~MY CHRISTMAS JOY..

 

We had company this evening and were visiting in the family room.  I've told you the story of my Christmas Bear..he is in my header with his little knit hat on with my name on it.  He's mine, you see.

He has been sitting silently in my chair for days now, not a peep. 

We are chatting and as always I pick him up to move him so I could sit in the chair, and suddenly Silent Night begins playing, his little red heart beating away..I almost jumped a foot!  He hasn't played in a couple of years now.  I nearly cried.  My friend that happened to be visiting lost her husband just ten days before mine.  Pat died on December 15th and her husband died on December 5th.  We met at a "Grief Closure" seminar my daughter made me attend.

When the song finished playing..we were both silent but she knew how special the moment was.

I sat him on the sofa and we went on chatting.  PH came into the room and I told him what had just happened.  He knows the story.

About a half hour passed while we visited.  Suddenly, Mona's Christmas Bear began playing again.  Just sitting on the sofa..not being touched.   It Came Upon A Midnight Clear began to play sweetly and we all just sat staring at him.  I said "See?" 

Now I know it has to be some glitch..and PH being savy about things like that said...it has to be a lose wire.  He said with electronics thing like this can happen.  I know he is right...or is he? 

I will always believe I am being reminded. 

 

I take it as a sign.  I always will.

****************

 

 Every year my daughters and I get together and make egg ornaments for our trees.

We save our Christmas cards and cut out tiny scenes to glue to the eggs.  We save and collect old jewelry to decorate the eggs with and I buy German crushed glass to add sparkle. 

Fuzzy pictures, but you get the idea. 

These are getting pretty old.  Made back in the 1970's. 

 This particular egg has Christmas scenes all the way around.  Mom trimming the tree.

 

Bringing home gifts..

 

The family gathered around the piano.

An old woman taught me years ago..and she had her eggs shown all over the world.

Mine are a little rough compared to what hers were like. 

Blowing out the eggs is the hard part! 

If we get two or three really nice ones made, we feel lucky. 

 

Bethlehem

 

One of my first.

 

They are here and there all over the tree.  I lose one or two each year to my daughters. :)

It's where they belong now. 

 

Love,

Mona



~TWEAKED AGAIN..~

 

 

Yes, so I tweeked the doggone tree again.  So what!  I'm retired and it keeps my mind occupied.

Heavens if one has an idle mind!  So I added candy canes...

 

 All over ....from top to bottom

 

 I LOVE those Old World ornaments and when we visited the BIG library last year (or was it the year before?) I added to my collection and the pocket watch was one of my favorites.

 

Another lovely blurry photo that makes my head ache..not to mention other places!!! 

 

 

 L'il rocking horse..

 That's it. 

I mean it and tomorrow I am going to do my visiting in the morning with my coffee (with lots of vanilla creamer of course) and toast, being careful not to get the crumbs in my keyboard. 

 

I think I am going to leave mine up this year until New Years Eve if the tree is doing ok.  So far it feels lovely..only four days to go.  Hope, hope, hope it lasts....

 

You all are doing alright out there?  Please be doing ok.  Life can be a  stressful this time of year for so many reasons.  It's not always the happiest time of year for many.  We each have our burdens, some worse than others. 

I wish you wonderful things.  I hope that helps.

Love,

Mona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



~ANOTHER TREE?~

 

Not to worry...it's not a very good picture and it took about 20 tries and there is only ONE of them.  Lucky you!

It's really very pretty in person..and Joyce @ OCTOBER FARM gave me a lesson is putting lights on a tree without all the hassle that I usually go through.  Thanks, Joyce!!

It really is prettier in person.. looks a bit messy in the picture...

 

Would you believe I had my very first visit to Home Goods on Monday??  Yep..BFF and I went..and had a nice afternoon of brousing.  Wow!  Could I ever get into trouble in that store.  Best that it's not right near me.

 

The online shopping is bad enough.

 

The week drags on with sadness.  I found myself confused about "silence"  and the "prayer circles" etc.  I wrote when I was supposed to be quiet.. and was quiet when I was supposed to write.

Not too unusual for me.  I felt bad though because I wanted to do things right.  So if I wrote a comment when I wasn't supposed to..I'm sorry.

