Come On Ring Those Bells, Light the Christmas Tree....

From home to home, and from heart to heart, from one place to another, the warmth and joy of Christmas brings us closer to each other. ~ Emily Matthews

Hello dear friends! Well, the countdown is on; less than a month to Christmas. I have my tree up and I am loving my new ribbon! It is a mesh with iridescent glitter all through it and it sparkles whether the lights are on or not. 

I have paired it with a gold sheer wired ribbon from last years's tree with a glitter design on it. 

I enjoy the music as much as the decorating. I always have the music playing while I'm decorating and baking. It makes that time spent so much more enjoyable.


I have my favourite Christmas music too. I still love the Spirit of Christmas with the Living Strings. 

My children grew up with the Strings along with Evie, Michael W. Smith, and a number of other favourites as well as those oldies but goodies. My middle boy is so sentimental that he purchased Evie, "Come On Ring those Bells" Christmas online. Does anyone remember her?

Actually my son and his family went to hear Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant in concert a week ago. My little granddaughter loved it and she smiled all the way through it! My youngest likes the Living Strings and Michael W. Smith but does usually prefer the instrumentals. My oldest, I'm sad to say, likes anything country. Yeah, I'm not a big country music fan. Sorry, to those of you who are!

Speaking of bells; I have a small collection from over the years. Each one was a gift.

All of these bells hold special memories. The blue Vancouver bell was from my oldest son when he went on a youth exchange and another was from a nice young man we had at our home also for a youth exchange. The one from Hawaii and the blue Currier and Ives are from my uncle while the others are from my hubby. The crystal one was a gift from my SIL on Hubby's and my 25th anniversary.

When I was growing up it was more Christmas concerts than records and tapes playing. My father was involved in the church and he and I both sang in the choir. I sang in almost every Christmas concert there was, school, Sunday School, Girl Guides, etc. If there was a concert, I was singing in it.

My guys don't sing but they do play instruments. Two of them play drums and bass/acoustic guitar. 

My youngest always preferred percussion and the keyboards. Now one of my grandsons plays guitar and he loves music too! This is him about a year ago playing with his father at church. My son is behind the music stand so you can't see his face. He was playing guitar as well that morning.

This is my grandson today. I am amazed at how much a young man can change in only one year! I think he grew four or five inches as well.

They say music is the universal language and I certainly agree with that. Music has always played a big part in my life; in our lives. I have so many favourite Christmas songs that I can't pick just one. Each one moves me in a different way. What is your favourite Christmas song?

Today I am having a winter white tea. We've been getting a little snow which quickly melts but we know there will be lots more coming.

My teapot was a Christmas gift one year and I like the simplicity of it, winter white with embossed snow flakes.

Tea is ready and we'll enjoy a cup with some ginger cookies. 

You may choose your cup. The little silver spoon sitting on the crystal studded saucer is one I found at an antique shop just recently. The pattern is South Seas. I love those little silver tea spoons, don't you?

...Perhaps that is the true gift of a teatime celebration: It fills our cups with joy and warmth and friendship. May the echo of the teacup's message be heard not only at Christmas, not only on special occasions, but anytime friends come together. ~ Emilie Barnes

I got one of my fruit cakes made. This one has just cooled off and will be getting wrapped to age very shortly.

Fruit cake is a lot of work but the end result is fabulous! For those of you who don't bake or don't like to bake, I find baking most inspiring! There is something purely magical about taking some flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, add in some flavouring and fruit, and pour the batter into a pan. Bake it in the oven and out comes this beautiful confection, fit for those you love. And for those of you who claim not to like fruit cake, I believe you just may not have tasted a good one. This is my grandmother's recipe and it has never failed me. I have been making it for years and everyone enjoys it. Some of it will be going to Colorado to my youngest son for Christmas.

I kind of wore myself out last week with the decorating and baking which is why I didn't get a post up. I told Hubby this will be the last year I will be putting lights on the tree. We will look for a pre-lit one after Christmas. 

That's my update for this week but before I close this post, I want to send a great big Happy Birthday out to my little granddaughter who is seven years old today! Like her Nanny, she loves tea parties!

Wish Nanny and Papa could be there to celebrate with you, little lambie!

Have a lovely week everyone and thank you for visiting.

Everybody likes to take a holiday

Everybody likes to take a rest

Spending time together with the family

Sharing lots of love and happiness.

Come on, ring those bells,
Light the Christmas tree,
Jesus is the king
Born for you and me.
Come on, ring those bells,
Every-body say,
Jesus, we remember
This your birthday. ~ written by Andrew Culverwell

I am joining the following parties as well~

Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 Friends Sharing Tea
 Share Your Cup Thursday
 Home Sweet Home


 Sharing from my heart ~ Sandi