Christmas Thought?

   Christmas has come and gone and has taken a part of my heart.  My eldest son, wife and grandkids have gone back to their home in Florida and daughter and son-in-law have made their escape over a couple of towns from here.  Elizabeth and Robbie will be back tomorrow to share New Year's dinner with us but, for now, the place seems to be empty.  I am still not ready to tackle the task of "de-Christmasing" so the decorations shall stay for another week...maybe more unless I get the energy.  

  Christmas decorating at the Little Bayou House is never the same.  Sure, most of the ornaments are used year after year but the manner of decorating can be entirely different.  This year, the living room was outfitted with as much "Victorian" clutter that it could hold while the dining room was nothing less than country/bayou.  Both seemed fitting...both were enjoyed by all who visited so I count it as a success.

  After unleashing the frenzy of gift-opening, a thought occurred to me.  Why do this?  Every year, we stress over what to give, panic over undelivered or late packages and overspend.  Why?  All gifts were received with grace and appreciation but the most oohs and ahhs were expressed over the handmade gifts. My three adult kids handmade a gift for their siblings.  I was fully impressed with their creativity and the excitement, giggles and love proved that those simple gifts were the best!  No, I did not get photos.  I wish I had.  Hopefully, I will do better next year.  Now, I am in "gift-making" mode.  I do believe I shall try to handmake each and every gift for this next Christmas.  

  Perhaps, if I stress this idea enough, each member of the family could jump on the bandwagon and give homemade gifts.  Nothing needs to be overly elaborate nor expensive...just something given from the heart.  Isn't that what Christmas is all about anyway?  Love?  Even though the official "day" has passed...the love and giving should continue.  So....Merry Christmas, folks!  

Progressive Decorating!

   Back in September, I decorated an odd, little niche in our bathroom.  Since it was fall, the theme had to fit.  So...a split gourd, some dried flowers (plus a couple of silk ones) and a lantern filled the space perfectly.  Then came along October with Halloween and November with Thanksgiving.  Everything stayed the same except I added a couple of tiny pumpkins.  I was beginning to like this idea of progressive decorating!  Now, Christmas has sneaked in and caught my pumpkins by surprise!  It was time to change.

  It took a grand total of about two minutes to transition into a different holiday!  Out came the fall leaves and orange flowers.  Away went the pumpkins!  Those would never do for Christmas!  A nice bow in red and black plaid topped the lantern, pinecones replaced the pumpkins and a wooden cardinal came to visit.  Greenery was poked into the gourd and a crocheted doily made by my grandmother provided the perfect base.  It is nothing fancy but neither am I nor is the Little Bayou House. I am sure others would have much better ideas of how to deal with this weird spot but this suits me fine.  Progressive home decorating is the way to go!  

Too Early To Be Thinking Christmas?

   For years now, a small holly tree has been in a pot near the greenhouse.  The tree was one that my aunt gave to me.  Her tree was huge and I can remember how difficult it was to control the small trees growing beneath it.  This is English Holly and, sad to say, it is is invasive.  The tree is one of those plants that will soon take over a place and limit the growth of native trees due to it consuming space at a rapid pace,  This is the sole reason that my tree is in a pot.  The roots are contained in a small space and cannot compete with the native trees.  However!  This tree also has very viable seeds.  Every last berry seems to sprout.  Thankfully, the small tree has not bloomed nor produced any seed-filled berries...until this year.  Oops!  I will definitely have to make sure that none drop to the ground.

  This is also known as Christmas Holly as it is the classic berry filled branch that is seen in almost every decoration found worldwide.  Growing up, holly was used around our house during the holidays.  We always used the native hollies even though they were not as vibrant as the English Holly.  We did not have this "fancy" tree in our yard.  But, then, we were not fancy!  Our farmhouse was just that...a rustic farmhouse so it only made sense to have rustic decorations...a fresh cut cedar (or pine) tree, some paper chains, homemade ornaments and holly stuck in mason jars filled the house.  It makes me giggle to see how many folks now seem to think their "rustic farmhouse decorating" is the "real" thing.  Sorry, it is drastically different...lovely but not true farmhouse. I pretty much have always incorporated those rustic, simple decorations in the Little Bayou House even with a few added glitzy things.

  This year, it appears that I will be going all fancy with some English Holly (stuck in a mason jar).  This is only to get rid of the berries so they do not drop, sprout and make a bajillion baby holly trees.  One is obviously enough to get those Christmas decorations!  Note...folks, be sensible when discarding live holly branches after the holidays.  Those berries may still be viable and could create problems...or use native holly and let the seeds do their thing. 