 

My sweet little Mele sitting on my piano bench.  To know her is to love her.  She brings me joy.

We must get joy out of the little things in life they say...and she is little. :)

 

Love'n hugs,

Mona

 

*The news is so sad and it's hard to watch, I know, but to think what the parents are going through. It  is overwhelming...

 

 



~CHRISTMASTIME 2012 con't~

 

 

*****************

 

 

 

This is the occassional table next to my chair which is next to the fireplace.

This is where I sit in the evening and watch my Kindle Fire or a little TV.

It takes strength to sit here.  Not hard to figure out why I put on a couple of pounds already!

See the big basket of huge pinecones there in the corner?

They are from our tree out front!  I don't think there is another pine tree in Riverside that produces such beautiful and perfect pinecones.  They are hard and shine up beautifully! 

 A security door.  Well, I wish we didn't think we needed it..because a if a screen door was necessary I would choose a cute wooden one.  Made by a craftsman.  However....I DO dream a lot and PH wanted a good strong door.  So...you know...  :)

I fell in love with this door mat at Home Goods last year.  WHAT is it about plaid that makes me crazy.  Once, some years ago when I lived in Jacksonville Florida, there was a beautiful furniture store we visited.  Not to buy, you understand, but to look.  They had a thick catalog that featured Colonial furniture.  There was a dining room that had plaid walls and ceiling...and since then..I've been in love with plaid and dreamed of having a dining room like that.  It won't happen..but I kept that catalog for years and years.  I wonder what ever happened to it. 

The patio table.  Left over tree cuttings for the centerpiece.  If warm enough I have a plaid tablecloth that will cover that matches the furniture that will go on for Christmas Day.  LOTS of people calls for lots of seating.  We have an outside firepit....that might be nice.  (Those are old afghans covering the furniture to protect it.  You KNOW how I always plan for photo's!!)  Oh well.

 

I watched our Presidents talk last night..and New Town coming together with all the faiths..and I cried.

Take care of one another out there...

Love,

Mona

***************************

 

I am joining our lovely hostess Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life.  If you are looking to be inspired..this is the place!

 



~BLOGGING ANGELS..and a SNOWMAN~

Have you noticed my new Header?  Any of you that know me, know by now that I am completely computer illiterate and "depend on the kindness of strangers"  to get me through the blogging process.

I have decided that the problem is that I don't know the terminology.  That's right.  For this reason is it nearly impossible to follow the directions given to me. I know.  Awful, huh?

 

Now...there is this lovely young woman (at least young to me) that for the past few years has been there for me.  Oh, there are others..for that matter, I don't think there is a single soul on there that isn't willing to give help in any way they can. 

Di, at The Blue Ridge Gal is always there.  Oh, she can be strict with me..and she is not one to mince words and if I get to clingy..like a good guardian she just sprays me with a bit of water...I'm kidding, I'm kidding!!  :)

Well, I whined to her (knowing full well that she loves doing Headers etc.) and asked her to please, please straighten out the mess I had made of my blog.  And...of course she did.  This is a busy time of year and I was afraid and embarrassed by the mess my attempts to change my blog had done. 

Bless her heart.  In no time flat she had me straightened out and had me back on track. 

 

So..if you need a new Header..or whatever..she is your woman.  I was doing pretty good on the old blogger but now I can find nothing.  I know it takes time..but it is just so frustrating so it's good to have a "Blue Ridge Gal" in your life.  Her blog and button are on my sidebar.  Tell her Mona sent you. :)  I just wanted to give Diane a GRATEFUL shout out.  I LOVE my new Header..if you are reading this..thanks again, Di!  You are my blogging angel!

 

Now..

My loving daughter's old wagon that I am babysitting for her (though she says I can keep it) until she gets her new home.  But in the meantime..I have so much fun with it. 

Right now it is a cozy home for my little Snowman..(love 'em) The little wagon changes with the seasons.  The ..little Snowman..doesn't. :)

 Don't let that little split in the wood bother you.  It's been like that for ages..we just keep fixing it.  Some good wood glue and a clamp...all set.

 

See?  You are welcome to our porch, so come on over and sit a spell. 

Ohhhh..we Californians can talk like that too if we try.  Don't you even doubt it! :)

Lov'n hugs,

Mona

 

P.S.  The day passed.  I kept busy and I was with my best male friend on earth.  :)  PH is always there for me.  I am blessed.

