Mary Did You Know?

This antique print is one of my favorites.
Rather than hanging, it sits on a side board in my living room, year round.

As I recall it was a gift from my son.
It's tall, about 22 inches,
and is in a lovely gilded frame.

There is no visable attribution,
and I wasn't able to find anything
about it online.

You can't see her feet here,
but she's barefoot.

This beautiful rendition of Mary Did You Know

 by Ceelo Green

 is from the mini series The Bible,

 scheduled to debut in 2013.

I have enjoyed this Christmas season more

than any I can remember since I was a child.

Spending extra time with family, entertaining,

celebrating with friends ~ my cup is full.

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

You can see other's favorite things at

 Claudia's @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage

A Favorite Thing 

and more inspiration at

Charlotte @ Spiritual Sundays

Spiritual Sundays 

Lammiekins

Lammiekins is new to the Nativity this year.

He came all the way from Hopi House at the Grand Canyon to be a part of the team. 

The first day on the job this week was a little stressful.

There were already three little lambs on the set, and he felt a little out of place.  

They were lambs, he's a sheep.

 He was fuzzy ~ they weren't

His ears stuck up ~ their's didn't

But he did his very best to fit in.

He found his mark

and was verrrry still and quiet

Everyone thinks he did great

and I agree.  good job Lammiekins.
You're my favorite thing this week!

 bahhhh

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

I'm joining the flock over at Claudia's house.

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

 She has a new sheep too!

Footnoot:  Like many of you, I'm sure, I've cried and prayed today

 for the families, friends, school mates and staff
  that tragically lost their precious children today.

My heart goes out to all of them.

A Splash of Christmas

Who doesn't love bubble baths?

It's my favorite thing this week, and boy have I been getting some mileage out of this ol' tub.

Yesterday I spent several hours helping set up

 for our church's  Women's Christmas event. 

 At the end of the day,

a long soak was the perfect remedy for my aches and pains. 

 

I had fun recently, decorating the shelf that

hangs over the tub.

As I pulled out the decorations for the Christmas tree, 

I set aside a few things for the shelf.

I already have red walls, so it doesn't take much

to make it Christmas-y.

 (he looks unhappy)

my cute li'l Make A Wish snowman

this vase and flowers were already there,

all by their lonesome.  

I just added some artificial eucalyptus

(spell check please)

btw, everything is tacked down with 

Quakehold (**  this is California after all

I hope the season has been merry and bright for you so far!

Counting My Blessings

xo Susy

You can read more about my TUB LOVE here
and a gift-from-the-heart idea

I'm linking to

Debra @ Common Ground for

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Claudia @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage for

A Favorite Thing Saturday

December Blessings To You

I'm lovin' this picture.

We enjoyed a family dinner last night, Norman Rockwell style: twelve of us crowded around the dining room table to celebrate three birthdays.

 I broke out the fancy stuff.  Happily no one complained.

After everyone left Pizza Man put another log on the fire and I lingered in the living room with just the Christmas tree lights, the fire and Earl Grey.  Ahhhh.

I'm determine to make this a month of blessing by giving of my 

time, talents, and treasure.

Counting My Blessings,

xo Susy

Christmas Love

I think if it were entirely up to me,
I wouldn't have a Christmas tree.
But then... there are my Monday Night ladies.
Many of them are single and don't decorate at all, so I've found myself motivated the past few years to put up the tree for their enjoyment.

It goes in the living room ~ which is only used when they come over.  My husband and I spend our evenings in a small TV room, and there's no place for a tree.  I put a touch or two of Christmas in every room, and that seems to be enough for us.

Because my living room is the place where all extra pieces of  furniture go to retire (meaning it's crowded)

the space allocated for the tree isn't big.

  I move a chair out and the tree in.

  Sorry - it's fake.  But really cute!

 

It's a 5 ft. tree

 Prelit, pre-snowed, pre-pineconed ~ very California

My tree-decorating style is unique, to say the least

It's equal parts branches, twigs, and ornaments

Actually, this year, not so many ornaments

 It starts out in an urn to give it height

Then I add beads

  Some years red, some years gold

Next come the leaves, twigs, and flowers

that I gathered over the years

from the sale table

I have odds and ends and not many of one kind

I tuck the stems deep into the tree

 

a little glitter does a girl good

It makes for a wild silhouette before I tame it!

Next I add ornaments

  Big ones first, then little ones

and starry light jackets

 

the requisite bird nests

 

(we're almost finished)

I've looked a long time for an antique star topper

but haven't found one yet I love

And she's done!

  Maybe over done in some opinions...ah well.

Other decorations are loaded on the mantle in the living room

(surprise ~ not an inch of space is left)

 A trumpeting Angel

Poinsettias in a vintage teapot.

I like sparkle, can you tell

And around the room,

a bowl full of ornaments

a Hummel trio

an ice skater

a candle molded from a cutglass vase

another Angel

Teddy

He learned a new trick for you

Frosty

Ms. Mouse

And finally a tea tray with a red glass pitcher added

to make the season bright

I'm ready for company!

Whether our houses are grand or cozy

where love abides, it's home

Christmas blessings to all

Susy

 

I'm joining Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Tuesday's Treasures

Vintage Inspiration Friday 

Spiritual Sundays