"Do-less"

   Mom used to say "My get up and go, got up and went."  She used this term often when she was worn out from the day's work or if she just had "one of those days" where she felt lackadaisical. Another term she would use is "do less" as in,  "I feel so do-less." The term can quite literally be applied to the way I feel lately.  Even though, I love the holidays, I have no inclination to have it come, yet.  It seems as if the holidays "came early" this year.  I am not ready.  Nary a gift has been purchased.  Until today, nary a room has been decorated.  Also, nary a Christmas carol can be heard playing in the Little Bayou House.  I am the Grinch and Scrooge all rolled up in one.  Granted, it has been hard to get in the Christmas Spirit ever since the kids grew up and left the place.  It seems lonely.  What's the use in all the hullabaloo if no one is here to enjoy it.  

  As I said, until today, nary a decoration adorned the place.  I did kick myself in gear (somewhat) and "undecorated" the china cabinets.  It was time since Halloween was still residing there!  After removing the fall-themed items, a decision had to be made of what was to be displayed.  As I was puttering through stuff, I found some odd Christmas-themed plates and knew where I was going!  I love these plates!  There is not enough to call it a set and, in fact, there are two different types.  They are, however, by the same artist, Susan Winget. The work is unique and quirky enough to look right at home in the Little Bayou House!  Both of the types that I have are of a discontinued design and are considered "vintage" (not old...vintage).  I found these in thrift stores on occasion and decided to purchase any that I find.  I love them!  I could easily put out my few dishes and call it quits.  They would suffice as decorations.

  I am sure as I go along, the decorating will get easier and the Christmas Spirit will suddenly surface but at the moment, I am fully satisfied with a few happy dishes in the cabinet.  Perhaps tomorrow will find me decorating the entire Little Bayou House...I can only hope.  For now, however, my get up and go, got up and went.  

He Has Got To Go!

  Since Son is remodeling the shed, he had to do a good bit of cleaning before he started work.  Stuff had been shoved in there for the past ten years and instantly became lost.  He discarded 90% of the junk but a few items have to stay put right where they were tossed...at least for another couple of weeks.  Some old outdoor Christmas decorations were leaned against the side of the shed with good intentions of donating them.  Well, things happen and those things cause changes in plans. 

  A pair of wrens decided that their nest needed to be decorated for Christmas so they built it in the midst of the figures.  I have adamantly refused to move the decorations.  They will stay until the little ones fledge.  The eggs hatched two days ago and the mama and papa birds are busy creatures.  While I was out working in the gardens, it was nice to see the birds helping me find pests.  Then, it was a thrill to hear the little ones begging for their turn to be fed.  At one point, those hungry tweets were overpowered by terrified shrieks.  Oh, my!  I dropped everything except my trowel and raced to the shed.  A rather large, dirty yellow cat was attempting to raid the nest!  Ok, that was it, you nasty beast!  My trowel went sailing toward the feral cat.  Of course, my aim was way off and the plastic shovel hit the porch rail but the noise was enough to send the cat off in a hasty retreat.  

 I checked on the babies and they were fine.  They had hunkered down in the nest and the parent birds raised enough ruckus to draw my attention in plenty of time.  Now, however, I am worried that the cat will be back.  This feral cat has terrorized the place for too long.  He attacks Ms. Nycto, the Bayou Princes Cat, marks the territory by spraying (and stinking up) the steps and is now trying to make a meal out of the baby birds.  I am thinking a trap may just be purchased real soon.  This thing has got to go. 

"Not For Human Consumption"

  Have you ever wondered just what they do to items that should be edible but are labeled "Not for human consumption"?   I never thought much of it until the past week or so.  After Halloween, Mark and I were wandering around one of the local stores when I came across an aisle full of seasonal decorations.  Well, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays so I racked up on wreaths, garlands and such.  Mark...well, he bought some of that Indian corn thinking it may be something I could plant.  I shrugged my shoulders and agreed that it might be interesting.  Now, I am not so sure.

  Back on Christmas Eve, the sweet Grand Princess suddenly exclaimed that we had to feed Santa's reindeer.  "MawMaw, do you have any reindeer food?"  Umm, well, maybe?  I did a bit of quick thinking and had the brilliant idea!  The Indian corn!  We had exactly enough ears for the reindeer!  Eight for the regular crew and one for Rudolf!  How could we go wrong??  I figured corn being corn would quickly draw every raccoon in the county to our yard and what they did not devour, the local deer population would finish off before morning.  Out we went to hang the lovely ears of corn on the driftwood trees that line the board path.  The kiddos were elated and I felt assured that all was well.  My ease soon turned to anxiety when about 2am, the corn was still intact.  Nary a critter came to eat the corn.  On the other hand, a few feet away, the sunflower seeds in the bird feeder were gone!  Nothing wanted to eat that corn!  Son, being a fine uncle to these tots, climbed out of bed, went out barefooted in the cold to wrestle with that corn.  He twisted and turned the kernels enough to make it appear that the reindeer feasted.

  Now weeks later, the corn is still dangling from the post.  What was done to that corn to make it unappetizing to critters?  Coons eat anything!  Anything except things marked "Not for human consumption" obviously.  Smart critters?  Anyway, Mark will be happy to know that a healthy crop of corn has sprouted on the ground where the kernels were dropped.  Perhaps I should salvage the rest of the corn to put in the garden next spring.  Maybe the coons will leave it alone and I can have lovely Indian corn for Halloween decorations!  It is worth a try and maybe it will be a tad more appetizing for the critters come a later date.  Of course, with the grandlittles not coming to the Bayou next Christmas, there won't be a lot of need for reindeer food.

