My World this Week

The big red mixer is back where she used to be all the time!

How is your Christmas season going?  Have you taken the time to do what makes your heart sing?  I must admit that this past week has been one of more busy-ness than heart singing.  But by baking ahead for the freezer, it opens the way for Christmas week to be stress free as food baskets are assembled for friends and neighbors.

And it is not a bad thing to be in one's cozy kitchen with the oven making it warm, Christmas music on the CD player, and vanilla dabbed behind the ears as our grandmother's once did.

I took a morning away from the kitchen for a lovely "breakfast out" with my friend, Linda.  That was my Christmas gift to her and when we left the restaurant, we stopped by a favorite store that sells primitive country items to take in the atmosphere there (trying not to covet everything!) and then made a trip to Barnes & Noble to peruse British decorating magazines.  A really nice Christmas celebration that didn't cost much and will provide good memories in the coming year.

So... here is what has been going on in my work this past week when I remembered to take photos!

Reading

I purchased Elizabeth Goudge's A Christmas Book* for just a few dollars last year (or was it the year before?).  I have a few hard-to-find and expensive titles on my Wish List.  When I have credit available, I go through them to see if there are any cheap additions available.  This one is a library discard so it was inexpensive but just fine for one who collects on a budget!

The other two books I am reading through... Come Thou Long Expected Jesus* which is my favorite Advent devotional and Winter Song* by Madeleine L'Engle and Luci Shaw.  Beautiful all year but especially during the Christmas Season.

Tea Time

You may remember last year's thrifting find, the beautiful Old Country Roses Christmas teapot for $2.99 at Goodwill!  That was amazing.  The stoneware cup... part of a Christmas set of dishes I bought cheap at Meijers long ago.  I use the set all year because it makes me smile.

I took this photo while waiting for the tea to steep inside that lovely teapot.  I was using the last of the whole leaf green tea blend Stephanie bought me for my birthday.  It was delicious.  The "sweet" was half of the tiny chocolate bar from Aldi's.

The vintage hankie was brought out to make it all look pretty.  I don't do it everyday but a few times a week I like a proper pot of tea instead of just a teabag in a pretty cup.  Emphasis on pretty.  Life is too short for drab.

Thrifting

I found this Christmas artwork (an original painting) for $1.99 at the Salvation Army store this year!  It adds so much color to that part of the Living Room.

The Christmas tree in the stoneware stays out all year, usually residing on the floor next to the TV stand.  I love primitives.

Pretty

I had just finished washing a stack of Christmas trays when I thought putting these three together in one place might be cute.  It is...

Decorating

Her Fluffiness

I didn't take any photos of Victoria last week so I thought I'd share this one again.  A favorite from the past!  Linda asked for permission to get prints made from this photo to use for cards.  Love those tippy toe paws!

*Amazon Associate Link, I receive a tiny portion of what is purchased and it cost you nothing more than clicking on the link.  ;)