Christmas bloom in white

We had that rain I mentioned the other day...good thing I had my supply of Gelato. Yesterday was very chilly; I had to wear a long sleeve top! But in my kitchen, the Amaryllis is needing to be turned daily as it is reaching for the window and....

just in time for December 1st, my white African Violet has a bloom and right behind it my Schulumbergera or Christmas Cactus has an open bloom with more to follow. I have an older one that usually blooms pink between Thanksgiving and Christmas but so far seems tired and may surprise me.
Had a nice visit yesterday afternoon with friend Robyn....from Across the Courtyard. We enjoyed a cup of coffee and chatted. We can actually have a conversation from our front doors yet we email frequently! She and her husband Dave have been good friends since Denny died...that is when we got to know one another.
Today is my quick run to Michael's for yarn and a crochet hook. I was totally shocked that the particular hook is not in the jar with my many other hooks!  I must admit that it has been some time since crocheting anything. I also need to finish making a few ornaments this weekend. Right now I need my first cup of coffee and some toast. It was nice to chat with you. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Thank you for your friendship.

A different Amaryllis

A chilly morning...but still very nice. My appointment for noon just showed up (8am)....I really do not mind because then it is over with. It is the electrician for the HOA....who knew there were reset buttons on the lamp post electrical outlets!?
Yesterday when I went to Lowes to construct a simple birdbath for the garden, I remembered to buy my Christmas Amaryllis...

 have you seen this kind yet? It is encased in handmade wax and needs no water! I was told that it is true and will bloom without needing to be cared for...just put it on the counter and leave it alone. While there I also bought a lovely red Poinsettia; both of these are a Christmas must.  I did buy 2 small bushes for the front area... Eremophia maculata Cupid known also as the "emu bush". Where do these names come from. As soon as there are blooms I will share a picture. It will add a bit of color to the porch area. These may be mauve in color and will be good for the hummers.
Today needs to be ---organize the Christmas boxes to the shelves in the garage....should not take too long. After that I plan on doing...if you guessed nothing you guessed correctly. I have dough thawing in the fridge for doughboys...also known as fry bread for later. Time to finish my coffee....before the electrician returns from getting part for the lights. Always nice to chat with you. Thank you for your kind words and for caring. Thank you for your friendship.

I thought the tree was finished!

The  mornings are starting chilly but by afternoon the doors are open and the weather is just fine....low to mid 70s this week. The garden although quite bare compared to early season, it still giving me yellow daisies and Sweet Memory and Fairy Duster blooms. Nice to look out the kitchen window to see this. Speaking of looking out the window... someone has been looking in! Since the tree went up and lit this past weekend I have a hummingbird who stops by the window about 4 feet off the ground and hovers . He glides from side to side (the window is almost floor to ceiling and slider width wide) and then he darts off quickly. It is a sight to see but so far I have been unable to capture him on camera.

A quick stop by visit from Glenda yesterday and this beautiful ornament is now on my tree. Thank you for this blown glass double ornament...it looks pretty with the lights shining through. The red inside is perfect with the sheer red ribbon. I really think I will stop rearranging the tree.... so I say.
I did manage to continue beading the snowflake then realized as I started the send half that I did not finish the first side! So that is a must today. Still have not ventured out to finish my shopping, but will do so soon. Canada's postal strike is upsetting my mailing plans there. Seems like Christmas packages will be arriving late.
An update on Eva P, mom. She did not break any bones with this latest fall but is badly bruised and will be quite sore for awhile yet. The leg is very swollen and will probably require he to be back in a wheelchair for the time being. Thank you for your kind thoughts for her. Just finished my coffee so it will be on to the chores next. Glad to chat with you today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

More Christmas here

Waiting for my coffee to finish brewing.... cup #1 was at 2 am. Did manage to fall back to sleep so that is a good start for the day.
If you stopped by last Christmas you may remember the Angel....

She tops my tree with lots of glitz and glitter. Since she has a direction, I am sure to keep her pointing into the room... don't want any special blessings leaving the house! The year I wrapped the tree with red sheer ribbon...in a continuous bow...

The ribbon is so pretty in the light of day and when the tree lights glow. A hummer came to the window the other day and hovered close to the window to peek!
Mr & Mrs. Fox are still on their bench...

They are in front of the desk with a gift box and an ornament waiting for Santa. And my Rudolph is perched high on the curio...

sis Lynowl gave him to me … he is with me about 25 years now. He is from a shop in Wickford RI.... a place we spent a lot of time visiting. Not sure if the place is still there but we sure did enjoy being there. It was a restaurant and gift shop.
Christmas is just about everywhere in my house...

Frosty and his gal will light your way in the main bathroom!
My coffee  aroma tells me it is ready for me to drink, so I will dash off for now. I may have some special ornaments that are on the tree to show you next visit.....
Glad to chat with you today. Thank you for your kind words and friendship.
**special note...the mom, Eva P fell the other evening...nothing broken but very sore so please keep her in your thoughts. 

House tour continues....part 2

Once again my morning began early but this time I actually stayed awake. The thoughts for the day just got in the way. I actually began to bead another snowflake and it was only 5 AM. Then I remembered that I wanted to share more of my Christmas around the house...
Once I finished with the kitchen area on Thursday evening I turned to the living room.

The archway to enter the living room has garland and a few ornaments and a sparkly star in the center.

Like Elvis leaving the building,

 Father Christmas left my bedroom wall to great all who will enter the front door...this is what you see first. He is special and has quite the story and you can read about it here.

A few years ago I started to put Santa's hat on the rocker. It was a good place so that my Santa...Denny...could pick it up to wear while cooking or watching a movie with me. The book on the chair is always out for the holiday as it is called "Murder For Christmas". Dennis bought it for me in 1982 because it has 26 stories of "yuletide malice" by various mystery writers. A good book and a comfortable rocker to read it.

We loved the 1998 movie "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and bought him as soon as we saw him that same year, as well as a smaller one for the tree. This year he sits atop a horse. He always brings a smile to my face. On my Papa's smoking stand is my Felt Fir Tree with tatted snowflakes.
Since The Village moved to the kitchen, the fireplace mantel needed …yes, angels.

There are only four of them but each is special. An there is my lampshade Santa watching the front door.....he has already fallen once and each year I put him together hoping he will make it through the season.
Speaking of Santa...

the Magical key  is hung on the front door so that special man can let himself in. Never had an actual working fireplace so there is no chimney for him to enter!
Guess that will do for today with the tour to continue tomorrow. Yes, there is more. I love to decorate. Many years ago I had the privilege to decorate trees and living rooms for a few good friends. One of these was Etta Faella the mom of my friend Pam. Etta was a long time family friend of my parents. After, she would treat me to a delicious meal. Good memories.
It is a little chilly here but should warm up and the front door will open to let in the 70+ temp later this afternoon. Robyn and Dave (Across the Courtyard) have their tree decorated and looks so pretty from my living room view. We have already added the lamp post garland and lights outside the courtyard on Thanksgiving evening. Robyn picked out one of my beaded baubles for their tree....feel honored that it will hang there. I am lucky to count these two as friends. Glad you are continuing the holiday tour. Thank you for your kind words and your friendship. Back to my beading.