Ceramic Christmas Trees

  Here lately ceramic Christmas Trees are all special again.  The trees were highly popular years ago and almost every home had one.  As early as the 1940s, the trees were being made but their popularity hung around for several decades.  I remember how I marveled at the one that stood on the small round table at my grandparents' home. We did not have one on the farm so this was a true novelty to my young eyes.  It was beautiful with its little glowing lights and shiny ceramic finish.  My aunts also had them and I know Mom would have if the farm income would have afforded it.  Later, after my grandparents passed, the tree made its way to the farmhouse and Mom cherished it.  I do not know whatever became of the thing after she passed but I truly wished it had wound up at the Little Bayou House.  The trees fell out of vogue during the 1970s and became a quirky thing that the "older generation" did.  No one wanted the things anymore.  I was one of the weird ones who still wished for one.

  A few years ago, one of my favorite aunts passed and my cousin graciously offered the ceramic tree to me.  I was honored and have proudly displayed the tree every year.  The little candles and birds shine brightly causing me to admire its beauty.  Then, another favorite aunt moved and I was given her larger version.  I was tickled to have two of the trees.  This one has a music box hidden in the stand which makes it special!

 Now, suddenly the trees are back in style!  They are coveted by people everywhere.  Some go for as high as hundreds of dollars and are sold out in no time.  I have no need for any from this new round of interest as I have two of the originals!  

  I actually make the Christmas Trees.  I have the ceramic mold and kiln.  They are easy to make but the little "lights" are difficult to find at times. (Not the inner light fixture but the tiny plastic glow lights seem to be scarce at times.)  Now the funny part about this whole ceramic Christmas Tree craze is that although I make the trees for others, I have yet to keep one of my own creations.  Those trees were not what caught my eye as a child.  The two from my aunts are what mean the world to me.  Still, since this new found fad of wanting an old time fad is all the rage, perhaps I should start creating the trees on a regular basis.  There's money in those trees!

Bringing Back the Parlor

  There is a saying around that could possibly be one of the most intelligent things anyone has ever said.  "What is wrong with the world today, is that no one sits on the front porch and talks anymore."  Probably more accurately, people yammer and not truly talk or listen. Gone are the days when folks would gather around (usually in the Deep South, that gathering was on a front porch.) and have true conversations.  The gatherings stopped, conversing became nil and the country went to pot.  (And if you do not know what that means, then you obviously have not been to a gathering.)

  The screened porches of the past served well as a meeting spot of sorts.  In the Deep South, it is where we kept cool and relatively free from bugs.  The only problem was that those gatherings had to come to a halt in mid-December all the way through March.  Cold weather and slow conversations do not mix well.  It was during those months that the frequent visits were moved to the parlor.  No self-respecting Southern Belle was without a "nice" parlor.  Ladies and gents warmed themselves by the parlor stove and the woes of the world were put in order. 

  So..since my screened porch is still in the wish stages, I have decided to bring back the parlor.  This is not to be confused with a living room where people lounge about staring at their mind-thieving cell phones.  There is just something about the mere mention of a parlor that brings to mind a deep connection of those who sit and converse.  

  Today, I decorated my "parlor" for Christmas.  Since Son helped me lug some my antique furniture into the room, I figured that I might as well go full 1800s with a decorating theme.  Heavy garlands were made, a tabletop tree was decorated and lots of lace doilies from my grandmother's chest were put into use. While it is still a work in progress, I am satisfied that the parlor would have pleased my grandmother. Now if I could only bring back the art of true conversation all would be right in my little world.

A Nudge in the Right Direction

   Since it was a dreary, rainy day, I decided it was the perfect day to attempt that Christmas decorating that I have been neglecting.  Somebody has to do it and I guess that somebody is me.  So, I tried to get the lights working on the tree.  For being a "prelit" tree, it sure has a ton of unlit bulbs. To add to the frustration of finding so many burnt bulbs, the replacement bulbs were also nonworking.  The packet was still sealed but only three out of thirty bulbs were good.  Silly of me to expect those to work.  Mr. PJ helped tremendously by just being the sweet old dog his is.  When he noticed me getting ready to toss the whole tree out the back door, he gently nudged me as if to say "I will let you pet me to make things all better."  I did....it did and I was ready to accept fate and let the tree be semi-lit.  A half lit tree is better than no tree, right?

  Next I wrangled the never-ending strands of garland from the upstairs closet.  Garland is one of those things that looks so beautiful once it is in place but can really fight with you while you are trying to hang it.  Mine is currently decorating the floor of the living room.  The rain is at fault there.  My tall step ladder was out in the greenhouse and I was not going to run there to retrieve it.  Instead of hanging garland, I stood on a chair to reach the top cabinet where the Christmas dishes were stored.  At least now, the china cabinet looks festive!

