HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE.....ALL YOU NEED IS HUG!!!!!!!

As 2017 comes crashing to an end, I realize what an exhausting year it was for me.  I started my Kimono business and it overwhelmed me.  It took away pieces of time I won't get back.

I still managed to get a new floor done in the farmhouse, spend lots of time with my grand darlings, work on the Dog Rescue, but damn, I am tired.

As I reflect 2017, I am grateful for the one thing I did not let go by.  HUGS!  We raised our son to be a hugger, he is raising his kids to be huggers.  I don't know if anyone realizes what an amazing thing a hug is.  I don't mean the quick pat on the back hug, I mean the , as our little Sebastian says,    "Pop your head off" hug.  When you hold someone and all of the love vibrates from you body to theirs.

That is something I will not let go by.  There is always time to hug, my husband, my son, my daughter-in-law, our babies, everyone I love will always get a HUG.

I am still going to work on my Kimono business but I am managing my time better for 2018.  No sewing after April 1st.  Living in Canada it is usually still cold until then so that is when I will work in the studio.

No matter how busy and overwhelming 2017 was I am blessed.  I am blessed with a strong, healthy, loving family, good friends and loving animals.  

So I hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR and HUG SOMEBODY!

COLD THURSDAY...A VIEW FROM MY WORKSPACE!!!

It is incredibly cold here in Southern Ontario.  So cold that for the first time I have not gone out to get any bargains.  I may just pay full price for wrapping paper next year.

I have been cozied up in my office/closet workspace today, a hot cup of coffee and some homemade biscotti catching up on some work with my website, Etsy shop and putting clothes away.

My little room is housing some of my Etsy pieces right now.  Unfortunately living on a farm, we do share the space with the mice.  In my studio, I have found in the past that anything felt left out can be eaten so I protect my Blessing Birds and Tomtes by bringing them inside for the winter.

In front of my desk I have this pretty picture of geese.  I held on to this poster for over 20 years and finally found a place for it.  I have it framed and I just love it.  Some candid relaxed photos of Marilyn hang in the hall and there is always a dog or 2 or 5, lying someone near me.

A little light reading, my flying pig and a set of HEAR NO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL owls.

That is my "View From My Room".  Got a view you love, I would love to see it.

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS HAS COME AND GONE!!

Yet another Christmas has come and gone. Happy kids, loving family, lots of nice things. Kindness, love and grateful are the words to describe my wonderful family. I send a blessing to everyone for a full heart, a healthy life and remember that one kind gesture, one smile, one word of concern for another can make a difference in them and you, and please do not forget the furry little ones, they always need us, especially now.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

COUNTDOWN!!!!

It is almost here, again!   Christmas Day always seems to come so quickly the last week.  I have been prepping for tomorrow since 7 a.m.   I am getting everything ready so I can relax a bit (ha,ha) tomorrow.  Spending Christmas Eve in the studio by the fire watching THE BISHOP'S WIFE and CHRISTMAS STORY.  It is a White Christmas here in Ontario, the roads are clear, no wind (so far) it is a Christmas Miracle.

OH CHRISTMAS CARD, OH CHRISTMAS CARD!!!

I adore Christmas cards.  Not only are they festive and lovely, if you save them, as I do, they are a nice way to look back at Christmas's past.

Since the postage went up in Canada a few years ago, not everyone sends cards anymore and I think that is a shame.  Postage is .85 per stamp for a book of 10.  I know this is pricey but if you are like me and love tradition I just roll it in with my Christmas budget.

I love to display my cards, as you saw in my recent post , I repurposed an old window and all of my cards sit happily on my front door .  These ideas are adorable.  Love the tree but I do not have a blank wall.  The bannister is nice too.

A lot of people seem to like to old window idea.    These are so nice, like the wreath in the middle of the second one.  The chicken wire is great too.

So pretty under the shelf, and what a great use of the space.  This tree is simply divine.