And..I  sent Patrick to help the angels. :)  You know what I mean?  I know he is good at that.  He was always wonderful in a crisis.

 

 



~CHRISTMAS OUTSIDE~

Such a tragic day.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

I love our front porch and even when it's cold outside I still enjoy morning coffee out here and watching the birds at the feeders and watching them drink fresh water from the running fountain.

PH faithfully fills it every single morning when he gets his newspaper.

 

I removed my usual container, found a pretty red Christmas bucket, filled it with water and fresh bows from trimmed Christmas tree's.  The lot where I bought my tree is happy to have me haul the greenery away.  I overloaded it and I love the look.  (saved some more in the back fountain to do a refill if these start to fade.) 

*The brown frame on our windows and garage are going to be painted  red..SOON!

 

 

Not to much, just a touch.  I added fresh greenery to my baskets.  They will stay watered along with my plants.

 





Ok..just a touch more..

 

The front window where Mele loves to lay and watch the birdies!  (I must catch a picture of her there.)

 

The birdies watering hole. 

 

Sooo comfy!

 

No, really!  Go ahead, have a seat!  It's nice!

Sometimes when it's so hot in the summer, people will take a little break when delivering flyers...I don't mind.

Oh..and a neighborhood cat..well, she likes to nap here.  ..no, I don't mind.  Honest.  But it drives Mele nuts!! 

 

One day when my family is all united again for Christmas, I have promised myself  these tree's will be lit up.  It's why I wanted them planted in the first place and they are growing so fast.  Our poor lawn was just fed and reseeded..looks sad, doesn't it.  Sandy wants to come out in Spring.  I want her to see them...

 

 

4:31 a.m.  Today is the day I lost Patrick exactly 15 years ago.  Sometimes it seems like yesterday.

I haven't been to bed, just too much on my mind.  I haven't done this for awhile.  Just one of those nights when my mind refuses to let go of what's happening.  There are no answers sometimes.

 

Love to all,

Mona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



~HI...IT'S ME AGAIN...I JUST WANTED TO SAY..

The fireplace is finally, finally done.  NOT fooling with it anymore. :)  Still have to decorate the tree..but I'm willing to bet you've seen a lot of those already.  The only thing that has changed about my tree since the 1950's is that I no long use tinsel. 

 

Also, IF...you are wondering why I am showing you the fireplace again..it's because it's FINALLY DONE!!!  I have procrastinated as long as I can.  I HAVE to wrap it up..and soon.  Christmas decorating I mean.   I need desperately to be more methodical.  Did I spell that right?  I'll look it up later. 



Also...I love Prims.  Not doing the rustic Country style but some of the Prims are just too darned cute!  I found the old wood wagon at a garage sale last year..the Santa on Ebay last year also. 

Here I am at this ripe old age and still have no clue as to what my style is...

..and also....This is probably one of the few idea's I had that I didn't see anywhere else..but now I see it every now and then on someone's blog.  I love it, and since I have a couple of cake plates..an extra I can use for desserts..I can keep plates here and change with the seasons. 

  

Also, I am really hooked on "spooners"..I love the look and the convenience.  Is it...because I'm always ready to eat??

Never mind that....

Silverware is courtesy of garage sales!  Now collecting that is something I haven't given up.  I always have my eye out for old silverware. 

 

It poured rain all day long today so no garage sales this Friday or Saturday.  Cold and wet outside.

Are you sending cards out this year? 

I'm sending a few.  I've got to hustle on that one too.

 

And..I also have to finish a tablescape...yep...soon...but..PH eats and reads his paper at this table every morning when it's cold out. 

 I cover the end with another every day tablecloth..put his little lamp on it...and he's all set.  *smile*  A problem moving all the dishes and silver tray etc. ??  Heaven's NO!

The maple dining room set was Howard's.  Mine?  It's still in the garage.  This one is very retro and I love it.   Well..but then so is mine.  What to do..what to do?? 

 

Also I want to add that I dearly LOVE snowmen!  I always start collecting things..and then give it up and move on to something else..not so with snowmen. 

Do you know how many lamps I have in our family room...hmmmmm?  Nine!!  I know!  I know!