  Mark has promised to take me shopping in the morning to do the entirety of our gift purchasing.  Yep.  One trip shopping is the way to go and I plan to start that journey at the lumber yard!  They open at 6am and have some of the most useful gifts around.  Lumber yards and building supply stores are some of the most overlooked markets for Christmas gifts and not just for men!  I buy tools for myself and my daughter!  Darling Daughter Elizabeth is just as happy receiving a new saw or drill as I am!  Once the shopping is complete (hopefully before noon), the decorating will commence in full force. I plan on knocking that out by midweek so I can get onto my favorite part of the holidays.  Baking!  

  Yesterday, I could have foregone the entire holidays and hibernated the next month away with nary a care.  Things changed.  This morning, I was prompted to adopt a new attitude.  Mr. PJ has a way of pushing me into a better mood.  He is enjoying all of the hustle and bustle of the decorating so I should do the same.  Each box, bag and mound (of garland) intrigues him.  Watching him explore has made me smile.  We will do ok, PJ.  Happiness is an old dog helping with decorating the house for the holidays.

Maybe Tomorrow...

  Ok, so this is not like me at all.  Usually by this time, I am excited for the holidays but this year is different.  While Christmastime is always a favorite, I am just not in the mood. Things are not decorated.  Gifts are not purchased.  I am not Christmasy.  I want to be but it just is not happening for some reason.  Son knows something is amiss so he came down to put up the tree.  That is as far as it got.  Nary an ornament adorns the branches.  Nary a garland flanks the windows or stair rails.  Nary a wreath hangs on the front door.  I am just not feeling it.  Maybe tomorrow...

  While I am not all cheer and joy, the Bayou around me seems to be doing its best to get me in the spirit of the season.  While out tromping the hillside with the old dog, a bright red splash in the green underbrush caught my eye.  A few small oak trees were mingled together with some bay trees and sassafras trees.  The leaves had started to change colors but instead of going to that orangey gold the recent frost turned them deep red.  Red and green...how convenient.  Christmas cheer...even the woods is more Christmasy than me!

  I promise things will change over then next few days.  The tree will receive at least a hint of decorations, garland will be draped over everything and gifts will be wrapped and under the tree.  I will put on my best smile, bake a ton of cookies and be all Christmasy.  Right now, however, I will wallow in my blahs and dream of what I should be doing.  It just occurred to me that I was this same way last year.  Perhaps I am going through a bit of "not having family nearby" blues.  Maybe tomorrow....

Not Feeling It.

  Ok...so today was "Decorate the Christmas Tree Day".  I have procrastinated long enough about getting the Little Bayou House decorated for the holidays and today was the day that it had to be done.  I had threatened that if it was not at least lighted today, the tree was not going to be decorated at all this year.  For that matter, nothing at the Little Bayou House would be decorated this year.  I am just not feeling it.  Usually, I am enthusiastic for Christmas and all its trappings but since the place will be pretty much empty for the holidays, it is hard to get excited.  Part of the family is off on an island somewhere while another part will be out of state, Mark will be working far up north where ice and snow rule and Son will most likely be house-sitting.  The Little Bayou House will seem mighty large and mighty empty this year.  

  This evening as I sit here pondering the holidays past, I glance over to see the old dog, Mr. PJ, snoozing under the half decorated tree.  Thoughts of how so many things have changed in the past year for the both of us ran through my head.  This will be his first Christmas in several years without little ones squealing over Santa's visit.  He appears to be handling it well...better than I am. ` Dogs have this great way of adapting to situations much easier than we do, it seems. 

  So, the tree is half decorated, boxes of tinsel, lights and garland litter the living room, shopping remains undone and I have not the energy nor the mindset to attend any of it.  I am thinking that Mr. PJ and I will enjoy a scaled down version of the holidays this year.  Perhaps he and I will sit by the fire and reminisce of Christmases past or perhaps Old Santa will see fit to leave the old dog a special treat just for being such a good companion.  Then again, perhaps tomorrow will find me in a frenzy to get everything bedecked in its Christmas finery...who knows.

"Tis Nothing New

  I took a few moments today to stick up some of the Christmas decorations.  Yep, I am slacking!  The Little Bayou House should have been bedecked long ago but somehow that just did not happen. Today, however, I made progress even though the tree is still not in its rightful place all adorned with lights and ornaments.  Some day soon, I hope. What did occur to me was that, as I tied a big bow to the garland on the stair rail, is that nothing is new.  A few weeks ago, Darling Daughter and I visited one of our local stores and we were both amazed at how burlap has become all the rage.  Burlap and canvas...well, who would have thought?!  I admit that I did buy several rolls of printed burlap ribbon.  After all, it is ribbon!  Who can resist buying Christmas ribbon?  
  
