My Christmas Wish for You

I am on the homestretch right now. I did my housework yesterday and now I have to finish wrapping a few gifts. 

I received this delightful pop up card from a dear friend. Don't you love it?

Here is the view looking down on it. Click either photo to enlarge.

I have managed to stay ahead of things better this year except for decorating my house. I still have time to do a little but it will be very minimalistic. Just a few cranberry beads and my stocking. I do have a lovely wreath on my front door and around my mailbox though. I always do those two things right away. I had lunch with two friends this week and one complained about not wanting anything and always getting things she couldn't return. She won't be disappointed because she won't be able to return what I'm giving her either😂 I never shop retail; only at thrift and charity shops that support worthy causes. It's a win, win for me and the recipients can always regift or donate. 

I'm sorry I haven't been around much this month. In fact, this might be my only post for December 2023. My eyes are doing great and that was my present to myself for the rest of my life. I wish I had done it sooner. Cateracts sneak up on you and all of a sudden you cannot stand them one minute longer. Since they are an elective surgery the doctors don't rush you. 

Have a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate. I will see you again before the New Year. xo

Perpetual Christmas Card Project at My Cottage

Remember when I posted this image in early December?

Click here to see the old post.

I said I might do something with it and I did.

I found some of these small frames that were designed

for place names at a wedding dinner. 

I decided to turn them into Perpetual Christmas cards for my neighbors.

I stuffed the mailboxes for the neighbors around me and hand delivered others and mailed one. It was a fun project. I had to trim the image for the small opening but I included the full size print with my Merry Christmas greeting. I found a way to print multiple copies of the same image on one page on my MacBook Air. I am making gift tags from the image too. I kept one "card" for myself and I love it.

Merry Christmas. xo

Bookish Christmas Card

I adore this custom Christmas Card designed for The London Library 2020. It's easy to see why it's sold out. Isn't it a perfect card for a library, librarian, or book lover? Perfect to send to your Book Club members too.

Vintage Christmas Card I Made Years Ago

I just discovered this Christmas Card I made long ago. I lost all the images I created when my desktop computer running Windows XP crashed and took away all my saved photos, photo editing software, Microsoft Word, and so much more. This was around 5 years ago I think. I just found this image on an old phone and I still love it. I scanned the image from one of my books, enlarged it and printed it in black and white on heavy card stock. I still adore everything about the image and the sentiment and this is my wish for you. I picture myself as the woman walking up to her cottage because her driveway hasn't been plowed and she had to leave her car at the bottom of the hill. Such is my life. xo

British Royal Christmas Card released Christmas Day

Happy holidays from the Cambridges!

On Christmas Day, Kensington Palace released a new photograph of the Cambridge family. Taken presumably on the grounds of their country estate, Anmer Hall — it shows Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis all bundled up in coats and sweaters. A hat-clad Prince William kisses his youngest child on the cheek as Charlotte grabs her brother’s shoulder. The scene was shot in black and white — and by the Duchess of Cambridge, who frequently takes official photographs of her family and children.

“Merry Christmas to all our followers!” Kensington Palace wrote on Twitter. “This photograph of The Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis was taken by The Duchess of Cambridge in Norfolk earlier this year." Text and photo from Vogue Magazine. Read more.

Happy Christmas by Beatrix Potter

A Happy Christmas to You

The greeting is very faint and Beatrix Potter signed this rare watercolor with her initials only HBP circa 1890. This rabbit family is getting ready to enjoy their Christmas Pudding! See the full-size image and read the provenance ©Museum of Fine Arts Boston.