It's a lot, but I DO love lamp light. (I know..nothing at all to do with anything!)

 

Seriously....

Diane of The Blue Ridge Gal asked on her blog if we had caught the concert at Madison Square Garden last night. (the night before last..it's after midnight here)  Yes.  Yes I did.  And...did we donate..and yes, yes I did. 

Do I appreciate what I have?  You bet I do!  I realize that everything I have, everything I have collected over the past 50 years could be gone in nothing flat!  I live in Southern California RIGHT ON THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT LINE!   One day we here in California might need help...it could happen to any of us.

 

God bless,

Mona

 

..no more "also's

~NEW QUILTED SPREAD MAKES ME SMILE~

Bedspreads are something I seem to keep and keep for years and every time I make the bed I swear I'm going to buy a new one.  YES!  And soon..but I don't.  When I finally say..that's it, I'm getting a new one and go on the hunt for one, I can't find what I want.

 

For one thing, at my ripe old age I still haven't a clue who I am!  (I have GOT to stop saying that because when I'm 80 I'll look back and think how young I was.  I never, ever learn!)

So..as I was saying, it's hard to find what I want. 

I finally chose this one...

 

I finally chose this one..I found it on Amazon.  I have a California King bed so it's always a challenge finding a quilt to fit and though this one was not a California King, after I read the comments on it, I gambled and it worked perfectly! 

I found the afghan (pure white and just beautiful) on ebay and got it for $10!  I love it.  I found it about five years ago, it washes beautifully.  All hand crocheted.  I felt sort of guilty when I won it. 

The roses I found at a thrift store and they are old.  They are made of some sort of neat woody like material. 

I could have done a better job making that bed..heavens!

 

I found this old trunk in my best friends attic when she bought her house.  That was in the late 1960's.  She wasn't into an old rotting trunk at the time..and I was.  Took it home, aired it out in the sun for a few days and wall papered it witha scrap of paper someone gave me.

  It got pretty banged up after my last move and  I need to touch it up.  I probably won't..but I should.

The quilt was very inexpensive and the blocks are no just a print..they are actual quilt blocks. 

The quilting is done in a pretty pattern.  Very generously sized too.

 

Ok...that's enough thrills for you!  :)  Can you tell how well I prepare for picture taking?  Ah well...

 

 

Lov'n hugs,

Mona



~A MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR~

...but it's busy, busy, BUSY!
I'm getting there..slowly.  It didn't use to be this difficult to get the house ready for Christmas.  It isn't that I don't enjoy it, I do, it's just seems to be endless..not the decorating part, but the getting stuff out.

I still have cartons..and I think I will just stop.

 

I dig, I fix, I change...change again and I start all over.  :) 

Now I think I know why my Mom got less and less stuff out each year. 

A Cup Of Christmas Tea is one of my favorite Christmas stories.
My copy is ...SIGNED..yep!  Right place at the right time! :)
Have you read this little book?  If you have you will know why it is special to me.
I am beginning to identify with it more every year!

I think I am stuffing candy canes or greenery into every little pitcher or teacup that ...
ok..into everything.  Tip..when in doubt...stuff it!  :)

My piano is my favorite thing to decorate for the Holidays.  Different every year..at least I think so.  My memory is...um..fading.

 I decorate with toys because...when you have seven children and are broke...that's just what you do!

Over the years I found I loved digging out the toy and finally most just stay out all year just in the living room.

 

Dollies, gotta have those dollies.   Found my tiny ice skates right off this year.  I usually have to hunt for them...

 

 I collect old children's books, but I guess I collect a lot of stuff.  The little pink village doesn't show up very well because  I had to use the flash..  It was painted by a dear friend I met years ago on ebay, Bea @ Relic's and Roses. 

 

So..I'm making progress.  I love this time of year.  It's work, but happy work!

The kids love it and that means a lot to me. 

 

The tree?  Well, it's bought, trimmed and in a bucket of water out back along with all the greenery.

Staying fresh until it's all in place.  Lots and lots of fresh greenery! 

The house ...well..it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!

 

Lov'n hugs!

Mona

~TEACUPS AND ROSES ~

I know I am not the only one that does this but every year when I unpack the same things I have had for at least 58 years, I think, "It's time to get rid of some of this stuff.  I don't want my children to have to deal with all this junk when I am gone"  and I start sorting through what I want to use.