  While digging around in the decoration boxes, I came to two conclusions.  One..that I own far too many doodads that scream holidays and, two..most of my decorations are at least thirty years old! Some are far older as it seems that I inherit every aunts', parents' and grandparents' decorations.  I cannot part with them.  That just seems like sacrilege!  What would my kinsfolk think if I just tossed their prizes to the wayside??

  It was in that box that I came across several short strands of garland that I bought when my oldest was just a wee babe some thirty-plus (and we won't go there!) years ago.  The stringing for the garland was jute, burlap Santas and fabric scrap Christmas Trees were dotted at six inch intervals.  I loved this garland and used it in the kitchen for years!  But I was a bit bemused as the current rage for burlap seemed to be nothing more than a repeat of Christmases past.  Long, long ago, it was not uncommon to use what was on hand whether it be for everyday items or happy decorations.  I can remember wearing dresses that Mom sewed out of flour sacks and having curtains made from the same pattern. (It was pretty neat to be able to blend in with the draperies!)  I made dolls from corn husks and pine needles and used jute string, burlap and canvas for everything!  It was cheap!  As matter of fact, all of those things were free for the taking.  On the farm, those items were always on hand.

  The Little Bayou House is decorated with pine limbs, cones and burlap ribbon.  Homemade ornaments are stashed in bowls and boxes as they await their place on the tree.  Wooden toys, hand-sewn calico gingerbread men dangle from threads in the kitchen windows and paper snowflakes swing happily from a garland of jute string.  Yep, there is nothing new about the decorations.  Nostalgia is good during the holidays.  It takes us all home.

 

So It Begins!

  I have had to kick myself in gear!  Christmas holidays have crept up on me with an alarming rate and I am fully not prepared at all!  Usually by November 1st, all of the shopping is complete and gifts are wrapped.  Ha!  Not this year!  Usually by Thanksgiving, the decorations are in place.  Ha!  Not this year!  Usually, I start getting excited about the whole holiday hustle and bustle in June.  Ha!  June, July, August, September, October AND November slipped by without ever jostling a notion of eagerness.  I am not prepared....AT ALL!  Don't get me wrong.  I am ecstatic about this Christmas since this will be the first time that I have celebrated with my grandchildren.  As matter of fact, this will be the first time in years that the entire family will be back on the Bayou!  Oh, happy days!  But, instead of doing anything to get the place ready for such shindigs, I have done diddlysquat!  Nothing!  Zilch!  Until...

  Well, yesterday, it began!  I plunged into the upstairs closet that houses the billion or so items called  decorations.  Box after box, crate after crate, bag after bag...everything that could remotely be used for bedecking the Little Bayou House came out of that closet and...now sits in a huge heap in the middle of the guest bedroom.  Yes, that very same bedroom that is to house visitors soon is full to the brim with garland, trees, balls and baubles of all sorts.  Lights are mounded on the bed, garland is strewn on the floor (complete with pine cones rolling under the bed) and sparkly ornaments are sifting glitter everywhere! It is fun!  I think..I hope.  Help!

  Then came my little bit of peace in all of this chaos.  The first box smelled of cedar and held a treasure.  I pulled out the Christmas quilt that my sweet daughter-in-law sewed for me.  She makes the most beautiful quilts and gave me this one several years ago.  Since then, Joanna's quilt is always the first bit of Christmas cheer that I display. The quilt makes me happy and gives me inspiration to carry on with the massive job of decorating the Little Bayou House.  I say massive since it is usually up to me to decorate the entire house.  When Mark is home, he is great about doing the heavier things and stringing lights about the place but as he says, he does not know where to put other items.  Son claims to have no decorating sense whatsoever and will gladly haul boxes downstairs or erect the tree where I have directed but pulling the rest of the stuff together in some semblance of order is entirely my doing.  The decorating gets a bit daunting at times but that is ok...I have my bit of sanity in the form of a quilt.  I can look at it and pull myself together.   By the end of the weekend, at least the Little Bayou House will look like a Christmas wonderland or Santa's workshop or a rustic cabin Christmas...I have not decided which just yet.  It will happen...soon.  Then comes that shopping...ugh!  And the baking....and the crafting...and.....whew!  Thank you, Joanna, for not only the beautiful quilt but for the smiles and love that come with it!

Decorating! Decorating! Decorating!

  Ok, so I thought that I was finished decorating the Little Bayou House for the Christmas Holidays but it seems that the job has not been completed.  Perhaps I am now just fully recovered from the recent clue hunt and have energy to think redecorating the house.  Or maybe making the wreath with Elizabeth inspired me to get busy but whatever the case, I am suddenly in the "Christmas Spirit"!  While digging through the mounds of garland, ornaments and knickknacks, I came across a "Noel" sign that Mom bought for the kids years and years ago.  The thing was four wooden letters connected with tiny screw-eyes.  Well, the years and kids had taken a toll on the wall-hanging.  The letters dangled precariously from single mounts and the chain at the top was broken. Several times in the past, I remarked that I should just toss the broken thing but sentiment would always get in the way.  NOEL would be put back in the box along with numerous other broken decorations. I had good intentions of repairing these items......someday.  Well, today was the day for the NOEL sign.

