tree lot to choose a Christmas tree, just seems to be the right thing to do!....I find myself wanting Andrew to experience how fun it is to wander a tree lot at night, with strings of tiny white lights & lots of stars guiding you. Row after row we would walk, pulling out one tree after another... deciding which was straight enough, full enough, tall enough.

And then after the chill of the air was beginning to help make our decision for us, we would choose our beautiful tree & take it home.
In the days that followed, our tree would be dressed with "glittery balls & thin strands of tinsel"...... I would sit & admire that tree night after night, curled up in a big wing-back after my evening bath...the enchantment of it all almost to overwhelming for one little girl.
Those are my memories.
So with these thoughts in mind, I am hoping that my grandson will grow up with similar remembrances.....& his grandson after that...& so on.
Happy tree hunting......

heidi
xo

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