So whichever way you display your cards, I do hope you still send them, it is a nice gesture.  Some people say they don't have the time.  Ever since I was married, I started my own tradition.  Some of my friends think it is strange but it works for me.  On Boxing Day,  make myself a nice coffee, a little plate of treats and I bring out my new calendar, my new boxes of Christmas Cards and my cards we received this year.  I write out all my cards for the next year.  It is relaxing, I can take my time and write a nice message.  I have all my new labels and I usually have the stamps ready too!  I get my calendar ready as well,  I make a calendar every year with pictures of my family.  Mind you, this year was great.  I used Vista Print and you can pre put all the Birthdays and special occasions on the calendar, that saves some time.

Hope your holidays are snowy and bright!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING SO FAST...A LAST MINUTE TOUR OF THE FARM!!

Time is ticking away, every year it sneaks up on me.  Had our one family Christmas Party yesterday now just gearing up for the big day.  Thought I had better do a post on the Christmas Farm before it was too late.

Below the stairs I have an lovely Nova Scotia dresser where I set up a little tree and surround it with my Grandmother's antique ornaments.  I love to sit in the chair beside this and watch old Christmas movies.  So many of these ornaments I have seen in these movies, glad I have so many of them it reminds all season of the wonderful Christmas's on my Grandparents farm.

The lovely carved Grouse, another piece from my Grandmother, sits in an old basket surrounded by Christmas greenery .  The rocker has one of the pillows I made a few years ago.  The Pumpkin Cupboard is perfect for my HO HO HO candles and my quirky little Santa.  The Prayer Bench, from an old Quebec Monastery, looks homey with my old Santa and Snowlady dolls,  A Tomte sits with Dasher waiting for Santa.  This is one of my favourite Christmas prints, it is from a children's storybook.

I made the Christmas card holder from an old window, so simple and the cards stay in securely.  A little tree sits on the old desk with a paper mache Santa head and the little mouse our son made when he was in grade 5, it is my most precious ornament.

The retro tablecloth was a Value Village find years ago.  It is linen and from the 1940's, handpainted, I just love it, I have never been lucky enough to find another one.  The snowmen reminded me of the ones from the old cartoons.  Every year, when I take this bobble piece out I cry.  It was my grandmother's favourite Christmas ornament, it is shiny and bright and just lovely.  Tomte's invaded the house this year.  More will be for sale in my Etsy shop soon.

My Grandmother's folk art collection of wooden men and a Canada Goose sit on top of a Quebec Linen Press.  Tin trees and candle make it so warm at night.

This mistletoe was the first ornament I bought for us when we got married.  It is a little kitschy but I treasure it. On top of the kitchen bench is alit with lights and ornaments, a vintage like Merry Christmas hangs from the butter drain board.  This Norman Rockwell Christmas print is one of my favourites of his.  Big paper stars are all over the house.  I fond these three adorable Christmas girls at HomeSense a long time ago and then found the stand at a different store.  The are just so cute.

Nigella's Christmas Cookbook sits appropriately in the kitchen with some felt Christmas puddings.  The little ceramic Christmas Shopper is another one of my Grandmother's pieces.  The big windows are full of little ornaments and Scandinavian lit stars shine in the windows.  I have one little place for my Norwegian Christmas.  A small tree, crowned robin, cow bell and Christmas boat in a fjord make me feel very happy.  I have a vast collection of Christmas china, love it all, I found these cups and I have the dishes too, a few years ago, reduced to a ridiculous low price after Christmas.  I loved that they were hand thrown and hand stamped, it ends up they are made in England by Sophie Conrad and they were a very good find.

It's not Christmas on the farm without some cows!  We bought this sign at the hospital gift shop the day our little Sebastian was born, a wonderful day!  Snowmen, snowmen in every corner!

And now for the big tree.  I have collected little Christmas mice for years and the tree is covered in them along with red and green balls and white lights.  Santa sits on top.  More paper stars, lots of little trees and snowmen and of course the Scandinavian deer candles that twirl when lit.

My  " Lord a Leapin" sits on top of the cupboard with his buddy on the other side.  Every corner is decorated for the festive season, it is once a year so why not go mad.

I put this snowman and this little tree together every year.  The tree hold all of my Grandmother's miniature ornaments including the wonderful brush birds.

The snow is melting a bit, but there is still a blanket of white settled on the farm.  I hope you are all enjoying your Christmas homes now and are hustling and bustling to assist Santa on the big day!