  After trying for an hour to replace the tiny screw-eyes, I decided that a different approach was necessary.  Time for a bit of ingenuity.  The entire thing was ripped apart and remade into an entirely new wall-hanging.  A bit of leftover burlap ribbon, a dowel, two finials and a short piece of jute were all it took to refurbish the tired NOEL.  The glue gun came in handy for this job.  Five minutes after beginning, I was ready to hang the sign.  Mom would be proud.  Her cute little gift for the kids would now see years more of happiness!  

  Excited that I was able to get back to crafting, I tackled the mantelpiece in the dining room.  Christmastime is coming to the Bayou!  Decorations are going up, cookies are being baked and carols are being sung.  It is a wonderful life!

Service for Two!

  The cleaning and decorating of the Little Bayou House was in full swing once again.  Each room received a good dusting, sweeping and mopping before the actual decorating was attempted.  I managed to do the entire house....except the kitchen and that is cleaned just not Christmasy, yet.  Tomorrow will see me up bright and early to complete that. Every room in the house will look like a Christmas Wonderland and I can sit back and relax.  Oh, and make gifts, wrap those gifts and bake billions of cookies and other goodies.  FUN TIMES!

  While giving the small hutch a holiday makeover, I used one of my favorite sets of dishes as a starting point.  This is a set that only includes place settings for two.  Yep, two.  I suppose this will have to be more for "show" than actual use in my house.  The set (of course) has a story as does most everything in the Little Bayou House.  Mark's grandmother gave me the set one year long ago.  She told me that after Hurricane Camille (1969), she was given the dishes. It seems that a restaurant donated dishes to help those in need.  Being the sweet lady she was, she insisted that she only needed service for two.  The others could be given to someone else.  She used the dishes for years and years and then passed them on to me.  I was honored even though they are probably not something most folks would like. The dishes are heavy and durable like most cafeware. Mom would have called them "Country Clunky"!  (This was her term for the heavy crockery pieces that she had.)   Every Christmas, I put the dishes on display simply because of the colors.  The creamy background and red transferware pattern give a nice homey feel to the place.  A few sprigs of greenery and a couple of porcelain Santas make the hutch quite festive.  Tomorrow will see me out cutting some fresh pine!

  Transferware was a method that was developed back in the mid-eighteenth century to replace the tedious art of hand-painting dishes. The hand-painting process was time consuming, difficult and expensive whereas transferware process could throw out printed dishes in a fraction of the time and for a lot less.  This made dinnerware and decorative pieces affordable to most folks.  It does not bother me in the least that the pieces I have are not highly expensive.  To me, the dishes are priceless!
 

A good pair of gloves can warm the hands but a single one can sometimes warm the heart.

  I am beginning to think that my holidays have not started yet. Early this morning, I dragged box after box of Christmas decorations downstairs and into the living room.  I figured that if I get the tree up at least it might FEEL a bit more cheery around here.  It is no easy task getting the thirty or so large boxes down the stairs.  Whew! Now I just had to unpack everything and get the house decorated.  Even with all that work, I was cold..really cold,  Perhaps that is the problem.  The Little Bayou House is cold and dreary for nigh on Christmas.  It is supposed to be happy and cheery not moody and dreary.  I pondered that fact as I built a fire in the old woodstove.  Sitting on the floor in front of the hearth, I stared at the fire.  The flames started with a flicker and soon were shooting to the top of the stove.  Ahhh, warmth. It seems that there is nothing better than an open flame to warm the body.  The electric heaters just cannot give what an old-fashioned woodstove can provide.  

  Later, my sweet sister-in-law came to visit and between the two of us, we managed to get the Christmas Tree up and partially decorated.  We ooohed and ahhhed over each ornament as we unpacked them and dangled them from the branches. Since I do not have "normal" ornaments, each item we unwrapped had a story behind it.  There was the little plastic blackbird from my grandmother's Christmas Tree. There were the wooden rocking horses and jumping jacks from my mom's place.  There were the folded paper angels from one year that this very same sister-in-law helped me make.  There were ornaments that the kids made in school and then there was the glove.  Yep, I have a Christmas Glove on my tree.  That glove was my youngest son's when he was a wee chap.  He loved his little gloves and would wear them year round.  Come Christmastime one year when he was about five years old, he carefully hung one glove on the tree as an ornament. When I asked why he put the glove on the tree, he informed me that it was so "Santa would know to bring him a new pair." Yep, Santa did bring him a new pair of gloves and, yep, the glove still finds its way onto the tree even twenty-five years later.  The Christmas Glove is going to stay.  It brings back memories.  It brings smiles.  And I need all the smiles I can get....don't we all?  A good pair of gloves can warm the hands but a single one can sometimes warm the heart.  My sister-in-law smiled after I told her the story.  "Yes!  The Christmas Glove needs to be on the tree!  I love your ornaments and the stories!"   

