Americana Christmas Tree

I thought I would be anxious to start taking down my Christmas decorations now that Christmas has passed but I'm not. I think I'll wait until New Year's Day. This tree is nice. via Here's hoping all of your celebrations were as nice as the one I attended at a friend's new home.

Christmas Eve and Santa Tracker Live

Wishing you a Happy Christmas Eve.

Follow Santa's trip via Google Maps and Santa Tracker

Meaning and Purpose

A very fitting quote for this time of year. via

Decorating with Snow

Pretty as a picture. via

Mother Nature is the best decorator.

It's raining today at my cottage and I'm thankful it isn't snowing. See you later. The countdown to Christmas is in full swing, isn't it? xo

The Milky Way

Is it just me, or can you see the faint outline of Santa and his sleight being pulled by reindeer in the Milky Way?

Born from Dust II by Otto Hütter

Ode to Joy To The World video

If this doesn't get you in the mood for Christmas, nothing will. Smile. It is a very beautiful and joyful presentation, isn't it? 

Open Fire and A Christmas Tree

A simple old fashioned Christmas tree next to an open fire. So nice! via I hope this paneled room is a library.

Nature's Christmas Decorations

Mother Nature changes her tree-decorating mind daily. On this day, she decided on a combination of light snow and a heavy hoar frost. I like it! Photo by Christian A Schaffer

via

Moving Christmas Tree Lights

This animated gif is very mesmerizing. I can't look away. via

Simplicity: Lovely Christmas Tabletop

So Lovely. I love the simplicity of this Christmas table. The initialed cookies instead of place cards are so imaginative. The sitters can take them home and hang them from their tree or eat them on the spot. I like the hanging ones overhead too, mobile style. via

Wendy Watson Illustrations to love

I have never wondered what a fox family looks like but now I know.

They are fond of huge family gatherings with room for everyone around the table.

Father Fox's Pennyrhymes 

by Clyde Watson

Illustrated by Wendy Watson

Author Clyde Watson and her sister Wendy grew up in a 200 year old farmhouse in Putney, Vermont, part of a large family of siblings. "Our household was a very lively and noisy place. There were always about 99 things going on at once. In one corner there might be a child playing with a basket of kittens while another fed a baby goat from a bottle. A pet hen, Hepzibah, strolled in and out of the house as she pleased, occasionally laying an egg on the kitchen floor. There were always people in the kitchen making butter, baking bread or cookies, preparing or cleaning up after a meal. From the shop you might hear hammering and sawing, and there were usually two or three people busy sewing, reading, or drawing. Floating above the din created by all of this activity piano, violin, cello, or flute music could often be heard, for we were all expected to practice our instruments daily." The book is based on The Watson Family's real lives.

Read more about this fascinating family of illustrators here.

Eggnog Frosted Chai Snickerdoodle Snowmen Cookies

I love the peanut butter cup hats.

No rolling pin or cookie cutter needed. Yay!

Snickerdoodles have always been a favorite cookie and these are super special rolled in chai spiced sugar. Delightful blogpost and recipe here. Thankfully, you still have time to bake them too. xo

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Piano/Cello

A wonderful concert in a wonderful setting. Hauntingly beautiful.
Click here to watch on YouTube

Blueprint Wallpaper in Bathroom

Blueprint Wallpaper in Bathroom

I absolutely love this! Replacing the white wall switch with a black one is the only change I would make. Do you love it too? via

My Christmas Tree 2017

I put my Christmas tree in the middle of my farm table this year. It is super hard to photograph without the solid backdrop of a wall. But anyway, here it is.

Here's another view.

I am sitting in my pantry office and a herd of deer just pranced by, crossed the street, and ran through the neighbor's snowy field. I'm glad I looked up when I did. Enjoy your Sunday evening. See you tomorrow. xo

Sweet Attic Bedroom

It looks very cozy, right?

via

Snowy December at My Cottage

We have already had 3 snows in December. Nothing major yet and each one was easy to shovel and didn't require snowplowing the driveway. Yay! via

Easy Reindeer Cookies

These are all Rudolph cookies with his red nose. But you could do the other reindeer too using a raisin. They would be so cute left on Santa's plate as energy treats for the reindeer pulling his sleigh. via

A Living Christmas Card

This fabulous photo is perfect for adding your Christmas text in the snow. via

Greenwich Village 1827 Townhouse for Sale

Craft room with fireplace and dog bed in a Greenwich Village townhouse that is for sale. Before you get too excited and look at the other amazing rooms, be advised the price is in excess of eleven million dollars. See the listing here. It doesn't cost anything to look and you might get an idea or two for your own home.