What I want to get rid of, or so I think, I put back into the cartons..and then never get rid of it.

 

I did it again this year..but I plan on being strong and as I put Christmas treasures away for another year I will definitely send those things off to Goodwill.  Yes!  This IS the year!

 

So..when I unpacked my little silk tree this year, which is new from last year..I suddenly decided to put it in the living room and ....

 

 ...decorate it with all the teacups I have collected from garage sales.  Some have no saucers..and what a perfect way to use them, and...

 

..I added the white roses from another garage sale find.

 

 

I am the absolute worst photographer ever!!  Sheesh!

Will I thin things out this year?  I'm really going to try hard.  It's just that ...it's so hard to let go.

Maybe because it's something I can control and that's why I hang on. 

(OH GOOD GRIEF!  Does that make me a ...HOARDER??)  Ok..that does it!  If I don't use it this year it goes! 

 

Much love this Christmas season,

Mona

 

P.S.  I am going to change that bow as soon as I find the one I am looking for.. it's..GOLD. :)

I am NEVER satisfied!  Pink?  WHITE???  :)

 



~A CHRISTMAS BEAR MYSTERY~

Some of you know that I was widowed a couple of times.  I was married to my first husband Patrick for 43 years.  I married him at seventeen years old.  He was my life.

Patrick was not one for much gift giving but every now and then he would surprise me and when he did his gifts always showed so much thought and usually something totally expected.

One year, I think it was Christmas 1993, Pat did one of his surprises. 

This little bear turned up on Christmas morning with my name on his little crocheted hat..and I was amazed that Pat had thought to do such a thing as order this for me! 

 

I love this little bear!  He represents  HOPE.

 

See my name on the little hat?  It says "Mona's Christmas Bear"

 

You cannot see it in the photo but he has a little red heart on his chest that used to light up and blink when you pushed it and it played a lot of Christmas Carols. 

In 1997 on December 15th at 3:30am...Pat passed away.  He died of a massive stroke.  He had lung cancer that we knew nothing about and it went to his brain killing him.  He was in a coma for ten days and then he died.  I didn't get to say goodby, it was sudden. 

That Christmas I tried to get some things out..but I just could not...but I did take my little bear down from the closet shelf and I kept him close to me. 

But he had stopped playing..his little red heart stopped beating.

I thought it was the batteries...I checked them..put in new ones..nothing!!

I thought it must be in the wiring.  I ended up taking the batteries out..I kept him in a large Christmas shopping bag on my closet shelf.  I could look up there and see him every now and then, the tippy top of his little red hat..and it was comforting.

 

Four years went by and I remarried and moved to Bakersfield California.  The shopping bag went on my closet shelf as always.  The closet was huge with high shelves I could barely reach and the bag sat there for several years.  I didn't take him out for Christmas.  Now and then I would think about it but I didn't.  And time went by.

One Christmas several years later I went in the closet for something...and suddenly the entire shopping bag fell off the shelf.  AND MY BEAR BEGAN TO PLAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC!  HIS LITTLE RED HEART BEATING AWAY!!

You will not believe this part...and I understand...but it happened.  I picked him up and began crying and when I could think straight I remembered...he had no batteries..or did he?  I unzipped the back and sure enough...empty!! 

 

No one has been able to give me an explanation.  I asked my husband and he didn't have a clue..I even called some dear friends long distance and told them...very old dear friends of Pat's and mine since high school..

I cried off and on for a few days...I didn't understand.  I  wanted an answer.

 

Sometimes..I just think there are those little Christmas miracles that happen.

 

My Christmas bear comes out every year now.  He is sitting in the living room among all the toys...I hug him when I walk by... and he has new batteries (I am always hopeful) but he doesn't play when you push on his little heart.. 

The end of this story is that my little Christmas bear plays only now and then.....all by himself.  I will suddenly hear that tinkling Christmas music coming from the closet..and then it stops.  No one has pushed his little heart..and I wonder. 

 

Merry Christmas ...and may this month of Christmas joy...and sadness...  be full of miracles for all of you.  I am sure you know the miracle I am praying for.

 

With love,

Mona