Sometimes simpler is better

It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season that one can soon tire.  The hectic pace, the overwhelming "need" to buy and the constant barrage of activities can outweigh the peacefulness of the season.  This year with most of my family away, things will be different.  My son, Michael, suggested that we simplify things.  So we pared down the gift list and only used a minimal of decorations.  He said he was growing weary of the glitz and glitter that always seemed to come with the Christmas Season. "Lets get back to the Bayou, Mom."  This statement made me realize that perhaps I had been snagged by the commercialism of the whole deal.  That said, we made most of the decorations or used only those that were highly sentimental for some reason.  The shiny glass baubles and glitzy metallic tinsel stayed packed in the closet.  At first, I was a hesitant. I needed my gaudy lights strung from the eaves!  I had to have the bright garland draped on the mantel!  I wanted bright bows and colorful paper wrapped around packages!  I must have lots and lots of packages that held the most unuseful items to be found on the shelves of every store!  Yes, I had reservations about this simpler Christmas.

Now that I have settled into the idea of having things be a bit more like the Bayou, itself, I find that I am enjoying it far more than I expected.  The rustic, country Christmas has fallen on the Little Bayou House like a cozy comforter.  I am happy to have a few well placed adornments instead of the bombardment of decorations.  There is something to be said for time spent with family while making paper snowflakes.  It was peaceful, loving time and isn't that what the Christmas Season should be?  Peaceful and loving?  Sometimes simpler is better.  Sometimes you have to give up a lot to understand more.  Sometimes all you need is right within your reach.  Sometimes you should listen to your kids.

The Angel of Smiles

I am a bit late with the Christmas decorations this year.  Not late by a lot of folk's standards but definitely late by mine!  I would put Christmas decorations up as soon as I took down the Halloween ones if I had my way.  This year, however, too many chores got in the way of even hauling the stuff down from upstairs.  The first annual Bayou Clue Hunt took up more of my time than I expected and put me several weeks behind schedule.  Still, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Little Bayou House!  Today, I unpacked a huge box of decorations and came across something that struck a memory.  A rather plump stuffed ragdoll of an angel was lifted from between the jumping jacks and nutcrackers.  This angel is nothing special to anyone else but carries a bit of special meaning to me.  You see, it is not everyday that you can rescue an angel!  That job is usually flip-flopped around to where the angel saves the mere human.  But I rescued this angel from a dire situation and I am quite sure she appreciates my efforts.

Long ago, I was in a department store just before Christmas.  This was back when my kids were small and I needed to do some Santa shopping.  While I was there, a group of kids that I am sure were not on Santa's "Good List" were being downright rowdy!  They were running through the aisle pulling items from shopper's carts, pushing through the crowds and screaming at the tops of their lungs.  The parents of these (not so) sweet darlings were oblivious to their brats'..er..kids'
 roughhousing.  I pushed my cart far from them but was soon accosted as I rounded the end of one aisle.  It was then that I saw that the kids had pulled down some of the store's decorations and were kicking them around on the floor.  Ugh!  I am quite sure that my kids would have met with some..umm..stern discipline long before their actions would have gotten so out of hand.  When they saw me, they scattered leaving a huge mess.  Amidst the broken ornaments, tangled garland and toppled trees was a sweet angel.  They had been kicking it as if it was a soccer ball.  Poor sweet thing!  I could not stand the idea that the angel was being so abused!  I picked her up and tried to shake the dust and grime from her.  Shards of glass Christmas balls were tangled in her hair and her wings were ripped from her back.  This would never do!  I put her in the shopping cart.  I was not in the mood to shop any more!  When I went to check out and pay for my items, the store manager walked up to me and apologized for the kids' actions.  She looked at the angel in the cart and asked if I wanted a different one.  When I declined and explained why I chose that angel, she reached over and put her in my bag.  "If you really want that angel, there will be no charge.  Just make sure she has a Merry Christmas."  I smiled and told her that I would definitely do that and that she just made my Christmas a bit merrier!

Now this angel is one of my favorite decorations.  She sits among the pine cones and holly berries with the broadest smile on her face.  You know, I do not recall that bright smile when I picked her up from the floor.  It almost seemed as if she was sad..very sad at that time. Merry Christmas, Little Angel!  I am glad that you came to live with us and be a reminder that we should be a bit nicer, a bit kinder to all.

Simple and Sweet! (Not to mention..QUICK!)

My de-lighted wire deer that was supposed to be turned into a grapevine deer has met a problem!  Mark came home and decided that the yard needed to be decorated.  My de-lighted deer which was now painted black caught his eye.  That and a funky-looking wire Christmas tree wound up being used as decorations near the driveway.  After a full can of spray paint, the deer is now white again. My vine covering experiment will have to wait for another time.  This reindeer has been called back into use!  We stripped the wire tree of all of its blown lights and put a small cluster of white lights at the top.  In lieu of snow (something we rarely get this far south!), we put some hay down on the ground.  At least our de-lighted wire reindeer would eat well! One string of lights around the whole little grouping was all that was needed to complete the look.  I had no desire to stay out all day decorating at this late of date. When I do that much work, it had better be for more than a couple of days!

