Faith Family Friends

Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Friday, 16 December 2016

Christmastime Is For The Little Kid In All Of Us

What is the Christmas spirit? It is the spirit which brings a smile to the lips and tenderness to the heart; It is the spirit which warms one into friendship with all the world, which impels one to hold out the hand of fellowship to every man and woman. ~ Anonymous

Hello my lovely friends! I hope you're all enjoying these special days leading up to Christmas.

Thank you to everyone for your very kind comments and prayers regarding my last post. I really do appreciate all of you!

Tykes on sleds and shouts of glee, icy-window filigree, sugarplums and candle glow, part of Christmas long ago. ~ Jo Geis



I decorate my kitchen window the same way year after year. You can see out the window that the snow is really coming down. The sweet little china deer was a gift from my mother many years ago. He has his place on the window sill over the kitchen sink as well as his friends.

The children building the snowman was a gift from my hubby one year.

And the little girl wearing a real knitted hat was a gift from my son and DIL. 





The Hallmark Gingerbread house plays Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy when you ring the door bell and all the gumdrops light up and keep time with the music. This too sits in the kitchen every year. Little fingers and sometimes bigger fingers, love to ring the door bell, as you can imagine!

My nutcracker tree stands on the little chest in the dining room. The miniatures are too cute and the Sugar Plum Fairy is on top. Sorry, I guess they may be hard to see.



I do love to add touches of whimsy to my decorating especially at Christmastime. At Christmas I think there is a little kid still living inside of each of us. It doesn't matter how old we are, we are all children at this time of year.


The wee mercury glass teapot is an early Christmas present from my hubby. I just had to hang it on the tree. Sorry about the reflection.

We are in the deep freeze right now with dangerous winds blowing. It's a good day to stay inside and sip on hot tea. 



So, today I have set the table with more of my Christmas teacups. The teacup tree is also joining us today.

The bright Christmas red teacup is Royal Albert and I received it from my Auntie P just a few months ago. 

I think this one is simply stunning! It is from the Regal Series in the Montrose shape and from the 1970s. It is beautifully enhanced with the gold filigree. 

My December Christmas Rose teacup is such a pretty pattern and it is also made by Royal Albert


The holly teacup is Royal Stafford which I found at a yard sale a few years ago. 

The teapot was a Christmas gift from my son a few years ago also with a holly motif. 

I have both my dark and light fruitcake as our treat today as well as some home made fudge. 





While we are all enjoying the sights and sounds of the season it's important to remember why we celebrate it. If the Christ Child had never come, we would not be celebrating "the most wonderful time of the year." 

The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in His Presence. ~ unknown

Blessings to you all this Christmas season. May your homes be filled with the Light and Love of the First Christmas Gift.


I am joining the following parties as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Cup Tuesday
The Art of Home-Making Mondays
Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home


 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi

Wednesday, 7 December 2016

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie{1845-1916}

Hello dear friends! I have been absent from Blogland for a couple of weeks. It has been a difficult year with so many health issues plaguing me and one wonders how my hubby puts up with me but he does. 



My doctor has me on my fifth pill to try and regulate one of my health issues but this one isn't working either so far. I am pretty much a shut-in these days and can't wander too far from home. I hope in the new year I will be having some good results. In the meantime, I'm trying to take one day at a time and counting my blessings. I have much to be thankful for. We all do!

Snow flakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share.

Sleigh bells in the air

Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there.

Christmas time is here

We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see,
Such spirit through the year....~ From A Charlie Brown Christmas

I thought I would share just a little Christmas decorating I have done so far. I generally take the colour theme throughout the house but this year I did it a bit differently. 

Our big tree is in the family room this year instead of the living room. It holds most of my Memory ornaments. Red, gold and green are the colours I've used for this tree with gold and red ribbon.


The birdhouse with the light inside next to the tree was made for me by a lovely gentleman in our church. I keep it out all year round in the family room.




A wee Nativity that I have had for years.




In the living room we have a four foot tree which I have decorated in gold, pink and teal. It too holds lots of Memory ornaments.

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children they are all thirty feet tall.  ~ Larry Wilde

A Christmas birdhouse with a tin roof and a beautiful glass knob for a perch. I have added a wee Christmas wreath over the opening.

A tea tray set up just as you enter the living room. I have used my red transferware teapot and some teacups and arranged a few cedar clippings around with dried roses. 


A bowl full of Christmas ornaments. 


Like many of you, I have brought out my Christmas teapots and teacups. I am using my cardinal ones today. 



This teapot was a Christmas gift a few years ago.



I have both my fruit cakes made and yesterday I quickly made some mince tarts. So today it's tarts for tea time.


This poinsettia ornament was made by a friend. Isn't it lovely? 



We are all so busy these days and one must take some time to relax and enjoy the season. A hot cup of tea with someone you love is just the thing. 

In spite of poor health these days, I am determined to rise above it and give thanks for this joyous holiday we are celebrating.

Lord, help me this Christmas to reflect the light of Your presence and goodness to others. - an except from Our Daily Bread. 

Thank you for visiting, dear friends. I wish you all much Joy this Christmas season! See you soon.


I am joining the following parties as well~

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 The Art of Home-Making Mondays
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home

Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi