Happy New Year

May this new year bring you joy, health, challenges and successes.

Happy New Year 

The Scrawny Little Tree a Wonderful Christmas Story

I'm having a nostalgic kind of Christmas this year, my tree is trimmed with shiny brites from times gone by, my mother's crewel work of beautiful cardinals on an ever green branch is hung so all can enjoy her handy work, and my children's Christmas books are piled high for me to read to my grandchildren.

Some of my vintage Christmas aprons and handkerchiefs were laundered and ironed and became gifts for some of my friends. I even convinced my oldest daughter to include in her teacher gifts a vintage Christmas apron and handkerchief, I wonder if these two teachers like vintage, let's hope so.

The best part of Christmas is reading my Christmas books to the grandchildren. I will start reading to one of the smaller grandchildren, and before the book is finished I will often times have all of them sitting around me while I read the stories. 

This year I am particularly fond of the book:  

The Scrawny Little Tree: A Christmas Story, 

written by Ed Mehler and illustrated by Susie Pollard.

My copy is an ex library book with a copyright of 1970

This holiday story is written with rhyming text, and illustrated with retro red and green ink drawings. A small poor boy saves his pennies to buy a Christmas tree, a message about "meager means and ample gratitude."

The little boy with arm so small,
saved pennies... though very poor,
to buy himself a Christmas tree,
which he'd never had before.

He placed it there before the door,
so everyone could see,
and sitting til the darkness came,
admired his little tree.

The little tree shed a tear,
but it was a tear of joy,
he felt contentment deep inside,
how he loved that little boy!

...the boy awoke at dawn,
and stood beneath the tree,
but could not believe his eyes...
for, in the spot where he had placed the scrawny little tree,
stood the most majestic one,
in all of history.

...and, the tree they planted in the town,
stand prouder than before,
a reminder of the power of love...
to stand forevermore...

What Christmas stories are you reading to your children or grandchildren this holiday season? I'm always looking for good books to read.

Thirty four years ago today, I gave birth to my third child, on that day the stars in the sky shined a little bit brighter.

Happy Birthday my sweet girl.

From a cutie to a beauty.

Tomorrow I Will Be Silent ~ Today I Share the Words of Victor Hugo

In preparation for the upcoming release of the movie Les Miserables, people are starting to read or re-read the book. In the preface of the book, there is a speech given by Victor Hugo on Workman's Congress at Marseille. I like to share it.

"Have faith, then; and let us realize our equality as citizens, our fraternity as men, our liberty in intellectual power.  Let us love not only those who love us, but those who love us not. Let us learn to wish to benefit all men.  Then everything will be changed; truth will reveal itself, the beautiful will arise, the supreme law will be fulfilled, and the world shall enter upon a perpetual fete day. I say, therefore, have faith." 

Bloggers day of silence Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Thrift Share and a Christmas Angel

The parking lots have been full every time I pull into either St. Vincent DePaul's or Goodwill, the store is filled with the sounds of Christmas music, and people are filled with the spirit of Christmas.  

While checking out I witnessed a Christmas kindness, and it touched my heart and filled my eyes with tears. An older woman was checking out, the cashier gave her the total amount due, the woman didn't have enough money for her items. Embarrassed the woman started to leave the store, but a Christmas angel quickly ran to the door and told the woman she would pay for her items. 

As I was leaving the store, (I was in a different check out lane), the two women were embracing, and both were smiling. That for me is what Christmas is all about small acts of kindness and showing brotherly love.

Brad Paisley's song "What If He's an Angel" has a refrain that has been a reminder for me to do my best.

"What if he's an angel sent here from heaven

And he's making certain that you're doing your best

To take the time to help one another

Brother are you going to pass that test

You can go on with your day to day

Trying to forget what you saw in his face

Knowing deep down it could have been his saving grace

What if he's an angel "

I was thrilled to pick up these two items this week.

This mug set was all taped up with a price tag of $3.99 sitting on the end of the self. I was attracted by the red and while colors and thought it would be a fun thing, to have around so all the grandchildren and myself could enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and candy canes in matching cups. I was thrilled when I turned it over to see that this was a Crate & Barrel product. I went on the Crate & Barrel site and found that the Pick Me Up Mugs with tray sold for $24.95. I love thrift shopping!

On the top shelf sat my next thrift item that I filled with Christmas items that I hadn't used to decorate.

Shinny Brite striped ball and small ornaments...

bottle brush trees ...

jingle bells ..

gold tinsel ...

fill this glass Christmas tree. Glass tree $1.99.

I am linking up with:

Hey, What's for Dinner Mom? -  The Penny Worth Project 

Sir Thrift A Lot - Thriftasaurus

Costal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Be sure to visit Laura's blog, Hey, What's for Dinner Mom? and enter to win a 5 quart tilt head Kitchen Aide Mixer, hurry contest ends Wednesday. I'm excited to have a chance to win.

Deeply Saddened by the Tragic Events

As we all are ...

Thought for Today

This post was written prior to the tragic events that occurred in Newtown, my heart goes out to the community and everyone that was impacted by this tragedy.

Words by Cheryl Karpen

from the book

Eat Your Peas