 

The next thing Mark wanted to do was decorate the doorway.  The entryway had already been decked out on the inside but the outside was a tad dark to suit him.  I convinced him that a bit of garland and a few lights was all that was needed.  As I untangled a few strings of lights, I sent him down the lane a bit to gather a good bit of pine boughs.  What he brought back looked mightily like a full pine tree!  But it would work!  He snipped the "tree" into small workable pieces for me to wire together.  The garland only needed to be about eight feet in length so this task went quickly.  The lights were added and I wired the whole contraption above the door.  It looked quite nice!  Ahh....that was finished!  Admittedly, our decorations could never compete with our neighbor's down the street.  That house and yard is decorated with about a gazillion lights and all sorts of outdoor adornments.  It is beautiful but, personally, I will stick with just a few well-placed lights and maybe one or two ornaments.  Sometimes...simple is just better.  Besides, the Little Bayou House is not fancy..it is rustic.  A gazillion lights would not change that and I really would not want it changed in the first place!  I like it the way it is!

I believe all of this sudden desire to decorate the yard was in anticipation of the arrival of our son-in-law and daughter.  Robbie and Elizabeth were on their way here to spend the holidays with us!  Christmas is just so much better when kids come home to the Little Bayou House!  I am quite sure that tomorrow will see Elizabeth and me in the kitchen!  All sorts of cookies, candies and other goodies will soon fill the dining room table!  Yep, Christmas is coming!

Christmas Joys of Days Past...

Christmas Joys! On Christmas Eve, the little ones can hardly sleep!  Their thoughts are only what will they will find beneath the Christmas Tree come early morn!  Oh, what wonders dear old Santa brings during the night!  He always comes through with the most beautiful and delightfully entertaining toys for all of the little ones.  He and those remarkably agile reindeer fly through the night from rooftop to rooftop all the while not waking a single soul!  That is one amazing old elf!  His ability to know just what each child wants is truly an art!  Perhaps all of those letters he receives gives him an inkling but if you ever get a chance to read any of those, you might just wonder how he is not a tad confused.  I do believe it must have been a heap easier back in the day when Little Jane asked for a dolly and Little Bobby only wanted a toy train.  (Now with things needing to be "politically correct", those requests would not be heard at all!)  Today with all of the electronic gadgets on the market, poor old Santa might better stick to gift certificates to the local store!

The decorations in the Little Bayou House this year are a different than most previous years.  I am going more rustic and in the dining room I have pulled into use all of the antique toys that I have collected over the years.  (Yes, some of these "antique" toys are ones that I played with as a child as much as I hate to admit it!  That might just mean that I am an antique as well!)  These toys are interspersed with the decorations and actually look quite nice except for the fact that some look a mite creepy or even downright dangerous!  Take dolls, for instance!  Some of them have the most "ghostly" look about them!  Their eyes are set back in deep sockets which are darkened with painted shadows!  Their hair, though matted now, was most of the time real, human hair..that, in itself, is sort of creepy!  These dolls were considered lovely back in the day...I still think they are,,,just in a sort of scary way!  Personally, I prefer ragdolls over the plastic things of today even with their painted faces OR...button eyes!

I have a Jack-in-the-Box that is supposed to be a clown.  Ok...so I believe this might be where clowns got the bad rap of sometimes being scary!  This little guy reminds me more of an imp than a clown!  He has the most mischievous look on his face!  Although his clothing is stained with age and his box is getting dilapidated, his facial expression says it all!  Old Jack might just get up and mess up a room while a child is sleeping!  Think of all the trouble an impish Jack-in-the-Box might cause for some poor unsuspecting toddler!  "Mommy, I promise that I did not break all of my crayons!"  Yep...Old Jack's handiwork!

Then there were the sewing machines meant for five year old girls!  I had one...my sister had one!  Since I was the younger, mine was actually BATTERY-OPERATED!   Hers had to be turned by hand but five years later when I received mine, progress had been made in the toy workshop!  The elves smartened up and created batteries and that set things ahead by strides!  Nowadays, these same sewing machines would never make it on the toy store shelves because they used real sewing machine needles!  The horrors!  As much as folks would complain now and even sue the company for making such a thing, I never remember getting hurt by using my machine!  Susan and I would sew all sorts of doll clothes (politically incorrect again!) using our machines and old flour sacks.  To us, they were beautiful!

Gone are the days of ragdolls, Jack-in-the-Boxes, trucks, trains, sewing machines, little red wagons, bats and balls.  The Christmas Joys of today are not that simple.  Life is not that simple.  I must admit, though, when our kids were small, this is the type toys that old Santa brought to them......and they were happy.  And I must admit that I hope to do the same for my future grandchildren.  Perhaps things can be simple again for a little while.